to be paranoid about taking DD inside the London tube?

[eskimomama]

OK... this may or may not sound extreme, but I've never ever taken the tube with my 8 month old DD, and always opted for cabs whenever we had to go somewhere, apart from the Heathrow express...

I'm already feeling awfully guilty about raising her in such a polluted city, and I've always hated the tube and its disgusting air (black snot, anyone?).
On top of that the tube was my worst pregnancy experience, people were just ignoring my bump and were never giving me a seat ever. I just hate the tube.

But I can't afford the cabs much longer, and buses can take forever... DH says I should give the tube a try every now and then as cabs are too expensive. She's 8 months now, and allergic to a few things (dairy, eggs, gluten, not pollens as far as I know).

I feel that exposing her to the tube will just be wrong for her health, is that crazy??

I feel guilty and paranoid!! I would just stay around our area all the time if I could...

I kinda like sitting on the bus watching people go by, but obviously no fun if you are in a hurry.

I kinda like sitting on the bus watching people go by, but obviously no fun if you are in a hurry.

You're being totally paranoid! I commute on the tube evemost days and I don't recognise the description of black snot or health risks.

I'd suggest avoiding rush hour, plan your route on the TFL journey planner and take bottle of water with you. Worst thing about travel at this time of year is the heat, tbh. Not what you breathe in.

we too ds(16) on the tube every week from when he was born to when we moved out of london when he was 8. he's fine now, but utterly obsessed with the underground

which is quite handy in itself ifyou want to go somewhere.

you will probably only be going from a-z on the tube, not stay in there all day.
you and dc will be fine!

YABU. Avoid the peak times. I grew up using the tube (not in the tube because that would be weird and I guess would make me some kind of rodent) and it hardened me to deal effectively with crowds.

I think rewardhopper is right- sounds like you are projecting your fears onto your baby. The tube is perfectly safe and even though you hate it it's important to hang on to that. But I do agree with Franca that it's easy to be extra-paranoid with a young baby and also to develop phobias/ strong dislikes in the new parent period. I became afraid of flying after I had my eldest children, for example, having never had any problem with it before at all.

You're too anxious about this I think - is there anyway of helping you to destress about this? Because your DD will be absolutely fine. Treat the tube as an adventure and avoid rush hour when it gets uncomfortably crowded.

YABU - millions do it daily and survive.

But having said that, I always go on the bus as it's so much more civilised. Fresh air, fine views, much better chances of getting a seat, and cheaper to boot. Yes, they can take an age in the rush hour, but the tube's no barrel of laughs at those times either.

What is wrong with the tube? so what if no one got up for you, I was 40 weeks pregnant when someone on the bus actually (finally) offered me a seat, this is London it's full of wankers, same wankers are everywhere spitting on the pavements, driving through red lights, refusing to fold buggies up on the bus and make there 4 year old stand when you are there with a 3 week old etc avoiding the tube because of the actions of people who use it seems pretty dumb to me.

As for the dirty snot, I get black snot after going to oxford street, it's a polluted city thats the way it is so you are being unreasonable to avoid a form of transport simply because of dirt and the attitude of the people you walk past in the street everyday anyway.

Blimey, talk about Wuss of the Week.
OP there is no danger to a baby from going on the tube - there might be mild inconveniece travelling with a buggy (buses are easier in that respect) but that's it. Are you normally very anxious? If so it might be time to do a little work on that, paranoid overprotectiveness is not good for kids.

Thanks all - though I won't let DH read this thread later ;-)

Me being paranoid with bad air in the tube comes from the fact that a few asthmatic friends were unable to take it during summer in recent years or they would have an asthma attack - therefore it shouldn't be too clean!
Granted, it's not much better at exhaust level either...

(also should I mention I'm a health freak who grew up in the mountains?)

I'll give it a go outside cattle time sometime... probably with a baby carrier though.

Mrs Rhett are you my mother?!?

I agree with all positive post on La Tube - bloody marvellous and all that. Kids seem to love it.

One quibble - Tidey t'ain't cheap no more - £4 for a single journey in Zone One (grrrr!).

YABVVVVU.
Start with the overground bits of the District Line, or the DLR to wean yourself in gradually. After all it's electric, not diesel like buses and taxis - now that really is bad for your health.

OTOH I practically never used the tube without DH's escort when the kids were babies because the stairs were such a hassle and I was scared of loosing my grip of the buggy on the escalators. But once you're buggy free it's brilliant.

Oh, and ifancyashandy - get yourself a PAYG Oyster immediately - you're throwing money away otherwise.

My kids love the Tube, and outside rush hour you'll find people falling over themselves to help with buggies etc**

I've lived in London for 40 years, btw, never had black snot.

**Unless you're giving off "don't come near me or my precious baby" vibes, as so many people do, then complain about how unfriendly Londoners are...

OP baby carrier, front or back, excellent idea on the tube!

BTW I wonder if I got the black snot in London because I used to cycle in to the West End 5 miles each way every day?

Now that was dangerous