carless with a babe?

[Angelorum]

Wasn't quite sure where to put this.

We have been a one car family since dh's car broke a few months ago. This hasn't been a problem, dh works at home, I work very part time a short drive away, we are in walking distance to many things (church, library, groceries, dh's martial arts class). Well, last night I hopped in my car for quick errand, and it wouldn't start. My car is old, and 5 years ago had a major repair. I was told at that time, that it may not last much longer, so honestly, I'm surprised it has lasted as long as it has. Now, maybe I'm jumping the gun here, because it could be just a minor repair, but if it is something major or it needs replacing we are not going to have the money for it right away, without going further into debt. We just recently got serious about getting out of debt, so I really don't want to have to go buy a car with a loan.

I guess I'm looking for encouragement, stories, and experiences about getting around with no car and a baby. He is almost 7 months, I have a couple of wrap carriers, I'm making a Mei Tai right now. I do not own a stroller, or an infant car seat. He's not huge, but I do get pretty tired if I have to wear him for more than an hour or two (I am very small framed, or possibly I'm just a weakling?) I do have an old bike, it needs some minor work, but I don't have a basket or a baby seat for it or anything like that. My main concern is how I'm going to cart stuff around. Things like groceries, diaper bag etc. Any ideas? Recommendations?

[pbjmama]

So you are not planning to replace the car, right? I would start looking for free/inexpensive strollers that have a basket under the seat. Ask friends if they have an old one, look on craigslist or garage sales, goodwill, etc. You will build endurance for carrying him but I think a stroller would be valuable too. For example, he could ride in the stroller to the store and then you could load your groceries in the stroller and wear him home. Good luck

[moonlitemama]

I was car-less for a summer/fall when pregnant with DS2 (well, DH had a truck, so I could use that for full shopping trips, but that was it - everything else was done on foot). I also have a couple of friends who are one-car families so the wife and kids are car-less.

I've never been a stroller person, myself. I used a sling, backpack, wrap and Ergo a lot when my kids were young. When I was doing all my errands on foot, I used an all terrain wagon like this one http://www.radioflyer.com/products/wagons/29.asp which was great (and more versatile than a stroller, as I've been able to use it around the property the last couple of years for hauling gardening stuff, firewood, etc). My kids were a bit older than yours when I used it regularly for hauling them (although not much older). I found that a high chair booster seat fit in (and could be secured) to the wagon (http://www.albeebaby.com/safety-1st-...e-booster.html) so they had a seat.

Of the two friends who walk everywhere, one has a wagon as well (and wears her little babe, while the 3yr old walks). The other has a bike with a trailer (I think her youngest rides in the trailer and her other three ride on their own bikes).

You can also ask on craigslist or freecycle if anyone has a bike trailer or a jogging stroller (you'll likely want something with bigger wheels than normal if you go the stroller route).

[doubledutch]

i think for hauling stuff, you could become really good at doing a "big shop" just once or twice a month (with a friend's car), and buying fresh stuff 2-3 times a week, which you could fit into a basket under a stroller or into a backpack or something.

would you carpool to work, or get your bike tuned up?

[carfreemama]

We're car free! What kind of public transportation options do you have?

I used a combination of a carrier, the bus, a bike and (my favourite) my Chariot shock-absorber stroller. However, we knew we were going into this car-free, so we budgeted for our ridiculously expensive ($600 CDN) stroller. It was a great purchase. Now that dd is older, we use it mostly to haul things. But when we were going someplace away from public transit and it was snowy/rainy, it was fantastic.

Dd is an excellent walker, too and was at an early age.

I also have a dog, so I got good at getting dd into her back carrier by myself in order to walk him.

I've never driven and I think that's made it easier. We bought our house on a bus route a few years ago, knowing we didn't want a car. So we had a lot of choice. A lot depends on where you are and how isolated you'd be without a car. I do know several friends who go miles and miles every day biking with their kids. I can't begin to tell you how much money we're saving and we really like the lifestyle. We've gotten to know the neighours really well and just tend to get good at finding the things we need nearby.

[yeahwhat]

We didn't have a car until ds was over a year. When I was taking the bus to go shopping, I'd wear ds in a front carry and a backpack for purchases and an extra diaper/wipes.

I also walked to places a lot. A stroller was incredibly useful, as much for carting things around as for ds to sit in (since he didn't like the stroller much unless he was sleeping).

[Satori]

Lots of options at that age, if things are in biking distance get something like a Bobike seat for the babe and put side baskets on the back for groceries and stuff. Were now carless but I have an awesome bike, thinking about getting a little trailer to haul the little one (she's out grown the bobike) and groceries.

[sanguine_speed]

If you've lived without a car seat for this long I guess that means you haven't had to drive your baby anywhere. So that leaves what? Travel? Occasional trips somewhere like the movie theatre or dinner out? Grocery shopping?
Cabs can definitely cover these things.
It sounds like you have an ideal set-up to go car-free!
I would however recommend a car seat on hand just in case there is ever an emergency that you need to transport your baby by taxi or with a friend.
(or maybe you have a rear-facing toddler seat? You only said no infant seat I guess).

