Pushchairs on escalators

[Orissiah]

Excuse the stupid question but I am going on the London Underground on Monday for the first time (alone) with my six week old baby in her pram (she faces me in her Bugaboo Bee).

How should I balance the pram on the escalators (this question would apply to a shopping mall with escalators too!)?

Also, I'm expecting to ask a random person to help me carry the buggy down the stairs into the Tube station itself. But how do you negotiate stairs?

Thanks,
O

[BouncingTurtle]

You shouldn't use pushchairs on escalators - I think many tube stations have lifts now? I would be prepared to get someone to assist you folding the pushchair and carrying lo and pushchair down stairs and escalators. Don't suppose you would consider a sling - this might be a lot easier, plus you'll have your hands free.

[misdee]

tbh i would take a sling and a backpack changing bag instead. or ask someone to carry the buggy downstairs whilst u carry the baby.

[Bumdiddley]

No idea what a Bugaboo Bee looks like. Four wheels??

You can either carry your own buggy up/ down the stairs, look pathetic at stairs or ask someone. I have used all of these!

Good Luck

[Morloth]

Yeah if you can go the sling, buggies are a PITA in London.

TBH, I was quite happy to take the boy UP the escalator in the pushchair, just pushed him onto the step before and braced it against myself, however I never took him DOWN in it, always took baby out, fold, take them down and then reassemble at the bottom.

Seriously though buggies + tube = nightmare in my experience, especially if you are going to be on during peak hour.

[lazaroulovesleggings]

Please don't take a pram on an escalator. I've seen one fall down. Your baby is only six weeks, it's not worth it.

[Bumdiddley]

many Tubes have lifts

Hardly any have lifts!!

Never taken baby out of buggy either??

[beforesunrise]

i have mclaren techno, and go up and down escalators np. i put the back wheels on the step, and hold on tight! i also go up and down the normal stairs (often did with dd1 up until she was 2 yo), i just lift/ease down the back wheels. tbh though, i always had offers to help me with normal stairs (then i hold the handles and they hold the bottom), and i have always graciously accepted!

alternatively, you can get a sling...

[spicemonster]

I always take my baby on the tube up and down escalators. If I didn't, we wouldn't go anywhere. I have a volo and I just hold tightly onto the handles. I don't see why I'm any more likely to drop it than I am to fall down myself.

And people always help on stairs.

[BouncingTurtle]

Well I admit it's been a while since I was in London...
Was supposed to be going down a few weeks back and would have used the baby carrier rather than the push chair.
Even only taking the pushchair up the escalator isn't great - remember some of the escalators are very, very long!

[MrsBadger]

take the sling
much easier, esp if you are not used to the tube
or use the Journey Planner to see if you can avoid stations with stairs.

FWIW, when I went to London with dd at 6wks to get her passport I took the mainline train into Paddington and walked to Victoria (about an hour each way) rather than try and take the pram on the tube.

[tassisssss]

I have popped child in sling and carried stroller when using undergrounds. Realise this isn't going to work with a Bugaboo and a 6 week old. The underground in glasgow only allow puschairs if they're folded so no scope to look pathetic and hope someone'll help you (which IME they generally do!)

[spicemonster]

But yes, with a really small baby, I took him in the sling. It's only now mine is such a huge heifer that I take him in the pushchair

[beforesunrise]

i don't think it's such a pain actually, i have no idea what your buggy looks like, but if it's like a techno i would say no problem, just be careful!

[Bumdiddley]

Please ignore the doom mongers. I have been travelling on the tube with my dcs for 3 years and using the tube most of my life and never seen anyone fall with a buggy.

beforesunrise - that's what I do.

I have used slings too. People may offer you a seat but you won't be immune to the pushing/ jostling.

[beforesunrise]

Spice- the mark of a true londoner :-)

i also use public transport of all kinds with the kids and buggies etc.

but then again i suppose if you live in central london and you know you are going to need to use public transport a lot, you choose your push-chair accordingly

[Morloth]

"Please ignore the doom mongers" I think that is a bit harsh, people are just giving their experience/advice.

[MrsBadger]

or just take a lovely stroll through the park instead

London born and bred, me - currently in provincial exile

[misdee]

bugaboo bee not sure i'd take one on escalators tbh. we currently use a volo for dd3 (she is now 3years old), so if we have to go on the 'moving stairs' as she calls them, then i fold it, sling it on my back and hold her hand.

i hate taking buggies on escalators.

[beforesunrise]

anyway, orissiah i am sure you will be fine and once you are there you will immediately figure it out! it's not rocket science really, and contrary to popular belief londoners are really quite sweet to babies and helpless ladies with prams! i have even seen my boss helping a lady with a buggy at bank station at rush hour when we were already very late for a meeting

[lazaroulovesleggings]

Bumdiddley, just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it will never happen.

[beforesunrise]

yes but it doesn't mean it will happen to orissiah!

come on guys- i am sure she is smart enough to figure out that she has to be a bit careful with it? and the bugaboo bee looks like it's been designed with urban use in mind, i am sure she will be fine!

[lazaroulovesleggings]

I wasn't saying it would definitely happen. I was pointing out that I have seen it happen and it is not worth the risk.

Nothing doom mongering about that.

[belgo]

I would use a sling. But then I'm used to smings. I've managed to get a pushchair stuck on the top step of an escalator - it panicked me a bit but I managed not to fall.

[belgo]

slings not smings!

[belgo]

When you have a small baby, everything is just so much easier carrying the baby in a sling rather then negotiating a pram in a big city. I felt a huge sense of freedom carrying my dd1 in a sling.