How to survive a solo train ride with a child

Article originally published on July 30, 2019

In early July, when my daughter had just celebrated her first birthday, I became a mother. Warning, I know I officially became a mom the day she was born (and much earlier in my heart too), but I feel like I’ve taken a real step forward by ticking a dreaded box on the young parents list: travel by train with a child. What’s more, alone.

I’m not going to lie to you, I was super stressed about having to spend 3 hours in a closed and relatively quiet place with a baby who just wants to discover the world on all fours, howl his (dis) happy and lick the armrests. I was also afraid of not being able to get by with my ton of luggage, my stroller and my commode. In short, I was not at all peaceful!

Finally, with a little hindsight, I got along pretty well thanks to some really not stupid little tips collected from friends who had already been through this baptism of fire.

Council No. 1: plan your trip in advance

When you have to travel by train with a child, alone or accompanied, it is risky to do it at the last minute, even if you are an improvisation professional. In addition to allowing you to take advantage of more advantageous rates, booking tickets in advance also gives you the possibility to make some strategic choices such as the location of the seats !

With a child (and all the luggage that comes with it), I can only advise you to opt for the lower hall if your train has two floors: it will always be a few steps less, and since the movement of people is upstairs, no one he will be embarrassed if Drummer the Rabbit comes out in the middle of the corridor.

If the train you need to take allows it, you can also choose seats in the family area (every weekend at many TGVs). In addition to having more space, you will be close to the toilets with a changing table, always handy in case of explosive diarrhea. Otherwise, do not hesitate to look at the prices of the first class: sometimes with the second there are only a few euros of difference, and it is really worth it in terms of comfort, especially with a baby.

For timetables, choosing a trip that includes a meal is a good idea Eating takes up a baby for at least twenty minutes, and there’s a good chance he’ll take a nap once he has a full stomach. Better than nothing ! On the main lines you will find a bottle warmer in the nursery area, and for the more solid you can warm it up in the bar car.

Tip 2: make yourself comfortable for the baby

Up to 4 years old, a child can travel free of charge on the lap (or in a sling / baby carrier) of the accompanying adult. Personally, I didn’t really want to keep my daughter glued to me for 3 hours, so I got her a “baby” card: a real place next to mine for € 9.

Even if your baby doesn’t spend the entire journey in his car seat, it’s super handy for storing a cot, toys, or even quickly setting up a changing table if the nursery area is too far away or there’s an emergency.

Tip 3: travel with the bare essentials

When you travel with several people with a baby, you can easily share tasks: one person can take care of the baby, another of the luggage, and if there is a third thief, he can handle the stroller and its smart folding. When you are alone, it is a different story, hence the interest in traveling (very) light.

Depending on the age of your child, replace your competition stroller with a lightweight, easy-to-store umbrella stroller, or with a baby carrier or harness. Some strollers allow you to attach a car seat to their folding frame, it’s also a good idea (although it’s a bit heavier for the arms) – the cozy will act as a seat / cot for the baby during the train ride, in as a stroller carrycot and moreover, it is still its main function, as a car seat.

If possible, instead of cluttering your hands with a suitcase, take a large backpack and roll up all clothes and towels to save space. In addition to this bag, pack a tote bag with the things you’ll need on the train (diapers, food, toys, duvet, water bottle, etc.) so you don’t have to rummage through your gear every 10 minutes. For food, don’t hesitate to take more than you need – you’re never safe from a big delay and that doesn’t mean your baby is crazy about salmon-tzatziki triangle sandwiches.

Tip 4: plan ahead for baby equipment and large suitcases

If you need to carry a lot of things, because you are going away for a long time or there is nothing that can accommodate your baby where you are going, several solutions are available to you. They will cost you some money, but they will quickly pay for themselves – peace of mind is priceless.

For heavy and / or bulky baby equipment such as beds, high chairs or changing tables, you can rent everything over the internet and have it delivered to your holiday destination or pickup point. Some sites such as Familib (all of France), Babytems (Paris and Île-de-France) or even BBVM (Basque Coast and South of the Landes) offer many products at decreasing prices to lighten the luggage, but also the mind. If you prefer to rent privately, you can search on sites like AlloVoisins.

In the case of large suitcases full to bursting and absolutely essential, the SNCF offers a collection and home delivery service. I’m not going to lie to you, it’s quite expensive (starting at € 29 per bag), but it’s still a useful solution for single parents traveling through France with a baby under their arm. Otherwise, some sites like Cocolis allow people to cut travel costs by carrying packages for other people. It is worth watching, even if it requires a little more organization than home delivery to be able to collect your things.

Council No. 5: keep the baby busy while traveling

Once you and your baby are settled in your place, you will need to take care of your offspring. This is the real challenge of traveling and, to be honest, it’s not easy, especially when alone. Unless your baby is very small and still sleeps a lot, you can immediately forget about the nap or reading : you may not even have time to go to the bathroom!

In addition to the toys you have prepared (give him only one at a time so he doesn’t get bored too quickly), you can count on many allies to distract your child: your neighbors in a row, the landscape, the table of his seat, your bottle. of water, etc. Even if it’s only five minutes each time, they’re already busy.

To keep my daughter from getting bored too quickly, I followed the advice of a good friend: I bought her a new toy and gave it to her when I felt she wasn’t interested in anything anymore and she was about to start whimpering. The attraction for the novelty not being a myth, he played it quietly for a good half hour. If you want to try this trick, don’t forget to think about your neighbors and your sanity when choosing the gift: a silent toy is better.

What if, despite your best efforts, the love of your life starts crying? No need to try to amuse him with his stuffed animal (it might excite him even more), you will not find anything more effective than physical contact and movement to calm it down. So take it in your arms and go stretch your legs up to the bar car. You know what they say: “one blow and off we go”!