[limette]

I don't drive so I guess I'm careless with kids when dh isn't around. My mom raised two kids and never drove either and had no access to a car.

It's definitely doable.

[lalaland42]

We are carless and have a newborn. It is definitely doable although we are planning on buying a carseat for taxi rides (we needed to go to the hospital at 5 am). I have a wrap, sling, mei tai, ergo, hotslings... and a stroller. The stroller has only been used a few times and only because my back hurt. Since your baby is 7 months, I'd recommend an Ergo or mei tai. I used one with my older daughter, well, until I was 3 months pregnant and she was 4.5 years.

For grocery shopping, I bought a granny cart from IKEA (in Europe) and put DS in a wrap. DD walks. The granny cart holds a lot of food stuff but large bulk items might be hard to fit.

As for biking... It isn't safe to bike with a baby < 1 year. There are some people who rig up their trailer with a car seat (rf ) so the baby isn't jostled but I don't know. I'd love to go biking but not until bb is 1. Visit the Family Safety forum and ask around.

[triscuitsmom]

We've never owned a car the whole time we've had kids... we also didn't have a stroller until this summer when our second was almost half a year old. Before that, and still now 95% of the time the kids are either walking or in a good supportive wrap, mei tai, or buckle carrier. It's definitely doable, it just takes some time to build up the muscles you are using.

For groceries we just borrow rides when we can and stock up as much as we can... for trips to the farmers market etc we do either baby on the front, backpack on the back, or else baby on back and shoulder bags.

Good luck!

[missmich]

I'm going to be carless with my baby and license free as well I don't even know how to drive really.

I'll be getting a car seat though,I think a friend has a bucket for me. It will be for when friends drive us or I take a taxi and stuff like that for emergencies.

I'll be getting a cheap or free stroller that will have a big basket underneath for my groceries. Hopefully I'll get a baby wearing thing of some type as well for when I don't want the stroller with me.

I think many people are car free and have little ones and they do just fine.

[treespeak]

I was at home with my DS and no car until he was 18 months. I had car time on weekends and evenings, but none during the day. It was doable, but in retrospect had it's challenges, especially as we have very minimal public transport, and it was difficult to go far on foot in our mountainous community. I think in your circumstances, it sounds pretty pleasant--you can use a stroller if you need a physical break.

[mnnice]

I think renting a compact car for the weekend occassionally could be cheaper than replacing a car in your situation (either to do mass errands or get out of town once in a while). I would check out what car rentals would be and if there are anywhere nearby you can get to or would bring you a car.

[tessie]

I've never had a car. Do I get extra green and frugal points?

A stroller is invaluable for longer trips, especially as baby gets bigger. I would often use the pram for carrying groceries and wear her. A cheap and cheerful umbrella folding one with a basket will be fine and they're usually also best for public transport.

Do you have access to online grocery shopping? I do and it's a lifesaver. It also saves money as I can see exactly how much I'm spending and take advantage of offers.

We didn't have a car when I was a kid either so I guess I've always been used to walking. And that's no bad thing.

[colsxjack]

We do not have a car.
We do live in a city with excellent transit, but do not need to take it much as we stay in our neighbourhood mostly.
We bought a cart for groceries. We go once a week and a lot of groceries fit in it. We sometimes go together and sometimes not. We carry DD in an ergo on the front but may move her to the back soon.
We also do our laundry at a laundromat and so we use the cart for that once a week.

Sometimes we rent a car to go camping or out of town. We also have a friend that we end up borrowing his car every 6-8 weeks or so. We could borrow it more frequently if we needed, but we dont find we have the need.
We also have considered joining a car share program that they have in our city. You have a membership and then can use cars for a few hours at a time to run some errands.

[~Boudicca~]

Every. single. time. I hit F&F I read this thread title as "Careless with a babe" and I have to do a doubletake.

I have nothing else to add carry on.

[Satori]

Originally Posted by ~Boudicca~

Every. single. time. I hit F&F I read this thread title as "Careless with a babe" and I have to do a doubletake.

I have nothing else to add carry on.

I do too

[basje]

Doable and healthy

I don't have a car and although it was a big transition it's been a positive one.

I walk most places with my babe slinged (but she's little) mostly and I also use a stroller. It's great exercise and a good opportunity for me to spend time with her. I bring a backpack to the grocery store.

My suggestion is to first off, get your bike fixed and add a basket or (better for rainy days with more storage) Pannier Bike Bags for carting your groceries, and diaper bag. If your little can't support her own head then you'll need to sling her on the bicycle but once she can hold it up herself then get a handlebar mounted child seat like the WeeRide Kangaroo Limited Bicycle Child Seat. I lived in Holland for two years and there most people don't have cars but shuffle their children around via bike. It is safe to have a child under a year on with you provided you follow the above advice, do not however stick them in a cart following the bike until they are 3-4.