to think kids shouldn't sit on the tube

[JSBF]

I get on the London tube every day to get too and from work always during rush hour. There will often be little kids on the tube too. Am i being unreasonable to think that small kids (i'm talking small enough to be carried) shouldn't have a whole seat to themselves, when they could sit on a parents lap? The other day a lady plonked her 1/2 year old on the seat and then the baby decided to crawl on to her lap and she said "aw you can never tell if they'll want their own seat or not" and kept her on her lap so she could then breastfeed, but kept the baby's belongings on the seat so people couldn't sit down meanwhile there are people standing who could be using that seat.

I think what is most annoying is that the kids sit down, climb up on the seat, get down from the seat so clearly aren't interested in sitting down so it's not like they're tired/want to rest. I am not saying kids should have to stand on the tube, as I get that they're too tiny in the crowded carriages and they'll get tired easily, but is it unreasonable to think, if they can, that the parents should let them sit on their lap so someone else who might need it can take the seat instead?

I was visiting London recently with my 8 year old son who has autism. He finds the underground very difficult and needs a seat or he gets very overwhelmed and hard to deal with. If I spotted one seat I made sure he sat while I stood but I wondered were other people thinking a child shouldn't be occupying a seat when there were grown ups standing.

giveme i'm someone who asks people in priority seats to move for vulnerable strangers. I do look out and I do care.

If you were struggling with luggage and a child, I would move for you. I just wouldn't get up for a 3yo with both parents together.

I can't imagine begrudging an 8yo a seat.

I'm a teacher and we often take groups of children on the tube. I completely disagree that children should give up seats. It is far safer for them to sit down. If an elderly person, pregnant lady etc gets on then I will give up my seat or one of the other adults if we aren't already standing. But for me it really is a matter of safety. They aren't able to hold on as well or react to movement, not to mention the jostling by others, especially when it is busy. Also many children feel a bit nervous travelling on the tube and standing brings them in closer proximity to strangers. We often do get looks from people unhappy the children have a seat but I consider anyone who feels a child should give up a seat for them to actually be the selfish one not the child or their parents. However, very young children who can be safely accommodated on an adult's lap are a different matter. In the case you have mentioned the mother was indeed being selfish!
I would be much happier seeing a child sitting safely than than an adult who is much more capable of standing safely.

I would easily fit on dh lap on the tube.... But I don't. I wouldn't let a baby sit on its own seat, purely for safety as they would get thrown around but a toddler/preschooler and older should have as much right as any able bodied adult. Maybe the mum was too busy concentrating on feeding lo that she forgot about her bags. If you want the seat just ask her to move her bags.

I always thought that until kids are old enough to pay they are not actually entitled to a seat so would expect small kids on laps, when my kids were young I would always put them on my lap if necessary or I would give up my seat to parents with little ones who clearly couldn't hold on in a busy bus/train. Have now moved to Oz school kids here get free public transport to and from school but the deal is that they have to give up their seat to an adult if there aren't enough seats for everyone. Nobody ever has to ask, they all just do it.

YANBU - I don't mind about kids kneeling etc. (providing they aren't kicking the person next to them, getting the soles of their shoes on the seat or end up so precariously balanced they end up falling on someone else when the train stops) as the reason for having them on a seat isn't because they're exhausted but because they get knocked around during rush hour by the crowds of people too big to notice they are there. But I agree with having little kids in laps if possible, though I prefer to give my seat to my kid and stand myself once they are big enough as just don't like having them on my lap. Holding a baby (breastfeeding or not) a baby and using the seat as a bag holder on a crowded tube is normally fairly selfish, but people can just ask, breastfeeding mum may have been to preoccupied to realise.