The best things to do in New York with a toddler
New York is one city I have visited so many times that I know how to navigate it almost as much as I know London and Paris. My sister lives in Brooklyn so we always have a spare room waiting for us whenever we are in New York. It was our first time visiting with Adanna and I will admit that it was a very different ball game. Gone were the late night wanderings in Time Square or Bar hopping. All that was replaced with finding the best things to do in New York with a toddler.
I must say that a toddler’s itinerary in New York can actually be as fun for grown ups too. Let’s face it; kids always have the best fun things to do so I was not surprised I had as much fun as Adanna.
I have a full post on A 1st timer’s guide to New York City which covers the more popular things to do in New York.
This time, it is all about travelling with my baby; therefore, let us get into the best things to do in New York with a toddler.
Other related New York Posts:
Museum of Ice Cream
The first thing we booked was the Museum of Ice Cream. I had seen all the photos and I knew it would be a fun day for a toddler. We paid $25 each for a weekday slot for Mr E and I. It was free for Adanna since children under 2 go for free. Our booking was the 11am slot so we were in the first batch to head in on the day. There is a one-way system trail and there are a lot of photo opportunities on the way with ice cream stops.
You are encouraged to come up with a fun ice cream related name and stick it as a name badge. We walked through a bus ride, banana rain and even a tunnel ride. The whole experience was so much fun and Adanna loved running around and getting involved.
Is Museum of Ice cream worth it?
I got this question a lot once I posted about it on Instagram and I would say it is worth it. As with everything in New York, I did think it was expensive. Our online booking included admin fees and taxes so from $50 for 2 people, all the additions led to $73. It is a pricey hour or 2 but it is so much fun for the littles and parents who are kids at heart lol.
A ferry ride
My love for boat rides will always be a big part of our travel activities. A ferry ride is one of the best things to do on New York with a toddler. We decided to watch the sunset over Brooklyn Bridge a different way, via ferry ride. Therefore, we timed our journey quite perfectly from Wall Street Pier 11 and got on at 4.18pm.
On that winter day, sunset was at 4.30pm and as we crossed from the pier to DUMBO, the beautiful sun set. It really was a glorious sight and I could see my baby girl’s eyes light up the whole journey. It is quite a short trip so there is no time for babies to start feeling restless. The ferry is warm with indoor sitting; however, for the best view, head to the top deck which is what we did.
Once we got off at DUMBO, we walked to pebble beach; to enjoy the scenic view and what was left of the sunset.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
We paid $15 per person and I remember thinking it was quite pricey for a toddler. Yes, the $15 per person included her as well so for 3 of us, $45. However, it was such a fun experience for her, which she really enjoyed.
We got there at 10am so it was not busy at all. Our first stop was Totally Tots, which is designed for babies to 6 years old. Adanna especially loved the water area and of course the slide. We walked around and enjoyed the other exhibits and she really loved World Brooklyn. This part consisted of kid-sized shops based on real life experiences. For instance, there was a grocery shop, bakery, pizzeria, ice cream parlour etc. It was just such a fun space and I am sure that my baby had the best time there.
They have specific events from time to time but free play is the order of the day.
Although visiting Brooklyn Children’s museum came at a cost to us, they actually have a free period weekly. On Thursdays between 2-5pm, they host the Amazon free hours. If we hadn’t booked our Thursday for something else, we would have used the free hours.
Always remember that the best things to do in New York with a toddler can be fun for grown ups too.
Summit One Vanderbilt
As someone who is scared of heights, I really was not excited about this activity; however I had seen photos online and knew that it would be fun. Summit One is the tallest commercial building in Manhattan and among the top 30 tallest buildings in the world. It is an observation deck that features an immersive art experience while taking in the view on New York’s impressive skyline. The New York skyline, by the way, is absolutely incredible.
As soon as we got there, Adanna’s face lit up and she literally walked around in excitement. I immediately knew it was one of the best things to do in New York with a toddler. Since she was so happy, I totally forgot about my fear of heights and enjoyed the experience with her. One of the best things about this experience is that it is free for under 5s. This meant that we only had to pay for Mr E and I, which I was really grateful for.
Is Summit One Vanderbilt worth the money?
The simple answer is yes. I think it is a fantastic experience for the cost and I say this knowing that it is not actually cheap. We paid $42 each and for kids 6-12 years, it starts from $36 per person. However, it is such an epic experience. Whilst I cannot compare Summit one to Top of the Rock (since I have not been to Top of the Rock yet), I think the fact that Summit One features this epic artsy, multi sensory experience makes it just a little bit more special.
