I have given up my seat a few times to pregnant women (on our trips without kids)-- I have to admit I was a little surprised that alot of the guys on the bus didn't seem to care-- noone else offered her a seat.Even my own husband didn't think to get up (not that he wouldnt', but he didn't think about it).
Last time we were there (we didn't think of waiting for the next bus) we were standing holding a very wiggly/heavy 2.5yo, and my autistic 4yo had to stand on his own-- he has balance issues and that was hard for him (my husband was holding our double stroller)-- luckily a nice lady sitting where we were standing put her arm around him to help him out. I have to admit, I was surprised that noone offered a seat to someone holding a 2yo or to a 4yo. I wouldn't say I was expecting it-- but of course I got off the bus yapping to my husband that I'm never offering my seat to anyone else-- yada yada. Of course I will-- took me a moment to get over my surprise, and for my arms to stop hurting from holding my son who was wrestling to get down the whole time.
Maybe I sound selfish that I'm surprised that noone would offer us a seat, but before I had kids, I would never have stayed in my seat while someone with an infant/todder or pregnant was standing-- that can be dangerous. Once the kids are old enough to sit on their own, I'll go back to offering my seat to those that need it more
That was our first night (this was our second trip with the kids, the first was in September, and we honestly never had crowded busses), by the second night it hit us to wait for the next bus,and we did that every night from that point on (even if it meant waiting a half hour-- which we did). I don't really mind waiting, and I'd actually rather wait then get on a bus expecting to take someone else's seat-- I feel bad to take another's seat, but that first night we didnt' think about it until we were standing there, and realized how hard it is to stand with little ones (especially mine that hate to be held). I understand that some people have "invisible" illnesses-- I have an aunt with severe arthritis and my mom has fybromyalga-- so I know alot of people need to sit, I was still just a little surprised that noone wanted to help out someone with kids. I think I was more taken back that there were people sitting with 3 or 4 year olds laying across their laps taking up two seats-- while people holding toddlers (or 4year olds themselves) are standing. Really I wouldn't have even given a second thought to putting my toddler/preschooler on my lap so someone else can sit down-- there were a few people with toddlers sitting in their own seat while people are standing. I'd even put my 6yo on my lap. I was definitely more taken back that these families wouldn't put the toddler on their lap so a 4yo could sit down, than being surprised that people wouldn't give up their seat (I'm not wording this well, I know-- I hope you know what I mean)-- that bothered me more than the people who didn't want to stand so we could sit-- really who could blame them, everyone's tired. But, come on-- have a heart and put the toddler on your lap. You would think those people would, because they know how hard it is with kids. Oh well-- its not really an issue for us now that we realized we can just wait for the next bus-- it takes us a while sometimes to catch on hehe.