To think you should carry your child?

[ClaudiaWankleman]

Parents with small children who insist on letting them try to walk up the stairs on the tube/ train/ other busy public areas.

It inevitably creates a tight bottleneck at an area a bottleneck is already going to form. We all have to squeeze into 2/3 of the space while you lead a wobbling toddler up some stairs that are way too advanced for them.

Not only is it horrendously dirty when they sit down on the third step before you heave them back up (always happens) it seems quite dangerous. There is always the chance that someone will accidentally trample them as it’s quite difficult to see in the restricted spaces.

Not least that if I had been able to get up the stairs 15 seconds quicker I would’ve been on my train instead of having to wait for the next one.

AIBU to think that you should carry your child?

I wasn't going to be carrying my toddler twins around because you had a train malfunction OP.
I also wasn't going to be dragging a double buggy around, that is very difficult on public transport.
Annoying though it is every member of the public can access public transport, even if they don't walk at a pace you approve of.

If you missed your train by 15 seconds, that’s your fault. You need to leave a bit of leeway.

come on, we all know that's nonsense.

People leave work when they can, trains are cancelled or delayed, especially with that storm around, no need to pretend people have a choice and actually enjoy running to catch a train or connecting train.

I agree. Mine stays in the buggy for safety. I only allow her to walk in residential areas as she is not too steady on her pins yet and yes, someone could fall over her because they simply haven't seen her.

How small? Ds was too heavy to carry from around 3yrs,I've had a weak back from a whiplash injury for years,a lot of parents struggle to lift their children up stairs.YAB a bit U.

I’ve suddenly remembered the time a toddler veered in front of me in Animal Kingdom and I actually knocked him over. I was so worried, and his mum was too. Luckily the child seemed to bounce.

But he couldn’t be seen in the crowd!

JosefKeller

It’s not nonsense. If you don’t leave a small buffet, any unexpected event is going to make you late. Doesn’t make it the other person’s fault, it’s your fault.

This thread is now verging on ridiculous. An 8 minute wait for another train and a toddler walking at Animal Kingdom. I really don't know how you cope.

I'm sorry but the bottom line is get over it.

If you don’t leave a small buffet, any unexpected event is going to make you late

A buffet is more likely to make me late tbh.

Highonpotandused

Exactly! 😂

I have a 3yo and 9mo. Navigating public transport and town centres is horrendous with a pushchair, so baby goes in a sling and toddler is capable of walking. Of course I manage them and make sure they aren't meandering in people's way and as pp, avoid busy times of day/weekends.

However their confidence and ability in public isn't going to grow by being carried everywhere. Plus with a big baby in a sling, it's quite hard to carry a 3yo, I do if they are unwell or it may be dangerous obviously. I'm always quite surprised to see 5yo plus children in pushchairs, because they can't walk far.

Depends on how small the buffet is?
A TUBE of salt and vinegar Pringles will make me late every time.

Tubey or not tubey, that is the question.

I think it's a really bad idea when parents do that. I've seen twice that a child was pushed to a side on the stairs by a frustrated commuter. It's a much too dangerous place for teaching with so many frustrated angry people around.

YABU
Does your inconveniencing other people also applies to me who can’t go up the stairs quickly due to ill heath? You wouldn't know watching me btw.
Does it apply to the elderly man or the one with a older child with SN?

The tube etc etc are places used by EVERYONE. I’m afraid i am of the idea that you should just get used to it and accept that some people can’t run up the stairs just so you can get the next train. God forbid that you may have to wait 5 mins for the next train.....

If I’m lugging the pushchair and the baby up the stairs then the toddler has to walk or we’ll all fall down.
I remember on the tube when I was pregnant and he couldn’t walk down stairs yet (not even two at the time) he had to crawl down the stairs as no way I could carry him and pram. If anyone had an issue with that they were welcome to carry the pram.

And I agree with some PP.
Assuming you were late because of the bus delay and not because you left home slightly later than usual, the reason you missed that specific train wasn’t the child going up slowly. It’s was your previous bus being late. Something that isn’t unusual and I haven’t heard you grumbling about.....

@oldfashionedtastingtea, you mean you didn’t think the issue was squarely with the ‘frustrated commuter’ who took no care at all about a toddler and was Ok to push them like this?

There is a lot of victim blaming going on here.

God forbid that you may have to wait 5 mins for the next train.....

But! It was EIGHT minutes!! EIGHT!

So much more than five 🙄🙄🙄

Commuters apparently have more rights than anyone else.

I agree it’s annoying, but you need to be the grown up and keep an eye out for people who are shorter than expected. I fairly often seen someone on my commute who is obviously an adult, but the size of a 4yo, she shouldn’t be in danger because people are acting as though no-one below a certain height should be in a busy station.

But I would ban anyone from walking through a station carrying a horizontal golf umbrella with a sharp, pointy end - when carried by a tall man they’re at eye level for children and stomach level for me. Ouch.

mantarays

don't be ridiculous, who has time to give their daily journey an extra hour or 2

Commuters apparently have more rights than anyone else

in public transport, yes they have. If you want to stroll around, go somewhere else, I am sure there are many more interesting places to go than a train or tube station, especially at rush hour.

don't be ridiculous, who has time to give their daily journey an extra hour or 2 hmm

Who said anything about an extra hour or two? There’s a world of difference between standing on a platform for two hours and giving yourself 3-4 minutes so any short delays don’t cost you. If you don’t want to do that, that’s okay, but other people don’t have to match your preferred pace so you can leave your journey to the last possible moment.

in public transport, yes they have.

😂 They really don’t.

mantarays
you haven't got a clue haven't you?

HOW do you get yourself 3-4 minutes when your 1st train is LATE and missing the connecting one means waiting 1 hour for the next one?