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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider complaining to this nursery

41 replies

soandsosmummy · 26/10/2011 15:55

I took DD on a very full bus earlier and had to stand with her. There were about 20 nursery children accompanied by 6 staff who were all seated. There were elderly people and a pregnant woman standing as well as me and dd (6). Surely the staff could each have taken a child on their lap to free up seats?

AIBU if I call the nursery in question to complain? Its not the first time we've had to stand because of this nursery as they seem to use the public buses to take children to the park

OP posts:
PopcornMouse · 26/10/2011 15:59

YABU - there is probably some clause in their liability insurance saying children must be sat properly on the bus, not balanced on laps.

ScaredBear · 26/10/2011 15:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fuzzynavel · 26/10/2011 16:01

I wouldn't be put out enough the actually call the nursery to be honest. Maybe ask one of the staff if they could have a child on her lap when on the bus? There might be a silly health and safety thing that they aren't allowed to have the kids on their laps?

ScaredBear · 26/10/2011 16:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

slavetofilofax · 26/10/2011 16:03

YABU. They have as much right to use public transport as anyone else. I really can't see what you have to complain about.

It is safer for those children that don't have one adult between two or three of them to all be seated. It's the same as saying that the bud was full with other elderly and pregnant people. They all had equal need for the seat, and teh nursery got there first.

AVoidkaTheKillerZombies · 26/10/2011 16:04

YABU to consider complaining - its not exactly that much of a big deal is it.

Original poster
soandsosmummy · 26/10/2011 16:05

I suppose I'm just applying my own standards to other people. If pregnant woman or the elderly were standing I'd either sit DD on my lap or give up my own seat.

I don't mind about standing but some of the others should not have been IMHO

OP posts:
Moomim · 26/10/2011 16:08

When I take a group out from school/nursery/playcentre on crowded public transport I ensure as many of the children sit as possible, but as an able bodied adult I would certainly not take up a space if someone needed it more.

slavetofilofax · 26/10/2011 16:09

Would you have prefered a small child to have been able to get up and put himself in danger by walking around on a moving bus and an accident happen because the nursery workers couldn't get to him in time to prevent it because they had a child on their lap?

mollymole · 26/10/2011 16:12

Why did the adult nursery workers not offer a seat to the elderly and the pregnant woman. This would have demonstrated good manners to the children.

natation · 26/10/2011 16:15

How about the other passengers on the bus, should you complain to them too?
Good on the nursery for taking these children out, I bet quite a few of them wouldn't other use public transport. Being outside the nursery environment can teach the children to behave in public, be courteous towards others, take a bit of personal responsibility and learn a bit of independance.

Original poster
soandsosmummy · 26/10/2011 16:19

OK I accept IABU. Still think they should demonstrate some manners though - Moomim and Mollymole make the best point that one of the nursery staff should have stood

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 26/10/2011 16:21

yes, i would imagine the nursery have to be unencumbered and able to deal with the children.

it would be way OTT to complain to the nursery. i think it's great that they get out and about and use public transport actually.

I presume there were other passengers sitting on the bus... couldn't you have asked someone to vacate a seat?

Megatron · 26/10/2011 16:22

If we take a group of children on the bus we have to sit with them. We would not be permitted to let any random person sit with the children in our care and I would suspect that this nursery policy is similar. Whether you agree or not is neither here nor there, that is our policy and we have to stick to it.

Andrewofgg · 26/10/2011 16:38

Interesting, Megatron, because if you end up with one child alone on a seat meant for two and the bus is busy a "random" person a.k.a. a fare-paying passenger will sit next to that child.

Whether you agree or not is neither here nor there, that is the position and you have to live with it!

Sirzy · 26/10/2011 16:49

Why should the nursery staff (who will have been busy dealing with the children) get up any more than someone on the bus alone though?

I am all for people giving up seats and regulary do but I do think your being unfair on the nursery

spiderpig8 · 26/10/2011 17:12

The nursery is a business whose job is to look after child.They are not in the business for caring for randomers on a bus.They will take your 'complaint' as confirmation that the staff are doing their job properly.
Besides the staff had an average of more than 3 tiny children each! Plus they were on the bus first.

SnapesMistressofFear · 26/10/2011 18:31

The children will have had free fare on the bus. It is free on the proviso that they get up for fare paying passengers. YANBU

KatieMortician · 26/10/2011 18:36

The nursery workers should have stood if there were elderly and pregnant women standing. Just basic manners.

If I was the nursery owner or manager I'd want to know if my staff were behaving so badly when out because it reflects badly on the nursery and me.

squeakyfreakytoy · 26/10/2011 18:42

It really saddens me to see people with a such a sense of entitlement, that manners and consideration for those who may be more needy (elderly people and pregnant women) take a second place to "well I paid for my seat the same as anyone else".

:(

JamieComeHome · 26/10/2011 18:46

Perhaps they are just lazy caaahs?

They should have been standing with the children, ensuring their safety, even of no-one more needy was around.

RitaMorgan · 26/10/2011 18:46

To be fair, I think it would have been difficult for the staff to give up their seats or move children around - I imagine it's pretty stressful taking that many small children on public transport and keeping them all happy and safe. They would need to ensure all the children were safe and within sight and reach of a staff member at all times.

JamieComeHome · 26/10/2011 18:47

SORRY - read this all wrong. I assumed the children were standing while the workers sat. ....Grin

molly3478 · 26/10/2011 19:13

Come back when you are working for the minimum wage and have responsibility for a large amount of other peoples kids in a public space when you have 100s of rules and regulations to follow for the nursery then tell me how you feel about it!!!

KatieMortician · 26/10/2011 19:19

Molly what has minimum wage got to do with anything? I earn nothing. Not a bean but it doesn't mean I behave like an entitled tit in public. No minimum wage worker I know would think "well I'm not very well paid so therefore I'm entitled to ignore anyone else's needs".