Is this accepted now? Young children and electronics on public transport.

[AnneGrommit]

The last few times I've been on a train (not in quiet coach) and quite often on the bus I've had my peace disturbed by toddlers with phones/tablets either playing noisy games on them or watching programmes. When I've asked parents to rein them in I've been invariably met with either passive aggressive remarks about not liking children (I have three myself) or outright hostility and a statement along the lines of "it keeps them quiet". No, it doesn't. It stops them from pestering you but it's far from quiet. AIBU or is this an accepted "thing" now? Because it's fucking annoying.

Spikey- so then don't chat?

Does it follow that the only other option is to play noisy electronics which you know disturb the people around you? Including, as other people have mentioned, others with special needs who find the noise particularly grating.

I don't mind people talking on their mobiles as long as I can't hear them a couple of rows away. Same with people talking to each other side by side.

These are probably the same people that complain about the noise of popcorn being munched at the cinema.

There's no need to FFS me, Silver. We have had looks and comments when ds is sat there like a mini rick wakeman surrounded by electronica.

I guess it is an easy thing to judge, 'parents who can't be arsed to entertain their kids'

So, although the iPad helps him cope sometimes, and the talker helps him be understood, they just see a boy glued to 2 screens!

If your baby is too young for talking, colouring, reading, playing...they are definitely too young for ipads and phones.

If your baby is too young for talking, colouring, reading, playing...they are definitely too young for ipads and phones

Crikey it must be tough to be so perfect. Does the air get thinner from up on your pedestal?

Because you see when I see a parent with a child using electronics I think....nothing. It might be preferable to have headphones used, it isn't a massive deal.

I tend to think it's nicer to be kind rather than sit there patting myself on the back that I am some kind of parenting paragon.

Surely it's a combination of parents being considerate (the world does not revolve around our little darlings no matter how great we think they are) and everyone being a bit tolerant of normal behaviour.

So turn the volume down, use headphones if you can, consider no sound if you can't or another activity. Remember even if you love kids they can be irritating when they aren't (or even are) yours so moderate where possible as the parent you are the grown up.

As members of the public we should remember they are kids, laughing, joking & talking is normal and can be lovely so as long as they aren't shouting, swearing or using your head as target practice. Don't expect them to be mini adults.

It's not all or nothing surely it's a combination of the two.

I was one of the ones that mentioned other people with sn finding the noise difficult to cope with. I don't need lectures on anything to do with special needs. I can see both sides to this.

I tend to think it's nicer to be kind rather than sit there patting myself on the back that I am some kind of parenting paragon

I agree its nicer to be kind. Kindness to others means not inflicting your noise on them.

Yep it's normal now. Kids (and adults tbf) are incapable of sitting for a short bus journey for eg without being entertained by a screen. And people wonder why a lot of kids can't sit for 2 minutes at school without being disruptive. It's because they've never learned the skill and their brains expect constant flashing, fast moving entertainment. I think the implication of smartphones and Ipads on developing brains is going to start becoming clear soon and future generations will use them much more sparingly with young children.

We are genetically wired to tune out thousands of sounds we hear within a minute and can learn to tune out new background noise coming from a tv, a radio or a tablet. It's easy for us to learn to ignore recorded noise. For most humans, it is very diffucult to tune out live conversations because paying attention to other humans and listening for information was a valued skill that helped us survive.

I don't believe those people who think they can tune out live convesations easier than other electronic noise. I think they just cant tune out electronic noise very well and are more irritated by it.

Meh.

Much better than kids whinging or screaming in my experience

If I am on a long train journey and my children are using any form of tech etc I will insist they have earphones or they must turn down the volume. I hate listening to others so I don't allow my children to inflict it on others.

zzzz - nothing wrong with taking a break. anyone on this thread is asking is that they be considerate of others and turn the sound off / use headphones.

I don't believe those people who think they can tune out live convesations easier than other electronic noise

I don't care whether you believe it, it happens to be true.

You know the ability to raise kids without constantly resorting to electronic devices isn't some sort of superpower. People have always done it. And stating your kids managed to sit quietly and interact and chat with you isn't some sort of far fetched brag. Before electronic devices it's just what we did and the world wasn't full of rampaging tantruming bored kids either.

Talking and interacting with your kids is a pleasure, its a privilege. Why people just want to shut them up and have them staring at a screen all the time is totally beyond me.

I honestly think all this screen time and lack of interaction has serious implications for young developing brains. I'm a normal, slightly slack mum, if I can parent my kids without constant screens then anyone can.

If your baby is too young for talking, colouring, reading, playing...they are definitely too young for ipads and phones

Why do you think this?
My two year old plays a variety of games on the tablet, including shape sorting, number games, matching objects, driving a Lego train, caring for a virtual puppy! They are educational and brilliant for hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, improving reaction times etc. I keep the tablet for journeys or when I need her to sit calmly eg in a waiting room or cafe. Most of the day we interact, do activities, go for walks, go to toddler groups so it's hardly lazy parenting! It's all very well to say 'mine never use screens' but you underestimate the benefits. I could lug a bagful of toys everywhere, but the tablet takes up less space and offers a better range of activities.

Winterview I don't in all honesty care if your child uses your tablet to be the next Einstein, as long as you do it in a manner that I can't hear.

I was at a hotel the other day and people had an ipad propped up for a baby in a highchair, it was no older than 7-8 months. It was like they were trying to hypnotise it. Desperate.

Mmm not really an award... but thanks for calling me a great mother - lovely that you think so!

Kindness to others means not inflicting your noise on them. Never seen that definition, maybe you need to contact OED and they can include it in the next edition. Maybe they could include Kindness is minding your own business and not judging others as well.

You know the ability to raise kids without constantly resorting to electronic devices isn't some sort of superpower. People have always done it. And stating your kids managed to sit quietly and interact and chat with you isn't some sort of far fetched brag. Before electronic devices it's just what we did and the world wasn't full of rampaging tantruming bored kids either When I was a kid we got beaten with canes at school. People thought it was a good thing. It did make us quiet as we were too frightened to be anything else. Ah the good old days.

Kindness to others means not inflicting your noise on them Common sense and human decency.