Travelling by train with a toddler can be tiring, especially when the journey stretches over two nights. But for one mother travelling from Bihar to Bengaluru with her 2-year-old son, a small gesture from the Indian Railways pantry staff made things a little easier.The mother, who shared her experience on Instagram, had packed a packet of oats and a small container for her son before boarding the train.At one point during the journey, she went to the pantry and asked the staff if they could prepare the oats for her child.She wasn’t expecting much. But the response pleasantly surprised her.
‘They took my oats packet’
Instagram user dakshnmom said she approached the pantry staff in the evening and asked if they could prepare the oats for her toddler.“They took my oats packet, prepared it for me, and within just five minutes, they handed it back to me, freshly made and ready for my little one,” she wrote.For a mother travelling with a young child, having a warm meal ready can make a big difference, particularly on a long train journey.But she said what stayed with her wasn’t just the food.The staff, she said, were welcoming and didn’t hesitate to help.“They were so cooperative and welcoming, and there was absolutely no hesitation in helping a mother travelling with her baby,” she added.
‘A little kindness makes a BIG difference’
The mother thanked the railway staff for helping her and said such small gestures can change the experience of a long journey.“Sometimes, it’s these little gestures that make a long journey so much easier and memorable,” she wrote.She also acknowledged that travelling with a baby isn’t always simple, adding that “a little kindness along the way makes a BIG difference.”Her post struck a chord with other social media users, with several people sharing their own experiences of receiving help from railway pantry staff while travelling with young children.
‘They let me make my Maggi too’
One user recalled being allowed to prepare Maggi during a train journey.“They let me make my Maggi too,” the person wrote.Another said they wished more stories like this went viral, “for good reasons.”Others shared similar experiences involving milk and food for babies.“I asked the pantry person who came to our coach if I could get hot milk. He was so helpful. He took my daughter’s bottle and brought me hot milk in it. It made the journey so easygoing,” one user wrote.Another person suggested carrying a small electric kettle while travelling with children, saying it can be useful when travelling with little ones.“I have done the same. They were very helpful,” another user added.The comments turned into a collection of small train-journey stories, all centred around the same thing: sometimes, a little help from a stranger or railway staff member can make travelling with a child much less stressful.