Has anyone been on the Eurostar with baby and pram?

[Strawbs]

We are headed to Paris in may and I've googled re aking the pram but it says it needs to be folded down and stored in luggage rack above our heads, I have a chameleon so fat chance of it fitting.. What have others done? Baby will be 6 months when we go x

[Lacey]

When we went, there were storage racks at the ends of the carriages so should be ok to store the bugaboo there, dismantled. We went with a baby jogger and there was plenty of room to store it folded. Have a good trip!

[ClareC]

We took a Maclaren, did need to fold it. We caught the train from Ebbsfleet which was great in a lot of respects but there is such a short pick up time it did feel a bit of a mission getting us plus baby plus buggy plus luggage on the train in the 2 minute stop time. I ended up holding baby with propped up buggy leaning on me in the entrance bit until everyone had sat down and I could then get to the seats. My partner was dealing with the luggage and came back to sort buggy. A sling would have been good!

I would avoid the Chameleon if possible (we left ours at home), if it's busy there isn't a huge amount of luggage space and they don't exactly fold conveniently or small!

[Strawbs]

Brilliant both thank you.. Clare that is what I feared! I may have to borrow one.. I have an ergo carrier which we can defo use but he doesn't sleep very well in it which becomes very Problematic as the day progresses! X

[Lacey]

A fold up pushchair + ergo would prob be best solution - I forgot to say Paris metro not the easiest to negotiate with a pushchair.

[Strawbs]

Lacey d you know how the taxis work in regards to car seats or would we have to get a train ie no oTher safe option?

[Lacey]

Hi strawbs, sorry don't know about taxis. My recollection of metro is fair number of steps and narrow exit gates. Hopefully someone more experienced in travelling in Paris will post!

L

[Pickle]

We've got a Maclaren Techno Thst you're welcome to borrow for the trip if you wish? It's been our trusty travel buggy for 5 years so is a little tired but still in full working condition. Let me know.

P x

[EmilyE]

Taxis aren't london style, and most don't have car seats.

Not saying you couldn't order one, but it won't be a question of just hailing one.

The maclarens fit through metro gates, nothing much else does and there aren't manned wider gates at all stations either, so it can be a question of lifting it over in some places...

[Strawbs]

Pickle if we go down that route I would love to take you up on your fantastic offer!!

Emily - thank you for the heads up! X

[Mellors]

I took my kids, aged 4, 3 and 4 months on the Eurostar to Paris last year. We did have to fold the buggy, and trains were both rammed. Quite stressful - thankfully I had my sister to help. One problem on Eurostar was that you don't get (and can't book) a space for little 'uns. As the train was full I ended up putting him under the table in his car seat, which I had taken instead of the pram bit of my buggy. (!).

Bugaboo Bee didn't through Metro gates despite being quite small, so we had to lift over at the end of the first journey. Nightmare. Got cabs everywhere after that. Folded buggy base into cab drivers boot/back seat of car and then used car seat bit. Never saw many babies around, so not sure what the French do.

We did lots of walking, and also a (V touristy!) open top bus and boat trip. Bigger kids loved it, and I just wedged baby in in car seat everywhere. Sling would be great but I find it a) kills my back if i use it for too long when also laden down with nappy bag etc and b) he won't sleep in it, the bugger.

Having said all that we had a brilliant time. Stayed in an apartment which was good as wel could do our own thing for food, put baby to bed and have separate sitting area etc.

Rambling now, do shout if you have any questions!