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How early (what age) did you take your baby on the subway?
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Anonymous
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I would like to go out with my daughter while the weather is nice this week, but I'm wondering what the general consensus is on riding the subway. She's seven weeks old and while I don't keep her cooped up in the house, I am concerned about enclosed spaces. Normally we go for walks around the neighborhood everyday and she's been with me on rides to Target/Babies R Us. Normally, however I've been renting zipcars to get to places outside of walking distance. Now that she's a little older...and the Zipcar budget is starting to take its toll...I'd like to try the subway.
My chief concern of course is germs vs her brand new immune system. She's received the first two Hep B shots and the Vitamin K injection in the hospital. She's supposed to get more shots in two weeks at her two month checkup. Her pediatrician said that she couldn't tell me when it'd be "safer" to put her on the subway. Maybe it was for legal reasons but she wouldn't even go so far as to say that the two-month shots would make a difference. So when would you take your child on the subway? I know that it's inevitable that she'll get sick one day, but I like to err on the side of caution. Am I being too safe by keeping her off the train this long? |
Anonymous
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We were early: flight @ 2 weeks, bus @ 4 weeks, subway @ 4 weeks. Just wear the baby or keep a blanket over them so people dont try to touch. I also wouldnt try rush hour for your first time.
Good luck! |
Anonymous
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I was fairly strict about taking DS on a plane the first time (I thing we waited until 2 or 3 months, which meant driving to Florida when he was 6 weeks old), but I wouldn't be too concerned about the subway. I'd take her during off-peak times when it's not likely to be crowded, and keep her either close to you in a baby carrier or in a stroller with a good sunshade pulled up over her face. The time on the metro is less likely to be much less than a plane, and it's not quite as enclosed.
Also, it's not the high season for cold and flu, which helps (one reason our ped said to wait on the plane flights was b/c it was during the height of the H1N1 season). |
Anonymous
| 6 weeks. I don't like bringing a stroller on the metro, so waited until I felt like wearing him for a long time. And I agree with the pp about not going during rush hour -- the crush is worse than the germs. |
Anonymous
| You do know that some people have no other way to travel? |
Anonymous
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pretty much right away - we just used a sling/carrier to keep baby close (and well-meaning strangers at bay since so many can't resist a cute little baby)
Stroller at about 10-12 wks when we started daycare. |
Anonymous
| 3 days old. We metro to the doctor's office. |
aprilmayjune
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| I never did until just a month or so ago, and she's almost 2, but I drive her pretty much everywhere so I'm not the best example. |
Anonymous
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Metro at 2 wks to visit the office while on mat leave and then almost every day after that -- soooo not a big deal. DD is almost 1, and we commute daily by subway to daycare, so I figured I should get comfy with it fast.
I agree that off-peak is the way to do it at first because some folks truly do not understand that it's invasive and dangerous to manhandle new babies. (It's not like you fondle adults on the train, so why would it be OK to touch a vulnerable little baby?) |
Anonymous
But it's so hard when babies are cute...I mean, I think it's totally inappropriate to touch other people (including babies) without permission...but I have to admit that I'm disappointed when I see a snap 'n' go all covered up with no way for me to steal a glance at the baby. (I'm having my own in a few weeks, and I am sure I'll do the same thing, but still, I'm disappointed - there are a lot of cute babies around...) |
Anonymous
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First bus ride at four days old. We went to Target!
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Anonymous
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Pretty much right away. We didn't have a car the first year so if we didn't take the taxi we did Metro. She was fine, she was in her infant carseat and stroller frame combo.
She's 18 months now and her daycare is at my husband's office. She's been commuting with us since she's been 4 months old. I joke with my husband that she'll be like me and will be able to know the system by the time she is in preschool. I grew up in NYC in the early 80's so I would commute with my parents to work and preschool and knew what our route is. |
Anonymous
| We used the subway all the time when my daughter was a one year old and we lived overseas. Then again, the elevators in the stations always worked, and the other passengers (and trains!) were more accommodating for children and strollers.... |
Anonymous
| I took my son on the metro early- I just kept him close in a carrier. I don't think they're in any danger unless someone coughs / sneezes right in their faces. |
Anonymous
| Around 4-5 weeks old (he was a summer baby, too, so no flu season concerns). He is now 13 months, and we have ridden the subway frequently with him ever since. I say put the baby in a sling and go for it. |