To think that all the people who say "fold your buggy" are being a bit daft?

[Pyjamaramadrama]

I regularly read threads on here about buggies on buses and they get quite heated.

The consensus seems to be that buggies should be folded.

Before anyone says anything I absolutely think that wheelchair users and other disabilities need to take priority for obvious reasons.

However the type of prams for newborns would be nearly impossible for a parent on their own to fold while holding a baby and possibly shopping etc. it's much easier with a toddler who can stand and a stroller which can be easily folded. But you simply cannot put a newborn in a stroller. I'm pregnant with #2 and I've searched for the most compact, easy to fold pram, but I still wouldn't fancy trying to board a bus with a floppy newborn while trying to fold pram and negotiate my bags.

Lucky for me I drive but I can remember being in the predicament with my firstborn of having to get the bus on older style buses and I simply couldn't do it, I had a lie flat pram where the pram needed to be removed to fold the chassis, packs of nappies and formula and newborn ds, I had no Internet access at the time so no online shopping and I ended up in tears once trying to board a bus and dropping everything and the driver and passengers just staring at me.

Also perhaps it is just where I live but all the new buses now have buggy and wheelchair zones so there is room for everyone most of the time.

As I'll say again wheelchair users do come first as ultimately a parent could probably walk if necessary, but why do some people seem to be so against anything which makes new parents lives easier? Maybe they've forgotten what it's like or haven't had to manage the bus alone with newborn.

Oh and my parents and grandparents reckon it was a nightmare with the old buses before buggy zones as they simply couldn't board the bus with a pram.

Tondelay :)

I saw a really bizarre single buggy with a side basket thing the other day... Is that the new fashion? It was huge!

In the 90s and early noughties, buggies tended to be simpler, forward facing affairs with many simple to fold options, which folded quite small. And many buses (particularly thoses in the sticks) still had masses of luggage space, so you could get a couple of folded buggies and a few bags of shopping on the racks.

Of course, those buses also had steps to climb up to get on them, a pole in the middle of the door and nowhere for anyone to park either an unfolded buggy or their wheelchair.

It's only in the past 7 or 8 years that we've been able to guarantee a level access bus to Durham from our village. I bought a lightweight Graco Citi for DS1,once he was past the newborn stage in case I had to get out with him. Before then, I used a sling or carrier, since Durham is not at all buggy friendly, anyhow. Once DS2 came along, I didn't bother, as not only were many of the buses still inaccessible, they only ran once an hour, and only when they felt like it - they were often cancelled with no explanation given. Not something to risk with a baby and an exceptionally hyperactive toddler.

Op, sorry ,just seen your reply. Yes, things can be easier nowadays. That doesn't mean they always will be though, does it?
Why wouldn't you have a choice of buggy? Umbrella buggies are very cheap. Buy a buggy thats suitable for your lifestyle.
Are people really forced to live miles away from shops? Ok then. I've spent all my 55 years in towns. Guess I was lucky there.

In my day , well 1994 actually when I had DS1 MIL bought our pram. We chose it, and as he was PFB, we went for a posh one rather than a practical one, it was fecking white FFS! It was a Mamas and Papas thing, but one thing DH did insist on was it was easy to fold, and it had a button that you pressed and it folded/unfolded with one hand. It took up loads of room and was a PITA.

As soon as DS1 was old enough we swapped for a umbrella buggy, which made bus travel much easier. We had no choice but to fold. DS1 would be handed to a friendly looking old lady to hold (often for the whole journey) while I folded and and got the shopping on.

When DS2 was born I couldn't push the M&P because I had severe SPD which never went away, so we bought a Graco Mirage (I think it was). It was easy to fold, lightweight and could be used from birth. He was a big lad and still used at almost 3, then DN had it.

It might seem daft to you when people say "fold" but it's not because disabled people suffer because parents\carers don't. The reason why buses are able to take your buggy is because they have to be accessible to the disabled by law. It is a courtesy to take buggies, but now people see it as an entitlement and won't move or fold for wheelchairs.

I had one of the rare buggies that's foldable and suitable from birth for twins (Mountain Buggy Duet) but even if it didn't fold away to pretty much exactly the same size as it is unfolded, what would I have done with the two babies? I mostly gave up taking the bus with the girls as I couldn't be bothered with the low level aggression I experienced even in the middle of the afternoon when the bus was half empty - I found out when the kids were about 18 months that I could get the buggy into a black cab so then if we were ever out and caught short, I'd take a taxi. I was far happier to spend £6 on a taxi than deal with the choir of tutters every time, I know everyone can't do that, but I wonder if it would give pause to any of the people who used to frown and sigh and refuse to move to let us on? Probably not.

Maclaren and Graco buggies don't fit my criteria. Gracos are small and Maclarens have buggerall shopping storage. And Maclarens are heavy to push. I probably should have added a 'not as flimsy as a house of cards' too - in which case Graco might fail (and I love a Graco in many other ways)

If I am waiting for a bus and I see 2 buggies in it, or 1 wheelchair user, I wait for the next one, and plan my schedule accordingly.

