Children having their own seat on a packed train.

[user1493559472]

I am on a packed train. A child who is about 3 years old is sat in their own seat and not on the parents lap, would you ask to sit down and the child sits on parents lap? People were standing.
Thank you

He's OVER 2 so full price( slightly less rax)Under 2s are lap children if you pay an infant price

Nonsense athere is a difference, pensioners may not pay but their ticket is paid for by the council, but that is only in London. I live 10 minutes walk from London but dont qualify for a free ticket.

they are paid for. By local council but still paid for

The elderly person has almost certainly paid taxes all their working life; which has paid for their bus pass many times over. They also tire more quickly and are not always strong. Some years ago I was waiting for a bus when it started to rain. Near the front of the was an elderly, very frail lady. When the bus arrived, it was like a rugby scrum as people started pushing towards the bus. I actually said to them: "Please let this lady get on first." Thankfully, they did and she was able to sit on one of the priority seats.

Why do you think that making the choice to have children makes parents and their children second class citizens? That they should be prepared to be uncomfortable to make you comfortable? Why? I am still trying to understand this line of thinking by some.

Absolutely not, get a grip.

They were there first! What makes you think you are more important than a 3 year old?

Yes 🤪 my DS, he still doesn’t mind so I’m enjoying it while I can. He is very light though. And very nice to cuddle.

I dislike children and don't have any, but wouldn't ask. Actually I wouldn't want to sit next
to a parent with a three year old on their lap.

Sorry I was referring to the flights we took prior to him turning two. And that's what I meant the infant fare. I was responding to the poster saying you don't pay for flights up to 2 years old as part of the reason they sit on the lap.
On a flight my understanding is they're on a lap for safety not due to not having paid fare (which is often not the case)

Absolutely I would of put my child on my lap to give an adult a seat
It's called manners ,and it's what a lot of people lack

I don't think an adult should trump a child for a seat, just because of their age. If anything, small children get tired much more easily, can't stand as steadily and possibly need the seat more. I was out with my young children at the weekend and we'd walked round a big city all day, they were exhausted and it would have made it much harder to walk home at the other end had they not been able to sit down on the train on the way back.
That being said, they could sit on the floor I guess. I used to do this on packed trains when younger.
I can't travel with my kids on my knee as they are far too heavy (even at 3!) and it would be really uncomfortable for both of us - so no I don't think a parent should be asked to sit a child on their lap if the adult is perfectly able bodied and able to stand.
Different if they are in need of a priority seat.

No, she's teaching her child to stand up for themselves when an adult picks on them. HTH

No, I wouldn’t, and if I were asked I’d refuse the request. I have a muscular condition meaning I cannot bear any weight at all, including children on my lap.

You can pay a full fare for an under 2 so they get a seat. I did for one of mine at 22 months old. Had to hold them with infant belt for take off and landing but they has their own seat for flight duration

As a parent I would put a small child on my lap - especially if I saw someone who might need the seat but I wouldn’t ask someone to move their child. To be honest small children would struggle to stand more than an adult and you can’t always reason with them to sit nicely so there’s a wriggling/tantrum risk which isn’t enjoyable for anyone.

If you really want to understand it… I was taught to be considerate of others, especially my elders and I was taught to stand up in order that my elders can sit down… or sit on the lap of whoever I’m with. That’s it. It wasn’t thought of as making ourselves uncomfortable, it was thought of as helping others out. Basically, it was framed differently to how it’s framed now. The focus being on helping rather than on being put out.

Yes I'd put a three year old on my lap on a shortish journey (sub an hour). If someone came up acting as though my child was basically equivalent to a bag on a seat I would tell them to go away.
On a longer journey with seat reservations I would not, unless for someone elderly or infirm.

It's a myth that current pensioners have paid for all the perks they can access!

I suspect they've paid more than a 3 year old

Children are humans too

So have I, but that doesn't mean I think I'm more important.

I personally think it depends, if I was taking ds (about that age) on a long journey then I know he wouldn't sit on my knee for a long time so no I wouldn't move him onto my knee. He's as entitled to a seat as anyone else. Caveat to that would be if someone who was pregnant, elderly etc got on then I would move him but tbh I'd expect another adult to give up their seat first in that scenario.

If it was a short journey and I knew it wouldn't be for long then I'd move him onto my knee if it was busy.

It's not always great having a child of that size on your knee, especially when you're seated close to another passenger. Ds is really tall for his age and I'd worry about him accidentally kicking whoever was beside us etc when starting to fidget.

Also just to add, not all parents will be physically capable of having a small child sit on their lap in that way.

Asking someone for their seat is picking on them? Really? You have no idea why they asked for a seat and if you’re ever in a position where you need help from a stranger and they refuse you, your vitriolic attitude to life might be why.

Exactly. Unfortunately, rights trump manners, common sense and courtesy these days.