Public Tansit 101

I think I've mentioned before that I frequent public transportation. Really, that is my only means of getting around, aside from walking. It's not that bad though, I've been using the train and buses for over a decade so I've got it down pretty well. This doesn't mean there aren't still hiccups every now and then, so I wan't to share my experiences in hopes that maybe it will make things a little easier for others in the same boat! Or bus...

The girls have been using Trimet (what Portland calls their public transit) since they were the ripe age of 4 weeks old. It was really nice when they were still in the newborn stage as I could just use the bird cage trick and throw a blanket over their car seats. Boom! Out like a light. Once they started staying awake for longer stretches and gaining more interest in their surroundings, this trick kind of lost it's value. I fully advise taking advantage of the bird cage trick for as long as possible, it makes running arrends so easy! 

Another plus to using this trick is it deters prying eyes of seemingly harmless passengers. There is a disturbing volume of germs on public transit, and while I'm hardly a germaphobe, I like to avoid exposing my girls to unnecessary yuckies. Once they won't peacefully nod off when you throw a blanket over them any longer, it's time to strategize whenever you're planning a trip. How long will you be out? Where will you be going? What sort of rules does your local transit have regarding strollers? 

Once you've answered these questions you can pack accordingly. Let them pick out a toy, maybe two incase they're in that awesome stage where throwing shit on the filthy floor is incredibly amusing. Wipes come in handy for this as well! The stroller thing really grinds my gears...here in Portland, you have to remove your baby(s) from their stroller and collapse it, holding your baby(s). This is no easy task with one baby, so I have pretty much written off the bus all together because it's an assanign request with two! It's mostly annoying because only 40% of drivers actually enforce it. The drivers can be really nasty about it too, because let's face it, their job kind of sucks. So if you have one, wearing or even a little umbrella stroller would be best. 

Lastly, we aren't the only ones who ride the bus. Sometimes there are some really nice folks who want to chat with you about your baby. Sometimes there are really annoying people who want to chat with you about your baby. For the most part, people just want to get from A to B. Very rarely have I gotten "the look" from perfect strangers while commuting, the one that says "are you going to take care of your kid or what?!" This ones funny for me, because I used to be that person. The first couple times the girls got upset on the train or bus, I felt really embarrassed. I would break my back to make them stop crying, knowing damn well all they wanted was out of their stroller. So now I ride it out. I offer comfort obviously, but I don't bust my ass and I definitely don't feel bad. Babies cry, plain and simple. So ignore those snooty glares and remember that you're doing everything you can! 

It can be an enjoyable experience when properly prepared and the stars align perfectly. Having your bases covered definitely does make things easier, though :-) 

Babies on a train! Using the buddy system for subsequent babies is always helpful, as the girls auntie was kind enough to demonstrate.