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.

There are some revolting people around.

You did your best and didn’t lower your own standards when speaking to her.

Hope you manage to get some work done now you’ve moved.

I hope your new seat is quieter. Y are obviously NBU

Thank you for explaining so politely. I haven't travelled by train for years, was aware of 2nd and 1st class but not "quiet."

Yesterday I was in the quiet coach and there was this man sitting behind me, who was on the phone with his wife. And they were planning the week-menu together and making a shopping list. He wasn’t talking that loud so it felt unreasonable to complain…. But it was just so annoying hearing someone talk endlessly about the herbs that should go with the chicken and the type of rice they should buy! I hate quiet carriages… if it happened in a regular carriage I would not feel half as annoyed as i was now.

shame no-one else backed you up

Sweep the leg 😉

Moronic parents that let their little darlings watch iPads without headphones make me murderous. Yes, we all want to listen 🤨

Not acceptable at all. I have a 4 year old who is EXTREMELY active and I am taking him on trains/buses/planes often, so I have experience of children and transports.
Even at 2 I was well aware of both he's inability to control himself and the other people's right not to be disturbed. It's true the little one wants to run wild, climb on anything, listen to his ipad at high volume....but it's the parent's responsibility to not let him do that, or limit it as much as possible.
It's stressful, exhausting and even painful (I end up having to accept he sits/jumps/climbs on me as the alternative would be he'd do on someone else!) but it's still not anyone's job than the parent!

The one and only time I travelled on a train with my 4 x dc (actually model passengers!) there was a woman (a dgm) with a toddler in a buggy. He was trying to hold the pole near the door. If he got close she pulled the buggy away. He screamed the entire journey.
For 90 mins.
I wanted so badly to shout JUST LET HIM HOLD THE FRIGGING POLE.
Wonder if his dm knew the dgm was a bloody cow.
Vowed never to use a train again.

I’m taking my three small children on the train on Sunday.
I plan on entertaining them for as long as possible before resorting to the iPad.
I don’t know how I can let them all watch together without not using the speaker though. I’d keep it as quiet as possible of course but will it drive everyone mad?

This drives me bananas!!

I was sat in the doctors waiting room last week and this little kid (around 2) was running laps around the waiting room shouting at the top of his lungs. I looked over at the mum and she was just watching him. When the doors open she jumped up to stop him running out the door and then set him back to doing laps of the waiting room. I was so angry, its not a place to go to play. People are sick!

Yes, it absolutely will drive everybody mad.

Why should everyone else have to listen to that?

Ok. I’ll just let them scream instead 👍🏼 thanks

@GrinAndVomit headphone splitters. Not sure if you can get a one to three though...

I concur. People WILL hate you if you do this.

There is no need. Buy several headphones and a splitter jack.

Or take books, snacks etc. I know its hard but it's not everyone else's problem.

Actually @GrinAndVomit ..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-5-Way-Headphone-Splitter-Purple/dp/B072LQBX1X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3P9MUH9AAPF2T&keywords=headphone+splitter+3+way&qid=1680277518&sprefix=headphone+spl%2Caps%2C817&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Multiway headphone splitter!

You sound like a great parent. Good luck! 👍🏼

This in spades. Find a guard and hope he/she has the balls to tell the entitled twat to move or find alternative transport (as someone who has been in your shoes more than once, I'd love that job haha).

Headphones. It's the only way. The trend of watching/listening without them is rude. Sorry.

Me trying to sing and entertain the three of them will be far more annoying than hearing a Disney film being played quietly a few seats away.

No. It won't.

Yes. You can't use an ipad unless you have headphones.

Why on earth would you be singing?

Eh for a 2 year old not to be in the quiet carriage, that’s what I fucking expect Janet!!!!

Yes, it will. Please don’t do it. It’s so selfish.