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

When we take our 2yo DGS out to eat, or out anywhere in general, he behaves better than all the children the OP has described. If he gets fractious he gets taken outside then brought back in when his food is ready.

Children should not be disturbing other diners like this. If they want to watch a screen, give them headphones. If they can’t sit down in a restaurant, then imo they shouldn’t be there because it’s bloody dangerous for them to be running around.

Just another example of shitty, oblivious parenting. I wouldn’t bring a tablet to a meal for our kids as I don’t like screens during meals out, but if I did, it would be on silent or they would wear headphones. And they wouldn’t be allowed to roam around and bother other people.

You are not being unreasonable to want to say something. If you did, the likely outcome is that the parents will NOT say “oh, really sorry. Hey Emily can you shush you're disturbing people nearby, be a love and pop your head phones on and don’t shout”. Instead, they will be outraged that their DC is being told to do something by a total stranger and their parenting is being called into question. That is society (certainly British society) today. You can also be absolutely certain that if you complain to the restaurant that they will not do anything in terms of approaching the parents either. They don’t like confrontation and will adopt the all customers welcome approach. If it was me, op? I’d ask to move, for the scenarios stated above.

Yep

If i was out with you for lunch id be way more pissed that you are on your phone ignoring me!!

Mental you typed out such a long post while in a restaurant, your poor mate

I agree with the poster. Your sanctimonious response suggests you are the type
of entitled person who thinks everyone else should “tolerate” their selfish behaviour.
There is no excuse for children screaming and shouting and not using headphones for their devices. I have three children with special needs and I certainly don’t let them or their iPads disturb others anywhere. It’s simple manners and common courtesy.

How have you read anger in that post? Seems reasonable to me.

"tolerance"? Why should children be allowed to make as much noise and we're expected to put up with it? I want to be able to hear the person I'm having dinner with talk and not Peppa pig

🙄 are you one of those parents that just allows your kids to do whatever they like in public because "they are children"?

Pretty much all of this! how long did the OP ignore her friend for while writing all that out 😂

OP put your own device away and then talk to the waiter/ waitress. Hopefully they can move you.

How will they learn how to behave in public if you don’t teach them to be more considerate when they are children?

I would - and I have. I asked the parents if the child could turn down the noise and they were absolutely fine and did so.

OP try talking to the staff first. I expect you will only get a rude response from the child’s parents.

Another vote to ask the staff to tell the kids to stop being annoying

FaceTime calls with no headphones is my pet hate.

I was sitting in a quiet cafe reading a book and enjoying breakfast. There was one other customer in there and she decided tbe cafe was a good place to have a no headphones 45 minute (!!!!!) FaceTime call with her son. I complained to her and she told me that it was ok because it was a special occasion because her son had just arrived in Australia!!!!

We're at the point that there needs to be signage (like old style no smoking pre-2007) to spell out that making everyone else in the vincinity listen to the tinny drivel on phones/ tablets is unacceptable. And it would reinforce the point to supporr staff to challenge it.

Well first of all it's half term and bloody awful weather. I feel sorry for parents. But mum and dad get off your bloody phone. Engage with your kids and each other.

February and October half-term can be an endurance test. We used to go abroad in February with the youngest just to relax. Older two were at university.

My advice avoid family friendly this week unless you've your own rug rats to entertain.

I would say something. I always do, be it to a feckless parent or an idiot adult not using headphones on a train. I find saying with a smile ‘excuse me, we can hear that’ is usually all that’s required. My husband says it’s because everyone is scared of me 😂

More importantly they have poor parents who think their responsibilities stop when they put their pants back on! The rest of the world is going to teach their sprogs manners and all the other things a decent parent would be doing. I would have been ashamed if my children were a nuisance to others when they were out of the house.

Speak to the staff not the parents. If the DPs are so socially unaware that they are letting their DCs do this, then they aren’t going to appreciate your comments.
And this is speaking as someone who did let their DS play games on the iPad once he had finished his meal if it was the evening. Crucially however on silent.

Talk to staff or parents, not the child

The type of anger in this post is what I was thinking about when I was writing it. Life must be tough for you when my comment causes such a dramatic response. Work on your tolerance and managing your emotions, it will make your life much better.

Have a quiet word with the staff, we did this on holiday because the parents had no intention of controlling their unruly children. This is less confrontational. It is not acceptable behaviour though. Whenever I took my DC to restaurants it was made clear that good manners and behaviour were expected. Poor parenting is to blame here.

YANBU OP but you will get a few people telling you that your attitude is unacceptable, the children were just being children and if you don't like the noise you should avoid public spaces and eat at home. Oh, and some of the children may have additional needs which is why they were wandering around or they require the iPad to self regulate so how dare you be so abelist, why don't you walk a mile in their poor parents shoes etc.

The excuses people make for shit parenting and unruly kids is mindboggling. Mine are 10 and 12 and I never tolerated them running around, playing loud devices, screaming or making a nuisance of themselves in any way when we were in restaurants. Apart from anything else it's dangerous to allow children to run amok when serving staff are carrying hot drinks, food etc and I really feel for staff when they have to weave their way around feral children whilst their oblivious parents sit chatting or glued to their phones.