Train travel with baby - feeing anxious

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My DS is 4.5 months, this will be our 6th train journey (north to London) today but I messed up my train tickets and managed to buy the same leg twice, I realised 2 days ago and had to purchase a new ticket by which point it's really busy. I usually put the pram in the wheelchair space, obviously unless there is a user there. But I haven't been able to reserve seats in the carriage that has this.

Do I try to get on that carriage and hope the space is available?

Or do I get on my carriage, try to fold the pram while holding my baby and the suitcase and have him on my lap.

I'm feeling ridiculously anxious. I've woken up with a terrible sore throat, start of a cold and I'm not thinking straight 😩

Chill,it will be fine. Take some paracetamol, garggle with salt water and take a deep breath, you can do this x

I'm glad you've got a foldable!

Yes, you fold it and then take your seats.

Practice if necessary - I noi'll sound a bit bracing here, but you are worrying over nothing. Before the roll-out of so many more accessible options, everyone folded to get on and off public transport. It's daunting before you do it the first time, but it really isn't difficuit.

You could find a guard/station staff/friendly bystander to hold stuff if you cannot carry everything at once. But if you use a rucksack, then have baby on one hip, you have the other hand to foold, carry and stow the pushchair.

Oh don’t worry , I’ve been on really busy trains with a double pushchair and no reservations .

Re the crowds , seats etc , before you get on , try to find a staff member on the platform to help you onto the train .

I had a really wonderful guy on the platform who took me into the carriage I needed on the platform and actually held all the crowds back until I had gotten on the train with my pushchair .

I’m sure Ull be fine

I’ve never had to fold my pushchair . I think one train manager told me they would normally ask me to just once , but once he saw I had a double he decided to turn a blind eye .

Thanks everyone. I've done it before I just still get nervous. Ive got a bugaboo bee I can't fold it with one hand so hopefully a nice person can hold my baby eeeek.

I'm still not sure whether to chance the wheelchair space being free... this is so much better if I can put the pram here. The train only has 2 stops and is fast from York so I wouldn't need to move. But if it is taken I'd have to walk back through the train with pram and suitcase .... 🤔

Do you have a sling? If so, I would recommend baby in the sling so you can fold the pram on the platform ahead of time, eye up who looks helpful on the platform and ask them nicely if they will help you with pram or suitcase.

Also recommend putting what you want with you during the journey in a small bag keeping it separate.

I'm on the return leg and I didn't bring my sling unfortunately

Are you getting on at the beginning of the route or one of the later stops? If its the middle I would forget about the wheelchair space and just head straight for your reserved seats. Getting a pram and luggage down an aisle can be really hard. My experience is that people are usually willing to help (esp if it means baby cuddles for a few minutes!) But even now with my older kids someone usually helps with my suitcase while I'm getting the kids on and off the train (6yo DD hates the gaps between the train and platform so I have to pick her up) .

You'll be able to spot plenty of fellow travellers who will help, OP, even if just with the suitcase and manhandling the pram while you sort baby. Especially as you're travelling outside of busy times. I've lined myself up to help someone loads of times having spotted them (it doesn't benefit anyone to wait for someone struggling when you want to get going yourself) but been beaten to it by two or three other people with the same idea.

I'm waiting at the station. I got over the bridge 😂 will ask the staff to help me on. I know I've got this. Just don't think they make train travel baby friendly whatsoever

Well done. I used to go on that route and usually someone was happy to hold the baby while I faffed.

Eeee I’m on. A massive corporate group of men are going to the York races in their suits, one of them was in the seat with the disabled space and he kindly moved and went elsewhere. Really friendly and nice. I thought he was going to have to stand but he found a seat. Two stops then it’s fast from York. So fingers crossed no wheelchairs get on.