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 :/

So anyway- places nearish Marylebone (or Paddington) the way to go I think!
Please do give me your ideas! Thanks so much.
(If I'm perfectly honest, I'd rather baby wasn't with me though 😞 Oh well. Only I can try to make that happen.)

And where is the baby's father that he can't look after his own child for a day?

Give yourself plenty of time if you need to for connections. It's rubbish being a sweaty mess and panicking. People will help you. Pack your stuff so you can get to essential stuff easily. I used to take the buggy and sling so if you need to fold the buggy, go to the loo etc you can strap DC to you

Regents Park has some great play areas. I went with an older toddler though but probably still good for a little one to crawl about. Bring puddlesuit and rain mittens in case it's wet. Separates (waterproof dungarees and raincoat on top) are great to keep baby clean. I always put dungarees on my crawling baby even if it was dry weather because he liked dirt and muck . The raincoat came off it it was hot but dungarees stayed on.

@katy1213

And where is the baby's father that he can't look after his own child for a day?

Try reading the OP before you wade in with your judgey comments?

Near Paddington... Hyde Park?

It depends on your child.

Both of mine absolutely HATE the pushchair. They are miserable if expected to sit in it for more than 5 minutes and never nap well in it, plus they are terribly screamy/cry a lot when tired. My efforts to have a "flexible" baby with DS came to nought as he made it constantly clear he needed 2.5 hours in his cot at exactly the same every day and was hideous without it. We did days out but it wasnt fun for anyone. I never knew how people managed to get toddlers to just sit placidly in them for hours.

As a result by the time I got to DD (second child) I would just leave the children at he with DH for this sort of outing, and if that wasnt possible would simply not bother.by a year or so later they get better about missing a nap and it all gets easier anyway.

I have four children, born almost exactly two years apart, and live in central London.

You will be fine! Take a light buggy you can fold, and a sling if you can. This offers a change of view if she gets bored. I am a veteran baby wearer but having it as only option for a full day in London wouldn’t be cool for me, you will also be carrying a bag and you ideally want them to fall asleep and then be able to sit down and drink a cuppa in peace!

Weather also v changeable at the mo so make sure you have a rain cover and spare clothes. Lots of snacks. You should find someone will always ask if you need help with a buggy on stairs - I always have - but don’t be scared to ask if not! Middle aged and younger men your best bet.

Science and Nat Hist museums fun and I expect not too busy given term time and no tourists (do NOT go at half term). Hyde Park fun, London Transport Museum also but I think that is nr Covent Garden so you would have to brave some crowds.

You could take the tube from Paddington to Westminster then get out and walk over the bridge for the view, down past London Aquarium (great fun in there actually, lively for little kids) and wander down South Bank. Loads of restaurants, ice cream etc. There is a great adventure playground down there nr the London Eye, Jubilee Park.

Have a great day!

PS none of mine loved being in pushchair for any length of time tbh. At that age I used to get them in and out when it was convenient, even if they were happy, just for a change of scene. Eg riding the tube I would get them out and have on my lap.

Ask MIL to babysit. Is it cheeky to ask her to have her granddaughter whilst you have fun? Maybe, but she's free to say no.

If she won't, go with her. It'll be an adventure.

See it as an adventure 😊 enjoy!

Do it. Arrange to spend some time in a park with your friend, and your baby will be able to sleep in the buggy.

Near Marylebone is Regent's Park, a ten minute walk in fact. Great place for kids, there are ducks.

I used to tie a few small toys onto the pram or highchair to amuse baby when we were on the train or in a cafe. I had some straps like these but you could just use some ribbon:

www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Buddy-Secure-straps-Multicoloured/dp/B006WZZ1TM?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I would do it in a heartbeat. I'd take the pram and not worry about the escalators - if you're going down then push the pram on first and "recline" it towards you on the back wheels while you hold the handles; it you're going up then it's a bit harder, but I push it on in front of me and then reach up high to hold up the back of the buggy. Staff will always help you too - there's a help intercom thing on every platform abs if you buzz it abs explain that you're stuck abs need help up the escalators then someone will come and help.

Which would you rather if you were trying to 'include' both adults and 1 yr old - Regent's or Hyde Park? I think a picnic would be nice.
She's pretty good at sitting in the buggy atm, thankfully. And will be taking her Sleepytot...

You've really reassured me - and I'm also hoping there might be a lull in the teething nightmare, and DD perks up a bit.
And DP would of course look after her, but is working...sigh.

Totally do-able. Agree that avoiding tube is best just cause its one less thing to have to worry about.

Marylebone - Regents Park, with the option of London Zoo if the weather us patchy. Its not a short walk from the station to the zoo but its through the park so just take your time. Its about 1.5 miles. The zoo is expensive but def worth the trip and not too awful for your friend either. Consider getting a bus back - the 274 is your best bet.

Paddington: Hyde Park and Diana playground is the nearest obvious place.

Definitely do Marylebone & Regent’s Park - playgrounds, ducks, squirrels, cafes that are very baby-friendly or takeaway and picnic. It’ll be lovely - honestly.

Marylebone station is smaller and therefore easier to navigate than Paddington which can be very busy. And the walk to Regents Park is nicer than Paddington- Hyde Park.

Given a choice, I'd do Regents Park over Hyde Park. I think there's more there for the really little ones. I remember there being some nice cafes with shelter outside, though it's a while since I've been. Also lots of play areas.

Be careful to strap the little one into the pushchair (or use reins) when walking next to the water though.

I have an 8 week old and have gone into central London a couple of times so far, and then to my parents on the train too, all on my own.

The first time I did it I was so stressed but since then, it’s been fine. Honestly, it’s no bother at all. Avoid rush hour to make sure it’s not that busy, and make sure you check whether the stations and interchanges you plan to use are step free so you don’t need to worry about lifting the pram up stairs.

I think it depends on if your baby naps for long in a sling or pram. My 11 month old will sleep for a maximum of 30 minutes using these options. for a longer nap it has to be somewhere quiet like in her room. She doesn’t breastfeed for long when out and about as there are too many things to see / distractions. I think this is partly due to lockdown as there just hasn’t been the opportunity to take her out for long trips.

If I was on your shoes I’d go for a few hours only rather than a day so that I could still see my friend but get back and do a long nap at home before or afterwards. At this age I think you can move back usual nap time by about an hour but any more than this they can find hard to cope with and get overwhelmed/ over tired.

It’s not that busy during the day , would definitely stay away from rush hour am and pm. If child is tired they’ll sleep in the buggy. Enjoy the day

You will be fine, so many people offer to help with buggies even in tube stations with steps ..I echo all the suggestions re Marylebone station to Regent’s Park. Such a beautiful park and there is a great playground and cafe near the Hanover gate entrance. Then you are close to Baker Street and Marylebone high street if you want to go to somewhere with shops and restaurants. Have fun!