My toddler is scared of the train noise

10 replies

hastalavista · 14/02/2023 07:42

Hello
Any advice... we moved last summer to a lovely house, our forever home. It has a huge garden but it has a very noisy tube line at the bottom of the garden. I heard it when I viewed but it didnt seem too bad. Now that I'm in in, some of the tube trains are REALLY noisy and fast. I can live with it, but my toddler is so scared he wont go in the garden! Every time I take him out and a train goes past, he goes nuts!!! I feel so, so guilty for buying the house. The main reason I bought the house was for the large garden for the kids. Thetes lots of trees at the end of the garden so planting more vegetation wont help. The line is raised up so putting in sound proofing boards would need planning permission and be v expensive and unless the boards went along everyone's garden I don't think they would be v effective. Any advice???? I regret buying the house when I see how scared my toddler gets. Apart from that it's a nice house in a nice area. I find trains quite romantic but seeing his fear his very painful.

OP posts:

Iknownothing · 14/02/2023 07:49

oh tricky one. Could you take him on the tube line and wave at your house as you go past and then maybe wave at passengers on the train first from inside your house and then through an open door and then in the garden. Even if he doesn’t like it I would make a big deal of waving myself (showing that I’m not afraid).
Could you play trains inside copying train noises?
We lived behind a train line for awhile and it does eventually become background noise.

QueenMabs · 14/02/2023 07:51

As distressing as it is he won't be a toddler for much longer. Fast forward 2 years and he is hypothetically fine with the trains how would you feel if you had moved out? Would you miss the house?

Ear defenders maybe worth a shot.

I'm assuming it just outside that is the issue?

Toooldformarketing · 14/02/2023 07:53

Put a teddy in the window/ garden and get on the train. When you go past your house make a huge deal about waving to Teddy.

Decorate your garden with vinyl bunting and make it a fun and exciting place to be. I have turquoise polka dot bunting in the garden and it's cute.

He'll get used to it! Ear muffs may help?

Download the Brio train game app - it's so much fun and he'll learn to love trains xx

Mumdiva99 · 14/02/2023 07:55

All these suggestions are great. Also ear defenders.

I love waving at Teddy.

C4tastrophe · 14/02/2023 07:55

As others said, make it fun for him. Take him on the tube, some train/tube toys, run up and down the garden when the tube comes.
Whack on Thomas the Tank Engine all day.

Original poster

hastalavista · 14/02/2023 08:23

Thanks so much xxx he does love trains but they are so loud outside even tho its 100 ft garden. I've borrowed some ear defenders to try... if he can keep them on...

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booksforever · 14/02/2023 08:57

Keep windows and doors at the back open as much as possible, not so easy this time of year I know, but he might then get used to a more muffled sound and gradually adjust.

OneToThree · 14/02/2023 09:07

When my ds was scared of the hand dryers in the toilets I used to tell them off for being noisy. I’d shout “YOU’RE TOO NOISY” with my hands over my ears and laugh. It told him that I thought it was loud too (which was not a bad thing). We made a game of it. And we were a little team telling off the hand dryer (train). Let him be the parent in the situation to “tell off” the train.
Maybe that sounds mad 😂 but it worked for me.

Original poster

hastalavista · 14/02/2023 16:22

Ok husband put up a trampoline and we have spent all day ssshhhh ing the trains and telling them off and it's worked BRILLIANTLY. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:

OneToThree · 14/02/2023 22:52

Oh wow! That’s great to read. Glad I helped 😊

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