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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To Book A Train Seat For Toddler

50 replies

bushtailadventures · 24/11/2016 05:54

I think it is a reasonable thing to do. She won't be able to sit in the buggy like she does on a bus, and having her on my lap for the entire journey would be a nightmare. In her own seat she could at least look at books or do some colouring, and, if she does want to sit on me, I will have somewhere to put all of her stuff.

It's been a long time since I travelled by train and all I remember is how cramped it was. This seemed like a good idea when I was buying the tickets, but everyone else here seems to think I'm being silly. Am I?

OP posts:
Somersetlady · 24/11/2016 05:58

Its a good idea as far as I am concerned having a toddler on your knee and someone next to you isnt the most enjoyqble scenario. Like you say it will make ot easier to get her activities food etc. Best of luck woth your trip

Orchidflower1 · 24/11/2016 06:01

Some companies don't charge for under fives anyway x

Mirandawest · 24/11/2016 06:14

How long is the journey you're doing?

I would get her a seat of her own - it's true that she wouldn't be charged for but then she wouldn't have a seat either.

What's the cost for both of you? It might be cheaper to buy a friends and family railcard as that will give you a discount on your fares. You'd need to take into account the cost of the railcard, which is £30.

cheminotte · 24/11/2016 06:22

Sounds like a very good idea to me. Let her have the seat reservation as her ticket and she'll think its great.

daisiesinherfootsteps · 24/11/2016 06:25

I always do this. If you have get a friends and family railcard then it's actually cheaper to buy two seats than one as your discount is more than the child fare.

If you are doing a long journey the second seat makes things much more manageable with a toddler. (And then essential once you have 2 under 5 to fit in the double seat with you).

Another point, it is in the railcard t&c that you are allowed to pay for a ticket for an under 5, however I have encountered station staff who don't know this! I ended up keeping a screenshot of the t&c to show them. Conductors all know though.

Also, use the train company's own website not trainline when booking and then most of them have a facility to choose own seat (I always pick 2 airline style without restricted view close to the accessible toilet) I find airline far better to block toddler in!

canwestart2016again · 24/11/2016 06:26

I always do. Did you know you can use a family rail card with a child if any age if you buy them a ticket? Saves you a third off most rail fares.

Bonywasawarriorwayayix · 24/11/2016 06:32

We do it. It's so much easier knowing you all have space.
We travel regularly by train so bought a 3 year family railcard when DS was 1. Fares are always cheaper that way.

Catsize · 24/11/2016 06:47

orchid, the 'free under fives' tickets means they are on your knee.

We have a family card. Works out cheaper to buy 2x adult tickets and 1x child ticket than just the adult tickets.

Catsize · 24/11/2016 06:48

Probably cheaper/the same for 1xadult and 1xxchild too.

Kittykatmacbill · 24/11/2016 07:52

We always do (2 under 4), get a family rail card it works out cheaper!

ChocChocPorridge · 24/11/2016 07:58

You're not mad. I went to the South of France when DS was 2 or 3 (and I was pregnant with DS1) - he was on my lap the whole way because the train was full and it was a nightmare.

Flights now that they are old enough they have to have their own seats are 1000 times better too.

Get one of those power blocks so your phone has charge the whole way (if there's now power at the seat that is) is my second tip.

Hoppinggreen · 24/11/2016 08:00

Perfectly reasonable and remember if the train is full you've paid for that seat so you don't have to give it up just because someone is glaring at you!!!

SocksRock · 24/11/2016 08:01

I always do with a family railcard, it's cheaper than an adult on their own. I went 5 hours with my 3yo last weekend and was very glad she had her own seat that I could keep for her as I had paid for it.

Colby43443 · 24/11/2016 09:45

Be aware that if the train's full staff can and will ask under 5's to sit on your lap, so if it costs a lot and you're travelling on a really busy route I wouldn't bother.

Colby43443 · 24/11/2016 09:47

Regardless of how much is paid. This happened to me with dd several times even when travelling 1st class.

Meadows76 · 24/11/2016 09:51

Be aware that if the train's full staff can and will ask under 5's to sit on your lap, so if it costs a lot and you're travelling on a really busy route I wouldn't bother. and if you have paid for a ticket you can say no.

viques · 24/11/2016 09:51

Re the cost of a family railcard. If you have tesco vouchers you can use them to buy railcards, I think the last one used about £15 of vouchers which I think of as free money anyway, I know, I am easily fooled!, but if the vouchers are there in my cupboard and I would have bought the food anyway........

daisiesinherfootsteps · 24/11/2016 09:57

I can't fit a 2 year old and a 4 year old on my lap in a single train seat, hence paying for the second seat. Defintely couldn't have managed when DD2 was smaller either as needed to feed her. I've never been asked to move from our reserved seats (although I often have to politely ask someone else to get out of them when we board).

Colby43443 · 24/11/2016 09:59

Meadows76-not on busy Virgin, East Midlands Trains, Cross country, C2C routes. The thinking is that adult tickets are double/triple the price so if the child can sit on your lap they should if an adult needs it. I kicked off a couple of times but to no avail.

Colby43443 · 24/11/2016 10:00

I travel into london a lot for dd in peak times so maybe that's why. Have the same problem in 1st class.

Meadows76 · 24/11/2016 10:02

I travel regularly up and down the east and west coast and my children have never been asked to give up a paid seat for an adult. It doesn't matter how much you pay for the child ticket, if you have bought and paid for a seat they are perfectly entitled to sit in it.

  • obviously we would give up a seat for someone who needed it.
blueturtle6 · 24/11/2016 10:04

If you are going on virgin check if one first class ticket would be cheaper, there are more places to put the buggy, carriages are usually quieter and seats bigger if need her on lap

Colby43443 · 24/11/2016 10:05

Lucky you Meadows76.

Andrewofgg · 24/11/2016 10:16

Reserve as many seats as you pay for tickets. And refuse point-blank to put a child with a paid ticket and a reservation on your lap.

SuperFlyHigh · 24/11/2016 10:26

How long is the journey for OP?

If it's long then yes child should have its own sit but it has got my goat a few times especially coming back on my commute on a packed train (often been cancelled or delayed so double the amount of passengers then) to see parents with kids happily sitting in seats that an adult could have. Especially when as my mum used to do we sat on her lap. admitedly it's a half hour journey but isn't fun when you're squashed on and being told to move down.