3 hour train journey with 4 week old baby to visit family member. Had to get up very early in the morning to get the train and hoped once on the train me and baby would be able to get some sleep and just wake up for feeds. Didn't expect to be bothered by 2 strangers constantly.
About one hour into the journey 2 women who were travelling together came to sit opposite me, there was a table in between us. Wasn't bothered by them sitting opposite me as the train was packed. I was winding DD at this point. They were having a conversation with each other but when I then repositioned DD so she could go back to sleep they both kept saying "Aww, look" to each other and they both ended up staring at DD and cooing. Could have put up with a bit of that but I started to feel like a museum exhibit.
Eventually they started asking me lots of questions and making comments. "Isn't she lovely."/"You're a superstar travelling with such a tiny baby."/"I miss the newborn days with mine."/"What's her name?"/"How old is she?" etc etc. Didn't want to be rude so I was receptive to them both at first but when they eventually asked where I was headed I said something along the lines of "X so it's quite a while away. We had to get on the train very early this moring so I'm just hoping I can get her to sleep for the rest of the journey so maybe I can have a kip too." I made sure to phrase it so they'd get the message I'd like to be left to go to sleep but without it sounding accusatory to them. It seemed to go over their heads and they both went on about their kids when they were babies etc.
I got a bit peeved. I don't expect people on the train to stay in silence just because of my baby, them talking quietly to each other sat opposite us wouldn't have bothered me. But I was clearly tired, bags under my eyes, tending to and BFeeding my newborn and I resented that I had to chat back to them or come across an utter cow.
Got up at one point to go to the loo in the next carriage to change DD. One of the women said "If you need to go to the loo we'll hold her for you." Wasn't a smell from DD so I guess they assumed I wasn't changing her and jumped at the chance for a cuddle. I politely said thank you but she does need changing. Once I got back onto my seat I didn't say another word to them, closing my eyes as soon as I sat down with DD before they even got chance to say something. As soon as I got to my stop I quickly said bye to them and rushed off the train. I accept I was probably rude, but if you were sat opposite a new mum on the train with a cranky baby who was obviously very tired (and had hinted that to you more than once), would you not leave her too it?
It's been a good few hours now but I'm still slightly annoyed about it all. I go from thinking "God I was such a bitch" to then thinking the women were very inconsiderate. Must be the hormones.
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AIBU?
To expect me and my newborn to be left in peace?
39 replies
weaverhat · 13/11/2019 16:48
OP posts:
Am I being unreasonable?
251 votes. Final results.
POLL
You are being unreasonable
66%
You are NOT being unreasonable
34%
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