Pushchairs on escalators

[Orissiah]

Excuse the stupid question but I am going on the London Underground on Monday for the first time (alone) with my six week old baby in her pram (she faces me in her Bugaboo Bee).

How should I balance the pram on the escalators (this question would apply to a shopping mall with escalators too!)?

Also, I'm expecting to ask a random person to help me carry the buggy down the stairs into the Tube station itself. But how do you negotiate stairs?

Thanks,
O

I saw a woman on the escalator on the tube yesterday with a pram. It didn't all fit on the step and was tilted downwards, baby wasn't strapped in either. I s'pose the Bee has straps though.

Can't you put the baby in a sling when you get to the station then fold the pram? Whereabouts are you going? There should be underground staff who can help you.

Message withdrawn

depends on the tube line - many of the newer ones (eg, Jubilee etc) have lifts. The older, deeper ones (Northern, Bakerloo) don't and have another level of escalators to reach the platform. I would try and get overland trains and buses as far as possible - both much easier with a buggy than the tube.

I think doom mongering is a very good expression.

If we all thought bad thinks would happen on the tube we wouldn't take children on them AT ALL. Oh wait...

things not thinks

Not sure what your problem is Bumdiddley, the op asked for advice. You are not the moderator of the thread, sorry.

No probs lll. I gave advice and commented on yours. Is that against the rules?

Oh FGS stop bickering.

No, you advised the op to ignore other advice and dismissed it as doom mongering.

I always used a sling (Coorie) on the underground and carried a folded buggy. Actually, with a 6 week old baby, I'd just use the sling and forget the buggy.

ooh Soupy!

Oh,SoupDragon is the moderator of the thread

Many thanks all. I am a Londoner born and bred and before maternity leave used the Tube every day. Now I have a baby and I need to think differently. I've seen many buggies on the escalators (many Tube stations including my own do not have lifts) and have seen no accidents but I've never been bothered to watch out for techniques.

I don't want to wheel baby up to the Tube station then take her out and put her in the Bjorn sling and then take buggy and baby and sling onto the Tube - baby will cry like mad with the hassle as will I! Beside, my weak back means Bjorn is out of the question for long periods.

So, Before Sunrise and others: to get down the escalator you would prop the back wheels on the step and hold on. What about going up?

I will definitely ask a passing person to help me carry the buggy up and down stairs - I've seen people do this; I've never seen a parent struggling with a buggy up and down stairs in London herself.

Another question - before baby I took a lot of black cabs. Can I wheel a buggy with baby in it onto a black London cab (I've seen people do this in London but wasn't sure if it's guaranteed you can do this. You can't in mini cabs and ordinary cars obviously).

O

Yes, I feel put in my place now.

yes you can wheel baby in and out of black cabs, have even done this with a double buggy. make sure you put the brakes on.

does the bee have a wrist strap? if yes, then make sure you use it.

I'm not the moderator but you're behaving like my 7 & 9 yo DSs!! "he said this" "but he said THIS". [stern]

Yes, the Bee is both very narrow and light and also has a wrist strap - I always use it at traffic lights :-)

yes you can wheel a pushchair straight into a black cab - secure it with the wheelchair strap with the baby facing away from the direction of travel

if you're used to the tube I;d do it - it wasn't clear from the OP if it was your first time on the tube ever or just the first with a baby.

and maybe consider a better sling, the bjorn type are shite IME and a wrap is much better.

I think it depends if you're taking the pushchair because you'll need it at the other end. I used to use my travel system (that I hated) because I would often be getting a lift from the far end station. Most people ar enice. I used to target nice looking young men, smile sweetly and ask them to help me up the stairs. I don't think anyone ever said no.
I have been known to take a buggy on the escalators too you back onto it which means you are above it and can use all your weight if necessary to stop it tipping. Its also easier as you can drag it off at the top rather than pushing.

Not just black cabs but any hackney cabs do not require car seats - thoguh black are best as, like PP said, te whole buggy fits in.

I have a weak back and found the Coorie type slings fabulous.

Basically, going down an escalator, you wheel it on so the rear wheels are on a step - obviously you need to take into account the overhang at the front so leave a gap after the person in front!

Going up, you put the front wheels on and stand a step or 2 below this.

Right that's it, you're for it now Soupy. I'm going to search for threads where you've had a barny.....

Fingers crossed I find one or risk looking like a dicky doo dar

Ooh, this has turned into a sort of Harry Enfield Scousers sketch. 'calm down, calm down' 'hey are you telling me to calm down?' etc

"Right that's it, you're for it now Soupy. I'm going to search for threads where you've had a barny"

Oh FGS. [rolls eyes]