To think you should always sit beside baby on a bus?

[AInightingale]

I was on a bus today, not many passengers, and a woman got on with a child of about three and a pram (the lie-down sort) which held a very small baby, by the looks of things not much more than a couple of weeks old. She put the pram in the 'space' for them (the baby was fast asleep), put the brake on, and went right up to the rear of the bus to sit with the older child. Would you do this? I know it's a slim chance of the bus having to make a sudden stop but something about it made me feel really on edge. No-one said anything but I found it a bit...nervewracking to see. AIBU?

If the baby is asleep, secure in the pram and the pram has brakes on and can't move - then it's fine.
I wouldn't go upstairs.

I would have sat near the pram with the little one on my lap if it was busy

I imagine the 3 year old wanted to sit and the back and because baby was sleeping and the bus was quiet, she said yes as every other time she’ll have to say no because of the baby.

I bet it made her 3 year olds day to sit at the back of the bus.

I was probably just over anxious with my children at that age, but would always have wanted to be beside the pram with one hand on it!

It's not a slim chance of having to make a sudden stop. It happens loads, particularly in cities.

In London this isn't actually allowed, and the driver will insist on the owner of the pram staying beside it (if it's occupied, obviously).

why would anyone say anything? i wouldn't. i've seen prams tip even with the breaks on (both times were on a round about) but it's not my business what other people do. london buses have announcements to stay with your child.

That is nerve wracking but if she’s anything like me, 2 weeks into DC2 I wasn’t thinking straight and getting used to juggling 2 kids’ needs!

Even with the brakes on sometimes something happens to prams/buggies. I would always stand or sit close by although it can be tricky if busy and needing your toddler to sit down. But in this case it doesn't seem they couldn't have sat close to the baby so it is a bit strange.

I'd be worried about the bus being in an accident and nobody could ID my baby and that it was my child. A very irrational fear I know.

Stupid and dangerous. I’ve seen prams almost tip so many times on the bus but thankfully a parent has always been there to catch it. Did the driver not blast those stay with your buggy announcements? Or is that a London only thing?

lol this isn't true, there is an announcement but no it isn't true that this "isn't allowed and the driver will tell you not to" most drivers aren't even paying attention to what passengers do 🫣😂

@KerryBlues there's the recorded message of "stay with your pram for your child's safety" on London buses but drivers don't insist on it.
If there is more than one pram on the bus there's no room for the parents to stand there anyway.

The 3 year old is probably more likely to be injured during a sudden stop. I'd prioritise sitting with the 3 year old but I would be very uncomfortable if we couldn't be say close to the pram.

Nope never leave the pram! London buses even have an announcement. Once a pram was left and the bus went round a roundabout and it tipped and fell backwards with the baby in it.

Getting the 3 year old to sit down on a seat has more of an impact on child safety than sitting next to the pram.

I have had my pram tip over on the bus with the brakes on 2-3 times. As I was right there, I caught it in time but no way I would go to the back of the bus.

I'm not in London, no, and the driver wasn't bothered. But I can see the logic of it being the driver's responsibility of keeping all passengers safe.

I've seen prams tip and slide in buses without even super sudden stops. No chance would I leave it at the front. I'd stand if there were no seats, with the 3yo too.

Even if it was super stable you should be near it to move it for a wheelchair.

I would worry that someone would touch my baby

A healthy 3yo should be able to stand on a bus holding onto mum/ a pole etc.
Mine would been fine for any journey upto 20 mins. They would've enjoyed the swaying tbh. The tiny baby tipping is obviously in a much riskier situation, they're not strapped in like a toddler.

The break is not enough to stop the pram go flying when bus breaks suddenly, I know from scary experience ! It’s why the London buses have a voice playing saying not to ever leave the pram unattended. It isn’t safe to. Yes that can make it stressful if you have a toddler too, but you’ve just got to hope others are kind and let the toddler sit next to you whilst you are holding onto the pram.

Absolutely! I’ve seen a pram tip over before on a bus even though it was braked

Yes, absolutely. I used to use the bus a lot with DS1. There is no way I would not have been right next to him during the whole of the journey. Baby’s safety comes before the older child wanting to sit elsewhere.

I don't think it's being over anxious to want to do that. Pram wouldn't be leaving my side either