Would I be unreasonable to ask a child to be a bit quieter on their iPad in a restaurant?

But it’s not the voice of a child. It’s the tinny whine from an ipad or mobile phone, with that irritating pitch that hits every last nerve.

I agree but would add that they are actually really bad for children, especially those with SEN. Yes they may keep the child quiet, but that doesn't show the harm going on in the brain. It won't be long before we are all shocked that we allowed young children free reign on tablets and ipads etc. The impact on social development is also shocking, unless in incredibly small doses.

I work in a restaurant and it's unbelievable what I see daily. Also everyone saying tell the staff - these parents don't listen to us either I just get a load of abuse and a complaint to head office usually 🤣

The iPad thing is genuinely tragic. I honestly don't care how you've justified it to yourself, if your children use them in restaurants it's an obvious problem for their development.

Mostly it's children 6-10 I see absolutely glued to screens not expected to interact or look up from start to finish. This is NOT a rarity, this is most tables, most days.

I seriously question why people bother paying for a meal out that their children are allowed to opt out of so entirely.

I wondered how long it would take before someone trotted out the ‘you’re not entitled to a child free world etc’ line.

This is exactly why I am glad I am raising my children outside the UK.

The idea that thr voice of a child would incite so much rage would (in my opinion, rightfully) be seen as insane in the majority of other countries.

You are very much the problem!

Volume turned down is not acceptable. Its volume off, headphones on or iPad off completely.

It's the overuse of exclamation marks.

Ooh you're a brave one to write that.

Don't you know the rules?
If a neurotypical child is using an iPad in a restaurant then it's an utter disgrace and the parents are scumbags who can't be bothered to parent. If a neurodivergent child uses one then it's absolutely fine, no matter the volume.

I couldn't agree more

But you'll get the ASD crowd bleating that their kid needs regulating etc.

Maybe go regulate your kid outside, not in front of a screen? Park?? Hiking?? Library??

Etc

Sheer entitlement and fuck everyone else. Can’t stand it.

I would ask if I could move tables to a quieter area. If the staff ask why just say the noise from the iPad is loud and you'd like to move.
obviously if it's full then it's more tricky. I tho k you asking isn't right but you could complain to the staff and ask them if they could turn volume down in iPad.
I agree that's annoying and I have kids x

I am also at a meal in the Lakes during half term, I think we're about to celebrate my friend finishing writing her book. I just wish the kids would pipe down.

Yet there’s three separate families with kids in there right now….🧐

Avoid the school holidays in future if you want a peaceful weekday meal. I get your point, they shouldn’t be running around shrieking and should definitely use headphones but you are also eating in a busy restaurant during half term in a tourist trap I guess (much of the Lakes is).

There are so many parents who just really don’t care about anyone else. My kids were not perfect and I wasn’t a perfect mum but they never ever ran around in a restaurant, I wouldn’t allow it, not even once. We played card games, read books, chatted about various things and a bit of colouring in. If my children couldn’t behave in a restaurant I simply wouldn’t have taken them. I’d find it too stressful as I could not let my children ruin other people’s experience of eating out. iPads and phone use in restaurants is a joke, especially without headphones (how oblivious their parents are is astounding) I’ve seen parents shove the iPad in front of their kids before they’ve even settled in their seat or looked at a menu. Kids glued to the screen even as they eat. I genuinely worry about future generations. The reliance on technology, the addiction and the impact it has on growing brains is terrifying. I’ve seen prams with iPhones attached and babies/toddlers staring at screens rather than looking at the world around them or interacting. It’s all very sad. My dd also has SEN so I do know what it’s like with children who find certain situations difficult, but that was my issue to manage not everybody else’s.

Tbf, regarding the iPad watching only, not the running around, I’d rather hear the sound of a kid’s iPad than them crying, screaming or running around, which is way more annoying. Yes they should have headphones but maybe the parent forgot them and the iPad’s the only way to stop them running rampant. I’ve used it before for my kids in a restaurant without headphones when I forgot them, because without it they’d have been be far more annoying to other dinners. Always kept the volume low though and it never looked like it was bothering anyone

Honestly I would say nothing. I think it’s too risky nowadays. You might find yourself on the parents’ SM looking like an absolute villain.
I know it’s cowardly but I would take the path of least resistance, eat up and leave .

I don’t understand why people take their kids out if they are going to be on devices the whole time. It is wrong and you are well within your right to ask the manager to either move you or ask the table to be quieter.

Youre surely ruining your own meal by typing this out mid-meal. Its not exactly a short post.

If it was that noisy - Id ask the parents to stop her. Its a bloody ridiculous situation and I cant understand how people think this is ok!

Where did OP say they’re child free? Children are of course allowed to eat out with family but shouldn’t be allowed to be running around a restaurant or playing loud enough on tablets to disturb other diners. The parents are at fault because they are allowing this to happen.

OP I would definitely mention to a member of staff the noise. They probably haven’t said anything because no one has complained yet

If it was one person, maybe, but it sounds like you're in the minority and there's more than one table full of noisy kids. Seems like setting yourself up for a battle you can't win.

Agree. If I’m in a cafe with my dog and it starts barking I pay up and leave. I don’t understand why people allow their child to carry on screaming at the expense of everyone else. It’s not ok.

Why is it that some parents are completely oblivious to social norms when it comes to their kids? Put your damn phones down and take the ipad off your kid. You're in public, not your livingroom. Behave yourselves.

The thread isn’t about any child noise. It’s about unacceptable loud iPads and shouting that disturbs others. It’s incredibly annoying and disruptive.

”Live and let live” — yes. Live and disrupt everyone else — no. You may well not be bothered by the disruptive behaviour of others but others clearly are and in a community, respect and consideration for others is key.