Screaming kids on trains what the F is wrong with parents these days

[denverz]

I mean why can’t parents tell they’re not so dc to shut the hell up? I mean they don’t have to say it quite like that of course but come on parent your kids. I’m currently on a long haul train to London there are only five stops and the first three were blissful then gets on a dad with two kids one school aged one toddler and neither will stop shouting. I know kids get excited and that’s all well and good but it’s 7am and people are sleeping on the train. The dad isn’t even attempting to quiet them foen. AIbu to think he’s a knob?

@crostini

No way. A quiet museum is not the place to achieve this. It's selfish.

It's probably based on loads of experience of loads of parents. We all see it! (Or hear it, unfortunately).

My unpopular opinion is that any parent that manages to get two small kids dressed, fed and on a train at 7am deserves a medal not judgement. The real problem here is that the average Brit is miserable (economic stagnation, low wages, awful weather, long commutes on overpriced trains at 7am etc.). People in happier (often sunnier) countries are kinder and more accommodating of very normal behaviour in children. They are far too happy to let a screaming child ruin their day.

Yes and this is not the same situation is it?

OP you're going to get a ton of "but they're just kids!!! They make noise!!!"

But you're 100% right. Buses, trains, cafes, everywhere. They're just always screaming. People make no effort to entertain their children or to keep them quiet.

You need to get some noise cancelling headphones for train journeys. Listen to music - that normally cancels the noise. Children AM problems, adults on phones and pissed people are more PM problems. Noisy twats are everywhere on every train. Get headphones

I got on a train out if london last Saturday and there was a kid who was literally screaming at the top of his voice.
I moved to the next carriage at the first stop and could still hear him. They then decided to take a walk into the next carriage.

If a parent is making an effort to get their child to be quiet or behave, I have every sympathy and accept it as one of those unfortunate things. If not, I think it unacceptable.

You will have to see the bad behaviour once, the parent who does not bother will have far worse to manage in most cases when they get older. The parent who regards such behaviour as unacceptable and seeks to stop it is going to benefit in years to come, like a kind of investment.

I have noise cancelling AirPods and on more than one occasion they've not been enough against screaming children

Why didn't you ask him to parent his kids, op?

They do come with an off switch, and volume control too. Parents just have to teach their children to use it.

It’s called parenting.

Oh God. This reminds me when I was making my way to Hastings from London with my 2 year old in the buggy. He was fast asleep and a mum comes on with a newborn in the baby carrier and a little girl around 4 years old.

I kid you not, this girl would NOT stop screaming the lyrics to Frozen at the top of her lungs and her mum did nothing about it. In the end my son woke up and I asked the lady if she could ask her daughter to keep it down as we were on public transport. The mum had the cheek to look at me as if I was mad🤣

I don’t understand it, I really don’t. I have a 2 & a 3 year old. Whenever they’re loud or making noise, I always ask them to keep it down. Not that they listen mind but parents should at least try to monitor volume!!

Isn’t it? Both involve literal toddlers shouting/crying and incredibly rude passengers that want to shout at tiny children to shut up. Sounds pretty similar to me.

@Strawberrycheesecake7 it's not rude to want a peaceful journey. Parent your kids.

I could be wrong and maybe you didn’t bother trying to comfort your child. In which case you’re right and I stand corrected.

I was. He’s barely more than a baby and I was trying everything to comfort him. You can’t just switch children off when they’re making too much noise. They’re not dolls. You were a child once. I highly doubt you were quiet 100% of the time.

it’s natural for children to be excited and noisy sometimes, and it can be annoying. In this case the dad is being inept. He should teach his kids how to behave with respect for others, and at least bring games/tablet/books/snacks or something to occupy them during the journey.

Go and sit in the next seat and play some really loud screeching on your phone, that will attract his attention then tell him to parent his children.

I used to do this in my teens and 20s.

I think it worked partially because I looked younger than the kids parents but was still an adult.

Everyone's welcome to tell DD to shut up in public.

Some parents give a damn, some don’t, I agree that some people don’t consider others.

I don’t really understand it - when mine were small I would have had a bag full of stuff to keep them occupied on a long journey - puzzle books colouring puzzles stories .. Usborne even used to make travel themed books of activities - no idea if they still do . It was hard work keeping them entertained for the whole journey - but it was my job

@Strawberrycheesecake7 I would never have been allowed to scream on public transport. If I ever did, I'd have been soothed or quite frankly my parents would've gotten off the train/bus at the next stop and calmed me down.

They do. I've got them for my children to use in restaurants etc. they're very good.

What full circumstances?

Shutting them up may not work but people need to try

That would require planning on his part.

The OP should have really said something to the dad otherwise he won't learn. Hopefully they are as noisy on the way back and someone speaks up.