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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to use tube escalators with pushchair

141 replies

LegoVsFoot · 27/04/2023 07:26

I was chatting with my friend who thinks it's unreasonable that I don't take my buggy up or down tube escalators. My stop has a massive one so I go to the next and walk.

I know some people do but I think it looks really dangerous especially when they're so steep. AIBU?

OP posts:
Greenlightning · 27/04/2023 16:39

The nearest station with a lift is the station that is 25 min walk away.
We're in an area with a tube (in zone 1, but at the edge so not right in the tourist areas) but the buses are no more frequent than 12 mins. There are other buses that come to the stop, but they aren't going in the direction I need, so that's not helpful. When they are busy, the buses don't come more frequently. You just get busier buses that you can't get on with a buggy.

malmi · 27/04/2023 16:57

Personally I would walk 25 minutes rather than risk it. It's one of those things that you get away with most of the time, but only has to go wrong once.

https://youtube.com/shorts/6W444fLYS98

Yerroblemom1923 · 27/04/2023 17:02

@BallandBoe but surely toddlers can walk and unlikely you'd be out all day as they still need their afternoon nap so you'd be home for that anyway.
As a pp said, you really do get used to baby carriers if used from birth. By the time my dd was 2 she was happy on my back if her legs were tired.
And if you can't avoid being out all day, baby carrier and cheap £20 umbrella, light-weight style fold up one handed will do the job.

TrudyProud · 27/04/2023 19:23

Honestly you can tell the people who don't live in london on this thread. Willing to add potentially 1hr to your return journey (@malmi ), basically not leave home (@3BSHKATS ) etc because you're afraid of an escalator.

The majority of stations don't have SFA. On a busy day (unless I have my yo-yo ) you could have 3 buses go past you in the rain because 2 other pushchairs or a wheelchair are ahead of you. When you've got a time deadline/baby in need of getting home I'd love to see if your opinions change

Nachobowls · 27/04/2023 19:44

I live in London and always have and have never done that. Yes I would rather get the bus. 🤷

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 19:52

malmi · 27/04/2023 16:57

Personally I would walk 25 minutes rather than risk it. It's one of those things that you get away with most of the time, but only has to go wrong once.

https://youtube.com/shorts/6W444fLYS98

Do you drive your child round in a car? Cross roads?

Only has to go wrong once…

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 19:54

Yerroblemom1923 · 27/04/2023 17:02

@BallandBoe but surely toddlers can walk and unlikely you'd be out all day as they still need their afternoon nap so you'd be home for that anyway.
As a pp said, you really do get used to baby carriers if used from birth. By the time my dd was 2 she was happy on my back if her legs were tired.
And if you can't avoid being out all day, baby carrier and cheap £20 umbrella, light-weight style fold up one handed will do the job.

You may have had afternoon naps at home. Not everyone does. Pushchairs are perfect for napping, why get stuck at home.

As for And if you can't avoid being out all day, baby carrier and cheap £20 umbrella, light-weight style fold up one handed will do the job. You’re saying carry a fold up stroller plus a toddler and whatever else you have - this safer how?

malmi · 27/04/2023 20:01

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 19:52

Do you drive your child round in a car? Cross roads?

Only has to go wrong once…

Show quote history

Yes, and always reduce the risk as far as possible.

Never take chances with car seat, adjust the straps correctly.
Don't pull out into gaps that are "borderline" big enough. Wait for a safe gap.
Check blind spots when changing lanes, every time, even if you're sure there's nothing there.
Crossing the road, wait for the green man, check both ways, remain alert.
Don't take shortcuts across the tram tracks, go the long way round and use the proper crossing
Etc etc etc

It's not "never take risks" but "weigh up the chance of something going wrong, the impact if it does, and the number of times you're going to take that risk"

BallandBoe · 27/04/2023 20:07

Yerroblemom1923 · 27/04/2023 17:02

@BallandBoe but surely toddlers can walk and unlikely you'd be out all day as they still need their afternoon nap so you'd be home for that anyway.
As a pp said, you really do get used to baby carriers if used from birth. By the time my dd was 2 she was happy on my back if her legs were tired.
And if you can't avoid being out all day, baby carrier and cheap £20 umbrella, light-weight style fold up one handed will do the job.

More dangerous. But I've already said that

BallandBoe · 27/04/2023 20:08

3BSHKATS · 27/04/2023 15:38

One of the most terrifying moments in my life was when my new baby nearly fell out of her pram on an esculator, I still have flashbacks 24 years on.
Always use the lift.

I'm genuinely interested in knowing how a new baby can nearly fall out of the pram?

Do you mean the pram tipped over?

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 20:13

malmi · 27/04/2023 20:01

Yes, and always reduce the risk as far as possible.

