Was I so rude???

yabu to ask strangers to be quiet in a busy shop or in any public spaces. They didn’t need to be rude but if I was asked to be quiet in public to accommodate a baby’s nap, I’d be annoyed too tbh

Sorry, OP, YABU.
I understand you were relieved that your baby had fallen asleep and are overtired. However, you can't ask people chatting and laughing in a shop to keep it down because you've taken a sleeping baby to the checkout.

If you are out and about with your baby, you have to expect people will be living their (frequently noisy) lives. If you need it to be quiet, stay home at nap time. If you're doing your shopping you must expect it to be a noisy environment.

I hope the baby starts napping more regularly for you - that phase is exhausting.

It’s fine to ask people to keep it down. It’s also fine if they say no. But there is no need to be rude, and it sounds like the only people who were rude is them.

Id definitely be complaining to Home Bargains about the cashier’s attitude

I can't believe the sexism on this thread.

Overspenders

like me

bad social behaviour

FFS they were having a joke with the cashier, not stoning kittens. And it was a shop, not a library/ mausoleum.

Do we seriously want a world where people can’t have a bit of a laugh for 5 minutes and walk around shops eyes down without making a sound? I don’t. These sorts of interactions are a huge part of daily life and literally their entire social experience for some.

Aren't women allowed to be loud/laugh in public? What's selfish about speaking loudly and laughing in a public place where silence isn't mandatory?

What does this mean - And they weren't 'ladies'.

Are ladies defined by their airs and graces, ability to STFU in shops, not answer back when asked to keep the noise down in a shop?

If the OP is lacking in sleep and her baby is tired, that's her problem, not customers in a shop who can laugh/speak/shout as they wish.

I really feel for you but you can’t ask people to be quiet in public.

Is there anyone you can reach out to for support?

Some people just don't simply care.
I would be tempted to complain to home bargains and point out their staff giving out free bags, but not sure whether they would be that bothered.

Sorry YWBU. Sounds like they were just having a bit of fun. If it’s that important to you why didn’t you just do another round of the shop away from them until they’d paid?

YABU to tell people to be quiet in a public place and not expect that there is a real chance of a backlash.

Think about it. Someone who doesn't care about how their behaviour affects others is probably consistent in that trait. If they don't care about shouting at too high a volume, they most likely won't care about putting someone back in their place if they are challenged.

What you experienced was a lower level version of asking a group of teenagers to stop shouting/swearing/blaring their music out on a bus. You can try, but have to expect a bad reaction.

Unfortunately bad social behaviour isn't the domain of teenagers anymore. Adults and even pensioners have grown up believing all that matters is THEM.

This.
Why is it that some women have to be loud and screechy.
I absolutely would report to customer service of home bargins.
You were trying to pay for something.
So rude of THEM.

They were flirting and jumping for free bags?

Whilst I don’t think you were rude, I do think it’s unreasonable to ask people to be quiet in a public place. They shouldn’t have shouted at you but they were ‘within their rights’ to say no to your request.

Why oh why are so many women so loud! Poor you and I bet you are tired. You encountered some horrible selfish people who have no consideration for anyone else around them. I bet other people in the store wanted them to quiet down too.

Report the cashier to the manager or write directly to Home Bargains head office. Plenty of people would like that job. You have every right to take your child to the shops. Do they think you should leave them home alone.

And they weren't 'ladies'.

What demographic is that?

Yabu to tell people to be quiet in a public area.

Having said that, you are a new mum and it is exhausting and overwhelming so go easy on yourself. It can feel like the worst thing in the world to have your baby woken.

But on a positive note, the more noise your baby is exposed to, the better they will become at sleeping through anything!

I feel for you OP. Sadly the demographic found in Home Bargains is possibly the issue here. I’m astonished daily at how unthinking, downright awful some folks can be around poor behaviour and a lack of understanding around others.