Brooklyn Public Library
Adanna is in her “read me a book please” phase so a library was in the cards to visit. We stopped at Brooklyn Public Library because Mr E wanted to see the Jay Z exhibition Book of Hov. After we had enjoyed the experience, we went to the children’s section of the library. It has an incredible collection of toddler friendly books in a family friendly space. We spent about an hour there with Adanna picking out books to read, coloring and playing with the toys.
The best thing about the Brooklyn Public Library was the fact that it was free. Since it is a free library, it can get quite busy. The best time to visit is when kids are in school so anytime after 3pm is a no-go.
Grand Central Terminal
Where are my Gossip Girl fans? I absolutely love this Train station and think it is one of the prettiest train stations in the whole world. Grand Central Terminal is a fascinating New York landmark and the world’s largest train station by area occupied and number of platforms. Toddlers are in their train-spotting age so taking a toddler to a train station where they can choo choo every train is fantastic. Visiting one of the worlds’ most beautiful train stations comes with its perks. From spotting its famous clock to admiring its stunning ceiling, Grand Central Terminal is just a masterpiece.
We also visited its food court in its basement where we had lunch and people watched. There in lies a number of food stalls like Shake Shack, Luke’s Lobster and SATC fan favourite, Magnolia bakery.
Mini history of Grand Central Terminal
Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt originally built it in the 1870s as a symbol of power and wealth. The current station was rebuilt in 1913 in what you see as the most stunning art deco (beaux-arts) form. Its history is very interesting and gives more background to how special it is.
Central Park
Wherever there is green space, there you will always find me. Central Park is an essential visit and no matter how many times I have visited New York, Central Park is a must. This time was of course much more special because it was with my little love.
We strolled into the park and she was asleep in her stroller. So Mr E and I had our little romantic stroll, chatting and reminiscing for the first hour until she woke up. My daughter loves nature so as soon as she realised where we were, she was out of her stroller and running around. We visited the ducks at Loeb boathouse and rode the carousel (she did not love this so much). Her eyes lit up when she saw the fallen leaves and she jumped up and down the patch.
There is also huge playground, Heckscher if you enter the park through 59th street; however we skipped it this time.
RELATED: WHAT TO DO IN CENTRAL PARK
Is Central Park New York free?
Central Park is a free attraction however we paid $3.50 each (including Adanna) to ride the carousel. It was funny when we saw the sign “all riders including infants have to pay” LOL. It was obvious they had been asked a lot of times.
There is a detailed blog post on How to explore Central Park with a baby/toddler as a guide. It should give you all the essential information for this.
Spot the Yellow school bus
If your child is like mine who watches American nursery rhymes, then you understand the importance of this yellow bus. It had skipped my mind that this was an American thing; until we noticed she kept pointing at every yellow school bus and going “beep beep”.
Remember the rhyme “the people on the bus go up and down”? That is one of her favourite songs and I am sure this is the same for most toddlers. Honestly, it is the cutest thing ever. It is the same way she spots planes and birds; in America, it is the yellow school bus. There are lots of stationary ones so you can get a photo for toddler’s photo book.
Wall Street
I can see your face wondering why I would recommend Wall Street for a toddler but hear me out. The main reason I wanted to take her to Wall Street was to see the Fearless Girl; also known as the Defiant Girl. She stands in front of the New York Stock Exchange and represents how strong women are and can be. Fearless Girl was also intended to “call attention to the glass ceiling in the Wall Street community that so many women have faced…for promotion and for equal pay”
It is a statue that every little girl who visits New York should see to feel inspired and fearless too. I think Adanna is too little to understand but I am all for starting them young. The Fearless Girl statue used to face the popular Charging Bull sculpture but now stands on her own. To me, she represents women empowerment and that is what I like for Adanna to see.
Times Square
I might be mad to add this one but again, hear me out. Times Square is too iconic not to visit if you are in New York. So why leave your sweet baby or toddler out of it? As much as this place is the most chaotic place ever, I think it is fantastic sensory for babies. The lights, noise and fast paced everything make for a unique experience.
Adanna had her ear defenders on when we went because I did not want her to feel so overwhelmed. She was also in her stroller the whole time; again, I did not want her running off lol. Maybe this is one to skip if you would rather avoid the madness of it all. However, I love to add a bit of pizzazz to her itinerary and Time Square was that.
We spent only about 10 mins at Time Square before we caught the train back. I’d love to know what she thought about the experience. Infact, I am always curious to know what she is thinking whenever we take her somewhere new. We are convinced she thinks we are crazy parents lol but we will take that.
