Taking 7 month old to London

[otterbaby]

Next week we have to take our 7 month old down to London (government appointment that has to take place in person with her present).

It's 3.5 hours on the train and then a 20 minute tube trip to our hotel.

Does anyone have any tips for taking a baby on the train/tube? It'll be around her bedtime that we'll be on the train so I'm hoping I can just hold her while she sleeps as I don't know if I'll be able to fold open the buggy anywhere.

I'm feeling quite nervous about it all so any tips at all would be great.

The bus might be easier than the tube. You can check the tube map for step free access stations though.

A baby carrier might be helpful?

Thanks both. I was planning on bringing my sling as well so that would probably be easier.

Bus would be ideal but we don't arrive by train until 8pm so I figured tube would be a bit more straightforward dreading it!

Use a sling. It will make public transport much easier. Baby can sleep or just look around. Carry your daily stuff in a backpack. I'd not bother with a buggy at all, tbh. It's likely to be more trouble than it's worth for a short trip.

Use whichever of tube or bus is shorter and more straightforward. The buses keep running on the same schedule well into the night and are easy to navigate. All the stops are named and announced so all you need is to know the name of the stop you want.

Other than that, there's really nothing to know. Central tubes are likely to still be fairly quiet especially in the evenings.

What's the tube route?
Most London termini have step-free access now, and some other stations.
If you download Citymapper or use the TfL Journey Planner there are options for step-free routes (at the bottom of the screen after initially showing results, for Citymapper).

Then having the buggy unfolded shouldn't be a problem.

The tube is still pretty dead at the moment. Especially in the evening you'll have no trouble getting on and probably won't even need to fold up your buggy

Black can? You can roll the buggy into them. . Likely to be a lot quieter as well. Tube can be noisy and bright.
Otherwise sling.

If it's an intercity train with a wheelchair space, you should be able to use the space for the buggy/pram so the baby can sleep in it if it isn't being used by someone who needs it. If there is 2 of you, the tube is easily negotiated even in stations without lifts. Black cabs are designed to take wheelchairs so you can use the buggy in a cab too.

A would take a mix of sling and a basic umbrella buggy (borrow one if needs be). A sling would be fine on it's own but sometimes baby will just want her own space and a stretch (and you might want a break) so having a buggy to pop her in will make a bit of difference. Buses can be worse than tube with pushchairs - even with them folded there is a lack of space for them. Also they take forever to get anywhere. Tube is quicker. Or as others have said - get a cab. Limit yourself with what you need to carry. You can get nappies, baby food, emergency clothing easily in London so don't think you have to take a suitcase full. Google all the branches of Boots/Tesco Metro/Sainsbury's Local etc near your hotel so you aren't having to go searching.
Good luck

If you're dreading it so much, why don't you just get a cab? The roads will be quiet by 8pm, so it shouldn't take too long to get to your hotel.

But also, at that time, the tube will be quiet - especially in the very front or very back carriages, and I'm sure there would be space to open the buggy.

You will probably need to fold a buggy up on the train so, if you have a smaller one rather than a travel system, I would use that. If there are two of you then you should be able to manage stairs or escalators in tube stations (in my experience if you are on your own people generally offer to help). Buses allow you to wheel on a buggy and might be easier if you don't want to take the buggy up stairs. They run regularly even later at night so your arrival time won't be an issue. Otherwise, you can use a black can. You can just wheel your buggy in....

I live in London with a 7 month old and no car. You'll be fine on the tube! Have a look for the wheelchair symbol on the tube map which shows step free stations and you might be able to have a very easy journey with the pram on the tube. I sometimes tweak my journey to use the lifts if dd is sleeping. If there's two of you you'll manage even if you do have steps though. Don't worry - I'm sure you'll be fine

Tube route is St Pancras to Pimlico so it's pretty straightforward. Our car seat isn't one that can be taken out of the car (fixed into the isofix base) so we can't bring it for use in a taxi.

Really reassuring to hear that the tube is pretty quiet still. I'm assuming my husband will just carry the buggy up/down the stairs while I have her in the sling (it's a lightweight Bugaboo Bee so not too bulky!).

Or do you not need a car seat in a black cab? Is that recommended?

Legally you can take her in the buggy in the black cab. But I would choose tube, it is safer. Kings cross is step free but a pain since there are a series of lifts to each platform so it takes a while. People are friendlier than they seem, ask someone if your are stuck!

I would count 20 minutes at least between train arriving and being on the tube.

The carriages at the rear end of the Victoria Line are usually emptier than the front (as people going to Victoria get off at the front). There also some flip up seats so you can put the buggy next you in a flipped up space. Victoria line is usually quite easy to negotiate with a buggy (I used to do it with a double). Probably the worst bit of the journey will be negotiating the multiple lifts down to the tube at Kings Cross.

Hopefully St Pancreas will be quieter than normal because not so many people will be using the Eurostar. Are you coming on on East Midlands Trains or Thameslink? The lift system from the Thameslink platform is a bit baffling.

Pancras not Pancreas ! I am always accidentally calling it that.

@Ilovemaisie London North Eastern Railway apparently? We're coming from way up north!

No, you don't need a car seat in a black cab. They have a ramp and you put the buggy rear facing in the wheelchair space with the brakes on. You can also use the wheelchair straps to secure the buggy. For future reference, many of them also have integral forward facing baby seats for older babies/children that fold out in the middle of the back seat.

Or you can prebook a minicab with a baby seat:

cabhit.com/taxi-with-child-seat-london-uk

I think that's usually Euston. I always find trying to actually find the tube there confusing. Although shouldn't be as busy as usual so there will be plenty of staff to help.

Also been on the tube lots with DC when they were little, sling is fine, buggy is fine - but as others said the tube is quite right now so don’t worry

With two adults it’s not too tricky to carry a buggy up and down a small flight of stairs and balance it on the escalators - but the latter is a bit worrying if you’re not used to it.
Download the Citymapper app to your phones and see what it suggests - it’s possible that the bus route will be really easy and it’s a lot easier with a buggy on the bus.

I used to do a similar journey to London on my own with DD when she was that age. If your husband is coming with you, I don't see the problem?

I am assuming my husband will carry the buggy

Sorry, had missed that there were going to be two adults I thought you were on your own and had some sympathy.