To be annoyed with parents allowing their "just walking " toddlers to wander aimlessly

[Ab1000]

When I'm on my lunch break I'm always in a rush to get stuff done. It's so annoying when parents allow their kids to toddle around and get in everyone's way. I have two children so I do know what it's like but mine were either on reins or had a hand firmly held.

just walk around them??

There are loads of places for toddlers to walk. The house. Your garden or communal gardens if in a flat. The park. The woods. Etc. The problem is often toddlers are not ready for restaurants and cafes as you can't expect a toddler to be sat in a high chair for too long. Parents seem to want to ignore the fact they have a toddler and won't adjust their own behaviour until their child is older.

And OP the problem with toddlers is that they don't always want to walk holding on to the pushchair, they want to exert independence and walk by themselves and yes that may mean getting in the way of other people but that's the nature of toddlers. We were all one once.

I've never heard of anything quite so ridiculous! Toddlers are finding their feet, excising rather than being stuffed into a pushchair and the parents have time to let them explore.

Yes ! Kika2901

But not everywhere is suitable for a toddler to exercise and find their feet, User. Busy railway stations or airports where they might get knocked over by someone with a wheely suitcase, or in a cafe where they might trip up a waitress or someone carrying a hot drink and get hurt.

It is just common sense.

What makes what you have to do in your lunch break more important than a toddlers right to toddle

Really? Is this a serious question? People who work, which obviously toddlers don't do, have limited time as they are due back at work.

This thread is getting surreal now

But OP is not concerned about the child's safety, really this is a different topic, she/he is just annoyed that they are getting in the way - God forbid!

I have no problems with toddlers being themselves. My DD walked everywhere from 9 months and only went in a buggy for return journeys or London trips. I did try to make sure she didn't annoy people, especially in busy locations, though! She would often be on a tube in rush hour and would know to stand sensibly or to not bounce if she got a seat. The issue is one of good or poor behaviour, not toddling. An inconsiderate adult is just as annoying. I'd much rather be near a well behaved toddler!

Where are these hordes of marauding toddlers obstructing everyone's way? I hardly ever see any as I go around my business.

This post is just horrible.
Let little ones learn to walk and explore the world. Allow elderly people more time, that chat in the supermarket maybe their only real human interation. Please for heavens sake just allow disabled people to go before you. What really annoys me is people who think they are better than others or who think that they are entitled.

The reason for my op is that when my own children were toddlers they weren't allowed to wander about. They were allowed to walk and were both good walkers but they were always under control. They were not permanently in a buggy but held my hand. I brought them up to have respect for others and an awareness of others. My children are now teenagers and still understand that they shouldn't obstruct others. When we are on the tube or in an airport queue they know to keep up with the queue and not to delay others. If they need to stop they step to the side. If they want to stop and talk in the supermarket they stand to the side. It's not rocket science.

I don't know anyone who would allow a just walking toddler to aimlessly walk around a coffee shop.
But I agree... it's a pretty stupid thing to do

@Kika2901 - it is about everyone being considerate and sensible. I walk slowly, and I do my best not to get in people's way - I try to be aware of my surroundings, and if there are people in a hurry, I will let them past if I can, or I will walk closer to the wall, so they can get past.

A toddler can't have that awareness of their surroundings, so their parent should be aware for them. If there is a big crowd of people champing at the bit behind you whilst your toddler dawdles all over a narrow pathway, you need to have that bit of awareness, and maybe either move to one side, or take your child by the hand and get them to speed up a bit.

Parents need to have a bit of common sense about where they can let their child range freely, and where they can't - if you are in a busy environment, with lots of people rushing round, this is not a good place for a child to toddler around - it is dangerous for them and risks annoying other people. Likewise a coffee shop or restaurant with people carrying hot food and drinks around.

People do lead very busy, hurried, stressed lives - is it fair to make their lives that bit harder by letting a toddler find their feet and dawdle round somewhere busy, when they could do this better and much more safely somewhere else?

