Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

to take a baby in First Class on the train?

34 replies

Galena · 11/11/2010 20:28

Going to a meeting tomorrow and am able to take my 18mo daughter (She was born at 27 weeks and so is still tiny and not yet walking, so equivalent to about a 9-12 month old).

First class tickets were £2 more than Standard class each way. So I booked them.

I know I'm entitled to have her in there, but I can't help but worry that some poor business man/woman who has booked First Class so they can have peace to do some work on the train will see us walk in and feel that IABU.

I'm a lready feeling defensive, despite the fact no-one's said anything and I know I'm in the right.

Should I just have slummed it in Standard?

OP posts:

plantsitter · 11/11/2010 20:30

No! You've bought the ticket so you have every right to use it. There is loads more room in first class - it's definitely worth it.

racetobed · 11/11/2010 20:33

YAabsolutelyNBU

Your needs are much greater than any 'poor' businessman/woman

togarama · 11/11/2010 20:34

YANBU. I commute and travel a lot by train with DD. When the tickets are cheap I've taken her in first class. Never occurred to me that it could be a problem.

TheBolter · 11/11/2010 20:34

Can you take her out into the corridor if she cries? Some people would have paid more than an extra £2 for a First Class ticket and will have done it in order to get work done.

Difficult one. There should be family carriages for lots of running around space, sobs and spillages!

domesticslattern · 11/11/2010 20:37

YABU only if you don't whisk her out if she cries.

MumNWLondon · 11/11/2010 20:37

Its up to the train companies how they price their seats. When I get a train for business its first thing in the morning and tickets are hundreds of pounds.

Whether its worth it or not depends very much on the train, whats important IME post 6 months is that there is a spare seat.

re: the other passengers, if she screams the whole way first class passengers I think more likely to be annoyed but thats not really your problem.

fedupofnamechanging · 11/11/2010 20:40

It's public transport. The clue is in the name. You have as much right to be there with your baby, as the business man/woman.

It's nice to get a peaceful journey, but it's not a god given right. Don't be thinking that your comfort, and your babys, is less important than theirs.

bosch · 11/11/2010 20:43

Wow, I've never been in first class but dh goes in a lot for work. Never occured to me that you couldn't just do what you like in there if you can afford the prices (appreciate they are not always astronomical).

Any passengers have a right to be annoyed if a baby screams the whole way - including the mum and dad. No way would I plan in advance to stand in the corridor for the louder bits (though appreciate I might bottle it on the day and slink out)

Are first class carriages marketed as 'quiet' coaches?

InVinoFerretsAss · 11/11/2010 20:46

Why would she scream? How long is the journey?
Take some toys, some snacks, comfort blankies or whatever and try to relax about it!

I always get 1st class advance tickets when I travel with my kids because there is more room. Most of the business people I see on trains are talking so loudly into their phones that they barely notice anyone around them. The ones that I get chatting to tend to smile and tell me about their children or grandchildren.

If it all goes pear-shaped just remember that it's only a couple of hours out of your whole life, it's not like you'll ever see any of those people again. I know it can feel a bit daunting but just take it easy. She may well surprise you!!

Original poster

Galena · 11/11/2010 20:46

She's generally really good, and I'm not worried that she'll scream. To be honest, I'll be taking toys, books and enough food to sink a battleship as when she's eating all is right with the world, in her view!

If she got grumpy, of course I'd do something about it - whether that's something at the seat (more food, dummy, gin, ...) or whether it's walking down the train with her. I don't do screaming babies in public! At home, I might try to limit the dummy, but in an environment like that where it impacts lots of other people, she can have it for the whole journey if necessary!

I guess it's more about other people's perceptions - whether they assume she'll be a nuisance without giving her a chance first...

OP posts:

Dando · 11/11/2010 20:47

You can do what you like. I used to go first with my baby a fair bit. Never had any grief. It's up to the train companies how they price their tickets, nothing to do with you.

hifi · 11/11/2010 20:48

i always took dd 1st, she was a diamond tho. i did get hard stares and was made to feel v uncomfortable, it was as though everyone was waiting for her to start screeching.

