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.

I have to disagree with you. Even I can't hear it sat right next to him!

VinIsGroot, what disability prevents the wearing of headphones?

Silver Autism is one of them.

I can't use earplugs on public transport either - I need to deal with my own children and earplugs is not exactly helpful for that!

It's bloody hard going to entertain an 18 month old on a train journey - for journeys of an hour or more I certainly have resorted to an episode or two of the dreaded pig as a means to entertain - allbeit at a low volume (no chance he's keeping headphones on).

It doesn't make me a worse or better parent than anyone else - nor would I consider it rude or ill-mannered if I saw another parent doing the same, I'd just think they were doing what they need to do to keep their kid happy and avoid a meltdown - some very judgey comments here.

I assure you it would be far more invasive if he started kicking off which he is prone to do from time to time like most children his age - and why I would want him to get worked up into a full blown tantrum if I can prevent it with a bit of screen time is beyond me.

I agree that the volume should be low but there's no volume control on a toddler in a temper and if in this day and age we're lucky enough to have items at our disposal that can make a potentially difficult situation a smooth sailing one I really can't see the problem.

This is incredibly rude. People talk, including children, that noise is to be expected. But electronic noises are a no. You wear headphones or play a game with no sound on.
Yes it is easier for a parent, but to everyone else it is incredibly annoying.

I'm sort of a bedraggled exhausted mum type and I think it's partly because I don't let my toddlers use screens etc. people look at me like I've grown an extra head if this ever comes up...

I DO genuinely think that mums are sort of losing the art/skill/science of otherwise occupying their children at awkward times like trains or quiet spaces or restaurants as a result of the screen option.

It's like people think 'oh fuck it's quiet they've got to be SILENT let me hypnotise them with screen' but this just means they'll NEVER learn not to do this for you and it seems kind of rubbish. Some of my most enjoyable chats have been on trains. I wouldn't book the quiet coach long distance but talking volume and the occasional dinosaur roar etc seem to get more smiles than anything negative...

In summary, as a mum of 2 young children, no I don't think you are being unreasonable but it's really hard not to use screens and you never know they might be having a crap day and using them as a one off so don't be mean about it

What functioning adult can't find the where-with-all to purchase some sort of noise cancelling device for train journeys? It's as if such things didn't exist!

Well perhaps you should keep a spare pair in your purse to dish out in future. Problem solved! You're welcome

I tried that once, I got told to fuck off. Then my son had to leave without having his lunch because anti-social bastards upset him so much.

SN goes bot ways you know.

Or earplugs? Or get a taxi? Or walk? Plenty of solutions out there if you just pull your head out of your anus.

What functioning adult can't find the where-with-all to purchase some sort of noise cancelling device for train journeys? It's as if such things didn't exist!

So its the reponsibility of other people to drown out the dickheads noise? Nice

I don't understand why children need the volume all the way up ANYWHERE. I'm constantly turning the volume down on the ipad when my nieces (5, 9 and 10) have it.

Or earplugs? Or get a taxi? Or walk? Plenty of solutions out there if you just pull your head out of your anus

Ok, my child can't go anywhere because you reserve your right to blare your phones in your kids face.
How inclusive.

I went for a meal this weekend with my DH and 2yr old DS, as well as a MIL, SIL and her two girls. The eldest, 9, spent the entire meal playing some loud pinging game on her tablet. I was appalled, no-one asked her to stop during the meal.

Or earplugs? Or get a taxi? Or walk? Plenty of solutions out there if you just pull your head out of your anus.

So other people have to make way for your precious baby's noise?

You can't walk/taxi halfway across the country unless you're very fit or rich

Yes why can't a group of adults get incredibly loud on a train, shouting and swearing loudly? After all, everyone else can just wear ear plugs

Not sure I buy the 'but my child has SN' excuse.

Tablets etc have only been around for 10 years or so, what did parents of SN children do before? They would have spoken to their children, comforted them, entertained them, brought along toys or books or crayons which provided a distraction.

Now they just plunk them in front of a screen and zone out.

Your child is merely fobbed off AND you're pissing off everyone else No they aren't pissing off everyone else. I promise you my kids are long grown up but I am perfectly happy to see kids watching PeppaPig and the noise won't bother me at all. Your attitude is incredibly entitled, you are a grown up as well.

Yes why can't a group of adults get incredibly loud on a train,

I'll bet these people complain when a group of teens play music on their phones loudly on the back of the bus.

I can't believe people are suggesting others get ear plugs. YOU are bringing the disturbance into a public place, therefore YOU should be the ones to minimise it. How about don't teach your little darlings that it's fine for them to be as disruptive as possible, it's other people's responsibility to ignore it.

The scary thing is this generation will be the Ines to look after us in our old age

How on earth did we manage before them?
I don't remember lots of noisy uncontrollable kids and parents too lazy to take their kids on.
Oh those were the days

I don't care about others using electronic devices. But headphones or playing games with no volume, is simply good manners.
I honestly despair at some of the comments on this thread. No wonder some people are so anti children. Some parents simply expect everyone else to accommodate whatever their child wants to do.

Your attitude is incredibly entitled, you are a grown up as well

Yes how entiltled of me to want my son to be able to eat in a restaurant or sit on a train and not to be reduced to a puddle of incoherence because he's so upset by the competing noises of other peoples electronica.
I'm such a bitch.

I DO genuinely think that mums are sort of losing the art/skill/science of otherwise occupying their children at awkward times like trains or quiet spaces or restaurants as a result of the screen option

Hey do you get awards for being such a great mother?

I'm one of those dreadful parents who allows their kid autonomy of how they want to entertain themselves on a journey. She sometimes listens to music. Sometimes watches a movie. Sometimes reads a book. Headphones used if she needs to listen.

Oh. And I'm not exhausted 😜

DS has ASD and screens make it more ch easier on long journeys or long waits. But we had to teach him to get used to headphones. He didn't like them but he had to learn to live with them, a bit like wearing clothes which he also doesn't like but again has to deal with when in public.
We also had to teach him that if other people's electronic noise is driving him to meltdown he can't just grab their device and throw it away which is what he used to try.