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.

It’s not a competition! Drunkards and man spreaders are obnoxious but if you’ve booked (and you’re expecting) a quiet carriage, screaming rampaging kids and loud iPads are also hell. There’s no excuse - just bloody sort your kids out. Or at least don’t be a complete cunt - look like you are trying to consider other people.

Well if she’s got a loudspeaker on then she’s a dick.

I’ve done a 5 hr train journey with a two year old and I kept him relatively quiet. Man it was hard work. I read stories most of the way or sometimes walked him up and down aisles but there was no shouting etc.

That said I am also fed up of people treating the world like their office. The other day I got glared at by a woman who was trying to write at her laptop, because I dared sit with my children at a table near her. It was a cafe ffs! If workers want an office environment then they should hire an office not expect the public to tiptoe around them.

Thanks. This is brand new information.

Touché
Glad you've listened to what posters previously said but you earned that retort
@Newuser82 RTFT

As has been said, you are underestimating how irritating it is to listen to tinny shite from an iPad or phone. It’s awful.

Use a splitter on the older two and chat to your toddler - no one judges a parent keeping their kid quiet. And don’t be a martyr.

A splitter you say? Thanks for this innovative input.

Ha ha.. There was a time when that would have happened. 😂

What should I chat to my 17 month old about for two hours?
He’s an expert on molecular biology but I don’t know much about it. I feel like we might struggle with a convo.

You asked and you've been given a solution.

Also, you don't have to sing to entertain your children. Quiet games, colouring, books, talking all fine

You don't need to be an arse

Now you are just being deliberately stupid &
goady @GrinAndVomit

You've cancelled your trip so its irrelevant now

Do you genuinely think these activities will keep a 17 month old quiet and still for two hours?
I have repeatedly been told told to buy headphones. I have repeatedly said why this is not a solution.
I have said I have cancelled my plans.

I am still repeatedly being told to have a two hour conversation with a 17 month old or buy headphones.

I am not being an arse. I am being perfectly polite at this point. Much more polite than some posters have been to me.

I’m replying to people who are quoting me with the same ridiculous or unworkable suggestion.

Righty-Oh. On the chance you’re not on the wind up…

What they are colouring
Books
Small toys
Whats Out the Window
Another book
More small toys
Another look out the window

I kept my 20 months old niece entertained on a 7hr flight. No headphones. No screens. No pissing off our fellow travellers.

My 17 month old cannot colour.
He has zero interest in books.
He cannot speak.
He is not interested in little toys.
He will not tolerate anything on his head.
He has just learnt to walk confidently and likes to run around and climb.

How amazing for you that you were able to do that with your 20 month old niece. You both sound remarkable.

In that case can you not have the iPad on with no sound? That’s what many parents do

@GrinAndVomit , in response to your ' what should I chat to my 17 month old about ? ' blah blah
You've lost the argument completely now

I hope the passengers who had paid for the First Class carriage were offered a refund of their fare over a standard fare.

More like they're unaware and totally don't care about how brattish their sprogs are.

So you don’t let your kid have crayons and paper?
You don’t read to your kid?
He doesn’t like unwrapping something small?
He can’t handle Duplo?

I didn’t mention heads or walking, so I’ll leave that.

But you’re on the wind up. I’m off to drink me wine and be remarkable.

Surely you feel the need to stretch your legs out into the aisle? The dismissive parental response makes it clear why thios child is so obnoxious, the apple doesn't fall far.

Sometimes trains allocate a seat on a quiet carriage even when you haven't asked for it. It's happened to me more than once.

Ugh. Arsehole. What on earth do they get out of it?

The older two have crayons and paper. The 17 month old has no interest in it.

He has duplo but it would only interest him for a few seconds. He might want to hold it while he walked around.

He is in a very physical phase at the moment. He wants to be out in the garden all day, rain or shine. He’s got no interest in sitting still and looking at things.

Why is this so unbelievable for you?

Thank you.
I think I’ll be avoiding public transport until the little one is older and can sit quietly like his older siblings.