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A UK Pregnancy, Parenting and Lifestyle Blog
August 7, 2014

Topic Thursday: Public Transport with a Baby

Public transport and babies. Not what you would imagine to be a good combination! 

This is specifically related to trains and the tube in London (I didn’t have to get on any buses thank goodness!).

I decided I wanted to take Isla in to see people in my old office in Central London. Usually I would drive up and I have taken Isla in the car up to London many times with no problems at all. The only thing with getting to my office is that it’s right in the centre of London and not ideal for traffic/parking etc. So I decided to take a train and the tube to get there.

Here’s our adventure…


When we got to our station I went and asked an attendant where was best to get on with a buggy. They weren’t much used but advised to look for a carriage with a disabled icon on it. I did that and ended up having to run after the carriage as it didn’t stop where I was told it would!

We got on fine and found a seat but had to swap trains after a few stops. When I went to get off the train, I went forward wheels first with the buggy and the whole thing fell and got stuck between the train and platform. Luckily Isla was strapped in otherwise I dread to think what would have happened. Some lovely other travellers helped me pull the buggy out from between the gap and we eventually got on our next train. 


Note to self – always get on and off a train back wheels first!!!!

Train selfie after the stress of getting on! But then…a huge SPIDER jumped into Isla’s pram and tried to have a nap with her. The man across from us jumped up, picked it up, threw it to the ground and stamped on it. Felt sorry for the spider!


Always carry water with you if the weather is hot. It can get pretty sticky on public transport, especially the tube!


Area where buggies were allowed to be. Near the toilets, lovely!!


Getting off the train at Waterloo was fine once I’d figured out, from our mishap earlier, that you go backwards off a train with a buggy. They have ticket gates for disabled users, people with luggage and buggies so we went out through one of them with no stress. The whole reason I had planned my journey through Waterloo was to be able to get a lift down to the tube platforms. Unfortunately when we got there and asked an attendant how to get to the lifts, we were told they were out of order. 

Cue panic when I realised I had no idea how to get on an escalator with a buggy!!

Eventually I plucked up the courage to go on backwards which seemed to be the best way to make sure Isla was safe. I had a quick google to see what other people thought and going on backwards seemed to be the popular choice. It was ok once I figured out to stand 2 steps away instead of 1. I almost got crushed by the buggy the first time!

We got through the ticket gates and then went down another escalator and round to get to the Northern line platforms. Then we were hit with another dilemma. Stairs! First I tried to bump Isla down in the buggy but it was a bit too rough and she started screaming so I ended up picking the whole thing up (clearly because of the adrenaline I had going round me) and running down the stairs.


Finally made it on the tube!

Once we got off I panicked and realised there was no way I’d be able to get the buggy back up a flight of stairs with Isla in it. I had visions of having to take the whole thing apart and run up and down with various parts! Luckily a lovely man offered to help carry the buggy up which was a relief.


When going up an escalator with a buggy stand one step down from it and support it on the way up. So much easier than the way down.


Outside my office in Central London!


Some well deserved food and drink. Love a plate of nachos! (I didn’t eat them all myself!!)


On the tube back to Waterloo to catch the train back :( This time a woman helped us up the stairs at Waterloo. I reckon if you hang around long enough looking stressed someone will help you at some point. And this is coming from someone who did live in London for 4 years and knows very well the reputation of us London commuters!

We got back on the train with no problems and I managed to get a seat on a fold down chair with the buggy right next to me.


Sleepy baba on the train back till daddy picked us up.

So all in all, it was a bit of a stress but I reckon if you were travelling with someone it would be totally fine. Need to bring someone with me next time or drive like I usually do!

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6 comments so far.

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Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫 Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫
‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in c ‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in creating a better world for our children.’ - Nelson Mandela ❤️
It’s not enough though, is it? We’ve always h It’s not enough though, is it?

We’ve always had diverse toys in our house (not enough, but I’m working on it ❤️), but when questioned ‘why do you buy your kids Black dolls?’, I’ve faltered and answered incorrectly. I would respond saying ‘because that’s the doll Isla liked the best. What does it matter? We’re all human’, rather than questioning why that person is questioning it in the first place.

