Taking a toddler on a very long (8 hour) train journey - is it do-able?

[TheLemur]

We are off to see the in-laws in Scotland this summer. To fly would be £400 and to drive would be 12 odd hours. We have discussed driving partially through the night but I really don't fancy that long in the car myself let alone with a toddler. The train is looking like a good and surprisingly cheap option. Unfortunately we're not in London so can't get a sleeper so it would mean 8.45am-5.30pm on the train with one change around lunchtime of 45 mins. DS does not nap btw so no problem there.

I initially thought this would be fine - toddler can potter round carriage(s), we can have lunch on board, there will be a table so he can do colouring etc. However it's dawning on me that it might be packed with business men, we are not be guaranteed a table, the portable DVD player we have can't run on batteries so the train might be WORSE than going by car! Has anyone got experience of this sort of thing?

oops. meant to say re disabled seating: the actual seating is 2 folding chairs i.e. room for a wheelchair and their helper/passenger with them. The seats fold up so create a lot of space. What i'm suggesting you do is: Directly behind/infront - which ever way you want to look at it, is a seat with a table. SO, you may be sitting in seats not allocated to you on your ticket, but you will be sitting in seats with lots of room for your buggy to be up, I even used to just put my case there too, slightly under the table actually. ALL in full view, so usable for you.

If by any unusual chance you do either find someone needing it with a wheelchair, then you have your allocated seats anyway to go to, also, if someone else comes along saying this is their seat, again, you have yours to go to. I had one man, who asked me to move as it was his allocated seat ( which are random). I asked really nicely if we could stay, explaining why, and he said no, he needed the leg room. A guy got up from behind & called him a selfish arsehole and the long legged man moved to another carriage...

I have had to almost have a scrum with another mother to get the seats though we ended up sitting on opposite sides of the aisle, sharing the space, and the toys etc we'd brought, and the packets of snacks, at one point both children were asleep in their prams, next to each other, and me & other mum nattered about being mums, and washable nappies

Just another voice to say don't worry, it will be absolutely fine, and a million times better than the same trip by car. I've done endless long train journeys with dd since birth, generally just me & her, its never been a problem.

Only tips I would add is

• a little wheely bag is great for a small child, they love pulling them along & can have a selection of toys to go in there
• having your own stuff in a rucksack makes things easier
• take loads of food & drink
• take a book to read yourself - you may not get the chance, but its a pita if you don't & then they go to sleep/play with plasticine for 2 hours straight.

just another shout for the family railcard - gives you discounted adult tickets and v cheap kids ones - ours paid for itself on a return trip to newcastle.

we used it when ds was 5 and dd was 3 - so technically she could have travelled for free, but this way she had an allopcated seat and we had the table all to ourselves.

I do London to Belfast by train and ferry once a year to see the in laws. (Train to Holyhead, ferry to Dublin, train to Belfast - 8 hours travel, total 12 hours including changes).

Last year the boys were 11 months and nearly 4, and we're about to embark on it again. It's fairly hideous but I'm terrified of flying so for me it's the least worst option. (DH thinks all this is ridiculous so he flies).

The little one really is hard work. There's no way around that. He'd rather be running round and you have to find other ways to keep them amused. I always try to get the disabled seat, take a little bag of cars, lots of treats, and hope for the best. The big one is fine. We just play looking out of the window games (ispy etc) and that's all it really takes. Plus he's old enough to take a drowsy travel sick pill, which helps.

All in all it's not great but it's just one day. When it's over it's over.

Thanks all I really appreciate you sharing your experiences and am taking all of this in!