Quick Answer
Clue: “Tricky things to navigate with a stroller”
Answer: STEPS
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 9-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Tricky things to navigate with a stroller” is answered with STEPS, pointing to stair steps that are hard to manage when pushing a stroller.
Why STEPS Is the Right NYT Answer
- Parents and caregivers routinely describe stairs/steps as one of the hardest obstacles to handle with a stroller, especially when there’s no ramp or elevator. Crossword answer sites for the January 29, 2026 NYT Mini explicitly list STEPS as the 5-letter answer for this exact clue.
- The clue’s “tricky things” wording fits perfectly with the idea of steps being physically awkward and potentially unsafe to navigate while pushing or carrying a stroller.
What STEPS Means in Plain English
- Steps are the individual flat surfaces that make up a staircase, forming a short or long flight you go up or down.
- When you’re using a stroller, each step is a small height change you must lift, tilt, or bump the stroller over, which makes them “tricky” compared with smooth sidewalks or ramps.
- In everyday speech, people often say things like “There are a few steps out front; it’s tough with a stroller,” matching the real-world scenario behind the clue.
Crossword-Specific Help for STEPS
- In the grid, STEPS appears as S T E P S; crossings may first reveal S_EPS or ST_PS, which quickly resolve to STEPS once you focus on obstacles and movement.
- Crossword clue archives show STEPS as a regular answer for prompts such as “Stair parts,” “Things you climb,” “Stairway segments,” and occasionally more playful clues about obstacles.
- Because it’s a simple, common plural with friendly letters, STEPS fits nicely in many 5-letter slots, making it a frequent NYT Mini choice.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue mixes movement (navigate, climb, descend) with obstacles and you see 5 letters, consider STEPS, especially if the subject is strollers, wheelchairs, or luggage.
- Look for context words like “stairs,” “stairway,” or “flight,” which nearly always signal STEPS or STAIRS, depending on length.
If crossings give S_EPS or _TEPS in a context involving buildings, entries, or accessibility, STEPS is usually the cleanest fill.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 29, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Employees, collectively | View Answer |
| 6A | The “L” of TTYL | View Answer |
| 7A | Slowly lessen, as political support | View Answer |
| 8A | Dunkin’ offering | View Answer |
| 9A | Tricky things to navigate with a stroller | View Answer |
| 1D | Toys that go on the decline in winter? | View Answer |
| 2D | Set of fortunetelling cards | View Answer |
| 3D | Make amends | View Answer |
| 4D | Out of patience | View Answer |
| 5D | Guitar bars | View Answer |
