Family Forum / Parenting / Parenting / March 2007

In London a lot (but not all) of buses and all tubes (except at rush hour)
are buggy friendly. You can just push the buggy straight on.
In my experience, the front carrier is great on buses/trains/tubes.
The back carrier is a different matter. It is too wide to comfortably walk
up the middle of the bus/train. You have to walk sideways like a crab! It
also is uncomfortable trying to sit down on the seats, so you end up
standing, and can easily knock someone with the back carrier, which you'll
almost certainly end up doing on a busy tube.
Personally I found the stroller easier on the bus/train even though our
buses are not buggy friendly and I had to carry #2 on and off and fold the
buggy up. I suspect it will probably be easier on the tube, certainly all
the stations should have lifts/disabled access.
Debbie

The posters on uk.people.parents might be able to help - I've
crossposted this reply there.

On Jan 24, 8:21 am, kebuc...@yahoo.com wrote:

No particular experience with London, but maybe I can help you with
carriers.  There are a lot of options for back carriers other than
framed backpacks that you might consider.  There are soft
non-structured ones like the Ergo, Sutemi or Patapum that are more
similar to the sort of thing you are probably familiar with.  Or, you
can try a mei tai like a Kozy or Babyhawk - there are a lot of brands,
but mainly WAHM companies.  A wrap could be the most comfortable, but
has a higher learning curve.  There is a lot of information at
www.thebabywearer.com - articles, reviews and forums if you have more
questions.  (I post at the forums, but otherwise have no affiliation).

(If you are happy with your current front carrier, that's great.  But
if not, you might want to look into a mei tai for the 6 month old.)

Oh, and btw, I love being able to travel without a stroller.  Yes,
there are times when I appreciate it, but wearing your baby really
gives you a lot of freedom!

Good luck on your trip!

Irene

I'd have thought it would be fine, we don't go to London often, but whenever
we were there with kids, we always did use carriers, but don't dismiss a
lightweight pushchair for the older one, I'm pretty sure all underground
stations became accessible for the disabled a while back now, and the busses
are more and more modern with a large number of those that drop down to
allow easy access for a pushchair or wheelchair, even if they don't, with a
lightweight one you can usually manage to get it up the steps, or fold it if
necessary. I also wouldn't worry too much about restaurants and the size of
a carrier, you need to make sure you are carrying comfortably above anything
else.

Anne

How about this - use whatever carrier you usually use for the infant,
and for the toddler, get a soft carrier (easy to stuff in a regular
backpack) like an Ergo that you can wear front or back and an
inexpensive umbrella stroller. That way you can put the bigger one in
the stroller for long walks and such, but quickly pop her into the
carrier and fold up the stroller if you're facing a long flight of steps
or other difficult conditions. We were in London and other parts of the
UK and Ireland about 10 years ago, and even though we didn't even have
kids yet, I remember noticing how inaccessible many areas would have
been for the disabled. (We had been living near and working in Berkeley
CA for many years, which is probably the most accessible place in the
US, which is why we noticed.)I did use public transport extensively
while living int he Berkeley area, and a combination of sling and
umbrella stroller was the best solution for me for walking to stations
then boarding buses and trains then walking again for shopping,
appointments, etc. A regular backpack for my baby gear and personal
items kept my hands free.

Karen

Thanks everyone for your responses!.   I haven't used the backpack
carrier a whole lot.  A couple of times at the zoo here in Cincinnati
and at some outdoor venues in the US/Canada.   Our 2 year old does get
fedup of being in it for too long though and so taking a long an
umbrella would probably be a good thing.  Carrying a big backpack
(books, laptop, etc) in college . was fine on subways and buses in
Toronto - it might be OK with a 27lb 2yr old too..

My wife has a fairly firm (soft/padded) carrier she normaly uses for
the 6 month old although in the last couple of days she has tried this
new carrier that looks basically like a twin sheet that wraps around
her, I guess it is known as a "wrap carrier".  It's the most ugly thing
I've seen but she's the one who's gonna be wearing it and she seems to
like it better than the other carrier. *shrug*

I liked the "framed" backpack carrier that I used for our 26 month old
but it's got a fairly thick metal frame, sun canopy, buttons, zippers
etc.  It's fairly large, can't be compacted down to very much.  So it
definitely won't fit in a backpack.

Irene - I will look into some of the soft carriers that you mentioned,
they might work out better, especially to pack away - thanks.

This is slightly off topic but we're going to be in India on vacation
(Goa) for 2 weeks after London and are looking for front carriers for
the 6 month old that would be light, thin etc, because of the heat.
The carrier's we have (other than the wrap) are quite thick and padded
and would probably be extremely hot to use.  Something light, thin,
well ventilated would probably work.

Thanks!

Kevin

On Jan 24, 9:21 am, kebuc...@yahoo.com wrote: