would you call this an emergency?

[mamamibbo]

if you had gone half an hour away on the train, also a 20 minish walk from your house with a newborn and 18 month old in a double pram and a 3 year old walking

if your pram broke when you were just heading back to the train station with your shopping , no one else is available to help you, its 4 hours until your husband finishes work near homen and you have a child at school that needs picking up in 3 hours...

would you consider this an emergency and ring your husband at work?

I wouldn't call it an emergency.

I'd try local friends first. Then ring DH and see how busy he was. If he was busy I'd get a taxi.

I'd also try to fix the pram :) If push came to shove I'd carry the baby and make the toddler walk. It'd take a while but we'd get there. I wouldn't assume that DH was able to drop everything and come out.

This happened to me. I bought a roll of strong tape and stuck the pram back together using a stick I found in the gutter as a splint - worked until we got home. Had that not worked I might have called DH and discussed what to do next. He works an hour away, so him whizzing to get me would not be my first thought.

You seem to have covered all other option, so yes ring your husband.

What about the 18 month old, red? You'd carry a newborn and an 18 month old, hold onto a three year old, carry shopping and drag a broken pram on a 20 minute walk, a train journey and another 20 minute walk?

You're bloody superwoman you are [respect]

I like the stick and tape idea. Good work.

OP, I do think you're brave going shopping with a newborn, toddler and a 3yo though. I wouldn't fancy my chances if I'm being honest.

Where are you? I'll come and get you!

Seriously, hope you manage to get home safely.

I wouldn't exactly call it an 'emergency' as such but I would call DH immediately, explain the problem & then give him a list of any twigs/ivy I could see & demand he comes up with a way to fix the pram. There's a reason I married a structural engineer!

I'd get a taxi.

I have rung DH to come over to the house with his keys when I was locked out before and he/his work didn't mind, so it probably would be okay for him to go and rescue me with a broken pram - but in this situation a taxi seems like the easiest option.

Kids don't legally have to use carseats in taxi's if you are concerned about that (and assuming you are comfortable with that also)

How is the pushchair broke? If its completely non useable I would try to get
A bus,
then taxi,
then call DP to say we might need you,
then ring anyone I know with a double to drop one off,
then try anyone with a car who can give give us a lift.
Only after all that I would ask DP to collect us.

I'd call it a challenging situation.
Do you have food for the baby and snack for the other 2 on you? can you move with broken buggy?

If you are just slowed down & can get to school for pick up then its difficult but not emergency.

If you can get a taxi, its not an emergency.

If you either have not food for babies and/or buggy is immobilised and you can't get a taxi, then yes it is an emergency.

Why does it have to be an emergency? I would call DP and we'd talk and sort it out and he would come and help me if he could & I needed it.

I... didn't even think of that jojo (DH is mech eng!)

Why do you ask? Are you stuck somewhere now? If you could let us know the rough area then someone might be able to help.

In my case I folded the pushchair and left in a bus shelter and went and collected it in car once I'd got home. I carried 18 month old and cajoled 3 year old into walking. BUT you've got one more child than that, plus shopping, need to get train and probably not so nearby so dumping pushchair not such a good idea. I'd deffo call my DH and would ask him to come if he could.

Surely, DH's job is what's relevant. For example if he is a surgeon and you knew he would be operating all day then no it is not worth calling him at work but if he has a job where he's free to leave his place of work easily/understanding employers then yes, why not give him a ring.

Many congratulations on being able to go shopping with 3 under 4. I takes my hat off to you

its happened already, i called him at work and he came out for us, dropped us at home and went back and he got in trouble at work because his boss said it wasnt an emergency

the prams knackered btw a metal bar snapped and its going back to the manufacturers so they can see what happened

thanks for the replies :)

Wow, most of you are much braver/ stronger than me. I struggle to get my 3 year old and newborn down the stairs some days.

What did your DH say, OP?

he works in a factory aswell so no one died while he was gone or anything

Boo to your DH's work. What does he do?

X post. I see. Boss IBU.

I'd try a taxi / friends / mum first, and if that failed I'd call dh. Not that dh would be much use to me, he can't drive

I'd definitely have ring DH. Your post sounds like you got an (unfair) bollocking, did you?

rung

Double boo in that case!

What DH does is relevant. My OH can't leave work easily, I can skip out very easily.

It's not an emergency, but it is a big inconvenience. However, having the newborn with you means that the situation could very easily turn into an emergency, so it's not unreasonable to make your OH aware of the situation via a phone call, so that he could advise his employers he might need to leave at short notice if you're unable to fix the pushchair or get a taxi/other form of transport.