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Original poster

Loud Ipads/ phones being used to entertain children in restaurants

165 replies

SilverDoublet · 05/12/2025 22:07

I was in a restaurant recently, I don't often get out and was out with my son aged 6 while waiting to collect my older child. Our food had just arrived when we noticed some very annoying loud noise coming from the table next to us, sounded liked people shouting and screaming. It was hard to relax and eat with the noise. It turned out it was a child watching YouTube while eating. I politely asked if the parents could maybe turn it down a little and was told no, that unfortunately the child can only eat while watching a screen. Was I being unreasonable to ask to turn it down a little?

OP posts:
GarlicBreadStan · 05/12/2025 22:55

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 05/12/2025 22:52

Of course you're not unreasonable but I'm sure many people will bleat about special needs

As your name says, not your circus, not your "otters". Keep your nose out of people's business. Yes, special needs are often a valid reason for tablets. And before you, or anyone else, start bleating "what did people do before tablets existed?", they were often locked up in institutions so they didn't have to be "dealt with".

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 05/12/2025 22:55

Theslummymummy · 05/12/2025 22:36

Here we go another one of these posts. Yes, you don't get to dictate that sort of thing. Would you rather have heard the kids shouting and screaming?

You’re selfish. Other people don’t want to hear your kids on devices during a meal out. Such rudeness.

Cynic17 · 05/12/2025 22:54

Before screens, people still took their children out to restaurants and talked to them, or played a game, or produced a colouring book. My 20-something goddaughter still has fond memories of playing hangman in cafes! If the parents never introduce screens in the first place, then the children wouldn't "need" or expect them.

There is no excuse for screens at the table, or for disturbing other diners.

Checknotmymate · 05/12/2025 22:54

We don't use devices but then my dc play hangman and become 'animated' and we get a lot of 'looks'. If you have hyper children then you're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 05/12/2025 22:52

Of course you're not unreasonable but I'm sure many people will bleat about special needs

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 05/12/2025 22:47

Theslummymummy · 05/12/2025 22:36

Here we go another one of these posts. Yes, you don't get to dictate that sort of thing. Would you rather have heard the kids shouting and screaming?

Is that the only choice? "Loud iPad" or "shouting and screaming"? Are "headphones", "colouring book", "talking to your children" or "choosing a restaurant where such behaviour is ok, such as McDonalds" completely off the table?

Mountainesque · 05/12/2025 22:44

IAmNotSureAboutYouNow · 05/12/2025 22:40

That’s awful.

I was out with DC recently for lunch, having nice quality time, nice chat.

A man and boy (presumably father and son) came and sat at the next table, the man immediately got a phone out his pocket then produced an iPad for the boy and they sat and stared at their screens the whole lunch!

I was eating out the other week and there was a woman with a little girl, maybe 6, they were sitting eating and chatting. The little girl was so well behaved, all pleases and thank yous and eating nicely.

A family came in with two children, probably about 6 and 7, and before they'd even finished taking off coats etc the parents were getting their tablets out and they went on loudly.

The little girl asked her mum if they could move tables because 'I can't even hear you talk now mummy' 😂 The mum moved them to a table further away but the tablets were turned down to a minimal volume, so thanks little girl!

CoolFineDoneWicked · 05/12/2025 22:42

Theslummymummy · 05/12/2025 22:36

Here we go another one of these posts. Yes, you don't get to dictate that sort of thing. Would you rather have heard the kids shouting and screaming?

Christ are those the only options? Keep the kids at home in that case.

ElfAndSafetyBored · 05/12/2025 22:40

Theslummymummy · 05/12/2025 22:36

Here we go another one of these posts. Yes, you don't get to dictate that sort of thing. Would you rather have heard the kids shouting and screaming?

Honestly I despair of attitudes like this. Pure selfish stupidity.

Headphones set to a reasonable volume.

IAmNotSureAboutYouNow · 05/12/2025 22:40

That’s awful.

I was out with DC recently for lunch, having nice quality time, nice chat.

A man and boy (presumably father and son) came and sat at the next table, the man immediately got a phone out his pocket then produced an iPad for the boy and they sat and stared at their screens the whole lunch!

Theslummymummy · 05/12/2025 22:36

Here we go another one of these posts. Yes, you don't get to dictate that sort of thing. Would you rather have heard the kids shouting and screaming?

EchoedSilence · 05/12/2025 22:34

Again?

PollyBell · 05/12/2025 22:34

I would ask staff to ask them to turn it off, I dont care what they use but they dont need volume

Marmite1992 · 05/12/2025 22:32

Gosh I despair at some parents. Child can only eat whilst watching a screen? And who has caused that learnt behaviour?! And to say no to you to turning it down.. wow.

GarlicBreadStan · 05/12/2025 22:16

YANBU. I know some people have a bad view on screens being used in restaurants, but personally I don't care that much.

However, if you're going to let your kid watch a tablet in a restaurant, either have it on a low volume or give them headphones to use.