How To Travel On Bus With A Newborn?

[meltingmarshmallows]

Hello,

I'm currently expecting and can't drive. Something I intend to rectify once baby is here. However in the short term I will need to use the bus.

In all honesty I wasn't aware until recently -as this is my first baby- that the wheelchair space was just that, a priority space for wheelchairs. I had always assumed it was shared with prams, although i totally see why this isn't the case!

On my bus today I noticed there was only a small wheelchair space and no racks to put a folded down buggy on.

Even in bigger buses, I assume it's impossible to put down a pram? What would you do with the baby? I'm assuming having the car seat clipped onto the pram and taking that off to place on a seat would be unsafe. And I wouldn't imagine holding the baby would be at all safe or practical.

Taking wearing the baby in a baby Bjorn or sling out of the equation. How do you travel by bus with a newborn?

I would be worried about getting on and using a wheelchair space as in the event someone needed it the only option I can see would be to get off and be stuck wherever that is.

I would appreciate any advice from Mum's who have used the bus with a newborn. Thank you!

What's wrong with Baby Bjorn? Mine was great, very sturdy and served me well with 2 babies.

What's wrong with Baby Bjorn?

Not good position for baby's hips, not good support for parent's back - tends to pull on shoulders too much. Outward facing is also not great. Basically, there are just much better and longer lasting slings.

We don't have a car and I walked everywhere for the first few weeks as I was so terrified of having to fold the buggy on the bus.

Most buses here have a wheelchair space and a buggy space, so most of the time there's enough room.

I wasn't sure about slings before my first baby was born, but I ended up getting a Connecta and rarely used the buggy after that. It makes it so much easier to just hop on the bus and not have to worry about getting a space.

The powers that be in babywearing hate baby Bjorns. I liked mine. .

I loved my Baby Bjorn, was 16/17 years ago. I had them facing inwards when newborn a few weeks old. I felt safer when they were very close and I could see their faces. Have to say I didn't carry them far or for very long as I walked everywhere and used a pram but if I was in a busy place I used to get a bit anxious unless they were very close.

I don't drive so use buses very regularly and have since my first was born 3.5 years ago. I had a sling (close Caboo)which was great but used our Quinny a lot too, just wheeled it into the wheel chair or buggy space. Our buses are easy as they have both a wheel chair and buggy space. We had dd when ds was 18 months old and had a Phil and Teds which can't collapse it at all really so that was wheeled on too. We would obviously move if a wheelchair user needed the space but it hasn't happened so far.

Baby Bjorns aren't terrible, they just also aren't great and won't last nearly as long as a better sling, which will allow you to comfortably carry a much bigger baby. They won't actually damage baby's hips unless baby already has hip problems but they don't support them in a good position. It's not any kind of conspiracy; it's just that a lot of people don't know that a Connecta or Ergo will do them better for longer, and have much better resale value.

I used slings almost exclusively with my newborn, they made public transport a breeze and I do think they're the ideal solution for buses. I still stick my toddler on my back occasionally, it's a great way to go out and about without having to cart a buggy once toddlers are wanting to walk but not strong enough to do distances.

I only have to think about the baby bjorn we borrowed to get back ache! I loved our Caboo (though it only lasted for 5 or so months and dd was little)and Connecta. Dp was fine with the bjorn though.

Hated both the connecta and the ergo - horses for courses!

I use a toddler Tula for my 17 mo but I still miss my Bjorn.

I've been on hundreds of buses with babies and have only had to make space for a wheelchair user once or twice.

Having said that, it is far far easier to use a sling with a tiny baby. The Close Caboo is lovely from birth.

Thank you for all the great recommendations!