Ditch them and go on a date
I see you giving me another side eye but after all the wandering with your little, it is time to enjoy a little adult time.
As much as we loved visiting New York with out little bubba, we made sure to spend some time alone. My sister offered to babysit and Mr E got us New York Nets games tickets. We had so much fun at the game and although the following morning was a 6am wake up call thanks to Adanna, I am glad we had the night to ourselves.
I always enjoy sports events in New York. A few years ago, we went to Madison Square Garden for a game; and another year, it was to the baseball game. I find that the games are so different and much more fun than back home in England. We loved the fact that you did not have to understand the sport to enjoy the games.
This time, it was New York Nets vs Charlotte Hornets and it was vibey from start to finish. New York Nets lost by just one point so you can imagine how tight and exciting the whole thing was. Brooklyn was also celebrating 50 years of hip-hop so a few celebrities performed, which was fun.
A 7-day itinerary for the best things to do in New York with a toddler (This is loosely based on our exact itinerary)
1st day – Arrive to New York and settle in.
2nd day – A slow start to the trip at Central Park.
3rd day – Summit One Vanderbilt, Grand Central Station, Bryant Park, Times Square.
4th day – Brooklyn Day Out – Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, A stroll around Prospect Park, Soul Food at Bedstuy (Peaches Brooklyn).
5th day – Museum of Ice Cream, Little Italy, Wall Street, Ride the ferry from Manhattan to Brooklyn, DUMBO, Pebble Beach, Catch the sunset in Brooklyn.
6th day – Soho, Upper East Side.
7th day – Slow morning & afternoon; flight back home in the evening.
New York FAQs
When is the best time to visit New York?
I have visited New York every season and I must say that my favourite time to visit is late autumn. That week after Thanksgiving when the Christmas Lights start going up and the autumn leaves are falling off the trees. I find New York the prettiest at this time. There is a chance of blue skies from time to time; the weather is not yet bitingly cold and I just think the whole vibe is perfect.
My least favourite time to visit New York is actually in summer. Like any other big city, I find it so busy and hot. If I did not fancy New York in late autumn so much, I’d most likely pick late spring as well.
Is New York child friendly?
This is always one of my favourite questions especially now I have my toddler. Yes, New York is incredibly child friendly. In comparison to London and Paris, it is the most child friendly of the 3. There is so much for children to do, there are playgrounds everywhere, I mean everywhere especially in Brooklyn. I also love that a lot activities are free for kids under 5.
All restaurants we visited had high chairs and baby changing facilities. As much as a busy city would allow, New York is child friendly.
Is New York cheap for Tourists?
One thing I will say, coming from UK is that the tipping culture can be a bit of a shock. In the grand scheme of things, New York is not particularly cheap; and that added tip of like 20% can be quite heavy especially if dining out. With that being said, there are a lot of cheap things to do in New York. Also, there are a lot of free things to do in New York. So it really depends on what type of tourist you are.
If trying to keep cost low in New York, eating from the kiosks or bodegas can be considered. I really enjoyed the kiosks in Central Park and had hot dogs from them. A bodega near my sister’s Brooklyn house made the best bagel with egg, bacon and cheese that was cheap. Again, like every big and expensive city, it can be done for much cheaper.
There is a weekly metro card for getting around New York so that helps cut cost. If interested, there is also a tourist card that gets you into different attractions etc.
How many days do you recommend in New York?
I recommend at least 5 days in New York. For your 1st time in New York, 5 days are enough to see a lot of Manhattan and Brooklyn. A day trip to see the Statue of Liberty is also possible if planned really efficiently. However, for a much slower paced travel, 7-10 days are perfect for New York as a 1st timer. There is just so much to see and there are fantastic day trips to The Hamptons, Washington DC etc
Where is the best area to stay in New York?
If you are there for a full tourist experience, then Midtown Manhattan is the best place to stay. However, if you want a more local immersed experience, then Brooklyn it is. I have always stayed in Brooklyn whenever I have visited New York and enjoyed it so much. It feels so much more authentic, like I am fully immersed in the American living lol.
The best things to do in New York with a toddler
New York is one of those cities that everyone will be able to enjoy. This is regardless of the season or type of travel. It can be done on a tight budget and in luxury. New York is perfect for solo travellers, couples looking for a romantic break and families with little or older kids. There is something for everyone.
It is also a photographer’s dream, one to be enjoyed by TV lovers looking to trace classic film locations. I just love that city so much and will return over and over as Adanna grows up. So look out for posts to follow this up as she grows up.
Bisous, Bugo x
All costs are correct as at time of publishing.
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