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Train from Todmorden/Leeds/Derby/Wellingborough with baby- help !

2 replies

milkmonster · 21/10/2007 00:49

I am travelling by train from Todmorden to Wellingborough changing at Leeds and Derby.

I know this sounds daft, but how do you travel by train with a baby? I will have a baby to carry, a buggy and a small suitcase but can't think how to carry all these!

Also, I expect there aren't changing units on trains and can't imagine changing a nappy in those tiny, unhygienic loos on board. Using a table would be good, but not sure other passengers will agree!

As for breastfeeding, I can probably just do this discreetly with a shawl over me, hopefully the train wont be packed with people and I'm wedged into one of the 2-seaters with a chap next to me...

It's a journey with 2 changes approx 1-2 hours each leg, so feeding and changing are inevtiable, there isn't time to do so at stations where I change trains.

Apparently there's wheelchair spaces to put a buggy in as my buggy does not fold up, but I have no idea where these are on the train as it pulls into the platform, and cant wheel the buggy inside all carriages til I find this space as it probably wont fit down the aisle (it's a big cumbersome landrover 3-wheeler).

Then there's getting on and off the train carrying a baby, a buggy and suitcase, I havent been on a train in years and Im still picturing intercitys with 3 steep steps up to the carriage, not tube-style platform level carriages.

Lastly, if I need to use the loo on board, there's the safety issue with my luggage and buggy and how do I use the loo with a babe in arms?!! There's little room to manoevere in there as it is!

I bet there's a really simple answer to all this!

Help!!

OP posts:
Indith · 21/10/2007 18:09

Ok I've done this lots.

First up ask a staff member on the platform, they will help you on and usually take you to the best place. Failing that look for the disabled sighns on the doors as the train pulls in. Some random passenger always offers to help. (I love brits!)

I've never had any comments feeding.

Changing, do it on your seat or on the floor in the vestibule. There are changing facilities but they are usually lethal. Especially the ones on the shiny new pink trains which have no strap on them!

Leeds is a pretty easy station to change at but don't know about derby.

Going to the loo yourself....hold it in?or go at stations where you can fit a buggy in the disabled loo. Though I have thrown ds at kindly looking strangers before.

Raebees · 26/10/2007 16:06

just don't be inhibited and ask for help! there are usually friendly souls: old ladies especially desperate to help!
me, dp and baby did a 9hr journey when my lo was 7mths and the best trick was him chatting to strangers, which kept him occupied the whole time. ive also done a 5 hr one just me and my baby, and that was bearable too!
don't panic!

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