Young children on trains

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Now, despite my age, I'm ashamed to say I'm like a grumpy old man. When I see a child under the age of 6 board the train, my heart sinks, because I know what my journey is going to be from that point on.

Then usually for the next hour I am treated to screaming, wailing, kids movies being watched without headphones, and really loud, annoying chattering such as "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" yelled loudly every five minutes when one roars past our one.

One about five year old got on, and after winding his baby brother up decided to scream loudly for the whole journey! His baby brother joined in, naturally!

Now am I just grumpy and intolerant? Am I a miserable old man trapped in a young person's body? Or do you feel the same? Please do let me know what you think about very young children (6 and under) making a load of racket on the train. And when I say a load of racket, I mean LOADS!

Should there be a place for young children to go, or not to go?

I can understand mental health issues obviously, and that not every disability is visible. My cousin is severely autistic and will often scream the place down. But with mental health, its a tricky one.

You don't want to stop people traveling who cannot help scream and make piercing noises, this would be extremely unfair, and frankly disgusting. But then, I do feel sorry for passengers having to sit and put up with it, ending up loathing a journey they've paid loads for! Especially if it's in first class, although this is less frequent.

Right, well I am preparing myself to get slammed with angry comments. Maybe I am intolerant to loud noises, my ears are too sharp, so go easy on me! But I am interested to know your opinions!

Regards,
TT-ONR-NRN

 

[Scotrail84]

Now, despite my age, I'm ashamed to say I'm like a grumpy old man. When I see a child under the age of 6 board the train, my heart sinks, because I know what my journey is going to be from that point on.

Then usually for the next hour I am treated to screaming, wailing, kids movies being watched without headphones, and really loud, annoying chattering such as "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" yelled loudly every five minutes when one roars past our one.

One about five year old got on, and after winding his baby brother up decided to scream loudly for the whole journey! His baby brother joined in, naturally!

Now am I just grumpy and intolerant? Am I a miserable old man trapped in a young person's body? Or do you feel the same? Please do let me know what you think about very young children (6 and under) making a load of racket on the train. And when I say a load of racket, I mean LOADS!

They are just kids, a lot of whom get excited when they go on a train. Were you never excited to go on a train when you were younger? I think you're being a tad Victor Meldrewish yes.

 

[al78]

If it really is LOADS of racket then yes I find it annoying, but there is nothing I can do about it so I have to tolerate it, it is only for a temporary period of time, and is the price paid for using public transport. Most of the time children aren't badly behaved, I don't mind children talking and asking questions, it shows they are curious about the world around them, which is a good thing.

The worst I've had with children was one pair using the seat adjacent to me to play hide and seek, and one young girl that was so loud I moved two thirds of the way down the next carriage because I was getting a headache from the noise, and could still clearly hear the piercing screechy voice behind two closed doors.

 

[DarloRich]

i wonder how many commentators who follow have kids of their own............

They are just kids, a lot of whom get excited when they go on a train. Were you never excited to go on a train when you were younger? .

Is the correct answer in most cases.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If it really is LOADS of racket then yes I find it annoying, but there is nothing I can do about it so I have to tolerate it, it is only for a temporary period of time, and is the price paid for using public transport. Most of the time children aren't badly behaved, I don't mind children talking and asking questions, it shows they are curious about the world around them, which is a good thing.

The worst I've had with children was one pair using the seat adjacent to me to play hide and seek, and one young girl that was so loud I moved two thirds of the way down the next carriage because I was getting a headache from the noise, and could still clearly hear the piercing screechy voice behind two closed doors.

Now that last paragraph is what I mean! Not just being curious, gosh I'm not that horrible! Maybe I should have left the "Look daddy it's another train" moan out of it!

 

[GW43125]

Right, well I am preparing myself to get slammed with angry comments. Maybe I am intolerant to loud noises, my ears are too sharp, so go easy on me! But I am interested to know your opinions!

I must confess I'm the same. I have, at different times, been both the grumpy git you describe and the annoying little **** talking very loudly.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I must confess I'm the same. I have, at different times, been both the grumpy git you describe and the annoying little **** talking very loudly.

