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Parenting

Do you take your pushchair on the escalators??

56 replies

Fcukfifa · 29/04/2014 20:49

As above!

I did it once on the escalators in our hotel on holiday, the wheel jammed at the top and I nearly went arse over tit over the pram.

My partner does it if we go shopping whilst I stand behind cringing.

Seen lots of people doing it, so was just wondering about the vast majority on here??

Am I the only un-coordinated dick head who can't be trusted on escalators?!

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Bunbaker · 29/04/2014 20:52

In most places where there are escalators there are notices telling you not to take prams and pushchairs on them - for very good reasons as you have found out. In our local shopping centre there are lifts next to the escalators for this reason.

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hotcrosshunny · 29/04/2014 20:54

Yes but if going up I go behind and tip the pushchair onto its back wheels. Same when going down. Better control that way. Sometimes lifts arent an option eg on the tube.

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Bellossom · 29/04/2014 20:56

No. I'm not strong enough. I folded pushchair up and carried it whilst holding my son once. I use a sling on tube / places without lifts

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Fcukfifa · 29/04/2014 21:01

Bunbaker, they do have signs on the escalators at the shopping centre but no one takes any notice of them!


Hotcrosshunny, see I can get how that is the way to do it but once on them I went into a panic induced trance and suddenly lost all common sense, had a dress on too so can only imagine to horror scene from behind me Grin

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YussMinister · 29/04/2014 21:01

Really depends where, I don't like it much either. I have to sometimes on the tube. I use lifts where I can. There should be a long enough flat bit at the top of the escalator for you to not get the front wheels jammed!

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hotcrosshunny · 29/04/2014 21:05

Grin I always have a moment of panic until the pushchair is safely on/off!

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MoreSkyThanWeNeed · 29/04/2014 21:10

I'm way too much of a rule abider to even think about doing this. The pictures tell you not to!

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5madthings · 29/04/2014 21:15

Yes I do, I have a wrist strap as well on my pushchair, big three wheel one so going up I am a step higher than the pushchair and I have it on the back wheels. Going down I have it in the step below me, so pushchair on first, again on its back wheels.

At some stations etc there aren't lifts of our local shopping centre they are often out of order.

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WeAreEternal · 29/04/2014 21:16

When DS was a baby a mum I knew from the mother and baby group lost her grip/balance while on an escalator with her pram, she and the pram both fell down the escalator from 2/3rds of the way up all the way up the bottom, knocking down another passanger on the way down.

The carrycot came detached from the chase in the fall and the baby who was only two months old was injured and had to spend a some time in hospital. The mum had a broken wrist and was badly battered and bruised.
Thankfully they both recovered with no lasting damage.

Escalators have the no pushchair signs for a reason. Every time I see a pushchair on a escalator I think of that mum and her baby and it makes me feel sick. It's such a needlessly reckless thing to do, if a place has escalators it will also have a lift, so why take the risk.

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Nocomet · 29/04/2014 21:17

Yes, I often did, but I had a mountain buggy that bounced in and off on it's big wheels very neatly.

Because it's seat was basicly a hammock you just lent it back and even escape artist DD1 was unable to cause trouble.

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5madthings · 29/04/2014 21:20

nocomet my buggy is an instep nipper 360, so very similar to a mountain buggy. And dd is strapped in and can't escape.

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drinkyourmilk · 29/04/2014 21:22

I have done when necessary-ie no lifts, but as a rule no I don't.
I've also had to take a disabled adult on an escalator while they were using a wheelchair. Train had broken down and there were no lifts at that station. There were two members of station staff helping. I was absolutely petrified! And my poor friend!

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Vijac · 29/04/2014 21:39

Very occasionally when I'm feeling naughty and there is a massive queue for the lifts. But generally no.

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HugoTheHippo · 29/04/2014 22:33

I do when I have to, like travelling on the tube in certain London Underground stations. I have a similar technique to hotcrosshunny - I'm always higher than the pushchair and I push down on the handle to keep it level, with the weight on the back wheels. I would always prefer to use a lift, and it's bad for my back, but needs must!

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firstpost · 30/04/2014 15:18

My MIL did this with my 5 month old PFB Hmm

I was shouting from the bottom and flailing my arms wildly at the lift she walked past to get there.

She said I was being ridiculous and everybody does it.

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Nocomet · 30/04/2014 15:38

Also the original Mountain Buggy had a very low, sharp metal 'foot rest'. (You'd need a 8y to be that tall)

People were in danger of tripping over the front wheel and landing on DD in lifts. It was very long and very antisocial, if the lift was busy and there were wheel chairs or elderly people queuing I took the escalator.

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williwonti · 01/05/2014 02:55

No and would urge you not to. Have some experience in lift /escalator industry and some of the injuries are horrific...it's not worth it.

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jaggythistle · 01/05/2014 04:54

No.

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Thumbwitch · 01/05/2014 04:56

Have done but try really hard not to, I don't like doing it.
I do take it on the inclined travelators though.

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MiaowTheCat · 01/05/2014 07:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 01/05/2014 13:01

I don't like it, but most tube stations don't have lifts. I make DH hold the buggy.

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DrFunkesFamilyBandSolution · 01/05/2014 13:09

I would never do it.

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gamerchick · 01/05/2014 13:13

No I didn't.

I've seen people fall from near top to bottom of those things.. I may have a good grip on my pram but the person a few steps in front might not be holding on properly.

But I'm not a 'it won't happen to me type'.

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gamerchick · 01/05/2014 13:14

I don't like going down them with or without a pram. It would be like Dominos.

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SaltyGoodness · 01/05/2014 22:32

Think it's up to your own judgement - I do it but I am fairly strong and not at all clumsy. Plus it's often the only option at many tube stations including my home one. But I wouldn't do it if I had doubts about my own strength and dexterity.

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