After the initial period of adjustment to the tremendous task of keeping a whole new human being alive in your home, it comes time to venture out beyond the threshold, for your sanity as much as for practical purposes like shopping.

If a car is not available, public transportation provides some challenges as well as some wonderful opportunities.

Achievement Unlocked

I remember the feeling of accomplishment when I successfully managed my first bus trip with my newborn all by myself. Strapping him snugly into the pram, manoeuvring it onto the bus, making sure it didn’t roll off with each turn, and reaching our destination (a baby clothing exchange shop) in one piece. He drifted off to sleep on the twenty-minute bus ride.

Some other trips were not as peaceful. We were stuck on a crowded bus at rush hour when he started wailing vociferously. Thankfully, fellow commuters were understanding and did not grumble at the piercing sound, and we were near home. He stopped squalling when his dad met us at the bus stop and swooped him up.

The baby probably just needed a bottle or a burp, but as a new mother, my brain did not always immediately jump to the obvious. Nowadays, I am more adept at breastfeeding discreetly in public places.

Smooth Sailing

To enhance your likelihood of a more pleasant experience, travelling at off-peak hours means the bus, train, tram or ferry is likely to have more room for you to fit a pram or find a comfy seat.

Selecting a sensible bag for nappies, wipes, snacks, toys, and books is also a must. We usually have a bulky shoulder-slung nappy bag that goes in the car or pram. But when travelling internationally with our babies, I transferred all the essentials into a little backpack.

It was not as roomy as the nappy bag, but it was perfect for our use on holiday excursions, especially in Singapore where the public transport tends to be more crowded whatever time of day it is.

After having a second baby, I managed to get both of them safely onto a bus by strapping my daughter into a harness across my front, and using a toddler backpack leash on my son, to prevent him from bolting into traffic.

Little Lessons

Now that my son is a toddler and very interested in all modes of transport, he takes great joy in the simple act of riding on a bus or train, or chugging up the Brisbane River on a ferry.

Yesterday we just missed a bus on our way home from the Bunnings playground, and had to wait half an hour for the next one, but it was a great opportunity for him to observe the traffic and practise naming various vehicles and their colours. He thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

On the bus, he continued to take in the sights, exclaiming over passing trucks and bikes. He also took note of how fellow passengers engaged in the process of boarding or alighting from the bus.

With an infant, the mundane act of taking public transport transforms into a glorious adventure and holds a multitude of teachable opportunities in their journey towards independence.

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Image courtesy of Adobe.