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Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Getting Baby to Daycare on Metro
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Anonymous
| OP again. So the consensus seems to be that both train and bus are doable, but far from easy, and the bus is preferable to the train. This is consistent with my intuition. Our current situation is ideal because both the bus and train are easy options. We take the bus most days -- which seems to be the preffered way to transport a baby. However, we are thinking about moving to places where the only option would be a train, which would be feasible but less than ideal. |
Anonymous
| We decided against downtown daycare because we weren't assured of a parking space at my work. We definitely did NOT want to use the Metro to take DC downtown, though obviously it works for many, many people. I suggest that you try a few practice runs during the exact times you'd be commuting, if you can. Your exact Metro route might change a little, b/c you'd have to take elevators, etc., which can sometimes take you out of your way and add minutes to the commute. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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taking metro with a baby or toddler is a breeze! i've been doing it since my son was 5 months old. he's now 2.5 years. we started in the ergo, which was simple and, more importantly, a great bonding opportunity. i fondly recall kissing his little face the entire way to and from daycare! i miss those days!
at about a year, my DS rebelled against the ergo (which pisses me off b/c it's expensive and i expected to get 3 more years out of it!), but we just put him in a maclaren triumph and off we go. my husband and i happen to have the same schedule, but even when one of us works late or is on travel, it's so easy to use metro with a small stroller. if an escalator is out, use the elevator! our mornings are early, so usually metro has plenty of room. our ride home is right in the middle of rush hour, though. sometimes it IS crowded. i've found that ppl generally move out of the way for us. you should try it out a few times before you commit to it, though. it might not be your thing. |
Anonymous
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It is really, really, REALLY unpleasant on the metro. It smells bad, it is crowded, it is hot...
That's a big chunk of the day for the baby to be fairly uncomfortable (no one likes commuting). What about a suburban option for daycare, and stagger your hours a bit to minimize the time in daycare. When we were exploring our options, this was what we chose. I had a friends swear for years that her time on the metro with the kid was quality time, but it sure didn't seem it to me the times I rode with them. |
Anonymous
| Oh yeah - forgot one thing: If you move close in, you won't even be able to get the stroller on the metro at busy times of day. I just can't see four people getting off and being left on the platform in order to make room for your stroller. The orange line is SOOOO CROWDED. |
Anonymous
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OP - whatever you decide will be fine. Just some thoughts:
-if one of you has telecommuting options one day a week or so like many companies have, it might make more sense for you to choose a daycare near home (if you live in the burbs home-based daycare can be a great option to start out with too). That way, the day(s) you are telecommuting you can drop off the baby off easily and pick up easily. -if YOU are sick one day and not wanting to work or take care of a baby, it's nice to be able to drop off the child off near home and not have to do a commute. Of course, if both parents will be sharing drop off and pick up responsibilities this isn't as big of a deal, since the parent going to work can take the child. -if you are confident you will be keeping your job(s) and not switching - it would be fine to be near work. Obviously you don't want to base daycare at work and then get a job in another part of town, and have an inconvenient daycare or have to find a new daycare. Impossible to predict sometimes but reasonable to think about if one of you is eyeing a change. -if you have a long commute it might be nice to not worry about having your child there. It isn't always quality time. I like just unwinding on the metro and reading and not worrying about anything, zoning out, checking blackberry, mentally preparing for the day or mentally preparing for the end of the day. I get off the metro, walk home and DH and my child are there. It's nice! But, DH works very near our house so it was a no-brainer for us, it just made sense to base all of our operations near home and his work, and have me be the one commuting. It is a different situation if you both take the metro. |
Anonymous
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After the traffic getting into the city this morning I'd rather take PT than driving in what a nightmare! Between getting into the city and finding parking that's not a relaxing way to start the day.