Limez · 11/11/2010 20:52

As someone else said - it's public transport, anyone who thought buying a first class ticket meant they would be segregated from certain groups of people are deluded and really ought not to have wasted their money.

Amazes me that anyone would think otherwise,I wonder what they would think about a person with LDs being in the first class carriage?

Rockbird · 11/11/2010 20:53

You pay your money, you go where you like. I'd be more than happy to glare back at anyone who gave me withering looks.

MsKalo · 11/11/2010 20:54

It's first class not quiet class! Don't feel
Bad at all!

VeronicaCake · 11/11/2010 20:55

Really don't worry about it. We've travelled first class loads with our 6 month old DD, the first time when she was only 4 weeks old. Like you we book it cheap in advance, and I love it because the bigger seats are much comfier to BF in. Also they bring you tea/coffee and water which is a lot less faff than getting to the buffet car with a baby. And the baby change facilities seem to only be in the first class carriage loos on East Midlands Trains.

We've never had a problem, only nice comments. Last time I was travelling with 5 month old DD by myself it was fully booked. There were 3 other business people at our table all with laptops out, and DD sitting on my knee with her crinkly horse toy. I did feel slightly anxious that they'd have a problem but they were all parents too and were delighted to have the distraction of a cheery baby to smile at.

I have taken DD out into the corridor when she has got grouchy, but that is generally because I'm trying to get her to go off to sleep in the sling and need to walk up and down to do that.

InVinoFerretsAss · 11/11/2010 20:56

Yeah, you'll probably get the "what on earth are you doing here?" or "don't fucking dare sit next to me" looks from the suited and booted as you get on.

Then when she behaves beautifully or sleeps for most of the journey they're suddenly all smiles!

WindnRain · 11/11/2010 20:58

YANBU - But I can understand your concerns. If first class was mainly used by adults with young children then it wouldn't be an issue but as it's mainly used by lone adults you are in a minority, which is always going to be hard.

Original poster

Galena · 11/11/2010 21:02

Ok, I'm beginning to chill out I think... Both legs of the journey we are at a table, but it is a 2 seat table (opposite each other), rather than a 4 seat table so we shouldn't annoy the person next to us as there isn't one!

It seems we get complimentary food with Crosscountry trains, as well as drinks, so that's going to be worth the £2 extra!

I'll let you know how it goes!

OP posts:

LifeIsButtercream · 11/11/2010 21:05

I understand your concerns, but YANBU - if anyone complains, suggest to them that if public transport is a bit to public for them, they may need to find another way to travel!

Hope you and your little one have a nice journey!

YourMam · 11/11/2010 21:07

Fuck 'em. You have way more need of the space in first class looking after a small baby than any snotty businessperson who can up and leave if they're that bothered. I've taken my baby DS in first before and it was fine. YANBU.

Alwaysintrouble · 11/11/2010 21:10

Dd grew up on GNER trains. In my experience, 1st class is usually pretty empty, and if businessmen do get annoyed they just humph to themselves or put earphones in. Mainly they try and play with the child if you are next to them though, as they are usually daddy's themselves. "explorations" down the train every 45 mins always go down well with the dd though.

nappyaddict · 11/11/2010 21:13

Galena Are you travelling during peak hours?

I have a question for everyone too. If you were taking a toddler or preschooler first class during peak hours and they were talking or singing quite loudly would you stay there or take them out to the corridor?

Firawla · 11/11/2010 21:16

yanbu you have every right to be there its fine. i have done it and noone complains, obviously keep your dc under control not trashing the train or anything then will be fine

ClaireDeLoon · 11/11/2010 21:17

OP YANBU at all, don't worry about it.

nappy addict talking and singing is OK, that is just a babble I can tune out but crying I just can't. Still crying babies on rush hour trains rare, people with crap headphones at high volume not rare, yet people don't seem to worry about inflicting their tinny music on others so I don't know why mums worry so much.

Flip

1 2