This is experience speaking...

[TheHeirOfSlytherin]

When getting on a train or bus with a pram/pushchair/buggy - go forwards.

When getting off the train or bus - go backwards.

That way you probably won't get stuck/need help/tip the pram up.

I did not know this when I had my baby but I learnt from experience. I see so many people struggling to do this manoeuvre every day, yet when I offer them advice for next time (after helping them out of course) I am met with blank stares and get ignored.

So I am sharing my knowledge with you all here. If I am teaching you to suck eggs please ignore .

If you have any other words of wisdom feel free to share...

I disagree. I think it works better the other way around - backwards getting on, so you can haul buggy upwards and make a space for it, rather than driving it in in front of you and into people. Forward going out so that you don't have to tip it a mile back. Inch it out on back wheels - someone may even grab the front and help you down.

Divergent experience, eh?

That's really interesting, I think your way might work on buses round here but certainly not on our train platforms where the gap between train and platform is really high.

Every time I tried to get on backwards or off forwards the pram would tip dangerously far forward.

I do forwards going up and down. It is harder getting off but 9 times out of ten some lovely helpful person will help me get it down (or i ask the driver to lower the bus...most buses round here can do that).

Getting in and out of doorways i do backwards now after someone told me it was easier. I had spent about 5 months stretching forwards across the pram..i think my brain must have gone on strike or something!

Now. If anyone has any bright ideas as to how to change a nappy on my lively 7mo DD, who likes nothing more than flipping over and crawling away, I will gladly hear them!

I agree with Heir, at least on London buses and tubes. Also, on escalators, never try to go backwards (getting onto a down escalator facing backwards is a recipe for disaster imo), and tip the pushchair back whichever way you're going. Going up, the front wheels will be one step higher than the back wheels; going down, tip the front wheels up into the air and keep the back wheels on a step (probably the step below the one you stand on).

Dawn I found that giving DD something to play with during nappy changes helped get through those 'struggly' phases. Something that she wouldn't normally be allowed to play with was best ay holding her attention, like a travel-size bottle of baby oil (as long as the lid's on tight), tube of nappy cream, or spare baby toothbrush (these are things that were to hand at the changing table!).

Thanks Earnest - I will give it a go next nappy change. I'm sure I won't have to wait too long.

dawn I started a whole thread on nappy changes. Got great advice from amma - lie baby on the floor on mat, sit sideways to them with one leg over their torso the like a bridge. Voila, baby cannot escape but they are not completely pinned down (unless you want them to be ) and your hands are free to change a nappy

If the toy doesn't work petty I'll try that one next! I firmly believe I have the wriggliest baby in the world...

Oh yes I used to have to pin ds down with my leg at nappy changes. My MIL is ace at getting nappies on babies while they're upright and running around too.

at whip off, wipe and shove

Depends on what kind of pram you have. Mine has big back wheels so I can 'bump' it down on the back wheels when getting off a bus. I've never needed help getting off and they tend to lower the bus too.

I generally go 'backwards' with the pram through shop doors. It's definitely a learning curve when it's your first though, I'm on my second DC now but have the same pram and whizz it round everywhere with one hand compared to my novice manoeuvres in the early days!