To drag my baby into central London during rush hour?

[Rumplestrumpet]

I'm going back to work from mat leave in August and it looks like I'll have to bring my baby (then 13 months) into work with me to use the work nursery. This is because a) local nurseries are outrageously expensive (ie more than I earn as a lowly civil servant) and b) there aren't any spaces anyway even if I could afford it.

The work nursery is affordable, partly because we pay based on our grade, so those who earn more pay more, and it has really good ratings and Ofsted report. But after getting on the tube today at non-busy times, I can't quite see how I would do it during rush hour. It would involve a 25 min train journey plus a 25 min tube journey into the office.

Does anyone have any experience? Do people use slings or buggies? I can't imagine either would be much appreciated by other passengers....

I'm hoping this will only be 2 or 3 days a week, but as I have no promise of a part time position I can't be sure of it. Will the whole thing just be completely miserable?!

Welcome experience/advice/tips!

I found sling easier on rush hour tubes than a buggy, by a lot. Toddler on back, cross body bag (soft, adjustable strap so it didn't squish toddler) and still two hands free. It would also be nice re-connecting time, after a day apart.

But, it is hell on earth if they throw up, have a nappy explosion or just scream inconsolably for any reason. So for those reasons I would suggest arranging to come in and leave early, to avoid peak rush hour.

BTW, job sharing is becoming big in the public sector - might be worth a look at the civil service jobshare finder online. It could open up your options a bit.

Artandco, yes, that is what I would do, too, if I needed to avoid peak rush hour regularly , but for the OP that's potentially another hour at the start of the day entertaining a toddler on the nursery steps or in a cafe. If flexi is possible it would be ideal to start early.

You'll be fine if your work are flexible. I.e. if you can shift your day 20min in either direction so you avoid the worst of the rush hour crush on the tube.

I can certainly think of a couple of "pros" of having the childcare close to work.

You won't need as many hours, so it will be slightly cheaper (not paying for childcare during commuting time)
You won't be at the mercy of public transport when you need to get to the nursery on a time-constraint

When I was commuting into London, I had several occasions when I couldn't get back before the nursery closed - missed trains, strikes, leaves on the line....and I couldn't go in early as the nursery wasn't open before 8am.

Not sure if commuting with a baby would be preferable, though; it depends largely on the journey and the temperament of your DC!

Consider one of those buggys thats also a backpack.

We had one with dd2 years ago and it was great for that type of trips (we bought it to go on a weeks holiday in Denmark and continued to use it)

I have just had a quick google and discovered there are now also buggies that pack up into a backpack so that is a possibility too. some [http://www.madeformums.com/reviews-and-shopping/6-of-the-best-backpack-pushchairs---yes-buggies-you-can-fit-in-a-rucksack/37657.html here]]

Btdt and it's HARD!!!

Was a post doc in a central London uni, fantastic nursery, huge discount. So we sucked it up and took toddler (from about 20 months to just over 3 when she got a free play locally.

The nursery was worth it but, man, that journey. It was only on tube and only one line, didn't have to change. Yeah, there were days went it all went well and we'd have quality time reading and playing and everything wes great .

But the bad days, wow. The meltdown on the crowded tube because she hasn't napped enough, the 30 degree plus blazing hot days with no ac of course, the freezing cold winter days when you bundle up and then unbundle and then bundle up with a protesting toddler, and the days when there are delays and train after train goes by and you can't even get on or you're stuck in a tunnel.

Dd was too big for a carrier and I'd have all her stuff and all my stuff as well so we used the maclaren volo which is super light, if needed I could fold it and sling over my shoulder

We commute into Oxford Circus with dd 18 months one day s week. One tube line and use a buggy. It's fine. We get on at the start of the Victoria line and she stays in the buggy for the duration. People have been pretty nice mostly. I really recommend having the slimmest lightest buggy going and doing the end of the week rather than the beginning. Tube is notably quieter on Fridays.

Don't do it.
Both the tube and tube stations can be extremely crowded, you may find yourself and your child getting squashed and jostled about, it can be quite unsafe.
In the warmer months it gets dangerously hot. I've been commuting for over 20 years and whilst I'd put myself through it, I wouldn't take a young child on a packed tube 10 times a week.

You don't say where your interchange station is but Victoria, London Bridge and Waterloo are all very, very busy at peak times.

Personally I find I already have a fair bit to carry (work bag, essential bits for dd etc). And you'll be carrying a toddler on top of that.

Staggering your hours may help but the tube can still be very busy at 7.30am and 4pm.

There's a big difference between doing that trip once in a while and doing it regularly.

Op says it will be 3 days, not 5, so that's not too bad really.

I would head in early with child in back sling. Arrive early and give child breakfast then in spare time. Then take to nursery and off to work. Means earlier train and tube so less busy. In the evenings the rush hour isn't so confined so less busy as more spread out over a few hours. If it's super busy for any reason take child for a walk in local park after work and give some snacks, then leave later.

use a sling !? or get an easily foldable buggy. and at the end of the day there exist PRIORITY SEATS that people need to give up for you

I think you should give it a go, and good luck

and look after your back!

We used to take our DD from Forest Hill to Stoke Newington 3 times a week when she was about the same age (when we had no nursery place in FH.) The thought of it was actually much worse than doing it and we did get used to it. I always used a sling but DH always took her buggy and was fine.

If I have DD in the sling I always get offered a priority seat.

With varying levels of grace, it's true but I've never had to stand when she's in the sling. Then she comes out of the sling and sits on my lap and plays / chats / waves at commuters until it's time to get back in.

We've also made friends with the staff at one station - not the one we get on at near home, which is staffed by miserable buggers, but the one we get off at, and they will look out for us and make sure we get on okay in the evening.

Get the ergo baby, ten mins walk in sling is nothing. I walked for three hours last week with 6 mo in sling. Because the weight is on your hips there isn't any pain from it. Plus she loves being up high and looking around....or snuggling up when sleepy. Oh and you get offered a seat more time than when pregnant on tube

My friend used the nursery I think you mean and did like it. There are some pros of doing things but I think 25 mins tube and 25 mins train is rather a lot. Can you ask for a trial week?

My DCs have occasionally commuted with me to one of the nearby holiday clubs and enjoyed it for novelty, but that was 35 mins train 10 mins walk...