Bus → MRT → Bus (First Time Solo with Baby!)
Travelling with a baby = bringing so many things 🍼👜🎒
So I always rely on my husband to fetch us home after staying over at my parent's place.
But that day, he was busy... so I decided to try doing it on my own.
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🤔 My options:
Taxi?
I’d need to fold the stroller, carry baby, and manage multiple bags… honestly felt overwhelming.
Public transport?
Baby can stay in the stroller throughout, sounds more manageable.
👉 So I decided to try public transport.
Sharing my real experience in case it helps other first-time parents! 😊
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🎒 What I packed (hands-free setup)
Usually we bring many small bags, but since I was alone, I simplified everything into just 2:
🎒 Backpack: clothes, baby monitor, water, umbrella, essentials
👜 Sling bag: milk bottles, formula, extra milk, diapers
✅ Only 2 bags → both hands free to lift & push the stroller
🍼 Fed baby formula before leaving (hoping for a longer nap) and brought pumped milk as backup
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My REAL experience
🚍 Bus 1: Smooth start 👍
- Non-peak (1pm), not crowded
- Waited for passengers to board first — still had easy access to stroller spot 🚼
- Driver patiently waited for me to lift the stroller and only set off after I secured it (really appreciated that!) 😀
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🚇 MRT: Best part 👍
- Baby was comfy & dozed off almost immediately (slept ~1 hour 😴)
- Felt so relieved seeing him calm and settled
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🚍 Bus 2: The challenge 🥲
- Didn’t expect the bus to be so crowded at 2pm (probably school dismissal timing).
- Immediately knew boarding would be difficult with the stroller…
💡 An auntie suggested pressing the wheelchair button so I could board from the back— something new I learnt! It really helped ❤️
BUT…
- Bus was already packed
- Stroller space was taken
- I couldn’t move in properly
Boarding became quite stressful, especially doing it alone for the first time.
Then suddenly someone shouted across the bus:
“Move in! Can’t you see people want to board?”
😓 It got quite uncomfortable…
There wasn’t much space… and my stroller was in the way 🥲
Honestly… I almost gave up right there 😅
Made me wonder if I should just walk home instead of taking bus...
But the 2pm heat was just too much ☀️, so I continued the journey home by bus...
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🧠 What I learned
🚇 MRT
✔️ Very baby-friendly
✔️ Smooth and predictable
🚌 Bus
⚠️ Can be stressful when crowded
⚠️ Hard to secure stroller space
⚠️ Need to hold stroller firmly during jerks
Since taking bus is part of our usual route, I’ll probably try again, just better prepared next time.
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💡 Tips for parents
1️⃣ Stand near the front so the driver can see you — hopefully you get a stroller spot 🤞
2️⃣ Avoid school dismissal & peak hours
3️⃣ Use the wheelchair button when needed
4️⃣ Pack light → hands-free is a game changer
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💬 Let’s share!
Mummies & daddies,
How’s your experience taking public transport with a stroller? 😊
Any tips to make it easier?
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🔖 Save this for your next trip out with baby!
Traveling solo with a baby on public transport can be daunting, but with the right approach, it becomes manageable and even rewarding. One key aspect I found helpful is optimizing your packing—using just two bags, a backpack for essentials and a sling bag for milk and diapers, leaves both hands free to handle the stroller and baby. This hands-free strategy significantly reduces stress during transfers. Timing your trips to avoid rush hours and school dismissal times is also crucial. As noted, buses can get unexpectedly crowded, making boarding with a stroller challenging. The tip about pressing the wheelchair button to board from the rear door is a game changer, ensuring you get support and easier access. It’s worth remembering that not all passengers may be understanding, so mentally preparing for occasional impatience can help maintain calm. The MRT experience tends to be smoother and more predictable, with baby-friendly facilities and ample space for a stroller, often allowing the little one to nap undisturbed. Finally, keeping your baby fed before departure can promote longer naps, which eases the journey. Sharing these insights and learning from other parents’ experiences can empower first-time solo traveling parents to handle public transit confidently with their babies.
