How Do You Get Around with a Little One??

You didn't say where in the city you live but if you're not sure what type of baby carrier you want to try Be By Baby (google it) near Roscoe and Lincoln has a free sling class that goes through the various types of carriers and lets you try them out with your baby. Of course you have to get there first but it's right at the Paulina brown line stop. Hope that helps.

My son is almost 7 months old now and getting a bit heavy but for the first few months I wore him ALL THE TIME. The sling immediatly calmed him down so it was woth it in the house and out.

I heard somewhere that when using the bus, train, or El train you need to have a car seat for the baby with you and must use it. There are some nice stroller that fold up neatly but allow you to safely secure the car seat to it. I had a car and lived out in the burbs when my son was that little. Car was a must have. Luckily in the city you have mass transit.

I always kept a sling/harness to put my son in inside my diaper bag. There are even harnesses that have wheels so that you can push the angel around when you got tired of carrying him on your back. Carrying a little one around is very exhausting at first but you quickly build up strength and endurance. Just remember not to put too much stress on your back because the worst thing is to throw out your back and spend a couple weeks on your back.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi J.,

No, do not need to bring a carseat on a bus or train. :)

I used to wear my daughter in a sling or carrier on the bus or train until she got too big. It can get a bit tricky with a stroller (we had a lightweight one) and although drivers are supposed to assist you if requested, you run into mixed results. Some are helpful, some are just downright rude.

It has been a while since my daughter was an infant, and things may have changed, so check out the CTA's website: www.transitchicago.com. It will provide you a list of accessible train stops. Basically if its wheelchair accessible, its stroller friendly.

Also - my personal advice is to plan your trip to avoid rush hour. You will have a much more pleasant experience - especially your first few times til you get some confidence.

Good luck!

With a one month old I would just strap him onto yourself. You can use the bjorn, a sling, etc. That would be the easiest. Once your little one is a bit older you can get a lightweight stroller that you can fold up for the bus or train. I think getting around a city takes a bit of practice but I bet by summer you and your little guy will be pros!!

I carried my daughter in one of those pouches that hang on front. Some people like the back pouches, but I didn't want my daughter behind me where something could happen to her and I couldn't see her. She was so calm, traveling with me everywhere I went. Her head was right next to my heart, she could feel me breathing. My hands were free to do whatever I needed to do. I was also breast feeding, so that also made things easy when she got hungry. All I had to do was drape a light blanket over her while I fed her. Nobody noticed a thing. Many child experts say that this method of keeping your baby attached to you is very emotionally healthy for the child and the mother. It really helps you bond, which I believe. My daughter and I are still very close. (By the way, she is now a college Freshman pre-med major.) I went everywhere with her, to theaters, business meetings, the grocery store, everywhere. Everybody remembers me running around the city with a baby in a pouch. I carried her around like that until she was about two and a half years old. Some friends still ask me, "How's that baby?" They laugh when I remind them that she's now grown, in fact, she's slightly taller than I am (I'm 5/10"). Basically, you don't have to be tied to the house when you have an infant. You'll be surprised how calm and quiet your baby is when you carry your baby in a pouch with you everywhere. That calm spirit becomes a part of them for the rest of their lives.

I was carless for years so here's what I did. To start -forget the diaper bag for solo travel and get a good backpack with comfy shoulder pads. Also, no purse. Just put your keys/wallet in the front zipper pocker of your backpack. This will help keep your arms/hands free for baby. At one month you can 'wear' your baby in a sling and as he gets older/bigger move to front facing baby carrier and/or sturdy umbrella stroller you can fold up on the bus/train. Save the bigger strollers from walking trips near home. have fun!

Wear your baby! Especially when they're this small, babies are SO easy to wear in a sling or wrap. Plus, you don't even need to bundle them up because you can zip him up in your coat. This is how we carried my son all last winter (he was 5-10 months old).

I realize that I have maybe a larger collection of baby carriers than many people but here are some of my favorites:
1. Kangaroo Korner adjustable fleece pouch. This is a GREAT carrier for babies up to about 20-25 lbs. They can face in or out. It's warm and cozy. Wear it under your coat, put a hat on your baby, and zip him inside. Great for grocery shopping etc. Slips on and off very quickly so it's good if you're going from a car seat into a store or whatever.
2. Storchenwiege Wrap Sling. This is the most comfortable baby carrier for babies up to 40 lbs (although now that my son is a toddler he wants to get in and out too often and this one needs to be tied, so we don't use it too much). Great for longer walks, or if you're taking the bus/train and want to just know that he's snuggly and safe. We took my son to Germany/Austria when he was 2 months old and hiked about 40 miles with him in one of these carriers. We did not take a stroller on the 2-week trip. Love this carrier.
3. Ergo baby carrier - this one is great for older babies (like 6+ months) - it's what I use most of the time now, but it doesn't go under a coat as well, and it's not great for very small babies.

So... I'd ditch the stroller and wear the baby. Put together a backpack as a diaper bag, and get on with your life! Congrats on your new boy :)

When my daughter was very small, I took her in the Bjorn. Now that she is a toddler, we use a light weight stroller (we use a Chicco). CTA trains and buses are all supposed to be "no fold" when it comes to strollers, but if it is rush hour, you might not be able to squeeze an open stroller on it. I would never in a million years try to get my big Phil and Ted's stroller on it.

Hi J.
I live in the city as well. So I take you don't have access to a car? If you don't, do you have a Bjorn or some sort of carrier? You can use that to hold your baby when you're on the bus and it's warmer for the baby in this weather. Not sure what kind of stroller you have but a mid stroller is better then a full size. I have the peg perego and it folds with one hand. Once the weather is warmer, buy a bike seat for the little on and cycle around the city. Our son LOVES it and it's good excercise :)
Good luck!