Mother forced to stand and breastfeed on crowded train asks that people offer their seats to those with children

The mother-of-two said people smiled at her but did not offer to exchange places

A mother-of-two has expressed her outrage after she was forced to stand and breastfeed her six-month-old baby on a crowded train because no one would offer their seat.

Kate Hitchens, from Essex, was travelling home from London after a work event with her son Charlie when she realised her fellow passengers were not going to allow her to sit - even after she began breastfeeding.

Frustrated by the situation, Hitchens, 32, took a photo of herself standing on the packed train and shared it on Instagram.

“What has the world come to that a mother has to stand up on a moving train breastfeeding a wriggling and writhing six-month-old, 20lb baby?!” she wrote. “The point here isn’t just that I found it difficult because I was nursing (although that was bloody difficult!), but that not one person offered a mother carrying a small child a seat for around half an hour, or three stops.”

“I could have asked, but I didn’t. I felt silly. I shouldn’t have to ask,” the mum-of-two continued.

According to Hitchens, multiple passengers noticed her, even smiling or making eye contact - but only one, eventually, actually offered to exchange places.

Because she was standing, Hitchens was forced to manoeuvrer her clothing to accommodate her son, while trying to keep from accidentally exposing herself on the moving train - a position that made her “uncomfortable and embarrassed” she told the Daily Mail.

The situation baffled the mum, who wrote that there are certain instances where one may not offer their seat, such as not to offend someone over age or to someone you “suspect might be pregnant,” but that this was not one of them.

“I cannot get my head around not offering a parent with a child a seat,” she wrote, before asking her followers to always offer their seats to people with children.

“Next time you see someone with a child on a train - if you’re able-bodied and fit and healthy, please offer your seat to them!”

Hitchens’ post, which has received more than 600 likes, resonated with other mothers who have experienced similar situations.

“Absolutely disgraceful! Can’t believe you had to do this,” one woman wrote.

Another said: “This is disgusting but sadly happens all too often. I hope you and Charlie got home safely.”

Others advised Hitchens to ask for a seat next time - even if she feels “silly.”

“I understand why you would feel silly to ask… but don’t next time, just ask. You’ll find the person you ask will feel very embarrassed and immediately give up their seat. Trouble is people always wait for someone else to do it,” one person wrote.

After sharing her experience, the mum wrote that she hopes in the future commuters give up their seats to people in need and “make a positive out of my negative.”