Our hallway is about 26 inches wide past the coat closet, and my partner just dragged home a full-size stroller from her cousin. It folds, but folded it still eats the whole entry. She wants one of those over-the-door hooks for the back of the apartment door; I say the door is hollow and it’ll pull the hinges out. We have no storage cage, the super won’t allow it in the lobby, and the stair landing is not an option. Is the bathtub parking method actually sustainable, or should we just sell it and get a compact stroller before the baby figures out how full the tub is? Open to wall/ceiling tricks if they don’t require losing the security deposit.

I’d skip the bathtub long-term. We did that with a car seat once and you end up shuffling it every bath/baby bath, and the wheels leave drips on the tub. Over-the-door steel hook can work, but only if the door has a real top hinge and a solid frame. If the door’s hollow, use a hinge-pin door rack? Actually that might mark the wall. We ended up using a folding stroller as a hallway coat rack/table, but our hall is wider. If the full-size is too big, the daily answer is likely a lighter umbrella or a compact stroller, not a storage hack.

We just moved to Dyker and have the same issue with a full-size stroller. A neighbor told me people around here leave strollers in the vestibule, but the super said no way and that the fire department writes violations. Is that true? Also would a bike hook in the ceiling work? My husband says it’s the only way because our stroller doesn't really fold flat. We tried behind the couch, but it leans and the fabric gets dusty. How do you not scuff the walls when you carry it in? Sorry if this is basic.

DykerNewbie, your super isn't bluffing—common hallways/vestibules are egress, and the FDNY can and does write violations for that. Ceiling hook can work, but you need to hit a beam or stud, and renters usually can't just drill. If you do it, you'll fix it on the way out. For wall scuffs, add adhesive felt pads to the frame/wheels. Flatbush_Fi, door hooks are hit or miss; adjusting the hinge with a cheap shim kit can help, but if the door is hollow you'll hear it every time. The best city solution is usually: full-size lives in the car/trunk if you have one, and a compact is the apartment stroller.

The car/trunk idea is actually undoing me because we don't have a car. I think the real answer is we need to choose between daily convenience and storage sanity. I'm leaning compact for weekdays and maybe keep the full for weekend trips at grandma's? But that still means storing it here. Anybody got a compact they actually like that doesn't feel like a toy stroller?

Different problem, but this has the same 'building is gaslighting me' energy as [Prewar gas oven dial says 350, thermometer says 425 — am I the problem or is the thermostat shot?](Prewar gas oven dial says 350, thermometer says 425 — am I the problem or is the thermostat shot?) because it's a mismatch between what the building gives you and what daily life actually needs. For the stroller, if the door is already sagging, don't hang more weight. I'd fix the hinges first, then add an over-the-door hook with the widest top bar you can find. If the closet is too shallow, park it folded with the handle down against the wall and put a runner behind it.

Thanks, that makes sense. We didn't know about FDNY in vestibules. We tried an over-the-door hook on the bathroom door but then the bathroom door couldn't close, so that was a fail. Does anyone have a compact stroller rec that folds one-handed and is still okay on bumpy sidewalks? We might sell the full-size. Also is there a used gear shop in Brooklyn that doesn't require a car to get to? I just don't want another Facebook Marketplace ghost.

DykerNewbie, one-handed fold strollers are out there but usually cost real money. For Brooklyn resale, try the kid consignment spot in Park Slope or the parents group near you. You'd be surprised what shows up. The trick with bumpy sidewalks is larger rear wheels, not full-size. For the small apartment, find a model that folds flat enough to slide under the couch or bed, not behind the door. If you're not using it daily, selling the full-size is not crazy. Full size in a one-bedroom with no car is just a piece of furniture with wheels.

We are now at the acceptance stage: the stroller lives folded next to the entry with a small tray on top. It's a shoe bench, package holder, and one day it will be a stroller again. I wouldn't let the super see that though. Whatever route you pick, make sure the wheels don't touch the door or the wall at night—nyc apartments are too small to be fighting a stroller at 6 a.m.