As parents, traveling with a baby or young children is a real challenge. A poster campaign calls for more kindness between passengers and hopes to change mentalities.
Going on holiday or a weekend with a baby is a whole organisation. Taking all the baby’s things without overloading yourself, not forgetting anything, managing the children’s hunger pangs, the urgent need and the crying, the suitcases and the pushchair… According to a study conducted by the May company from 15 to 19 July among 1100 parents, 67% of them experience going on holiday as a source of stress. Managing the journey is sometimes dreaded to the point of preferring to give up going on a weekend or holiday, which is the case for 31% of the parents surveyed. But this stress is also linked to a problem common to all parents, which often divides travellers on trains or planes.
Indeed, “46% of parents surveyed have already experienced negative or aggressive reactions from strangers on public transport when travelling on holiday with their children. These reactions can include insistent stares, a guilt-inducing remark, a complaint or even insults.“, the study specifies.
On the passenger side, there are parents who try to do what they can to keep their children occupied during long journeys, and travelers who would like to stay quiet, read a book quietly, take a nap, not being able to stand the noise of the little ones. So, to calm minds and call for more kindness during journeys in the presence of little travelers, the May application has launched a poster campaign broadcast on social networks.
“For my parents, this trip is a challenge! A smile or a nice word, for them, it’s a real respite”; “Are you afraid of getting bored with your crosswords? I have coloring, a book and boogers, I promise we’ll have fun”; “You know, my parents are already stressed enough, so an annoyed sigh is not going to help them“, we can read on these posters intended to calm the spirits.
“For many parents, going on holiday with children is a real challenge! The lack of facilities on public transport and the sometimes negative attitude of other travellers can quickly become obstacles to a smooth journey with a child. While no one enjoys hearing a baby cry on public transport, we would all benefit from showing a little more indulgence and kindness towards young parents who are a little helpless, who particularly appreciate empathy at such times!” explains Cécilia Creuzet, co-founder of May.