London Underground with Child

[LokiCokey]

Please can someone explain to me how I travel on the underground with a 5 year old?
I've only ever used a travel card but it's so expensive now that I've bought cheap train tickets into London and plan to use my card to tap in and out of the tube (never done this before). TFL says my DD will be free but how do I tap and get us both through the barrier? What am I missing?

Go through the family/disabled/suitcase barrier. I did it on Wednesday, dead easy

You just need to go through the pushchair/wheelchair/wide gate. Tap your Oyster and then the child walks in front of you and you both go through together. If you get stuck then just ask the people at the gate - I assume you'll be travelling to stations where this is a common occurrence so the gates will be manned.

I always keep the children close to me and walk through the barriers together if there isn’t a staffed barrier. Not ideal
if it’s really crowded or you’re travelling with more than one child.

Ah amazing thank you, hadn't even thought about the accessible gates, that makes sense! Just one child and touristy stations so should be help on hand if I get stuck

I had visions of us getting wedged in a barrier trying to both fit through

There's a barrier that's a gate that you can swing open or is wider for disabled and people with luggage and buggies etc. Just tap in there.
Ideally avoid peak times in very busy touristy areas just bc you're unlikely to get a seat. But with the child on your lap you stand a better chance.

The extra wide gate is designed for that purpose.
(not sure why you think it isn't "ideal" @Imnotarestaurant because that's exactly part of the reason larger gates exist)

I take my 3 through all the time (Londoner). We use the larger gates. Not come across a station that doesn't have a larger gate!

If you're going to the museums in South Ken then use Gloucester Road. SK is CRAZY during the school holidays and they frequently close the station and/or heavily restrict access around the times that the museums close. It brings you out at the other end of the NHM on Cromwell Road, so by the time you've navigated the chaos that is SK station you'll have walked from Gloucester Road.

That said, I would not advise going to those museums in the school holidays as they're rammed, but lots of people do want to do it - go to some of the others like the post office one instead.

@brainstories568 thanks, we have tickets for the design museum so will be High Street Kensington

It’s surprisingly easy as there is usually a staff member on the access gates and I always found them super friendly/helpful.