Although riding the bus is probably your last choice--it costs the least, and it will get you to corners of the country where planes and trains simply don't go.
Bus travel is the least expensive kind of public transportation, but it's also the most difficult with very young children. Cramped quarters, frequent stops, and a stuffy atmosphere make buses less appealing for everyone concerned, especially on long trips.
All children under the age of 5 must be accompanied by a passenger 12 years of age or older. Children ages 5 through 11 traveling unaccompanied, and those aged 12 and older are charged the full adult fare.
Those under 2 travel free on your lap. Kids 2 to 4 years of age pay 10% of the adult fare and get a seat. (If you wish a seat for one under 2, then you pay 10% too.) Children under 12, when traveling with a full-fare adult, are charged half the adult's bus fare.
* Be prepared to hold your baby on your lap for the entire ride if the bus is full. There are no other accommodations for infants, unless you purchase a second seat.
* Practice changing your baby in your lap. The bathroom on a bus is too small for it.
* Bring everything you'll need for the baby in a small bag that's easy to handle. If the bus is crowded, you won't have much room for carry-on luggage.
* Try to get the seats at the front of the bus where your child will be able to see out the windows more easily.
* Pack a transistor radio with headphones to entertain your child. Reception is especially good near the bus windows.
* Take food, at least for the children. Meal stops are limited in time and not always at places you would choose.
* Carry your own motion-sickness bag, just in case. Buses don't provide them.
Treat all modes of travel as an adventure--a special occasion. Your attitude and your sense of fun will determine much about the quality of your travels.
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