On my local buses it's sort of how it works. If people see you get on with a buggy, and they're standing in the wheelchair space, they move (and yes, I say thank you) (and wonder, given the spritely way they skipped out of the way and bent themselves around a pole to swivel into a position at the back of the bus, why the Jim Fuck they couldn't ascend the stairs) and you wait for a bus with space. I don't see many people fold buggies and pushchairs.

lol at 'take baby out first' - you know maybe that's where I've been going wrong.....

Mclarens aren't heavy to push!

I suppose you need to buy according to what your lifestyle is like, if you regularly use the buses it's just making your life harder to buy a huge bulky pram.

Something like the mini jogger folds one handed like a dream. And opens easily using one hand.

If you don't use public transport you don't need to consider that.

"Buy a buggy thats suitable for your lifestyle."

And if it includes buses, make it bus friendly.

I had a buggy from day one - it was a Maclaren buggy that was suitable for newborns, the seat went completely flat. I don't know if they still make them like that. It was easily foldable. I was offered a marvellous pram but as I would have had to have taken off a wheel every time I put it in my car boot, I didn't bother with it. I went for practicality over beauty.

I don't think I ever went on a bus with it, but often folded it in cafes etc.

I used a McLaren techno from birth, I don't drive so used buses a lot. As others have said- if you are using public transport it makes sense to get an easily foldable buggy.

I loved on McLaren- so easy to push. I used to have a backpack for the shopping which hung over the handles unless I needed to fold, in which case I could put it on my back.

I used to feel sorry for the mums with the huge unfoldable prams who often had to wait for the next bus.

I took the buggy on the bus once. It wasn't huge but I had to ask four people to stand up to park it. Bought a sling. As a new nervous parent I felt much better with that.
Last two times I've held babies for parents folding buggies the last one was sick down me. Had to explain to mortified parent it wasn't an issue as my baby was now five and had done it before. First time was on a crowded train and the parents found two spare seats together further down. Thought the mum was coming back to get the baby and found she was clutching a bottle and asking if I minded feeding the baby!

17 years ago people had folding McClaren buggies not huge Bugaboos, so smaller and designed to fold. And of course before low buses it was even harder for wheelchair users to access public transport, so I suspect the issue didn't arise as often as now.

And getting distracted part way through = massive cross post

THis terrified me for ages. I had an emergancy c-section and never planned for not being able to drive for 6 weeks when choosing my pram. Inevitably I had to rely on buses and for the first 2-3 weeks when I had no choice but to get the bus for essentials I physically would not have been able to hold DD and sort her pram out as it definitely was not bus friendly, because I never planned on it. Luckily our buses have plenty of room so even on the bus with a wheelchair user I still just about got on. I would have waited for the next one if needs be but standing and waiting for ages would have been a struggle in itself.

Its not always as easy as wanting to be able to fold, I phsyically would not have been able to those first few weeks.

I find Maclarens heavy. Compared to bugaboos and the bigger pushchairs with suspension, that just glide along. Jane - there's another one that's like pushing candy floss.

Maclarens are deffo heavier than Gracos though.

Basically, no bugger has designed the perfect pushchair for me. Bastards.

Off to google mini jogger

Mini Jogger has a strap on it, you just need to yank it and it shuts then you grab the handle and give it a yoink and it's open.

I had the double.

Fatlazymummy I don't suppose hoards of people are being forced to live out in the sticks but talking worst case scenario I mean personally I genuinely didn't have a supermarket within walking distance with ds1. I had a local spa type shop but it was expensive and I needed cheap nappies etc at the time.

What I'm really meaning though is that sometimes lack of choice or even poor choices often due to lack of experience can mean parents facing really awkward moments on public transport. It's not all yummy mummy's swanning around thinking they own the bus. I think buggy zones are a great thing.

Having said that, disabilities come over difficulty, I agree about supply and demand and prams are often a fashion accessory.

Erm - get a city mini jogger buggy? Suitable for newborns and fold in a second. Don't do shopping that requires rush hour buses with a newborn.

I like the look of that Mini Jogger. Good basket, looks good to push and comfy, excellent to fold. Might try to road test one sometime.....

Yes, I'll have a double too, thanks. Chin chin.

Thanks for testing it out tondelay!

I couldn't fold when DD was young since I have a bad back and DD had low tone and couldn't sit up..so..I got off the bus if someone got on who used a wheelchair. It happened a few times. Was not a big deal.

But why, exactly, should everyone have to put themselves out, avoid shopping etc etc just to avoid some cats bum mouths on the bus? Buses are for everyone and there are buggy spaces as long as people use them considerately. Slings are all very well in certain circumstances but you can't carry a heavy bag of shopping and a sling. I am past this stage with dd but still don't get all the disapproval around parents of young children on the bus.

The disapproval is for parents who won't fold to make way for someone using a wheelchair.

Well no, everyone on the thread has said of course they would, or they would get off and wait for another, but lots of people think you shouldn't be allowed on a bus unless you have a specially purchased maclaren and have folded it down, regardless of whether anyone needs the space at the time. I have never actually witnessed anyone refuse to make room for a wheelchair, though I am sure it happens occasionally.