There needs to be give and take from both sides, but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect toddlers to be kept reasonably close to their parent and not under busy people's feet in busy places.

The reason for my op is that when my own children were toddlers they weren't allowed to wander about. They were allowed to walk and were both good walkers but they were always under control. They were not permanently in a buggy but held my hand. I brought them up to have respect for others and an awareness of others. My children are now teenagers and still understand that they shouldn't obstruct others. When we are on the tube or in an airport queue they know to keep up with the queue and not to delay others. If they need to stop they step to the side. If they want to stop and talk in the supermarket they stand to the side. It's not rocket science.

Oh, so it's just that you're frustrated that everyone isn't a perfect parent like you. Now I get it.

Doesn't matter how well you parent, these things sometimes just happen. Kids have a wobble, dawdle, slow down. So do adults.

Your choices? 1- complain and be miserable. 2- move on and don't stress about it.

Try number 2.

@Gohara - some places are just not suitable for toddlers to learn to walk and explore the world - some places are hazardous (cafes - hot drinks, roads, car parks, busy airport/station filled with people rushing round with wheeled suitcases, etc etc).

Haven't you read the stories on here, from MNers who have rescued wandering toddlers from the road, under the wheels of cars, from wandering out of shops - should they have been allowed to carry on exploring?

Is it really OK for one dawdling toddler to stop everyone else who is trying to get into or out of a school - as a miner recounted on here? I don't think so. If there is space for people to get past, then by all means let the toddler dawdle happily - but don't be so oblivious to the rest of the world that no-one can get past you!

@GingerHollyandIvy - what if you physically cannot move on, because of the toddler's ineffective parent letting them cause a total blockage in a bottleneck? How is it OK for anyone to do that?

Precious toddlers allowed to go where they want, do what they want...drives me mad. And no, the alternative is not shoving them in a pushchair until school age. You take the time to take them to safe places where they can do their thing.
On honeymoon, many years ago, we watched in horror as a toddler waddled round the edge of the swimming pool; like other people who were there, we'd stood up and were asking where the parents were. The baby fell in and only the quick actions of a man in the pool saved the baby from drowning. Even worse the parents didn't rock up until about 5 minutes later and they seemed pissed off that everybody was outraged!

Toddlers are a burden on society and should be kept in cages until they can walk and feed themselves. Then be put back in a cage at, say, 65 when they become a burden on society again.

These old people and young people are just ruining my lunch.

YABTU

You're in a rush so toddlers and small people need to be reined or held firmly. Are you for real?

How fast or slow I amble with or without little person(s) in tow is my decision and it is not based on how much of a rush some (intolerant) people may be.

Do you have a similar attitude to old, infirm, disabled etc people?

Unless you own the pavement/walkway/road etc, get over yourself

what HarryElephante said

Seriously?! Listen to yourself!
People on their lunch break in a rush annoy me.

I give up. Some people have no common sense or sense of proportion whatsoever.

What is wrong with a bit of common sense and understanding from BOTH sides? Yes, toddlers need to explore the world, but it is not safe or sensible for them to do it everywhere. They are a part of the human race, but so is the stressed, harried person on their lunch break.

We should all do our best to be aware of our surroundings and other people. I walk slowly so I try to be aware of people in more of a hurry, so I don't hold them up more than I have to.

It is utterly unreasonable for any group in society to insist that they should be able to go about their day with NO consideration for other people - and that applies to toddlers too - though it is their parents responsibility to ensure their behaviour shows reasonable consideration for others.

The problem these days is that is is always the adult I'm a hurry who is expected to give way and consider the child. It's bollocks, frankly. Adults have jobs. Toddlers don't. Not hard to see who should have more consideration. Note it's not the child.

YABU. Why the hell should toddlers be confined to reins rather than allowed to explore just so you don't have to bother yourself to walk around them?. This. They need to be safe and not massively in the way, but toddlers are people too!