to think that if the bus is full then small children could sit on their parents laps?

[cairnterrier]

what do people think about this? Caught a bus yest w DH. Beautifully behaved family of Mum, Dad, 2yrs approx child and baby in a buggy.

The way that the buggy was parked blocked off 2 seats and the 2 year old was sitting next to his father on another seat. There were at least 5 people standing at the time as the bus was full.

Couldn't the 2 year old have sat on Dad's/Mum's lap? Could the buggy have been folded up to allow other people access to the seats blocked off?

Is it too difficult to do this with small children? Genuine q. as pg for first time so no experience.

When I was pregnant I did a sort of risk assessment in my head of who to ask for a seat. I usually went for women in their 30s/40s.

Bogey How old is middle aged, about 50?

I always sit my toddler on my knee when the bus is crowded and if its really busy we both stand and let the oaps stand

what annoys me is people who have a buggy in the buggy space and the kid sitting on a seat thats not fair on anyone!

My older boy always sits on my knee if I have a seat and others are waiting. The way our buses are laid out folding the buggy is not really an issue - there is room for two buggies, and if there are already two on I just wait for the next bus.

Sometimes I take a friend's child as well, and then if there is one seat I would usually put both of them in one seat and I'll stand nearby.

I remember being on a train once and an OAP demanded I stood up for him. I was the only other person on the carriage and therefore refused!

You COULD put a child on your lap if you wish but I don't think you SHOULD have to. It is the parents choice. If the buggy is aesy to fold up it should be folded, but if laden with shopping that may be a major pallaver. If I was standing and an easily collapsible buggy was blocking seats I'd ask a parent to collapse it so I could sit down. I would never insist a child sat on someone's knee though.

Message withdrawn