Today I heard an unusual sound in the bus. It was a baby about 10 months old gurgling and crowing to itself so happily, as is natural. Perhaps you don't notice babies as much as I do, but I tell you, this is not usual behaviour in the bus. I turned round and saw that, unusually, his mother had placed the pushchair facing the aisle, so he could see what was going on, and of course there's lots of movement. Most mothers shove the pushchair in facing the grey wall of the bus and then get on their mobiles. The babies sit there dully, vacantly. Winking or smiling at them often can't stir them from their torpor. When the pushchairs had to be folded, then they were sitting on their parent's knee and could see out of the window. It was a good day for the mothers when they first had this facility, but it was a bad day for the babies.
I really think it is important for babies to be stimulated and to enjoy communication and the sights and sounds of the world. I just don't know how to put this idea over. I am sure it is an important one.
This blog is a plea for common sense in public policy. Our leaders don't seem to have any. They just make daft rules for us to follow. We need to assert our right to use our own good sense instead of ticking boxes which can only say 'yes' or 'no'.
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