Phew. I'm not alone then. Even when I used to travel with my parents (I still do sometimes) I used to tense and sigh without realising it when kids screamed, and my dad would nudge me as if to say "Oh stop it, leave them alone" How doesn't it annoy you though? I always thought.

Hmm.

 

[MCSHF007]

Now, despite my age, I'm ashamed to say I'm like a grumpy old man. When I see a child under the age of 6 board the train, my heart sinks, because I know what my journey is going to be from that point on.

Then usually for the next hour I am treated to screaming, wailing, kids movies being watched without headphones, and really loud, annoying chattering such as "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" yelled loudly every five minutes when one roars past our one.

One about five year old got on, and after winding his baby brother up decided to scream loudly for the whole journey! His baby brother joined in, naturally!

Now am I just grumpy and intolerant? Am I a miserable old man trapped in a young person's body? Or do you feel the same? Please do let me know what you think about very young children (6 and under) making a load of racket on the train. And when I say a load of racket, I mean LOADS!

Should there be a place for young children to go, or not to go?

I can understand mental health issues obviously, and that not every disability is visible. My cousin is severely autistic and will often scream the place down. But with mental health, its a tricky one.

You don't want to stop people traveling who cannot help scream and make piercing noises, this would be extremely unfair, and frankly disgusting. But then, I do feel sorry for passengers having to sit and put up with it, ending up loathing a journey they've paid loads for! Especially if it's in first class, although this is less frequent.

Right, well I am preparing myself to get slammed with angry comments. Maybe I am intolerant to loud noises, my ears are too sharp, so go easy on me! But I am interested to know your opinions!

Regards,
TT-ONR-NRN

Agree 110%

 

[AndrewP]

Let me give my thoughts as a parent who has taken their kids on trains since they were tiny (including in first class).

Firstly the problem is not with the children but with the parents and virtually everything you have described is unacceptable and even when my kids were small they have commented on the bad behaviour of other children.

• Watching movies etc without headphones is wrong - I really don't understand this as most kids movies are annoying for parents for the 75th time
  
• Kids screaming - try to quieten them and if this doesn't happen take them to the vestibule and calm them there

The only one I would slightly disagree with is about the "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" comments as this is enthusiasm and is great but I agree it should be at an acceptable volume ("use your inside voice").

Kids on trains are fine but parents must be respectful of other travellers

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't have a massive issue with children being children within reason (e.g. crawling under the table by my seat would be a bit much).

However, with children these days seems to come a tablet computer with a film being played out loud, and I do object to that, it is not difficult to use headphones. It's also a Byelaw offence as it is guaranteed to be to my annoyance - some enforcement by traincrew would be nice.

 

[DarloRich]

Let me give my thoughts as a parent who has taken their kids on trains since they were tiny (including in first class).

Firstly the problem is not with the children but with the parents and virtually everything you have described is unacceptable and even when my kids were small they have commented on the bad behaviour of other children.

• Watching movies etc without headphones is wrong - I really don't understand this as most kids movies are annoying for parents for the 75th time
  
• Kids screaming - try to quieten them and if this doesn't happen take them to the vestibule and calm them there

The only one I would slightly disagree with is about the "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" comments as this is enthusiasm and is great but I agree it should be at an acceptable volume ("use your inside voice").

Kids on trains are fine but parents must be respectful of other travellers

agreed - but stuffed shirts also need to be respectful of children and understand they are yet to reach the level of perfection displayed by many posters here.

They are kids. All kids will act up especially if they are bored or tired or hungry.

I don't have a massive issue with children being children within reason (e.g. crawling under the table by my seat would be a bit much).

However, with children these days seems to come a tablet computer with a film being played out loud, and I do object to that, it is not difficult to use headphones. It's also a Byelaw offence as it is guaranteed to be to my annoyance - some enforcement by traincrew would be nice.

I wondered how long byelaws would take to rear their ugly head. No guard is going to enforce that byelaw in relation to children or their parents. Parent fined for child listening to Despicable Me on Ipad while on the train should play well............

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Let me give my thoughts as a parent who has taken their kids on trains since they were tiny (including in first class).

Firstly the problem is not with the children but with the parents and virtually everything you have described is unacceptable and even when my kids were small they have commented on the bad behaviour of other children.

