Children having their own seat on a packed train.

I’m very pleased that culture is changing. The idea that someone should be respected simply because they have lived longer than someone else is a nonsense. Respect has to be earned. I know some pretty old arseholes.

I'm not judging anyone. I've also never seen a 3 year old reach 4 1/2 feet tall, either. If you have, however, then that's a valid comparison and you're clearly you're more worldly than me.

You've illustrated my point about common sense being missing in action very well, though, so thanks!

I honestly think this thread just highlights the change of culture in the U.K. when I was younger people had more respect for each other, there was less sense of entitlement but we were all taught to respect adults and we’d always move / sit on a lap ( even when older than 3) for other adults.

society has changed, not always in a good way in my opinion. But I doubt you’d have had a 3 year old sitting on a seat alone whilst adults stood in the late 80/90s!

I'm not judging anyone. I've also never seen a 3 year old reach 4 1/2 feet tall, either. If you have, however, then that's a valid comparison and you're clearly you're more worldly than me.

You've illustrated my point about common sense being missing in action very well, though, so thanks!

From the National Rail website.
It appears that if an under 3yrs buys a ticket at the 5-15yrs rate then it should have a seat.
It seems to get blurry when the under-5 is travelling for free.

From the National Rail website.
It appears that if an under 3yrs buys a ticket at the 5-15yrs rate then it should have a seat.
It seems to get blurry when the under-5 is travelling for free.

You have no idea what a random able bodied adult is, you cant tell by looking.

That must be very difficult, coping with the judgement from people who don’t realise this and think he should give up his seat.

My DD1 has epilepsy, and has had a tonic clonic seizure whilst travelling, as well as several absences. It woulda’t be safe for her to stand up on a train. But you wouldn’t know that when looking at her.

She’s 16 now, and this is a recent development for her. (Though looking back, I think she did have absences in the past.). But there are many younger children suffering from epilepsy. You just wouldn’t know, so you shouldn’t judge.

One probleM is that trains now have individual seats.

The older trains when I was a kid had like
a bench cushion that ran all
the way along so you could squeeze three or four kids into a space meant for two adults. Not possible now with an uncomfortable bit of plastic/metal and an armrest between the seats.

well if that’s the case should I sit on my husband’s lap whenever there is a packed train? That is a more efficient use of space? My MIL is about 4 and half foot so she’s smaller than most people. Far more efficient for her to sit on my lap on a busy train?

no one is saying that no child shouldn’t be moved on to a lap if practicable. Most people do this for, as you say for space efficiency purposes and it to no detriment to parent or child. There are many reasons why a parent can’t do this though and therefore you are judging someone without cause if they don’t. You Have no idea the reasons why someone can’t/won’t do it.

I am now thinking of a massive pile up of family members all sitting on each other until we reach the ceiling! 🤣😂

I am now thinking of a massive pile up of family members all sitting on each other until we reach the ceiling! 🤣😂

I'm imagining an interesting game of 'Father, Mother, Baby' on a packed commuter train......I'm sure your MIL will love the suggestion of sitting on your knee next time......🤣🤣🤣🤣

well if that’s the case should I sit on my husband’s lap whenever there is a packed train? That is a more efficient use of space? My MIL is about 4 and half foot so she’s smaller than most people. Far more efficient for her to sit on my lap on a busy train?

no one is saying that no child shouldn’t be moved on to a lap if practicable. Most people do this for, as you say for space efficiency purposes and it to no detriment to parent or child. There are many reasons why a parent can’t do this though and therefore you are judging someone without cause if they don’t. You Have no idea the reasons why someone can’t/won’t do it.

When a child is old enough to have to pay for a ticket and too heavy to sit on a lap with ease they stay where they are unless your elderly or disabled or pregnant. Otherwise you can ask an able bodied man to to give up his comfort for yours if you dare, or is it only mothers of small children who should bow to your demands?

This thread is crazy. Is anyone commenting that children are 'just as entitled' to have a seat in the north of England, or is this a London thing? Where I live, it's basic manners to move your kid onto your knees and allow an adult to sit.

There's no need to get into a moral dilemma - this approach simply means that more people can fit onto a packed train or bus. The argument could be extrapolated further - why should I have to move to the middle of the train to allow a perfectly able-bodied adult to stand next to the doors? Because it's common sense. Get a grip.

You have no idea what a random able bodied adult is, you cant tell by looking.

It's not outdated to teach manners, it's outdated to teach them that they matter less than a random able-bodied adult, who somehow feels an odd entitlement to a seat the child is already sitting in. Why is your comfort more important than the child, or the parent, sitting in the seat you've somehow decided is yours?

That must be very difficult, coping with the judgement from people who don’t realise this and think he should give up his seat.

My DD1 has epilepsy, and has had a tonic clonic seizure whilst travelling, as well as several absences. It woulda’t be safe for her to stand up on a train. But you wouldn’t know that when looking at her.

She’s 16 now, and this is a recent development for her. (Though looking back, I think she did have absences in the past.). But there are many younger children suffering from epilepsy. You just wouldn’t know, so you shouldn’t judge.

Depends on the length of the journey. I would have put my ds on my lap for a short journey but if it were for several hours that wouldn't work. Children have rights but not the same rights as adults because they are not adults. They have different needs, hence different rights. Sitting a small child in your lap to free a seat for an adult is a reasonable thing to do, depending on other circumstances.