To ask a mum to keep her kids quiet on the train?

[Wiennetta]

I specifically booked a seat on a quiet carriage as I’m working on a 4 hour train journey (as are most people in the carriage, or reading, snoozing etc). Next to me on the other side of the aisle is a mum with a two year old who is watching his iPad on full volume. He has been running around up and down the aisle with another child, shouting, screaming and so on.

I was trying to concentrate on something, listening on my headphones and politely asked the mum if they could keep it down - at this point the kid was literally next to my seat, in the aisle, jumping up and down and shouting. She just said, ‘he’s two, what do you expect me to do?’

I mean they’re kids, they’re little, they’re bored. But AIBU I thinking the parents should at least try and moderate their behaviour, remind them to be quiet, try and get them to sit down and do something a bit calmer? Even if it’s not always successful?

Or preferably not book the bloody quiet carriage.

You aren't being unreasonable at all. Even if it wasn't a quiet carriage there is no excuse for letting a 2 year old run up and down annoying other people. Yes 2 year olds will make noise but there's no excuse for what she's allowed.

Proves she's a selfish idiot by then going on to have a conversation on loudspeaker after already being told it's a quiet carriage.

Good luck, OP.

Yanbu. Definitely not acceptable in the quite carriage and pretty selfish in the standard carriage.

I've had the pleasure of a train journey where parents let their kids have iPads on full blast. I don't get how people are so unaware of their surroundings.

With small children a booked seat is quite important but there is no option to choose "please do NOT put me in the quiet carriage" it's so upsetting

She shouldn't allow ipad without headphones though no excuse for that

She's a grade A twat.
I hope the kid wears themselves out and settles soon

Sometimes when you book a seat it allocates you one in the quiet coach. No one would deliberately book a seat there with small children.

At the beginning of the year I travelled from the Midlands to Scotland with my three year old. I did my best to keep him quiet but ultimately he has additional needs and doesn't listen to a word I say.

This winds me up enough in a not quiet carriage. It would give me the rage in a quiet carriage. And I'm a mum of three so I do have experience with kids and public transport.

I hate the mentality of "... he's 2 what do you expect?" I expect you to try and entertain him or make him wear headphones. Most of us managed it when ours were 2. I do remember it was absolutely exhausting entertaining kids on long train journeys but as parents that's our problem to deal with not the rest of the carriage uuuggghh!!!!

Sounds like it's not the child who is the issue, but the ignorant mother who thinks it's OK to watch screens with the sound up and also to make phone calls. There is a special place in hell reserved for these idiots.

Yes, people who think it’s ok to let their DC watch screens with no headphones are so annoying.

Yes I don't know why they do that but I've had it happen in the past.

She's probably doing it to piss you off even more now 😂

I’m the same and I’m currently wearing noise cancelling headphones! But I’m on the seat next to the aisle and the child is hanging out in the aisle so really just inches from me.

When she said ‘what do you expect me to do?’ I would have replied ‘sit in one of the other 10 or so carriages?’

This is my nightmare. Hope you find a guard to help.

Keep us posted!

Yes that would have been a better response! I’ve moved now as there were loads of seats in the next carriage.

My head would explode in anger.

I have a two year old. My two year old does not run amok on a train carriage. My two year old watches a tablet with headphones. Its called PARENTING.

But if she has a phone call on speaker then shes clearly a selfish entitled cunt.

Do not back down. Its not even acceptable on a non quiet carriage.

What exactly is a quiet coach?

On the quiet carriage, yes she's being ridiculous but she probably doesn't realize and needs it pointing out to her.

Any other time, I'd say hyper two year olds are part of life that you have to accept.

I used to book First Class when mine were small as O knew they were quiet and it was less distressing for the one with sensory sensitivity. Plus the extra space and food delivered to table. I was used to the dirty looks but many 2yos are capable of sitting quietly if entertained properly.

Its not safe for a toddler to be running about. They can get hurt.

Is it not self explanatory?

@Lorrymum well on some trains you can book a seat in the quiet coach. It states you shouldn’t take phone calls, listen to music or watch anything that others can hear etc. Mostly used by people who are working on the train, or just want to read or whatever on their journey.

I noticed recently (while being subjected to someone's mobile disco music) that the "quiet coach" on LNER trains has been rebranded to "quieter coach". Although there's still no excuse for the noise he was making and he didn't stop when asked. To be fair to the train manager they did ask him to move so I'm sure the next coach were thrilled ;)

Shame you had to move. She should have been the one to move. It's really disrespectful to disrupt the quiet carriage when there are other seats available for them.