Do people really manage to fold their prams in busy buses?

[Newname42]

Technically I have a pram which can be folded with one hand and in a couple of seconds (according to the advert), but practically I also have a baby strapped in, a pram bag attached, a thousand loose items in the bottom and a hundred toys attached. I just was asked to fold my pram because the bus got a bit busy, but after giving this a quick thought I realised that this would be somewhere between a circus number, comedy and horror show, so I just got off the bus. Are there some Supermamas who just say ‘sure’, clack and done, and if yes, where can I learn this skill, please? 😂

I usually made sure if I was getting the bus to use a backpack nappy bag and not put stuff underneath. Then yes, I could.
if I was walking I’d load the pram up and no I couldn’t fold it with coats and shopping and stuff all over it.

I never used to fold on the bus,I'd fold at the bus stop and walk on with folded pram and ds.

Not that I’ve seen unless the child they have is old enough to sit on a seat while
they painstakingly take it all apart / try to use the fold function. Generally people get off if there is a wheelchair or squeeze up if it gets busy.

I make sure I don't take more stuff than what fits in the diaper backpack. At most, I'll also have a shopping bag.

I put backpack on my bag, take baby out and fold the pram. Really not that much effort.

I always roll my eyes at people who say this, usually with an undertone of 'parents today'.

No, I couldn't have held a baby and their paraphernalia while collapsing the pushchair on a moving bus. When using the bassinet it wouldn't fold anyway.

I did every single time with my dc (including side by side double buggy, everyone had to then. Perfectly possible op.

No, I couldn't have when dd was young

I wouldnt get off though, but would squeeze for a wheelchair user

Have a backpack bag and nothing loose in the bottom. I've asked someone seated nearby to hold the baby for a minute if necessary!

Better to take a small buggy and fold before you get on though if possible.

Yes

but I had two, one was very easily foldable, the other… not so much.

Even without anything in the basket I couldn’t fold mine one handed but I am pretty uncoordinated generally. I would also struggle to carry a folded up buggy, a baby and a bag. I’ve just accepted I’m not a supermum when it comes to these sort of things and would get off the bus if needed.

Yes I see people fold up all the time? I just got off though as had two in a double buggy so wasn’t folding that but a single one is easy enough to fold up.

This is what I did.

No, but my local buses have a side for wheelchair users and a side for prams

The trick is to have the stuff in the basket underneath inside a bag that can be removed.

so pram bag on floor, crap underneath on floor, babe in arms and fold.

If you need 2 hands to fold then ask someone to help.

My ds is a wheelchair user and has held many a baby and toddler (sometimes the bags!) for parents to fold so he can go in the space.

He does joke his wheelchair is far easier to fold though!

I used to manage a toddler and fold my baby's pram by myself.

I don't do buses but once took a long-distance train so overcrowded I genuinely felt my safety was at risk as the number of people physically pressing on the doors was close to forcing them open (or so it felt).

I'd got on with a toddler in a Yoyo but as long distance was laden with bags (I had a backpack rather than a suitcase obviously). The main influx of passengers had got on for a football match the stop after me, so while I was standing fine at first it quickly became dangerous.

I couldn't physically move to fold the pram, and even if I had where would I have balanced the toddler and all the stuff? At least he was safe in the pram that formed a little safety cage around him I suppose.

But when I rage-complained to the train company about overcrowding afterwards their response was "you should have folded your pram".

He's older now but I still wish I'd told them to fold it up their arses.

You should be able to fold the pram up if requested.

it can be difficult though if you have bags, coats etc to juggle it all. Often you can’t do it without someone holding the baby while you sort it all out.

i do think though if you are not prepared to fold it you need to wait for a bus where there is space for it to travel unfolded.

Yes, but I pack the pram carefully if getting the bus. If taken by surprise it takes me quite a lot of time faffing!

I couldn’t, but it was a double that didn’t fold easily. Even if it wasn’t heavily loaded (it usually was), I couldn’t have really handled both dc while folding it. But I also live in London and there would be another bus along in ten minutes, so I just got off and waited for the next bus on the rare occasions it was necessary. If it had been an hour wait or no other buses, I’d have managed it, probably by thrusting babies at anyone willing to help.

Nope, I couldn’t either!

It never happened but I would have done the same as you and just got off.

Luckily the OP did say she decided it was easier to get off. And presumably when she got on the bus there was space.

I feel your pain! I am dyspraxic and well remember my partner showing up to the pram shop and insisting we needed a pram that was VERY EASY to fold, VERY EASY, because SARAH WILL STRUGGLE! (And I did!).

I agree with PP that the best thing to do is to fold before you get on the bus, and/or to be really disciplined about not using the base as a place for carrying random shite.

It's also good to scope out someone in the queue who might hold the baby. IME, there is often someone who will do that and of course that makes it so much easier.

And, btw: it really is one of those situations where spending time and money pays dividends. A good, easily-folded pram is one of the few things I would never compromise on.

Yeah, I’ve got a 5 month old but make sure we’ve got loose bits if we’re going on a bus or similar, so I can throw my bag on my back, hold her and fold the pram. When the preschooler is older, I’m hoping he’ll help too 😅

I couldn’t. I never take the bus as a result, for fear that I may have to (next bus would be half an hours wait where I am so getting off not very convenient either). Especially with a newborn!! How on earth do you hold a newborn while you fold, no matter how easily it folds?

to be fair I have a car and live somewhere where it is cheaper and more convenient to drive so choosing a pram which folded easily wasn’t a priority for me. I guess I might have chosen differently had I been reliant on buses.