We take bus to bus in morning (All of us) and Metro/Bus in afternoon (for husband and daughter). Started with infant carseat, then switched to Ergo once daughter outgrew the carseat. Daycare is at husband's work so ever since he started using the Ergo noticed daughter likes to be held more by husband because she's gotten used to falling asleep on him on the Metro. It can be done using Metro and for us it's family bonding time. We like to play with daughter or read books (1 year old). It helps if you are in the beginning of the metro line and can get a seat. On our bus people have been really nice in giving us a seat so we can all sit together. Don't find this as much on Metro, but DH said he's usually offered a seat by people when he carries our daughter. |
Anonymous
This poster has said all of my thoughts quite eloquently. Particularly the last one - I look forward to my Metro commutes because that's the only reading time I get. |
Anonymous
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I haven't done this myself, but the amount of stuff that needs to be carried back and forth every day would definitely figure into my decision.
In the beginning, we were lugging a ton of stuff back and forth. A pp said you'd leave stuff at daycare and need only extra diapers and wipes, but what about all the milk/food? Our daycare bag each day included enough diapers for the day, all the bottles and milk needed (and, later, baby food, before the baby graduated to the daycare menu). Plus extra clothes and blankets on some days. The bag wasn't enormous, but it it was definitely more than a couple of diapers. Because I pumped at work, I carried pumping supplies (bottles, ice pack, etc.) back and forth every day, and I carried the pump on some days. Altogether, that's a lot of stuff. |
Anonymous
Oh, come on. We don't live in India!! it doesn't sound like you take public transport at all and have no clue what it's like! DC's trains are luxurious compared with most cities, even in the US. Try taking the el in Philly and then get back to me! I've commuted w. kids every day for 5 yrs. First - it is INVALUABLE to have your kid in daycare close to your office. I can't stress this enough. Especially as a nursing mom, I could pop in and breastfeed or visit. When dd got older I would take her to lunch in the neighborhood or we'd go for a walk. And YES -train time is quality time. I always had a book or 2 when dd/ds got older. We'd sing songs, talk about our day. We try to be on the train by 8am. And I started using a stroller when both kids reached about 6 months. It's always fine. |
Anonymous
| Agree with PP Metro has its problems but does not smell as bad as some other city subway systems. |
Anonymous
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I see pros and cons to having your baby in a daycare close to you, which would also factor into your metro decision:
Pros --Can spend the commuting time with child. --Can visit daycare for nursing or cuddles. My neighbor didn't even have to pump, because she worked in the same building as the daycare and could come down to nurse. --Easier to predict travel times to pick up child on time. --May be a shorter day if you don't have to commute then pick up child from daycare Cons --Relying on public transport with child can be rough if kid is having a bad day. --Coordinating meals and travel times can be hard when child is older and off the bottle. My neighbor feeds her child dinner on their metro ride home and has resigned herself to a ticket if she gets caught with food on the train. --If parent isn't going into work (for meeting, sick) it is harder to get child to daycare. --No more "quiet alone" time on metro for reading, etc. My DH loves that time as it is his only real personal time during the week outside of work and being with children. |
Anonymous
| PP if you don't mind how old is your neighbor's kid? Would they really ticket someone for feeding a toddler at dinner time? I give my one year old a snack before her evening bottle. |
Anonymous
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I think it is very do-able to metro in, but notes on the Ergo:
I do love it and find it much more versatile than a Bjorn, but once the child is over 18-20 pounds it becomes less comfortable and can be some work to walk with them and carry stuff, particularly if you have back or hip issues. It can also get very HOT to have the baby that close to you, so in the summer I don't see how you could wear nice work clothes without massive sweat or wrinkles. Also wear comfortable, safe shoes---a good friend tripped fell in a metro station with her baby in a Bjorn and fractured the baby's leg. I love the Ergo, especially the first year and in airports, but everyday might be a bit much for some people. |
Anonymous
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13:13 - I presume your walk to the metro is uphill in both directions? Drop the attitude - it isn't a contest.
It is not the case that one can get on a train with a stroller at 8:00 am at all stops. OP - I think it is instructive that you see very few children on the metro during rush hour. One does what one needs to do, but most of my colleagues who brought their kids down town chose to drive in - even if they lived near the metro. I'd look at the kids you see - I don't see too many acting as if they view the experience as "quality time." |