Getting Around San Francisco With Kids
We have lived in a walk up apartment in San Francisco for the past 6 years, so I am pretty used to hauling groceries, strollers, and children up and down our stairs. But since welcoming our second baby to the fam, getting out of the house has brought a new set of challenges to our life in the city. Because I (understandably) seem to have less hands these days, I have dramatically simplified my “out and about” set up. Although I have always tried to keep it light, nowadays I absolutely have to! My husband and I also share a car (which he has most days for work), so the girls and I rely on public transportation or walking to get around the city. Thankfully the transit system here is pretty great, and takes us almost anywhere we want to go within 20 or 30 minutes. There are so many benefits to living in the city with kids — beautiful parks, beaches, playgrounds, museums, libraries and coffee shops at every corner to keep mom fueled up!
Getting two kids out of our apartment during the day is an absolute must for me! We are all in a better mood when we get some fresh air and find a fun activity to run off some steam. We might not have an outdoor space, but the city is our backyard! Here is a little glimpse into my day to day set up and how we enjoy full days of adventures out and about in San Francisco!
The Stroller
Without a doubt, the foundation of my going out set up is a lightweight stroller. Before having my first, I dug deep in a research hole and came out with the decision to get a Babyzen Yoyo2. I have not regretted it for a day. I can’t rave enough about this stroller, honestly. It weighs just under 14 lbs, folds up with one hand, and has a comfy strap I can throw over and carry with one shoulder. I also have the Newborn Pack so I don’t have to bring my car seat if we are just walking our taking the bus. If we bring it with on car rides, I have the Nuna Pipa Rx and adapters that make attaching the car seat to the stroller easy peasy.
After having my second, I opted to purchase the Yoyo Stroller Board for my toddler rather than upgrading to a double stroller. I did this for several reasons:
My toddler walks a lot! She’s pretty dang good at it. But when she gets tired, there is a nice little seat for her to rest.
She doesn’t like riding in the stroller.
Weight. There is no way I wanted to carry a heavy stroller up and down my stairs after being spoiled with this lightweight one for almost 3 years.
Quick hop on/hop off. If she sees a leaf she wants, no problem! Hop off and grab it, then hop back on.
Novelty. I cannot tell you how many times we make riding on the stroller board a game.
I also have this nifty little cup/phone holder because I don’t go anywhere without my coffee and water bottle!
The Diaper Bag
One of the biggest thing I changed about my setup after having my second is the diaper bag. With my first, I went with the Mina Baie Stevie bag and don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful. But with two kids, my main priority when we are out and about in the city is carrying as little as possible, and this bag is just too big. I also used to hang it on the back of the stroller with their stroller straps, but when I have the stroller board attached my toddler needs that space to sit.
Now I opt for a small, lightweight bag for my essentials. My go to bag is now my Storq Quick Change Fanny Pack. It comes with a changing pad in it and has a handy front pocket that gives me easy access to my phone or wallet. Here’s a list of what I keep inside:
3-4 diapers
Wipes
Fragrance free paper soap (a game changer for public bathrooms)
Aquaphor (for my hands and baby’s booty if needed)
Change of clothes for baby
Snacks for toddler (usually an applesauce pouch, bar, & fruit snack)
Keys
Wallet (only if I know I need it, otherwise ApplyPay)
Phone
The Tote Bag
This is what I use to carry everything else, and it changes based on our activities. Right now find myself reaching for the tote I got from the hospital as a “gift” for delivering there (looks kinda like this). Nothing like hauling around a $40,000 tote bag that I could buy on Amazon for $13.99. Thankfully, we have great insurance, lol. Here are a couple examples of things I might bring depending on the day. After I pack it up, it goes underneath in my stroller storage.
Museum/Library:
Park/Playground:
Bento Box with lunch/snacks
Extra set of clothes for toddler
One outside toy (like bubbles, soccer ball, sand toys, etc.)
Hauling two kiddos around the city is honestly always an adventure. Some days it goes smoother than others, but we are getting the hang of it! I’m grateful for the little things that make life a little easier, and if I can help out any new moms out there I would continue to say less is more. You don’t need the hottest new products out there, just look at what you have and how you can best use it to provide value in your day-to-day. As long as you have the essentials, you will be just fine! So don’t be afraid to get out there and make memories! Fresh air is good for the soul.
*I am not sponsored by any of these brands, but I may earn a small commission on sales purchased through these links. xoxo, M