To take 1 year old for a day out in London, on my own?

[CassandrasCastle]

More of a, Am I being very feeble...my good friend, who I haven't seen for a long time, will be in London on an upcoming Saturday, and has messaged to ask if I can see her. I would have to go there - it's just under an hour on the train - as she already has other stuff on with various arrangements in London that day/over the weekend. I really really want to see her, but would have to take 13 month old DD as DP is away for work over that weekend. I'm just pretty anxious about taking her buggy on the tube while we're there, even on the train for an hour both ways, when will she nap?...I used to take her on the UBahn all the time when we lived in Berlin last year, but we lived v close to a station and were usually making fairly short trips, and she was smaller and more portable then - and also usually in a much better mood 😬 She's picked up loads of stuff since starting nursery a few weeks ago, and also seems to be teething with a vengeance and is so miserable a lot of the time poor thing.
My DM thinks it's 'unfair to drag her into London'. Is it?? I'm probably putting my own feelings first in wanting to go :/

I'd definitely do this!

I would do it but then l lived in London with 2 kids. The tube will be fine..you might need to hold the buggy on the escalator..as others have said depending on your destination.
It might be a nicer day for you and your friend if you can get someone to babysit though.

My Mum lives in Scotland alas, so can't babysit (She definitely would if she could!)
We'd have to either arrived at Euston or Marylebone - and stupidly I hadn't even thought about buses!
Ideally I would not have DD with me, I really don't know how much fun it'll be for my friend 🙈 But she is expecting her, and said she'd love to.see her.

The only other person who could babysit would be MIL, but it's a Saturday and she might be busy - must ask her next time I see her, or email (she doesn't really do phone). I just thought it would be a bit cheeky of me

Oh definitely do it! I took 1 year old + 3 year old round London on my own regularly, they were the best of times!

I agree with others that I would generally use a sling/carrier + a rucksack for complete portability, but if you’re not used to it, it can be hard on your back. It’s fine with a buggy but stairs can be an issue.

At that age I would try to plan a bit of time in a park/playground, child friendly museum or similar so they aren’t stuck in the buggy the entire day.

If you let us know which station you are travelling to / where you want to meet we can make suggestions.

The only thing with buses is that you’ll have to be prepared to fold the buggy / get off for a wheelchair user if there’s not enough space for both of you. Buses are so frequent that that shouldn’t be a big problem though.

Avoid rush hour if you can, although it’s a lot quieter than it used to be. And commuters are very used to offering to help carry buggies, I used to do it all the time.

My ds loved going into London at that age and had similar traveling time. We had a MacLaren pushchair with a shoulder strap which made life so easy and didn’t have to worry about lifts etc or needing help just fling bag and pushchair over one shoulder and baby in other arm and then you don’t have to rely on anyone. Lots of snacks and little quiet toys for any restaurant and enjoy it. Pack the neurofen just incase of bad teeth. Maybe plan to go somewhere she would like to go. My son loved the transport museum at that age or maybe the aquarium?

If you come in to Marylebone you could eat somewhere nearby and the do Regent’s Park. No further public transport necessary.

Tube is a bit of a pain in the behind with a buggy. Do what you want- but do consider how much fun you’ll have with a cranky baby. I recently took my teething 16 month old to a restaurant/ it wasn’t fun for anyone, we lasted 40 minutes

Yes I would suggest Regents Park as a destination whether you go to Euston or Marylebone, providing you have the weather.

I know it's daunting but you'll be grand.

There is always at least one person willing to help with a buggy on the stairs going up/down to the tube.

Go -you'll have a fab time! Mamamalt's suggestion of Green Park is great. Embankment Station or London Bridge for the South Bank also pretty easy with a buggy. I'd avoid Covent garden, Oxford St and other shopping areas.

Of course you can go and take her. You sound out of practice not incompetent. Go have fun show your daughter how to live from the beginning.

