To give my toddler a bit of bread?

[ChequeredPasta]

I imagine this has already been done to death, and would get the answer if I could be arsed to scroll...
At Waitrose the other day. Put a french bread stick in the trolley, which my toddler (2) saw, and started reaching for it. Told her no, to wait, but she is an untameable beast became upset. So..... I tore off the end and gave it to her BEFORE paying One of the staff saw, and gave me a stinker of a look.

Now, my Mum used to do this with us. But, my Mum's understanding of social convention is.... interesting.
WIBU?!

[FrizzyNoodles]

I think that's ok because it still scans.

[Subtlecheese]

No. Quiet toddler = more time in store by parent = more money likely to be spent. This was the approach we always took with people clearly shopping shopping (but not our known shoplifters). Of course this was many years ago now.

[mogulfield]

It's fine because it's not weight related, the barcode is the same if she eats it or not. I'm sure the Waitrose employees would rather that than a screaming child for 30 minutes. Well, I'd prefer that if I worked there.

[Orangebird69]

I do it all the time with my ds. As long as it's not a weighed item I don't see the problem.

[user1493413286]

Unless you then put it back on the shelf I don’t see the problem and would do it myself

[welshgirlwannabe]

Why would that be a problem? You're still paying for it. I crack open multi packs of organix crisps when I'm shopping with my toddler am I commiting a parenting faux pas??

[Ummmmgogo]

it's fine it still scans. the look was maybe because you gave into a tantrum? or maybe the staff member was looking at someone else and you misinterpreted?

[coolaschmoola]

I wouldn't do it. Until it's paid for it's not yours.

[T00ManyB00ks]

I think this is fine. Just reminded me that years ago my dp merrily tucked into a French stick while walking around the supermarket and when we got to the checkout he suddenly remembered he needed to get a paper from the kiosk. So he left me to deal with the sea of crusty breadcrumbs falling out of the packet onto the conveyor belt and covering all the shopping and leaving a trail for the next customer. Red face.

[Sunshineface123]

I'd definitely do this much better than screaming toddler.

[Goldfishshoals]

Did breaking the french bread create a load of crumbs for the staff member to clean up? Otherwise you were fine.

it turns out you've left your purse at home etc.

If I'd left my purse at home I'd ask the staff to put my trolley aside, go get my purse and buy the shopping, wouldn't most people?

[TheHungryDonkey]

No it’s not on. It hasn’t been paid for. It’s grazing. I think it’s both lazy and dishonest and toddlers are never too young to learn the word no.

[Youcanttaketheskyfromme]

I think it's weird. You haven't paid for it. It's not yours

[Orangebird69]

donkey, my toddler knows what the word 'no' means. But isn't always that reasonable or compliant...

[Only1scoop]

I was never allowed to do this as a dc and have never allowed my dc to do this. In fact she has never and would never ask.

[QuackDuckQuack]

There’s a line. I don’t think you crossed it at all. The worst I’ve seen was a parent letting a toddler eat all of the chocolates from an advent calendar and then dumping the empty advent calendar without paying. I couldn’t decide whether I was most outraged by the toddler being up at 9.30 pm, eating it without paying or opening all of the windows on an advent calendar on one day .

[Orangebird69]

This type of thread always brings out the supermums and perfect kids. 🙄

[RubyReins]

Very common to see this done in France and our family do it with the DC in the supermarket when we go over to visit them. We have done it from time to time here too to keep them occupied. I wouldn't give it any thought at all.

[user1471459936]

I do this. It's fine - keeps toddler happy.

[TheHungryDonkey]

Orangebird so find an alternative. Eating things you haven’t paid for is not a solution. I’m not a supermum and don’t have Perfect kids. But I think it’s piss poor morals to let children eat products in a supermarket that have not been pay for.

[PotteringAlong]

It's a no from me. It's not yours until it's paid for.

[ReanimatedSGB]

Oh FFS at the catsbumfaces on here. It's fine, OP. You're intending to pay for it, you haven't taken it out of the shop, it's still going to be the same price.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

I think it’s fine as long as it isn’t an item you weigh