Taking public transport with a baby is mostly about choosing the right way to carry them and the right time to set off. A baby carrier leaves your hands free on the metro stairs, while a lightweight pushchair is better suited to the bus and tram. Outside rush hour and with a bag pared down to the essentials, the journey becomes just another outing.
Pushchair or baby carrier: which is best for the metro, bus and tram?
The choice depends on the network you use and your child’s age. Each option has its strengths.
- Baby carrier or sling: ideal on the metro, with its stairs, corridors and ticket barriers. You keep your hands free and your baby stays close to you in the crowd. To choose the right one, see our guide to the ergonomic baby carrier.
- Lightweight folding pushchair: handy on the bus and tram, which are often step-free. It also carries the shopping and doubles as a bed for naps. It becomes cumbersome as soon as you have to carry it. For the criteria that really matter, see our guide to choosing a pushchair.
- Both at once: some parents wear the baby carrier and keep the pushchair folded for short stretches without a lift. It is often the best compromise for mixed journeys.
For a newborn, the baby carrier has an extra advantage: close contact reassures the baby amid the noise and bustle.
The rules to know on the bus with a pushchair
Each network sets its own rules. As an example, those of the RATP network in the Île-de-France region (Paris area), as relayed by the towns it serves, are as follows.
- With a folded pushchair, you board through the front door.
- With an unfolded pushchair, you board through the front door, or through another door with the driver’s agreement.
- A maximum of two unfolded pushchairs on a standard bus, and only one on smaller buses.
- The pushchair goes in the designated space, giving priority to wheelchair users.
- On this network, children under 4 travel free.
These rules vary from one city to another. Before your first journey, check the ‘travelling with a pushchair’ page of your network or ask the driver.
The metro with a baby: stairs, escalators and lifts
The metro is the least practical way to travel with a pushchair. Many older stations have no lift, and escalators do not always run in both directions.
Pushchair manufacturers and transport operators advise against using the escalator with a child in the pushchair. If you lose your balance, a fall is hard to stop. It is better to take your baby out, fold the pushchair, or use the lift where there is one.
A few habits make the journey easier:
- find out in advance which stations have lifts, using the network’s app or accessibility map;
- choose a slightly longer but accessible line over a change full of stairs;
- ask for help carrying the pushchair: most passengers are happy to lend a hand;
- use the wide gates when the station has them.
Tram, RER and train: what changes
The tram is often the easiest: platforms level with the floor, wide doors and spaces for pushchairs. The RER (the Paris regional express rail) and regional trains vary more, sometimes with a big step between the platform and the carriage.
Whatever the mode of transport, put the pushchair brake on as soon as you are settled. Position it facing the direction of travel or against a wall, and fasten the harness even for a short trip. Sudden braking is enough to send it rolling.
What time should you take public transport with a baby?
Avoid rush hour as much as possible, generally in the morning before 9.30 am and in the late afternoon. Crowds make it hard to fit the pushchair in, the noise tires the baby, and the heat builds up quickly in a packed carriage.
In mid-morning or early afternoon, carriages are calmer. It is also when many babies nap, and the pushchair or baby carrier means you don’t have to interrupt it.
Packing a light bag for the journey
On public transport, every unnecessary item costs you on the stairs. A backpack leaves your hands free, unlike a shoulder bag. The bare essentials take up little space:
- two nappies and a small folding changing mat;
- a full change of clothes and an extra layer to add or remove;
- something to feed them with: breast, a prepared bottle or a snack, depending on age;
- a small blanket or muslin, which also works as a sunshade;
- your ticket within easy reach, so you don’t have to rummage at the barrier.
For longer outings, our article on first outings with a newborn explains what to take depending on how long you will be out.
Temperature, noise and germs: protecting your baby during the journey
Between a cold platform and a warm carriage, the difference can be significant. Dress your baby in layers that are easy to remove, and open the snowsuit or blanket as soon as you board.
The noise of brakes and announcements often startles little ones. Keeping your baby close or facing you helps them feel safe.
During winter epidemics, crowded carriages expose infants more to respiratory viruses. For a baby under three months, it is best to limit journeys at busy times. Our article on bronchiolitis and how to prevent it covers the recommended measures, and the one on babies falling ill at nursery explains what counts as a normal frequency of infections.
Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding on public transport
In France, breastfeeding in a public place, including on public transport, is allowed. No rule requires you to hide. A seat slightly out of the way, or a muslin over your shoulder if you wish, makes the moment more comfortable.
For bottle-feeding, a flask of water and a formula dispenser mean you don’t have to carry a prepared bottle that would need to stay cool. Make it up when it is time to feed.
Asking for a seat: a right, not a favour
Most networks reserve priority seats, marked with a pictogram, in particular for pregnant women and people with a young child. Don’t hesitate to ask for one, especially when carrying your baby.
A baby in your arms or in a baby carrier is usually enough to make yourself understood. If no one reacts, speaking directly to a seated passenger, politely and without justifying yourself, almost always works.
When public transport isn’t the right choice
For long journeys, with lots of luggage or with a poorly child, the car or a taxi is sometimes simpler. In that case, our article on long car journeys with a baby explains how to get organised. For a trip lasting several days, see also our tips for travelling with a baby.
In summary
- Baby carrier for the metro and its stairs, lightweight pushchair for the bus and tram.
- Bus rules vary between networks: boarding door, number of pushchairs, priority for wheelchairs.
- Never use an escalator with your child in the pushchair.
- Travel outside rush hour, especially with a young baby and in winter.
- A light backpack and layered clothing make the journey more relaxed.
