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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School run Dilemma

141 replies

Cocomelon101 · 16/10/2020 15:21

Hi Mners, wondering how people figure this out.

I will Have a newborn and year1 dd.
DH will need to leave home at 6.30 to be at work. I will be doing drop off and pick ups. Is there transport to school or does everyone walk or drive?
I'm thinking this is going to be tough with a newborn.
Moved abroad and now moving back after dc so not sure what options I have?

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/10/2020 15:48

Childminder for pickup/drop off if they have space and are doing wrap around care ?

Or yes , just out the baby in a pram and walk it . You'll get 4 miles excericise a day

JuliaJohnston · 16/10/2020 15:49

Everyone either walks or drives . Genuinely not seeing any dilemma here...

ahhanotheryear · 16/10/2020 15:49

Its fairly easy, I drive, get to school, pram chassis out of boot, clip car seat on, nursery class child out of car and walk rest of way to school. The drive and walk is a bit of a faff but we are rural and have to drive.
If its a mile I'd walk much easier.

Marmite27 · 16/10/2020 15:50

I had a nursery run to do with a newborn. We were about 5 miles away, so baby was put in the car 4 times a day to collect her sibling.

The baby soon got used to it. I used a sling to give me both hands free when we got out of the car. Luckily our nursery had pick up / drop off spaces right out side the doors.

xyzandabc · 16/10/2020 15:52

Under a mile?
Unless it's along a dual carriageway, you walk.

Sturdy shoes, waterproofs, rain cover for the buggy and off you go. Hats, gloves, warm coat for winter. Wellies for school age child so they can change in to dry shoes when you get to school.

At that sort of distance, by the time you've loaded everyone and bags, coats, art project, cooking stuff, musical instruments in to the car, then found somewhere to park (prob half a mile from the school), got them all out at the other end, walked the final bit to school, you'll be just as quick to walk and it's good exercise.

yellowmaoampinball · 16/10/2020 15:53

You'll be fine, honestly. There'll be the odd newborn poonami just as you need to leave and inconvenient feeding times but generally speaking it's easier with a newborn than a toddler who wants to walk then doesn't want to walk or decides to fall asleep at 2.30pm. You can do this!

dontdisturbmenow · 16/10/2020 15:53

Are you in the USA OP? It is odd to do drop off and picks up when the standard where you are us to save the eldest at the window.

The good thing is newborn adjust to the schedule quickly. The time spend walking with your child is one of the best time to get them to talk to you about their day, and is a good transition between school and home.

OhCaptain · 16/10/2020 15:55

I don’t understand the dilemma? Walk or drive.

What am I missing?

Danascully2 · 16/10/2020 15:57

No school transport unless some sort of very unusual circumstances. All the roads round the school here get madly congested round pickup/drop off time, it would definitely take us longer to drive than it does to walk (though we are nearer half a mile away I think). Leave a bit of extra time and accept that baby might have to wait briefly for a feed/nappy change if you're on the way to school.
Lots of people do it but I can imagine it seems tricky if you're not used to the school run idea. I know in some countries it's normal for children to get themselves to school from very young, but here they usually have to be dropped off by an adult until much nearer the end of primary. Good luck with the move :)

GreyishDays · 16/10/2020 15:58

Get school child ready inc coat and shoes, put in front of tv.
Feed baby, with muslin wrapped around for post-feed sick. Allow extra ten minutes for poo. Leave.
Child will be late once or twice. It will get better.

Witchend · 16/10/2020 16:00

No problems at all. I had 3, 3 years apart and preschool, infant, juniors all in different sites (in some cases 20+ minute walk apart).

Baby in buggy or sling, walk to school.

The issue is more when your toddler wants to walk, but walking involves sitting down for 10 minutes to watch an ant. Or sitting in the buggy involves a short doze that then means they're not tired at bedtime.
Ds used to get tipped out of the buggy as he fell asleep and walked until he woke up, then went back in again. Fun times.

PracticingPerson · 16/10/2020 16:00

Another one who also can't see the dilemma, you walk to school with baby in pram or sling, is quite a saviour really for getting you out in the morning!

billy1966 · 16/10/2020 16:02

The closer you are to the school the easier it will be to walk. Getting parking, taking the baby out of the car is all a dose, but obviously loads do it. Being able to time it to the minute by walking is just great and you could always have the baby sleeping in the buggy all ready to go out as the time approaches.

Don't stress about it, it will work out.
If walking, having good waterproof gear for you, dd and the baby buggy etc, makes it easier.

usernotfound0000 · 16/10/2020 16:04

Walk. I had a sling for newborn DD and walked to school, around 3/4 mile.

Sally872 · 16/10/2020 16:05

More hassle to get baby in and out the car twice than to walk that distance.

School transport in our area only for children living further away.

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 16/10/2020 16:05

Sometimes we can create problems for ourselves when none really exist. Sometimes it's part of wider anxiety about a number of changes at once. Honestly, I think this may be one of those times. You'll be fine.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 16/10/2020 16:06

Just walk.

I only drive if it's properly torrential.

IndecentFeminist · 16/10/2020 16:06

I must be honest and say I'm not sure what your concern is? What do you think the rest of the country does?

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 16/10/2020 16:06

Childminder for pickup/drop off if they have space and are doing wrap around care ?

Why would op need a childminder? She would also need to get the eldest to the childminder earlier than the school run and with the school being so close then potentially a longer journey. Plus the cost of childcare when she is presumably not working?

OP just walk, parking is always a nightmare round schools plus you will have to deal with getting a newborn in and out if a car seat. A pram or sling is perfect and if you time it right you can have 5 mins peace after drop off and 5 mins one on one time with your eldest

HeeeeyDuggee · 16/10/2020 16:08

We walk. I’ve got 2 under 2 and one in yr 4. I find the walk refreshing gets me started for the day! And keeps me awake if it’s been a rough night

SunshineCake · 16/10/2020 16:08

When DC1 started school I also had a toddler of 2.1 and a nine week old. I did a mixture of walking with baby in the sling, toddler in the pram and my four year old walked or went on the buggy board. For pick up I drove part of the way so it was half walk, half in car. TBH it was usually less faff to walk the whole way but initially DC1 was tired so I'd part drive at pick up times.

TheDuchessofMalfy · 16/10/2020 16:09

As pp have said, people generally walk or drive (obviously some places have public transport that happens to go that way).

Again I can’t see the dilemma. This must be one of the most standard situations on earth - a 5/6/7 year gap between some (or the only) children in a family must happen all the time! Many will have newborn, toddler and school age child.

Not saying it’s as easy as when you had your first but it’s a very normal situation.

firesong · 16/10/2020 16:09

Used to enjoy the little walk with mine when my youngest was a baby, it was about 25 mins there and back. I didn't like how I was always disturbing him for the school run though, he ended up dropping all day naps really early!

ApolloandDaphne · 16/10/2020 16:10

I agree with PP that you just need to walk. It will be good for all of you to get fresh air and exercise.

BestOfABadLot · 16/10/2020 16:10

Just walk with the baby in a carrier. If the year 1 is likely to get tired put baby in a pram and get a buggy board.

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