As of 2023, approximately 6 percent of New York City's population was under the age of 5, and approximately 21 percent of the population was between ages 5 and 17. Combined, this means that children and adolescents make up roughly one-quarter of the city's population. If you’re expecting a child or planning to have a child soon, this means you won’t be alone. Despite the fact that most New Yorkers live in much smaller homes than other Americans, it is a great place to raise children and offers incredible advantages. That said, some residential options are more child-friendly than others.

This article outlines ten considerations all expecting parents should think about before they rent or buy an apartment in New York City. We also look at apartments with room for families to grow in buildings with child-friendly services and amenities.

Access to an elevator

Even if you're young, fit, and determined to carry your child until they start walking on their own, you'll likely want to live in an elevator building. Carrying a child, stroller, diaper bag, and groceries up five flights of stairs in a walk-up only seems viable to most New Yorkers until they have done it.

Full service

Children love doormen, and why wouldn't they? Who doesn't want to get high-fived on the way home from school or soccer practice? But that's not why expecting parents should consider renting or buying in a doorman building. Having children means you'll be coming and going from your building many times a day, often with a lot of gear and packages. An attended lobby with another set of eyes minding all your packages and family members can make life much easier.

Amenities

If you don't have children, you may have little need for a community room. If you have a preschooler and are preparing to host ten other preschoolers and their parents in your living room, even the dingiest community room may suddenly take on the aura of a luxury amenity. If you have children, there are going to be playdates, birthday parties, and other special events that require you to open up private space on a fairly regular basis. If you're living in a small New York City apartment, the ability to host guests without cramming everyone into your actual apartment is a huge bonus.

Noise policies

Different buildings are more family-friendly than others. If you're thinking about having a child or already having one on the way, ensure you move into a building with a relaxed attitude about noise. After all, you don’t want to end up living above a curmudgeon who can't handle the pitter-patter of little footsteps or occasional cry.

Storage

Babies and toddlers may be tiny, but this doesn't mean they don't take up a lot of space. From the "gear" (strollers, car seats, scooters, tricycles, and the list goes on and on) to all those little outfits, shoes, and toys they seem to be constantly needing or wanting and outgrowing, small people tend to have a large footprint on one’s living space. If you're a minimalist at heart and don't want to adopt the aesthetic of a daycare, you'll also want to live in a building with storage.

Room to grow

While an infant might fit nicely into a bassinet in the corner of your bedroom, and a toddler or young child may be happy to live in a dining nook flexed into a second bedroom, that's not a permanent solution: Children will need more space and privacy as they grow up. If you're already expecting or planning to have or adopt one more children in the near future, leave room to grow, even if it's simply buying a larger flat that can be creatively and legally flexed down the line.

Safety

Thankfully, most New York City neighborhoods are relatively safe, but once you have children, your sense of what "safe" means may shift. Likewise, once you have children, everything from fire escapes to loose electrical sockets will become a hazard. Take time to carefully assess your neighborhood, building, and unit with an eye to living there with someone too young to know what is and is not a hazard.

Parks

Until children reach middle school, trips to the playground tend to be a daily ritual. As a result, access to a safe local park is essential. If you don't already have children, get to know the neighborhood and ask about park access. It may not be on your radar yet, but it will be soon.

Schools

New York City public elementary school placements are nearly always based on your school zone, which is determined by your home address. Middle schools and even high school placements also are generally based on your school district. If you are opting for the public system and care about the reputation and quality of your child's school, it is important to consider the quality of local schools before renting or buying. In fact, even if you don't have a child yet but plan to have one soon, especially if you're buying, you'll want to consider whether the local schools meet your expectations.

Neighborhood services and walk score

From social events to after-school activities to medical appointments, it is easy for parents of young children to spend several hours a day bringing their children to birthday parties, sports practices, music and art lessons, and doctor and dentist appointments. Living in a service-rich neighborhood where nearly everything is within walking distance can have a huge impact on one's time and one's sanity.