Noise on trains

[Flower884]

Why do parents think it’s ok to let their child listen to a children’s programme loud on a train with no earphones?

I’ve experienced this a few times now on trains and planes. They seem oblivious to the noise.

Another lady has just asked the mum to turn it down as she’s trying to work. The mums response - well my child can’t hear it!

OnlyFoolsnMothers
I wouldnt put headphones on my toddler!

Genuine question... Why not?

My two penneth on the issue....
I have twin toddlers and we went on an 8 hour flight last year, bought tablets specifically for the flight and purchased noise limited, toddler specific headphones for them to use.

They didn't use the tablets much as I'd also brought other bits for them, but when they did they had headphones or the volume was switched off. Those were their choices as noone wants to listen to tinny tablet noise of Peppa and Duggee.

These days you can literally get super soft headbands for young kids, super squishy noise limited toddler headphones etc. It's shit to let your kid have their tablet blaring away in public!

The other thing I hate is performance parenting

so you dont like screens and you dont like parents interacting with their children.
Loving the judgement from all you perfect mothers!

I spy not eye spy 🤦🏻‍♀️

The examples of parenting on this thread is so lazy. iPads for 2 yr olds! Parent your child.

I've done long journeys with toddlers without resorting to iPads. You colour in, read stories, do puzzles, play with small bricks, do jigsaws, play I spy, talk to them, do lego etc. Just takes a bit of planning and effort, and it's no fun at all for you, but better than pissing off an entire carriage of people. It's also much better for the child developmentally than just plonking them in front of a screen and ignoring them.

And if the toddler doesn't want to read, colour in, play Lego, etc?

My DC use tablets but they use them with headphones, the rule is that if I can hear their tablet then I will take their tablet away.

Genuine question... Why not? I think shes too little to have headphones- I havent checked the safety age but its not something Im happy to do at 2.
I never put the volume up loud in a public space, its barely legible tbh.

OnlyFools

I don’t mind the interaction, it’s the top-of-their-lungs loud talking and then looking around to see whose watching. See it often and it’s bloody bizarre.

Don’t mind screens either. DD has an iPad - AND headphones!

The examples of parenting on this thread is so lazy. iPads for 2 yr olds! Parent your child. no its not lazy parenting, its trying to be considerate of others around who dont like noisy children or performing parents.

Good parents are good parents, a screen for a 20min journey doesnt give an indication to a persons parenting. Sometimes everyone is allowed a 10min break, travelling with small children is exhausting.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I promise you colouring in, I spy, talking to your child is definitely definitely less annoying than peppa pig and her annoying snorting. Also a walk through the train is only possible with an older child and not during rush hour. No need to make excuses.

@ohnooutofdateham I didn't say it wasn't? The one the op was talking about was loud but doesn't mean if I have one it's it is

it’s the top-of-their-lungs loud talking and then looking around to see whose watching i dont think parents of young children have the time or inclination to watch peoples reaction to them

@Klouise777 you said 'it's not often loud' which means it's not on silent? Unless I'm completely misunderstanding.

@JacquesHammer

Unless you're in the quiet carraige this woman was also unreasonable. You don't assume enough quiet to work on a train.

I'm not sure I'd agree. Surely just because it's not the quiet coach, it doesn't mean it's ok for people to display terrible manners and show no consideration towards others ie having technology blaring out so that everyone is subjected to it. I think everyone realises and accepts there will be noise in the non quiet coach or general chatter, laughter, etc but there are surely limits? I'd say a tablet with games/shows playing loudly is unacceptable regardless of which coach you are in?

The first generation of kids who were entertained with ipads in this way are now turning into the teenagers who listen to music through their phones with no head phones because they've been brought up thinking its normal and acceptable

Really? Because that's not a new thing. I remember when Sony brought out a Walkman mobile phone in 2003, maybe 2004, and all the local kids with phones used to sit at the back of the bus with their music playing out loud. So much so that the bus company issued posters reminding people to use headphones.

I also recall in the 90s having small battery operated radios that we carried around with Radio One playing out loud.

Still rude but definitely not a new thing and definitely not due to iPads!

Many of you default to calling it lazy parenting but if you want a quiet toddler on a train there is little alternative
Reading things like this really horrifies me about the new generation. There are MANY alternatives. I traveled regularly on my own with two children under the age of from London all the way to South of France and yes, I managed to ensure they weren't disturbing other passengers. They did colouring, sticker books, watched a video with headphones, had something to eat and a nap. They of course were not quiet all the time but I reminded them to keep their voice down.

Nowadays, I can't seem to get on a train without kids speaking to the top of their voice and mums either responding as loudly or ignoring them. Kids shrieking, shouting and only able to keep still and not loud by being in front of a screen or game with loud sound.

No such thing as kids shouldn't be heard, it's lovely to listen to a child speaking quietly to their parents, but this seems such are occurrence now.

Mlou32

Oh I agree. But worker woman should have just asked them to be quiet was my point. I’d already said that the parent was unreasonable and headphones would have been a useful resource.

But I also think expecting it to be quiet enough to work in a standard carriage shouldn’t be expected and shouldn’t be used as a reason for expecting quietness.

@Hoik if the child doesn’t want to read or colour in etc then you remind them who the parent is and explain those are the options or they sit in silence. The child will eventually colour in!

promise you colouring in, I spy, talking to your child is definitely definitely less annoying than peppa pig our experiences are clearly very different. A packed train into London doesn't come with the luxury of a table and allocated seating. Im usually standing up, squashed within an inch of my life, holding on with 1 hand trying to keep a 2 year in a buggy. I make no apologies for a screen.
On the way back when theres 3/4 less people I will have her on a seat and talk about what we can see out the window. I wouldnt judge people when you see a 20min segment of their day.
Also a bit flaming cheeky the judgement when every single adult in the carriage is staring at a device.

Good parents are good parents, a screen for a 20min journey doesnt give an indication to a persons parenting. Sometimes everyone is allowed a 10min break, travelling with small children is exhausting.

I agree.

Headphones is the ideal followed by zero volume but very, very low volume is a close third.

Ultimately we're all just doing our best to get through the day and its unfair to make sweeping generalisations about someone's parenting based on a short observation.

then you remind them who the parent is and explain those are the options or they sit in silence HAHAHA YES my 2 year old would absolutely understand they need to sit in silence

They’re selfish. Screens are not award winning parenting but they serve a purpose. No earphones, no screens-simple.

Sorry there's some very lazy unimaginative parents here. Those of us who had kids before smartphones managed to travel and eat without annoying other passengers using books, colouring, games etc - and I travelled a lot long haul alone with mine, one is autistic. You have to actually interact with them though!

if the child doesn’t want to read or colour in etc then you remind them who the parent is and explain those are the options or they sit in silence. The child will eventually colour in!

You're funny

And while this is going on and the child is screaming the place down, complete with kicking everything within kicking range and/or throwing objects if the child happens to be one of my two sons, the whole carriage can tut and mutter and start judgemental social media posts about it.

Hell is other people - Sartre.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I don’t think you are following what I’m saying. The child will never sit in silence but if you explain what the options are then the child will choose to colour in otherwise they will be bored.