Central London with newborn

[sunhat88]

Hi all,

When my baby is due to be around 4-6 weeks old I need to travel to London for two hospital appointments. I'll drive with my husband to a family house in London. However I'll need to travel with husband and baby on two consecutive days (a Friday and Saturday) into central London for hospital appointments. I have a big travel system (the joolz geo), a Caboo sling and a babybjorn one carrier. There's a chance we could drive in which would solve all problems but I want to know some advise if we chose to take the tube. My joolz geo would be way too big to take on the tube I imagine. I could use the carrier or the sling. This will be my first baby so I want to ask if I take them in the carrier or sling will they be ok in it and out of it a little for the potential 4 hours it could take to make the journey there, have appointment and come back? In my head I'm thinking they'd need to lie down at some point but I wouldn't have the option for that.

I hope someone can help.

Thank you.

I'd sling it if possible and if your husband is coming with you, pack a light blanket that you can lie on the floor/sofa/chair. The caboo is perfect for that age and you can always alternate with your husband for the carrying bit if you get tired - my DH was fine with that sling too (and he is 10 inches taller and a lot wider than me).

Russell Square Tube has lifts but is the closest to Russell Square. Holborn is a short five minutes walk away if you cut through Queens Square but has long escalators and can get very crowded in the rush hour. kings Cross and Euston are a bit of a longer walk, probably easier with a pram of some sort rather than a sling.

Have you checked out bus routes, sometimes a bus route is a bit longer in time but actually quite direct, and once you are on board you just have to sit. try looking on the tfl website.

I took my then 5 wk old to watch the London Marathon! Was with my DH, and used sling plus car seat attached to bugaboo (large) base. We had a great day out, didn't need loads of stuff (I was BF so no bottles etc.) and hopping about on the tubes was perfectly manageable with two of us and an awareness of step-free/minimum steps access. Outside of rush hour people in London are generally very kind and helpful.

I also think it's perfectly acceptable to take baby into any appointments with you - we have done for medical and solicitors etc. and no one has ever frowned upon it.

Hope it all goes well

I take DS (5 months) to appointments. He's coming to my smear test tomorrow, the lucky thing. I find the buggy easier for things like that, but have put him in a sling for appointments and Drs haven't said anything negative. Quite the opposite. They're always pleased to see were breastfeeding etc. (once shot a dr in the face with overactive letdown during an appointment: he took it in good humour, thank god)

I think there are steps to get to the lifts in Russell Square, aren't there? I agree that King's cross is a better option with the buggy and to avoid a change of tube, unless it's bucketing rain.
In terms of the sling, you'll have an idea by then which is more comfy for you and baby or if you really can't face not being able to put baby down all afternoon - with my DS I liked being able to set him down. With DD, she wasn't very keen on being put down so the carrier was better unless it was absolutely baking hot. In any case, you and your DH will be together, so it'll be totally manageable.
I would avoid driving into central London if at all possible. Driving in London is awful!

From Euston just get on a bus going down towards Russell Square. 168 68 24 . Don't get tube to Russell Square. By time you changed at King's x you may as well have walked .
Or get taxi black cab from Euston to Russell Square it isn't far and won't be too much. Eg 10.