Children having their own seat on a packed train.

Are you sure? Considering the quote below from the this page on the National Rail website, especially the bit I've bolded:

"Children under 5 years of age travel for free on most journeys but check with your train company to make sure. Please note, children under 5 who are travelling without a ticket may only occupy a seat that is not required by a fare-paying passenger. To have a reserved seat for a child under 5 you will need to purchase a child rate ticket. These come with seat reservations (if available), and there is also a 50% discount on most tickets."

No.
I know some miserable adults seem to think children are beneath them and shouldn’t be out and about taking up any space, but they absolutely have the right to.

My three and two year old sons are both disabled, most of the time they stay strapped in the buggy but at times I would have to put them next to me.
Due to their disabilities, they would not be comfortable sat on my lap.

So If I was asked to put my child on my lap, I’d refuse. Plain and simple.
If I’m capable of standing up on a train whilst pregnant, in pain and struggling with sickness just so tourists can cram on (I live in a seaside resort) and pretend not to see me, then you can stand.

Neither can I which is why I said I had unseen health issues. I would also be in agony with even the smallest child on my lap, I couldn’t even hold my 13 month old DNiece for more than a few seconds but to anyone else I look perfectly fit and able. But I nor anyone else is a mind reader. I don’t expect people to look at me and say o she must need a seat so I would struggle to stand because I’m not going to suggest someone else move for me. I would however expect people who can see that others are struggling to offer seats which even I would do knowing how painful and difficult it would be for me.

Did they pay for the child's seat? If so, then it is theirs to sit on.

I was on a train a few weeks ago. A mother was totally frazzled with a very restless 3 year old. On chatting to her they were travelling from Scotland to Cornwall and had been travelling for 12 hours. I don't think it would be possible for that to be a comfortable journey with the child on her lap.

You don't know what else is going on with the parent. I was pregnant and nauseous and knackered when I had a 3 year old so having him sit on my lap wasn't always comfortable. I've had friends with 3 year olds undergoing cancer treatment, recovering from gynaecologic surgery, all sorts of medical and physical reasons why having a potentially wriggly and heavy 3 year old on their lap wouldn't have been ideal.

No, incorrect. Nobody HAS to give up a seat, except perhaps if someone else has reserved it. HTH

Ah right, so the other adult doesn't matter? Got it.

I think the determining factor on rail is whether a ticket has been bought for the child

• Under-5 without a ticket - has to give up seat
• Under-5 with a child ticket - does not have to give up seat
• Over-5 - has to buy a ticket - so does not have to give up seat

Sorry I missed your post and basically said the same thing.

Length of journey is very relevant. Popping a child on your lap for half an hour is very different to a five hour journey.

What is the cut off age? I was on a packed bus with my 8 year old sat next to me, a man got on and demanded I put her on my lap so he could sit down ( was not priority seats!) I told him that I wouldn’t be doing that and he screamed abuse at me and called me a pig. Ironic thing was there was a woman opposite with a bag on the seat next to her but he didn’t ask her to move it.

I suspect a lot of the difference in views is down to the distances people travel by train.

If I'm doing a long journey with GC I pay for a ticket for him even though he doesn't need a ticket at his age. I do it so I can book seats for both of us. So some under fives may have a ticket.

What a ridiculous comment. If his “friends” mock him for being inconsiderate then they’re not the kind of friends worth having.

Even travelling on public transport as an adult, my friends and I would sit on each other’s laps to free up seats for other people; it’s just a thoughtful thing to do. Although thoughtfulness increasingly seems to be so last century.

yes indeed, but I was commenting on the people who have said that leaving the child sat in the seat will AUTOMATICALLY cause it to become an entitled brat.

Oh, ok. You can see how often I travel by rail 🤦🏻‍♀️

in that case, yes I’d put a child on my lap if I hadn’t paid for their seat. And assuming they are small enough.

I meant comfortably and safely for the child.
But this does rather go to the point about the pro-seats-for-toddlers crowd on here and entitlement.

Did the pass-agg "hope that helps" really add anything to your comment? 🙄

Ooh, I don't think I'd ask my child to give up a seat I'd taken the trouble to reserve for us, though, not just for a random adult with functioning legs who hadn't bothered to reserve themselves a seat.

That's what I always do if we're on a train. My mum always drilled into me that I was to give up my seat for an adult who wasn't seated, and would offer her own to a pregnant, elderly or disabled passenger who didn't have one. I think it's the right thing to do. But I don't think you can demand it of someone who hasn't. There are all sorts of nice things that people can do for others if they choose but don't have to if they don't and I think this is one of them.

It's rarely comfortable to have another person, even a toddler, on your lap.

YANBU. A child small enough to sit comfortably and safely on an adult's lap should absolutely be on a lap if there are adults standing.

Did they pay extra to book that seat? Then no! They paid for the seat, it’s theirs.

🙄