to take a pram on the train early in the morning?

[starkadder]

Not really an AIBU, although maybe I am. Have to go on a train journey next week with 4 month old DD, hour and a half journey each way. Leaving at 830am, returning 1630, so not peak peak time but probably busy. Want to take a pram type buggy rather than folding pushchair, although I have both, because DM will be looking after DD for the day for me and she'll be much happier with a pram so she can look at DD's smiley little face. But - am I asking for trouble? Any tips for negotiating busy trains with big bulky prams? Should I just take the Maclaren? AIBU to bother the poor commuters with my big baby-mobile?

Just take the pram and leave it in the vestibule, then take child and sit in your seat. I have no idea where you are travelling from, but can't imagine it would be packed enough to be sardine like.

As for jostling commuters, feck em, jostle them right back, prams come in quite handy for ankle jabbing self important twats. Obviously I don't mean central London in the rush hour busy jostling, that would be foolish.

That's not really fair margoandjerry I'm sure people do huff and puff but like others have said, there is often literally no space to be had, anyone trying to get an often unnecessary or unnecessarily large object into an already crowded space would get the same reaction, salaried employee or no.

Also tbh if it was that packed that I had to push onto the train and armpit sniff, then I wouldn't feel comfortable using a sling, too easy for someone to not notice the baby, or accidentally elbow it in the head or something

I agree that you are not being unreasonable, but at that time of the day, many people are just so ignorant, and it is every man/woman for themselves with people just merrily shoving others out of the way. I would just be fearful of someone barging into the pram or running right into it. If you can wait an hour, it would be much less stressful for you.

How else would you get on the train naturesend? It's easy enough to include DC in your personal space with encircling arms and go all mama bear It's not so easy to stop the toddler in the sling playing with other peoples hair though even if they mean it as a compliment!

I think OP has a seat though any way.

Thanks again. Can't wait even 15 mins unfortunately - am cutting it fine for my meeting anyway (wanted to get last train poss b/c of rush hour issue). Pram thing does fold up but not small like the Maclaren would. But actually, being a big bigger and higher up, might be better than Maclaren if I can't fold it, because she'll be better protected in there from barging elbows and knees, IYSWIM.

Could you have her in a sling and get on with the Maclaren pre folded? Then tuck sling under when you go to your meeting.

I once sat opposite a family (mum, dad, toddler and baby) travelling during the morning rush hour. They were getting tuts and looks and nasty comments.
Turned out they were taking their toddler to a long awaited appointment at Great Ormond Street.

Honestly, and speaking as a commuter rather than an occasional traveller, ignore the ignorant twunts. They don't stand for the heavily pregnant or the elderly carrying their own oxygen cylinders and use every trick in the book to hog as much legroom as they can get away with. The lovely commuters won't begrudge you some travel space, the rest aren't worth stressing over.

I mean under the pushchair, not under your clothes!

Can you call the rail company and warn them you'll have a buggy?

It's amazing, piprabbit, isn't it? And even if they were just going out for a jaunt, they are entitled to get on any train they like.

Coffeenwine, unfortunately I do hear a lot of this moaning, in my office. About old people having the temerity to travel on rush hour underground trains and other outrages.

SantieMaggie- nice idea but I doubt they'll care or have enough staff to help.

Agree with MissBetsy - I travelled a lot on trains with DS as a baby. Used to put him in sling to get on train, with pushchair ready-folded. Meant I had no qualms about dropping him when wrestling with commuters to get on!

Depends on the type of train, but I also:

• Used to use the wheelchair carriage. If w/c users got on, then would fold buggy up and move. Tbh, the very few times this happened we ended up sharing the space and having a good chat!
• Used to use the cycle spaces. Not all trains have them but look out for cycle badge on the outside of the carriage as the train pulls in.

One of the train companies I reg used had brilliant space for both wheelchairs and bikes. Others weren't so good, so you'll have to play it by ear if you want to keep the buggy unfolded and baby in the pram as you get on. If it's going to be busy then I recommend you stick to sling/folded pram combo, and go with the smaller pram.

Oh that is a v good idea - baby in sling before get on train - then I can mess about with the buggy (try and fold it in advance) without having to have her under my arm the whole time. Thanks!!

You can book assistance if you are travelling from a manned station :)

Can you go in any earlier.. ie 7.30, even if it means hanging around and having a coffee once you get to the station. It would make a huge difference to the number of people on the train.

Second those who are saying you can book assistance. Other option (depending on train company, e.g. EastCoast) is that carriages may have bicycle storage areas where buggies can also fit - you can call the booking line and get your seat moved to the end of a carriage that has bike storage. You could then leave the pram but still keep an eye.

Most long distance trains also have luggage vans (again, EastCoast does) and a platform guard would help you put it in there.

You know I can hardly begin to imagine what people with pushchaires did before disabled people started to have their own spaces, or toilets.

If you say you are arriving into London at 10am then rush hour should be pretty much over by then. When I'm leaving London I usually aim to get a train that leaves about 10am so I avoid the rush hour on the tube getting there, I don't usually have too much bother.

I agree as others have said, I would have baby in a sling and fold buggy before train gets in,

Didn't know about booking assistance either - will give them a call tomorrow. Earlier train would be more rush hour I think. Thanks, wise mn-ers! New plan is to a) call about booking assistance or changing sears and b) have dd in sling pre getting on train

Ps at the sling under the clothes image....not the look I am really hoping to achieve for my meeting..but would at least be representative of my life...

Can you really book assistance on trains if you have a buggy? That's news to me and would have saved me a lot of trouble all those times rail staff ignored me carrying a buggy up and down flights of stairs to platforms.

It depends on the train. You might not be able to get on. A big buggy takes up as much space as 3-4 adults standing and on a rammed commuter train it would be madness as there wont be space.

I wouldn't take my huge buggy on a commuter train. Take the fold up one and see if there are luggage racks.

I went to London with my twins last week. I took two single Bebe Confort Loola pushchairs (had help from DH on way and friend on way back?.

We travelled on DHs normal train (7.09am) but returned at 3.30pm ish to avoid the pm rush hour. Both ways we left the buggies in the door area, one on each side (took up about half the width of the door), either with a baby in and a parent hovering or with nonbaby in as we were sitting down.

We had no problems getting on as we got on far enough out of London for it to not be busy, and got an early enough train back for it to not be busy. These were commuter route trains, not long distance trains.

If you/DM will find the big pram easier, take it. You might have a few snotty commuters (I am one too ) look disdainfully at you, but you'll manage and your DD will have an easier day. It is a one off - you're not ruining these people's mornings day in day out!

I also think you'll struggle to get on, then once the train is moving, get DD out, get bag off, fold buggy while holding DD and bag, stash buggy and sit down. Sounds like a nightmare to me, so you'll leave either buggy assembled whichever you take. Might as well be the big one

Sorry but I think yabu. The commuter trains are rammed,there is not enough room for all the people without prams,people with huge suitcases etc. Your mum may well want to see your baby smiling away,but you may well not be able to get on the train. Then what would you do? If you are cutting it fine,you are leaving no back up plan if you can't board the train.
I have seen people trying to bring prams on,they simply couldn't board. Cue stressed parent,upset baby (from noise,hectic environment etc). Make your journey as simple as poss. The times you have stated I would consider the edges of peak time in London. I would also suggest you do steel yourself for the commuters. Yes,anyone can use trains but when the service is so crammed,every bit of space is pretty much needed for people wherever possible. Also,a buggy will be easier to lift off & manoeuvre,there are often quite big gaps between train & platform.
Sorry if that isn't what you want to hear,but having commuted around London for years,it's the reality.