Train travel with 5MO - logistics

[QuestioningEveryLittleThing]

I’m about to go on a 1.5hr journey with my 5 month old. I’ve booked first class as it’s not much more expensive and travelling off peak. Although it is cross country and the trains are usually pretty packed no matter what time of day.

I’m wondering how best to do this. Do I take carrier and foldaway pram? But then nowhere to put baby ‘down’ to do anything if that makes sense?! I’m travelling solo. Or do I take pram + car seat and fold wheels in luggage area & have car seat with me. And carrier too. But then I would need to book a second seat for car seat? baby is currently very attached and doesn’t like to be put down for long, or to be sat still for too long either. Been wondering if it’s actually worth the trip to be honest with having to deal with broken naps along the way…

Any advice and reassurance welcome! Thanks so much

I'd do your first plan, pram plus carrier, 1.5 hours isn't that long, you shouldn't really need to put the baby down and if you do (loo or whatever) I'm sure a fellow passenger would take them for 2 mins. That would be perfectly safe, they're not going to go anywhere on a moving train. Don't faff with car seats unless you need it at the other end if the baby doesn't really like being in it would be my thought, if you've got the pram and carrier and changing bag and your own stuff that's plenty to carry already, you don't really want any extra stuff. I'm sure it will be fine, baby may sleep great on the train (rocking etc), even if not it's only a short time and I'm sure worth it to get where you need to be!

If you wear a skirt/dress or trousers with an elasticated waist, that makes it easier to have a wee with the baby still in the carrier.

What we do is have a family and friends railcard and buy a ticket for the little one to get the discount, then we get to book two seats as well. But that's more for longer journeys - we used to bring the bassinet bit of the buggy and put it on the seat.

I did this with DS at a similar age. I took the pram with the car seat and sat in the area near the toilets, where there was a wheelchair space so I could park the buggy (obviously if a wheelchair had come on board I'd have folded the buggy and stashed it). I used a change mat on the floor to change his nappy and the rest of the time he sat on me. We even crossed London on the Tube with no problems.

Can you park the buggy near the doors and then sit with baby? Or just remove car seat with baby in, put on floor, fold buggy part and put on floor near your seat and then get baby out of car seat. Enjoy! I love train travel with small children!

I think you're overthinking, it's not a long journey, just take whatever you need for the end of the journey, either car seat or not, and make it work for the journey. If you dont need a car seat I wouldn't bother

Thank so much for this! So would you put baby in carrier while sat down? Or just if need to move around etc? I would need to put baby down while I put carrier off / on again etc. But I guess I could always pop up the foldaway pram if I need to. He’s not great in the car seat but is happy enough for short journeys. I will look at wheelchair spaces on cross country….

Honestly it will be breezy - just cuddle him when you're sitting down. When you need to put the carrier on, lie him on the seat and stand right next to him / keep one hand on him to stop rolling.

I travel on the trains all the time with my 5 month old. It's super easy. Fold up the pram or pop it in the disabled space if vacant and have baby on your lap. 1.5hrs is really not that long and you will be fine with them on your knee for the journey. You will probably find the whole experience in itself will be enough to keep them entertained. If they do get restless a little walk up and down the train usually does the trick.
Just go to the loo before you get on and ensure any hot drinks you want are in a decent travel cup. Have a great journey 😊

What I would do is:

• leave the car seat at home

• get on train with baby in the carrier and pushchair folded
• store pushchair in luggage rack
• keep baby in carrier for a while especially if they’re likely to go to sleep
• take baby out the carrier if they’re fussy, don’t enjoy being in the carrier etc
• keep the carrier on for the full journey and only take it off (regardless of if the baby is in it) if you need to breastfeed for the journey

I would add: try to fit in a change of clothes for yourself as well as the baby (don't ask me how I know this, it definitely doesn't involve having baby poo all over me on a train).