First long journey on public transport with a 13 weeker, tips please!

[babysaurus]

I am travelling from Leeds to London with my DS who will be 14 weeks soon, and this will involve a 2 and a bit hours train journey and then going across London on the tube. I am not going to take the buggy as wrestling with that and the bag(s) would be a nightmare, so am taking the kari-me sling as he loves that and it is pretty adaptable position wise. He is FF so will have to take bottles and a small steriliser (have a little one which will work in a microwave.)

My friends babies are all 3+ so there won't be much I can use when there (we've inherited most of it off them so its now at our house!) such as sterilisers or travel cots etc.

Any tips or guidance would be great from those who can speak from experience!

I would leave the steriliser and either buy Milton tablets (cold water sterilising tablets- just put water and a tablet in a plastic bag/ washing up bowl and put the bottles in it) or buy the Microwave bags.

Realistically you can't carry a travel cot across London so you'll need to ask your friend (I assume you're staying with the friend- sorry if I've misinterpreted) to borrow one for you. I guess you could co-sleep but might not work if you're not used to it (or you want to have a few drinks with your friend). Depending how long you're going for, you could ask friend to add nappies and wipes to her internet shop and give her the money to save you having to carry them.

Are you going to go in her car at any point? If so, does she have a carseat?

Ah, didn't of Milton Tablets!
I would not bother with a carry cot, I'd just put him in bed with me I reckon. Not planning on getting hideously pissed so this won't be a problem.
As for car journeys, this is unlikely as most of what we are up to will be happening on her doorstep and unless she offers to pick us up from Kings Cross we won't need a car seat.

I'd fork out for some of the little sma ready made bottles and teats from tescos... Hey presto - the fastest formula out there! :) (no sterilising required... If you don't want to carry loads you can buy them in london :) )

Personally I'd find taking a buggy easier - you can load it up with stuff and I couldn't bear not being able to have a break from the sling and have somewhere for my little one to stretch out.... But my ds 11 weeks hates slings.. He just wants to lie on the play mat and kick al day!

I did a similar length journey when DD was that age, and my tip is not to bother taking too much. Buy formula, nappies and wipes there, take a few baby clothes - use the washing machine there if you're staying long, and don't bother with any toys for baby. The excitement of a new place and people will probably be enough entertainment :) I found that DD mostly slept on the train too so the actual journey was ok.

Thanks for the tips! I have been thinking about all the ins and outs and have decided to take the buggy after all, as it'll be somewhere for him to sit that isn't on me on the journey. Also, it may be a pain on the tube but I'd rather that than the both of us being squashed on the tube with him in the sling (hopefully this isn't too likely anyway due to the times we'll be travelling but just in case!)
I wasn't going to bother with 3 days of nappies and things either, I think I am now, even though it's going slightly out of my way, going to go via Tesco when I get to Brixton (where I am heading.) Did ask the friends I am staying with if they could pick me up some bits and me give them the cash but they are away until the Saturday anyway so won't be passing a supermarket apparently.
Have seen those ready made formula and teat thingies but not sure - maybe as a last resort - as they seem to cost a fortune. Maybe I'll get some as back up but just get some cartons of ready made to use in the bottles I bring (instead of mucking about with powder.)

ps am hoping my DS will sleep on the train too - fingers crossed!