5 month old & 4 hour train journey

[MonkeyTastic]

Hi, I hope I'm posting this in the right place.

DP & I are supposed to be attending a wedding shortly that's almost 4 hours away by train (we don't drive). We've known about the wedding for six months now and it's always seemed a feasible idea but lately I'm really worrying about the prospect of taking our 5 month old son on this journey.

Outward doesn't seem too bad with only one change but the return has three changes with two coach transfers. Logistics of getting the buggy and suitcase(s) around aside has anyone made a similar journey and do they have any tips for entertaining/keeping a 5 month old happy for this long in one place? Or, as I suspect, is this journey bound to be a nightmare and hell for the other passengers? Would any of you attempt the journey?

That is a pain with the transfers but I would only let it put you off going if you don't really want to go to the wedding anyway. I found the entertainment thing OK at 5 months as they usually still sleep a lot and you can make a bunch of keys, piece of paper, your mobile phone and a walk up and down the train etc kill a lot of time. That said, take lots of small, diverting, quiet toys.

Don't worry about the other passengers - if DS roars, remove him to the corridor. And make sure you know how to fold up your buggy, if you've not had to do it before. Can be worth taking a sling if DS will sleep in it - then he might not have to wake up at coach transfers, when you are bound to have to put the buggy underneath the bus.

Did quite a few train journeys with DD at around that sort of age - 5 months isn't the worst age to travel. Quite nice really - baby can sit on your lap, play with a rattle, smile at the other passengers, feed, etc. It is much worse once they are mobile and want to crawl up and down the train. Changing nappies is dreadful though - try to do it at a station if at all possible - toilets on trains are far too small and smelly.

Try and book trains that aren't likely to be too busy, or if it is busy, consider paying for a seat for your DS - this can work out cheaper overall if you get a family railcard as you and DP will get money off too, which more than cancels out the cost of the child ticket.

You should be fine with a buggy, suitcase, baby and two adults. If there's stairs, one of you can carry the baby, and the other the suitcase and buggy. If DS is sitting well enough to put him in a lightweight stroller, that would be much easier if you have one, or can borrow one.

Reserve two adjacent seats if possible.

I did London to Glasgow and back with DS when he was 5 months old. It was fine - he loved it, there were other passengers cooing over him (one family nabbed him from my lap, which scared me, but he was happy enough, and they seemed mad safe!).

Logistics though - if you're bfing, don't get a table seat, as there isn't enough space between table and mum to fit wriggly baby! use a sling/baby carrier to get around, and minimize your luggage as much as possible. take a small lightweight buggy too, much easier than a big pram!

it'll be an adventure :)

Do you have a buggy that you can put a car seat on? When I go on long train journeys (max of about 3 hours so not as long as yours) I've taken the car seat on the buggy chassis. I've then been able to pop it on the floor or seat next to me (been lucky with quiet trains) and the train motion has had the baby asleep in seconds. It's always been a surprisingly easy journey and I've always done it alone.

Definitely check out the family railcard. I bought one for my latest journey as it actually worked out cheaper to buy an additional seat than just to buy one full price one for me. I also managed to get cheap first class seats for one journey and that was brilliant. It was a Pendolino which are extra shakey so my daughter slept all the way and I got brought tea, biscuits and a hot meal!

I recommend ear defenders - you can get them for about £12. Makes sure that baby sleeps really well. You will never travel without them again :)

travelling with a single 5 month old? Piece of cake :)

You can ask the railway company to give you assistance at the stations - they'll carry your luggage and stuff. But honestly, even with larger children, there is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS someone offering to help you get the buggy on and off the train, or the suitcase or whatever.

Why not use a sling instead of a buggy? Shove everything in the suitcase, much easier.

No problem, but would also recommend a family railcard for the extra seat.

2 adults and one baby for on a 4 hour train journey? Take it in shifts, take extras of the required consumables (in case of delays), pack minimal stuff for yourselves and order your drinks at the bar...

Ok, point taken

Thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I'm just nervous about him going into melt down or something. Should have mentioned that he'll be 5 months at the time of traveling but is only 10 weeks at the mo! Maybe thats why I'm being precious, even short train journeys are nerve jangling for me.

So this is a cherry I'll just have to pop!

Thanks again for all your suggestions