travelling from just outside birmingham to cardiff with a 16 month old on my own - am i crazy?

[nappyaddict]

Begins with a 10 minute walk, 20 minute bus journey, 40 minute train journey, 10 minute walk, 2 hour train journey, 10 minute bus journey, 10 minute walk plus waiting time so an almost 4 hour journey with waiting times.

He isn't walking yet so I still need the buggy. I don't know what sort of bag to take. Obviously a small suitcase with wheels means no weight to carry but pushchair is a bit hard to push with one hand, so would i be best going for a rucksack? Am guessing something with 2 shoulder straps will be easier to manage than a holdall with one shoulder strap??

Can't you carry him in a sling/ backpack. That's how I travel with DS. Much easier than lugging a buggy on & off trains & buses

I think I'd go with the buggy, tbh - just leave myself lots of time to take things slowly/get people to help (they will, esp if you travel off-peak and, in extremis, ask!) I do similar trips just with ds a fair bit, and have done since he was tiny (he's just turned 2). Ask the platform staff where the disabled/bike space carriage will stop and see if it's free; lots of room to play and you can, with any luck, leave the buggy up on the train.
A buggy gives him his own familiar space and somewhere to sleep, if you're really lucky. And if you have a little rucksack that would be perfect; can be done stashing bits under and suspended from the buggy, but that's a bit of a faff. Good luck!

we do use a mei tai but he won't sleep in it and i was thinking i could put things in the shopping basket of the buggy.

definitely need an extra bag cos we are stopping 4 days in cardiff.

It will be fine, take the suitcase, you will be fine!!!!!

You'll be fine.It will be fun.
I've travelled to Turkey (involving three plane changes) on my own with a 3 year old and a baby.

Folding buggy, small suitcase with wheels, shoulder bag with long strap worn across the body for food etc. I've been from the South of Spain to Scotland and back many times with one or two DC's aged between 4 mo and 4 yo. It's not that hard. Take half as many clothes as you think you'll need, for both of you.

the only thing with taking the suitcase is the buggys really hard to push with one hand. i'm trying to swap it for another one but no luck as of yet.