In a massive learning curve this week, where I am actively trying to become an anti-racist ally, not just anti-racist/non racist in general, I have found so many shortcomings in my effort to educate my kids and in my own attitudes towards race. But this isn’t about me. So here are some resources I’d like to share on top of the ones shared in my stories.

Some books to read:
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge.
How to argue with a racist - Adam Rutherford.
Brit(ish) - Afua Hirsch.
White Fragility - Robin Diangelo.
I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite.
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo.

Diverse kids books:
Anti Racist Baby - X. Kendi.
Riley Can Be Anything -Davina Hamilton.
Look Up - Nathan Bryon.
Mae Among The Stars - Roda Ahmed.
The Mega Magic Hair Swap - Rochelle Humes.
Let’s Talk About Race - Julius Lester.
Welcome To Our World - Moira Butterfield and Harriet Lynas.
This Book Is Antiracist - Tiffany Jewell.
The Extraordinary Gardener - Sam Boughton.
Let The Children March - Monica Clark-Robinson.
Ruby’s Worry - Tom Percival.
A Kids Book About Racism - Jelani Memory.

Some things to watch:
When They See Us.
13th.
Who Killed Malcom X.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story.
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap.
Dear White People.
I am Not Your Negro.

My to do list:
- Sign more petitions.
- Donate to more causes.
- Listen to podcasts and share.
- Encourage changes in the school curriculum so that my children, and their classmates, get a better, much more rounded and diverse education.
- Call things out.
- Have honest/open conversations.
- Share content.
- To keep educating myself, whilst never expecting others to do it for me.

It’s just a starting point.

Thanks for listening x
Black Lives Matter. I can never pretend to unders Black Lives Matter.

I can never pretend to understand, but I will always stand.

I’ve been on a huge learning curve this week and have, shamefully, come to the realisation, which I should have a long time ago, that it’s not enough to just not be racist. We must also be actively anti-racist and do everything in our power to ensure our children are too.

Today is a day to stop, listen, support, educate ourselves, donate, sign petitions, take action in any way we can, big and small, to make sure that everyone knows we stand with our fellow humans, family and friends. But we can’t just do this today. We must do it each and every day going forward ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻
And breathe! First day without both my babies for And breathe! First day without both my babies for the first time in 10 weeks today and it couldn’t have gone better. Both had wonderful days and were full of stories when they got home. I said over on stories last night, which got an incredible response so thank you to everyone who reached out, that I am completely comfortable with my choice to send the kids back to school and nursery but would never, ever judge anyone who felt different. We are all in different boats in this storm we’ve found ourselves in and what works for my family, might not work for yours. I have deliberately stayed out of the ‘are you sending your kids back or not?’ debate as it started to feel like another toxic discussion, in the media and on social media, that was resulting in yet another parenting divide.
I could have had the kids in this whole time, under key worker provision, but tried my best to hang on till the phased reopenings that I hoped would happen when they did. They were what I was aiming towards. Don’t get me wrong, I have LOVED having the kids at home together for such a sustained period, we have made lots of memories and learnt so much more about each other, but mixed in with the nature of my job and the fact that @thisdadalife is deployed and so I’m on my own with minimal support, I couldn’t have gone on much longer.
When I got in from dropping them off today, and as I went upstairs to work at my desk, I literally collapsed on the stairs and almost cried in relief. Relief that we made it through, as dramatic as that sounds. I don’t think I realised the toll it was taking mentally as I was constantly running on adrenaline.
I am so happy to get a bit more balance back and to, most importantly, feel like a better mum again. Not a snappy trying to juggle it all 24/7 with no break mum.
If you sent your kids back today, whether you wanted to or not, I’m with you and support you.
If you have kept them home in your bubble for longer, I’m with you and support you.
If you’re still unsure what to do and are undecided, I am with you and support you.
Nobody knows the full extent of someone else’s circumstances and we have to stop and realise that before we judge anyone else ❤️
Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅 Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅
This is the first year in YEARS that I have felt ok wearing a bikini. And I feel like it’s more down to how strong I feel, rather than how I look. Whatever it is, I hope it continues ❤️
On another note, how tanned does the @filterbymollymae fake tan make you look! 🙌🏻
(Both bikini and cover up are from last year).
#losingmyboobstho #youwinsomeyoulosesomehaha
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