Personally I probably wouldnt because mine at 13 months wouldn't have tolerated the pram for that long

Does she nap in the buggy? I wouldn't do it if I knew they wouldn't nap.

You have to decide how stressful you'd find it and whether its worth it. For me it isnt and I'll wait til the napping and nappy phase is done to do big day trips.

I've done it with 1 and 2 kids. It's doable, but I found it stressful, as I wasn't used to it. I understand millions of women navigate London with kids daily, though.

The difficulties I found were getting on the train with a pushchair plus baby plus all the paraphernalia you need to bring. Then getting off the train. Then using tube stations (with escalators/stairs only), and the lack of baby change facilities in some cafes/restaurants. There was always someone who would help me with the buggy going up and down stairs, but it was stressful to require the help of strangers.

I carried on doing it, though. And planning helps. Get your friend to meet you off the train? Plan somewhere to eat/get coffee where there is baby change facilities. And there are some great baby friendly spaces in London to let your child out of the buggy (my fave was the maritime museum at Greenwich park) and walking along the south bank was entertaining and easy.

I would absolutely take DS (17 months) but I'd take a small foldable pushchair that's lightweight- easier to carry if no lift.

I'd probably chose to take a sling not a use chair / I've got an ergo 360 and it can be worn front or back. DS & I are pros at this as I've used a sling since birth so I'm used to it / he can get in and out easily and he'll be happy - not all toddlers would be.

I'd also take reins as he can and will want to walk. He's usually pretty good but I wouldn't risk it being that much busier in London.

Have a great day!

I've done this a lot. There are lots of great places for kids in the centre, though not sure which will be open in post-Covid times...V&A paddling pool, London Transport Museum, Natural History Museum. Lots of these have play areas for toddlers.

Take your lightest buggy and make sure you can lift buggy and baby down the stairs safely in case you come across steps on the tube. Though someone has alwaya helped me. Have everything you need in a backpack in case you need to fold the buggy (or at least neatly in a bag underneath that you can sling over your shoulder quickly). There is a knack to doing escalators (I always went first and took the buggy on backwards behind me) but it is daunting at first, especially the big ones.

Plan your route. I am not sure if I am allowed to mention a free app I use called Station Master it’s brilliant for stating accessible stations and steps etc when trying to interchange between lines. This can minimise the amount of stairs etc you may face.

if you don't want the trouble of the tube with the buggy - can you walk?

I regularly walk from Marylebone station, down the high street to Oxford street.

paddington isn't to far a walk either is it?

added to which walking with child in buggy is usually less stressful as they look about etc

Do it OP! Plan a good route. Bring toys and snacks. Have fun with your friend. Enjoy a hot tea whilst friend entertains baby.

Thank you everyone - and sorry I made a mistake, it's either Marylebone or Paddington we can go to direct. Regent's Park sounds great! Basically anywhere outdoors, so she can just crawl around...but then of the weather is shit, well 🤯 I'm a bit rubbish with my London geography, what are the best outdoor places nearish Marylebone? We could definitely walk instead of Tube! She does sleep in the buggy, although obviously not as well as in her cot. Hopefully the train will lull her...

I took 17mo DS with me when I went a few weeks back. Timed it so he’d nap while we were on the train, got buses instead of attempting steps on the tube... it was fine. Took him to the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park which he loved.

Sure a sling would probably be easier, but I don't have on that fits her now, and she was never very keen on it. I like the portable bed aspect of buggy!
It's really good to hear everyone's experiences - I was ready to message friends to say I couldn't make it. Just bought some Nurofen in Boots also - Calpol doesn't seem to be touching the sides, or Bonjela teething gel.

Marylebone then Regent’s Park to meet your friend is definitely the easiest. The station is just to the west of the park so you can just walk out. No escalators, nothing. And cafés and playground in the park.

Excellent tip about the escalator knack btw! I am rubbish at it whenever I try, and always end up grimly hanging onto buggy