I don't know why I keep attempting this combination. We have tried it at all phases and I'm convinced if this had to be my day-to-day routine we would surely adjust, but my kids (and me) just downright suck at the public transportation gig. It's kind of like taking a vacation....it sounds like a good idea until you're halfway into it and then you realize you have to get home. Then you swear you won't do it again. Until you forget how much it sucked the first time. Then the cycle starts all over.
I have a certain natural love of trains so I always want to take the subway/metro when I can, if I can. There seems to be some romantic draw to the prospect. Or there did at some time.
My first experience with the subway + kids was in Stockholm. Now don't get me wrong, Stockholm has one of the loveliest subway systems in the world. Some of the stations are even "artistic." But these are not places for kids, let alone two under two. So many times, the elevators were out (try carrying a double down the steps) or the bathrooms were out of service or someone would throw a tantrum on a train. I know it can be done because people do it. But I'm still convinced that even those who HAVE to do it, don't like it. Even my Swedish neighbor insisted she NEVER took the train into town with the kids because it was so much work. We even had a commuter train that was worse. My double wouldn't fit into the door. So I would have to load all the kids into the train come back DOWN (yes, there were steps on the train) to get the stroller, by folding it up a bit, and pray the train didn't leave without me. We only tried this train thing twice and the subway....about four times.
So now we live in DC. Also a very nice subway system that is also not kid friendly. We don't have the stroller anymore which is a huge relief because again the elevators are often out and hauling ANY stroller up or down the steps with two kids sucks. But our metro has strict rules about no food or drink. I totally ignore this with the kids because I'll be dammed if I'm not going to bring food along. People are rude about strollers. You pull into a door and have to stand in the doorway. No one really seems to care that you're schlepping people around and they lean on you or your stroller and sigh about how you're in the way. Seriously folks, the is much worse for me than for you.
We gave a trip downtown another go last week. No strollers (since my kids are 5 and 4). No fuss. And it was about 50% easier than with strollers and diaper bags. I caught site of a lady standing the doorway with her double, sighing, and rolling her eyes about those trying to climb around her. My kids did great on the way there. They were excited about the train and didn't mind the 30 minute ride. But the ride home was different. They were tired and insisted on standing near the tracks. No amount of telling them about the train running over them helped. I finally had to hold them back each time the trains whooshed by. We struggled on the escalators up and down. I listened to 30 minutes of whining: they were hungry, thirsty and had to go potty. Well, I had run out of food, drink and there are no potties on the Metro. So they were SOL. We tried to read and play games. No they just wanted to whine about how much it sucked to be on the subway.
I think it will be a long time before we do this again. But I'm open to tips from other for our next trip.
I have not taken public transportation since my younger son was born. However, before his arrival, we used to live in England and took the Tube in London. My rules were: no strollers (I wore him on my front and strapped the diaper bag on my back) and nurse him anytime he made noise. We live in the US now and are not close to public transport, but I am not sure how I'd manage 2 under 2. I'd definitely wear the baby still, but on my back....I cannot imagine traavelling without food or drink for the todddleer though.
Posted by: Michelle | Jul 10, 2009 at 08:45 AM
You need two adults. That way if the elevator is out, you can each take half of the stroller and carry it up the stairs/escalator.
I have two daughters, 19 months apart. We've done DC twice. It was decidedly easier with the big one in the stroller and the little one in the sling. If the little one got to be too much, I could let the big one walk (she's very good at holding on to the stroller/shopping cart and knows that she has to hold on when we're near traffic/in parking lots) and put the big one in the stroller for a moment.
The second time, the little one was bigger and pushing the double stroller through the metro was HELL.
I don't remember how old your kids are, but I think this is one of those things that gets easier with practice. I'd try a morning outing to a museum, and LEAVE AT LUNCH so that you can get them home in time for nap. Bring a friend, or their dad, or some other grown up to help you. They're just too little to do this on your own right now, and that's ok. When they're nearly 4 and 2.5, as mine are now, it'll be a lot easier.
Hugs,
Amy
PS - I have a lot of stuff on having 2-under-2 at my blog - http://prettybabies.blogspot.com
Posted by: Amy | Jul 10, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Ours are 18m and 3m. If I had to take them on the MAX train without DH there's no way I'd take the stroller. I'd wear both of them so I had hands free, go at a time of day when the trains were a little less busy. The little one nurses in the carrier just find and the 18 month old is content for an hour or two with just water in her cup if she has a snack before we go. :)
Posted by: Molly | Jul 10, 2009 at 12:03 PM