• Watching movies etc without headphones is wrong - I really don't understand this as most kids movies are annoying for parents for the 75th time
  
• Kids screaming - try to quieten them and if this doesn't happen take them to the vestibule and calm them there

The only one I would slightly disagree with is about the "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" comments as this is enthusiasm and is great but I agree it should be at an acceptable volume ("use your inside voice").

Kids on trains are fine but parents must be respectful of other travellers

I agree with all of your comments and strategies - but often these strategies don't happen (wear headphones, use inside voice, go to the vestibule)

Would you actually ask a parent to take their kid (if screaming) to the vestibule?

If so, nice bravery! But I don't have that courage. Anyway, it would look awful coming from me, a teenager!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Agree 110%

Hallelujah! You're my kind of person!
Thank you!

 

[PaulLothian]

Let me give my thoughts as a parent who has taken their kids on trains since they were tiny (including in first class).

Firstly the problem is not with the children but with the parents and virtually everything you have described is unacceptable and even when my kids were small they have commented on the bad behaviour of other children.

• Watching movies etc without headphones is wrong - I really don't understand this as most kids movies are annoying for parents for the 75th time
  
• Kids screaming - try to quieten them and if this doesn't happen take them to the vestibule and calm them there

The only one I would slightly disagree with is about the "Daddy look! It's another train!!!!" comments as this is enthusiasm and is great but I agree it should be at an acceptable volume ("use your inside voice").

Kids on trains are fine but parents must be respectful of other travellers

I very much agree - the noisiest children generally have either the noisiest parents, or, more often, parents who are paying absolutely no attention to what their children are doing. I am not saying that a child may never have a tantrum, but in normal circumstances distraction will work. Having said which, for many years after my children got past that stage, I would heave a sigh of relief, each time a child started getting noisy, that I knew it was not one of mine!

 

[shredder1]

I use to be a young screaming kid under 6, (probably still am), with 7 grandchildren now, I have no issue with them, people who do, should maybe drive everywhere :roll:

 

[DarloRich]

I agree with all of your comments and strategies - but often these strategies don't happen (wear headphones, use inside voice, go to the vestibule)

Would you actually ask a parent to take their kid (if screaming) to the vestibule?

If so, nice bravery! But I don't have that courage. Anyway, it would look awful coming from me, a teenager!

the thing is you made similar noises at times which will have upset someone. We all did.

Would you be happy for your parents, who I am sure ( like most) are decent people, to be judged so badly because you as a small child had an upset tummy or had messed yourself?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

agreed - but stuffed shirts also need to be respectful of children and understand they are yet to reach the level of perfection displayed by many posters here.

They are kids. All kids will act up especially if they are bored or tired or hungry.



I wondered how long byelaws would take to rear their ugly head. No guard is going to enforce that byelaw in relation to children or their parents. Parent fined for child listening to Despicable Me on Ipad while on the train should play well............

Dare I ask what a stuffed shirt is?

 

[neilmc]

You get the same type of complaint regarding children and aeroplanes. And pubs, restaurants, shopping malls, holiday camps ... you name it. At least on a train you can usually switch carriage.

Our children, and our grandchildren, have always behaved well at all these places, it's how they're brought up. I was in a child-friendly pub recently and two children who were old enough to know better were playing hide-and-seek in and out of tables and being a menace to people carrying drink and food.

I take it very badly when people start saying my children/grandchildren should be barred from somewhere because other peoples children have been noisy or messy. And trains are a GREAT way of travelling with children, as anyone who has taken three of them in the back seat of a car on a long journey will agree.

(P.S. On one occasion my infant son screamed with terror on a train, but only because the lights weren't working when we passed through Sough Tunnel).

 

[Darandio]

i wonder how many commentators who follow have kids of their own............

Not many I imagine, and they can never remember being children themselves.

It's just another one of those threads, it doesn't seem that long ago that someone suggested children shouldn't be in first class.

I have three young kids who travel on trains often and are perfectly well behaved, there is nothing more I need to add.

 

[rg177]

More often than not it's the parent that can be the issue. Nothing irritates me more than a kid wanting some attention from a parent who's too busy screaming into a phone or talking to the kid like dirt.

