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.

On a recent flight the 'proud' parents were beaming as they're toddler was permitted to run up and down aisles. As I came out of the toilet I nearly stepped on him as he was sitting down ... been there know the challenges. As others have said step up be a parent and let them learn where appropriate. The crew had a word with the parents as the danger of being scalded with hot drinks was an immment danger

Their! Oops!

Gosh lots of very very busy people on here and a posses of toddlers holding you all back, just walk round them or say excuse me to the parents. You can't really expect under 5s to stay off the pavement out of shops off stairs you really can't

Yes, I'll leave a good buffer of 20minutes for every morning commute now incase a toddler is learning to walk in a busy station. Seems reasonable....

Ffs there's a time and a place. It's really not s difficult concept to grasp. It does not mean we are in children-haters. A bit of common sense and awareness wouldn't go amiss.

*we are all.

Totally disagree with the OP, unless it's actually dangerous (e.g toddling into a commercial kitchen!) then toddlers has as much right to walk as anyone else and you should show them the same courtesy as anyone else and not stomp into them.
Also reigns- eurgh! Unless you're child has a special need, I think they are horrid to be honest.

Although I agree stations are a nightmare especially with toddlers in fact any dawdlers I can also see why they wouldn't want to take a buggy to such places, even with reins and handholding they will still be in your way. Many parents commute and use childcare near their place of work which is sensible should you need to collect your child quickly.

Primary a toddler is a CHILD. They absolutely don't have as much right as anyone when it comes to things like commercial workplaces with dangerous objects in, or public transport in rush hour. A toddler's right to run around a cafe shrieking is not equal to a waitress's right to not suffer burns trying to protect said child from a hot drink. A toddler's right to practice stairs is not equal to a commuter trying to get to their job on time during rush hour in central London. A toddler's right to explore the road is not more important than a driver's right to not have to make an emergency stop because little Horatio has toddled in front of their car.

DownWith I was going to mention Jamie Bulger as well. DS1's the age he would have been if he'd lived, 26. That's why I was always adamant about reins.

I used reins there is sod all wrong with reins they keep children safe. The op wasn't really talking about kids running about cafes i think they were just in the street getting in the way

My 2.5yo is very slow on stairs (walking for ages but he's always found stairs a challenge). I'm heavily pregnant and my capacity for picking him up and carrying him is diminishing rapidly, so we just have to take our time, including at busy stations. Obviously I try not to block the stairs and am mindful of other people but frankly I feel we've got as much right to use the station as anyone else and that we are no different from an elderly person or anyone else with impaired mobility.

Ok there are 2 different things being talked about here aren't there?

1. The OP - to paraphrase - it winds me up when I am in a rush and toddlers are toddling in front of me, and yes it is the same when it is old people slowing me down, because I am a grumpy cow.
2. Everyone else - to sum up - yes it is a pain in the arse when toddlers amble into roads, heelie into people, scream in cafes, trip up waitresses, scoot on pavements, run towards train lines/canyons/the gaping maw of a fiery dragon, all the while their feckless parents are staring at a phone, or clapping their hands with glee at how cute and clever their darling is being.

I would say 1) is unreasonable - because there are all sorts of reasons why someone's mobility might not be great - age (either old or young), disability. Ds is 6 and is still like a toddler mobility wise - I don't know whether this will improve, he can't manage stairs unless he goes at a snails pace or bumps down on his bottom, and when he is walking he is slow and often staggers.

Then 2) well these are dangerous and yes, people need to be responsible in public places, and by roads and the gaping maws of dragons and not scoot in shops or ride their unicycle down the street. But that is not what the op was saying in her op. She was just grumpy because slow people are in front of her, slowing her down.

I disagree about stairs though, "little Johnny" could have problems but be too big for a buggy or to be carried. DS2 has hypermobility and still struggles with stairs at a very heavy age 5.

Fenella- there is a massive difference between a child being allowed to run amok and a child just doing developmentally appropriate things - like being slow!
Just being a child doesn't inherently make them less justified in using a space.
I teach my children to behave respectfully but that doesn't mean acting in some bizarre subservient way just because they are small. They will take longer on stairs, going through barriers etc that's just life. I can't imagine you arguing that a disabled person shouldn't use the station because they are slower and you have to walk round them!

I have no problem extending patience/common sense in regards to a child that is genuinely in need of a bit of time to walk up the stairs. That was not the case in point though- all too often the parents are seemingly unaware that they also need to make allowances for other people to get round/past and not everybody has the time or indeed the inclination to wait- you have no idea why someone may need to rush past.

Yeah you are right hazey the op is being grumpy about toddlers getting in the way because they are in a hurry

My walking 15mo will not hold my hand unless he's trying to get up or down a big step, and if I put reins on him he goes boneless and refused to move.... Yanbu but carrying him round isn't always an option and I'm sure I'm not allowed to drag him round on his belly so I don't think I'm BU letting him wander around either...

mad you are expecting a parent with toddler to know why you are in a rush a simple excuse me usually is sufficient how much room does a small child take.

I do expect a parent to realise that the world is still going on around them while their child is learning to master stairs at the train station, yes.

Mad so would my DS2 piss you off then?

No- not if you, as the parent realised that others may need to be able to get past or go at a quicker pace- but many don't.

Yes I do, I apologise, explain that he's not great with stairs and ask him to stand at the side. It doesn't help that DD's phobic about lifts.

Yes agree different things being discussed. No one is resenting toddlers walking generally but parents of todflers do need to be aware of how their child is impacting on others. My dds are older now but I remember that "baby bubble" when you have tunnel vision and are all consumed with your pfb and their needs. I slightly cringe now and hope I was never one of the parents complained about but can see how it could happen.

There was a first time mum on the plane I was on recently talking incessantly to anyone that would listen about the minutiae of her baby's life. Another dad and I both had older dc were nodding along politely but really so so dull. But took me back and fear I was like that!

I don't particularly agree with the OP but, as a disabled person, I object to being compared to a toddler running around a cafe. I don't toddle around unsafely at waist height, I walk slowly and mindfully. Toddlers don't have that ability to be aware of others.

Also reigns- eurgh! Unless you're child has a special need, I think they are horrid to be honest

What's wrong with reins?
I use them all the time for my 17-month-old. Otherwise she may run into the road/crowd/danger.

When she's having a stroll on reins I try to let her lead if in a safe place e.g. Tesco/large shops/precinct. Yes she sometimes gets in people's way but I want her to feel she has some freedom and choice about where she walks. I always pick her up to cross roads/at stairs/train platform or anywhere people are rushing.

If I forget reins I hold her hood as she lets go of my hand!