Never take chances with car seat, adjust the straps correctly.
Don't pull out into gaps that are "borderline" big enough. Wait for a safe gap.
Check blind spots when changing lanes, every time, even if you're sure there's nothing there.
Crossing the road, wait for the green man, check both ways, remain alert.
Don't take shortcuts across the tram tracks, go the long way round and use the proper crossing
Etc etc etc

It's not "never take risks" but "weigh up the chance of something going wrong, the impact if it does, and the number of times you're going to take that risk"

Show quote history

And that’s what people using pushchairs on escalators do. For the one minute they’re on them they keep their wits about them.

malmi · 27/04/2023 20:43

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 20:13

And that’s what people using pushchairs on escalators do. For the one minute they’re on them they keep their wits about them.

Show quote history

Well, hopefully that's the case. There are a lot of people in this thread who simply don't accept that escalators can pose a danger, in the face of the statistics.

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 20:53

malmi · 27/04/2023 20:43

Well, hopefully that's the case. There are a lot of people in this thread who simply don't accept that escalators can pose a danger, in the face of the statistics.

Show quote history

Everything can pose a danger. Avoid escalators but take a bus - both have risk.

Avoid escalators and walk further - again both have risk.

Take a taxi, drive a car, take the train but not a tube. They all have risks attached.

SideBob · 27/04/2023 21:12

I'm genuinely interested in knowing how a new baby can nearly fall out of the pram?

A newborn will be lying flat and not strapped so if the buggy is facing upwards, the baby can slide down, especially on an incline... it could be a different way though

Unrelated but I still shudder to think of time my baby nearly fell out of a carrier and I caught him almost by his head sideways :O

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 21:56

SideBob · 27/04/2023 21:12

I'm genuinely interested in knowing how a new baby can nearly fall out of the pram?

A newborn will be lying flat and not strapped so if the buggy is facing upwards, the baby can slide down, especially on an incline... it could be a different way though

Unrelated but I still shudder to think of time my baby nearly fell out of a carrier and I caught him almost by his head sideways :O

But you hold it level. They can’t slide.

Was126orbustandmaybebust · 27/04/2023 22:07

Wowzel · 27/04/2023 07:31

Once you've done it a few times it is really easy. I couldn't have lived in London without doing it

I agree. You just put the back wheels on thn tilt back and off you go.

Wenfy · 27/04/2023 22:12

I think this depends on the stop. But in London kids are much, much safer strapped in a pushchair you can take on an escalater. If you can’t take yours might be worth getting a smaller & lighter one that doesn’t take up too much space.

BungleandGeorge · 27/04/2023 22:15

Yerroblemom1923 · 27/04/2023 10:52

Why oh why don't you just get a sling?! It really is the obvious answer!

Slings aren’t all that safe either! If you trip you’re potentially crushing your baby on the front.
I think buggies are ok but agree with those who have said baby can very easily slip
out of a carrycot if there’s no restraint. It used to feel not great going up a high curb at times!

GinLimeandLemonade · 27/04/2023 22:24

I saw someone accidentally drop their stroller containing their toddler (age 1 ish) from midway down a shopping centre escalator 😬 Still makes me feel sick thinking about it 🤦‍♀️

Roundandnour · 27/04/2023 22:31

SideBob · 27/04/2023 21:12

I'm genuinely interested in knowing how a new baby can nearly fall out of the pram?

A newborn will be lying flat and not strapped so if the buggy is facing upwards, the baby can slide down, especially on an incline... it could be a different way though

Unrelated but I still shudder to think of time my baby nearly fell out of a carrier and I caught him almost by his head sideways :O

Why wouldn’t a new born be strapped in?

BungleandGeorge · 27/04/2023 22:35

@Roundandnour carrycots don’t have straps genwrally.

Roundandnour · 27/04/2023 22:41

That’s daft. I couldn’t see exactly how uneven a pavement was. Buggy went lunging forward. Thankfully new born was safely strapped in.

TrudyProud · 27/04/2023 22:45

GinLimeandLemonade · 27/04/2023 22:24

I saw someone accidentally drop their stroller containing their toddler (age 1 ish) from midway down a shopping centre escalator 😬 Still makes me feel sick thinking about it 🤦‍♀️

That person is a moron. If they do that they'll also be likely to loose focus and have their pushchair go accidentally into the road

Permanentlylate1986 · 28/04/2023 09:11

I have worked in paediatric emergency departments in London for many years and find people’s perceptions of danger totally unmatched by the reality. The number and severity of buggy related accidents on buses far far outweigh the number I have seen related to escalators. Neither have stopped me using either the bus or the tube escalator with my own lightweight buggy (always strap in and tighten straps and never let go of the buggy on the bus as it’s so easy for it to topple over on braking or corners). I have seen bad head injuries and nasty broken bones due to buggies falling over on buses.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 28/04/2023 09:33

I did see an accident once in a store but Tbh if I lived in London I absolutely would take a buggy on them!