That said, I did once have kids crawling up and down the aisle on a Eurostar service and the parents seemed to be actively encouraging it. I'm all for curious kids and being enthusiastic, but maybe that was a bit far.

Sent from my F3111 using Tapatalk

 

[DarloRich]

Dare I ask what a stuffed shirt is?

it is nothing rude. It means a a conservative pompous person.

My point is kids are kids. Babies crying is annoying. It is designed to annoy you so someone fixes the issue but it is something we have to deal with using public transport. As they say these things are sent to try us.

Not many I imagine, and they can never remember being children themselves.

It's just another one of those threads, it doesn't seem that long ago that someone suggested children shouldn't be in first class.

I have three young kids who travel on trains often and are perfectly well behaved, there is nothing more I need to add.

agreed - but no child, especially small ones, are perfectly behaved all the time. They will have a melt down from time to time, especially when tired or hungry.

 

[Deafdoggie]

I never get the point of watching a video/listening to music etc without headphones. But I generally find that kids aren't the issue with this, it is older (by which i mean teens and 20's) who do this.

When I hear a child creating, I just think "Thank goodness I don't have to deal with them!" and enjoy the fact it is no concern of mine.

It is the price you pay for public transport I'm afraid. If you want silence and solitude, then you need to buy a car.

I'm sorry, but a 1-2-3 year old will not be obediently silent if you ask them to be. Anyone who says they will (everytime) I'm afraid is mistaken. Take them to the vestibule?? On a crowed voyager?? That won't cause more disruption at all!!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

the thing is you made similar noises at times which will have upset someone. We all did.

Would you be happy for your parents, who I am sure ( like most) are decent people, to be judged so badly because you as a small child had an upset tummy or had messed yourself?

No and my heart does go out to the parents who get the grief on behalf of their children.

But surely you understand- I mean - I was reading your first class trip thread the other day, I think it was Aberdeen to Penzance but don't quote me on it, I'm not sure. And you said that young ones entered the first class carriage and you gave them a stern look or something like that which made them run away? Is that right or am I going insane. If it is right than - there! You've done it yourself! Or did you simply assume that they were probably fate evaders because they were going into first class because they were young?

Please note: <b>Not at all</b> trying to be confrontational or anything unpleasant like that. It's just- I'm not the only one!

 

[DarloRich]

btw are adults, with their headphones in, listening to mch mch mch mch music not worse

 

[Darandio]

They will have a melt down from time to time, especially when tired or hungry.

Oh I agree, but this isn't restricted to children!

 

[GW43125]

btw are adults, with their headphones in, listening to mch mch mch mch music not worse

Tell me about it. Though I'm probably guilty of doing it too without realising it

As i say this I'm currently having to endure (c)rap music being played loudly on the other side of the sixth form library.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

btw are adults, with their headphones in, listening to mch mch mch mch music not worse

Oh ok. Sorry! Although I'd rather hear a faint buzz of music than a screaming toddler...

 

[J-2739]

It's not only on the train as well.

On my local bus to school, you get mums with their prams literally every time. The baby can sometimes be sleeping, and that's alright. However, the tiniest jolt or brake could set off the grenade, and that really hurts my ears.

Also, parents who let's their kids roam around like pack animals, like geez :roll: how do you allow that?! One time, a kid of like 4 tripped over and banged his head, and guess what? The alarm came on! :cry:

 

[syorksdeano]

As someone that travels with a 3 year old on trains, I don't know if to take offence by the OP or agree with some of the comments.

My 3 year old travels with a tablet and sometimes won't wear the headphones, but on those occasions he is playing a game with the sound down.

Yes we have the odd occasion where he will say "oh look a train" but that is a child who not only is excited but also has some special needs.

I suppose I could say that I am lucky in that my son is used to travelling on trains so sort of knows what he can and can't do. I will admit though when travelling alone and I see other parents going through what has been described I do have a little chuckle to myself and think rather you than me

 

[Darandio]

One time, a kid of like 4 tripped over and banged his head, and guess what? The alarm came on! :cry:

Newsflash: If children hurt themselves, they normally cry.

I appreciate that some of the posters in this thread are young themselves. You'll realise as you get older that your fellow adults can be far more annoying!