Re putting children on your lap on public transport

[user1485342611]

Someone in work this morning was saying that she had to stand the whole way in on the bus while at least three adults with toddlers allowed those toddler to take up a whole seat. We were all agreeing that they should have put the toddlers on their laps to free up 3 seats during rush hour. Apart from one colleague who has a 4 year old and didn't see why he should be denied a seat or she should have to put up with feeling 'a bit squashed' just so someone else could have the seat.

When I was a child it was just the norm for kids under a certain age to be pulled onto their mother's lap when the bus started filling up. No one thought twice about it.

AIBU to think it's a shame that parents don't do this anymore and that my colleague is being a bit selfish?

I would put my 2yo on my lap, but not my 5yo, he’s far too big and heavy. Unless it was an elderly, disabled or pregnant person, but I’d be more likely to give up my seat than my 5yr olds. Don’t see why an able bodied adult is incapable of standing for a bit. I’ve done it many a time before and I would expect to take someone else’s seat regardless of who they are

@Lydiaatthebarre

Like I said other people said it even if OP didn't so doesn't really matter.

I think teaching kids to blindly respect someone just because of their age is stupid
And we wonder why kids grow into entitled rude brats.
They should offer. It's polite.

Are you one of the - respect should be earned brigade?

How entitled is it to expect another person to give up a seat for someone who's able-bodied and perfectly able to stand themselves? Who is the selfish entitled brat there? FFS. I'm middle-aged. I don't expect anyone to get up for me just because I'm an adult. How selfish and entitled.

Are you one of the - respect should be earned brigade?

Why yes, I think the expectation that someone should vacate their seat just because you're you (an able-bodied adult) is ridiculously rude, outdated and entitled. I grew up 'back in the day'. The only ones I see that are rude and entitled and impolite on here are perfectly able-bodied adults who see others as lesser due to only their age and then stupidly wonder why they just don't get any respect.

Recently I travelled on the tube in rush hour - I made DS1 (14) stand, and DS2 (10) perched on my lap.

No, but children's seats cost less than adults ones. I teach my kids to move. Mostly people appreciate it and say 'no it's ok'.

Children should be taught by their parents to give up their seats for adults.

No, but children's seats cost less than adults ones.

This has already been covered earlier in the thread, it's not necessarily true. Mine used to go upstairs or all the way to the back at any rate (not everyone lives in London with its tubes) anyway so it was a moot point.

I don't do public transport very often these days but when I do, my 7 year old will sit on my knee. I don't expect him to take up a seat that an adult can sit in. That would be ridiculous.

Children should be taught by their parents to give up their seats for adults.

Why? My children certainly won't be, they will however be taught to give up their seats for pregnant, elderly or disabled people.

Many adults are also entitled and rude.

Why? My children certainly won't be, they will however be taught to give up their seats for pregnant, elderly or disabled people.

This. Why should an adult be any more entitled to a seat than a child??

I feel so sorry for kids lol why do t they deserve a seat? I'd never expect a child to stand up for me I'd feel awful it's just a child!

I pulled my daughter onto my lap and then stood her between my legs and the seat in front when she was too big for my lap.

I never saw adults stand while children sat as a child. We all had to give up our seats as it was the normal thing to do in the 70s.

e all had to give up our seats as it was the normal thing to do in the 70s.

A lot of things were considered 'normal' in the 70s that are absolutely not now. It was almost 50 years ago, why do we need to be following ideals from then?

Children deserve a seat as much as able bodied adults do.

I wouldn't expect a child to get out of their seat for me. Nor anyone else, able bodied and able to stand. Why should they? I mean, maybe if they're really little and light, but otherwise, no.

Oh god these entitled children, this is how it starts.

I was left standing whilst heavily pregnant on a tube and a small child had a seat to themselves even though they had a perfectly good pushchair to sit in! The mother never thought to say ‘you should let the pregnant lady sit down’. How will they learn?

@NotBeforeCoffee well that's different and definitely out of order. But... every single able bodied person should have offered you a seat on the tube too... not just the mother with the child. If it were me I'd have stood up for you and left my child seated. But you'd have had a seat!

Why should only the child have offered you their seat NotBeforeCoffee? Why are you not pissed that another able bodied adult offered you their seat. I really think that would have pissed me off more.

Greenmeerkat - and a lot are the same.

It was considered manners in those days, though safety was the biggest concern.

It was enforced regularly by the conductors that adults with children should sit on an aisle seat and firmly hold onto the hands of children that had given up their seats for adults as they are lighter. A falling adult would cause more damage and would also block exits in an emergency.

Sorry but the price argument is silly, lots of people have discounted/free travel and they are not less entitled to a seat than someone paying full price. Elderly, students, to only name a few.

My son is ten and has been brought up to offer adults his seat. I am astonished at how frequently they decline or - worse - offer him their seat.

@itsalldyingout oh okay so kids are lighter so doesn't matter as much if they fall over as they won't do as much damage to the bus.

Right. Makes perfect sense.