Page 6 | AIBU to be fed up with screaming children in the supermarket?

Njuy · 2026-09-09T17:55:07+00:00

I went to the supermarket about half an hour ago and OMFG! Every child was screaming. There were at least 15 children aged (guessing) 18 months - 9 years old. Not one parent was bothered. I was in the store for 5 mins I was planning to have an alcohol free evening. Not anymore.

Itllbereadysoon · 09/09/2026 22:15

TheGirlWhoLived · 09/09/2026 19:11

Bet it wasn’t Waitrose

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One of the loudest and rudest children I ever witnessed kicking off was in Waitrose. The parent was running after him gently calling his name......it would've been hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic.

MissyPants · 09/09/2026 22:15

🤣

madaboutpurple · 09/09/2026 22:12

I suggest asking them to sing a nursery rhyme instead although if the child doesn't know any that is not much help.

Newyearawaits · 09/09/2026 22:12

CoffeeandCakeBreak · 09/09/2026 20:07

Shop in Waitrose. The children don't scream in there.

I have to pop into an Asda sometimes and it's a completely different experience there. Some of the adults are as bad as the children!

(Asdas in other parts of the country might be different perhaps, but my local one, next to a Waitrose is hideous)

You are joking, right?

ratatouillemousesqueak · 09/09/2026 22:11

I think for 5 mins to buy 3 items you could cope?!

sounds like a load of tired kids and parents who are grabbing stuff for tea. At least you can go home to quiet.

Newyearawaits · 09/09/2026 22:10

Fairyyqueen · 09/09/2026 19:29

Nope, tantrums are a normal part of development, when a child has a tantrum they are in a high stress state and cannot reason or listen, the best thing for parents to do is stay calm, be there for them but essentially ignore them (in the nicest way possible, be there but don’t react) this is how children learn to self regulate, children borrow their parents calm, so it might look like parents aren’t doing anything but actually that’s the best thing to do! Intervening for the sake of strangers will actually make it worse. eventually children will stop having tantrums. I don’t know what you mean by ‘not standing for it’ but fear can temporarily stop tantrums but it won’t teach a child how to manage their emotions, quite the opposite. Parents should do what is in the best interest of their child, not what strangers would like them to do so that strangers can be more comfortable.

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This 100pc
Thank you for your excellent response

Newyearawaits · 09/09/2026 22:08

Thesearenotthedroidsyouarelookingfor · 09/09/2026 18:59

Meh it’s a supermarket you’re were in and out in five minutes. Not your circus not your monkeys. Kindly get a grip of yourself.
Mine are young adults so screaming kids in shop just makes me smile because at least they’re not mine!

Edited

This entirely.
I don't know a single parent who hasn't experienced a baby /young child crying /screaming in a public place.
Makes it worse when people watch and stare.

whatcanthematterbe81 · 09/09/2026 22:00

I’m baffled by the number of people saying they see this. My kids are not angels, far from it. They fight, they answer me back sometimes etc… but a tantrum in a supermarket, so bad they’re screaming and people are driven to drink…. That seems crazy to me. And honestly not being a “snob”, i understand bad behaviour and how this might happen occasionally but for this to be a regular thing makes me think I’m living in a parallel universe. Maybe my kids are not that bad after all 😂

MermaidMummy06 · 09/09/2026 21:55

Goldenbear · 09/09/2026 21:35

Well I read something today that said Australian children are the worst behaved in the world so I wonder what a supermarket is like there.

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Here in Australia it's the same as everywhere. What an awful comment to make. I do hear kids crying, but not screaming. It depends when you take them. Afternoons are more difficult as kids are tired.

Btw most articles are nasty opinions for clickbait - it's not a representation of anywhere/anyone. Just an opinion for clicks.

2manyEnergyDrinks · 09/09/2026 21:54

Gosh that escalated quickly. It sounds like a YOU problem if something so mundane is driving you to drink to be able to cope…

whatcanthematterbe81 · 09/09/2026 21:52

😂😂 this isn’t normal babes. You need to move

Tunnocksmallow · 09/09/2026 21:50

Although I can’t stand the screaming; it’s the family that has more than 1 child, and they decide that the aisles are a personal playground to chase each other or race each other up and down, barging people and trolleys out of the way as they go. The parents grinning inanely as they do.

what happened to parents teaching their kids to walk round a shop nicely? Is it frowned upon in today’s society?

Puffalicious · 09/09/2026 21:42

MademoisellePraline · 09/09/2026 19:05

Yes it gets my goat too. I have 3DC, two with additional needs. None of them scream and screech like some parents just allow. Before people jump on the "oh but you don't know if they have additional needs" the statistics say that that they most likely don't. But for fear of not wanting to be accused of being discriminatory, people can't just call it for what it is the majority of the time. Shit parenting.

You'll always get someone letting their kids act like the poster child for asbo, insisting "it's just what children do.". No no. It's what some children are allowed to do because their parents have no respect or consideration for their surroundings or anyone else in the vicinity.

Yup. 2 additional needs kids here too (1 NT- he was a dream!). I have been that parent who leaves the trolley & goes back to the car for a calm space.

I too was shopping yesterday, but in a centre & saw 2 separate toddlers screaming in shops through parents ignoring their child's needs (tired/ hungry/ peed off inna pram whilst shopping for ages) & continuing to browse happily. It gets my goat, poor kids.

Goldenbear · 09/09/2026 21:35

HumerousHumous · 09/09/2026 21:24

I had this earlier and the group of children were yelling and screaming at the self checkouts. They were unaccompanied and aged between nine and about 13. I was at a kiosk being served and winced at the screaming and the lady serving me radioed through and said “please can you stop these children? I’m getting complaints (I didn’t complain, but she could see it was hard on the ears) and as I left the security guard shouted to one of the kids: “I know your mother, I will be telling her”. As I walked away I heard the kid shout back: “my mum won’t give a shit”.

And there you have it.

YANBU.

Well I read something today that said Australian children are the worst behaved in the world so I wonder what a supermarket is like there.

Goldenbear · 09/09/2026 21:33

If you visit the supermarket about 8.30/9 then there is rarely a child let alone screaming.

HumerousHumous · 09/09/2026 21:24

I had this earlier and the group of children were yelling and screaming at the self checkouts. They were unaccompanied and aged between nine and about 13. I was at a kiosk being served and winced at the screaming and the lady serving me radioed through and said “please can you stop these children? I’m getting complaints (I didn’t complain, but she could see it was hard on the ears) and as I left the security guard shouted to one of the kids: “I know your mother, I will be telling her”. As I walked away I heard the kid shout back: “my mum won’t give a shit”.

And there you have it.

YANBU.

EugeniaVictoria · 09/09/2026 21:12

I mean, I feel like screaming in the supermarket.

But I’m an adult with self regulation skills and learnt patience…..

emptythebin · 09/09/2026 21:11

Whisperwaves · 09/09/2026 21:08

If the cap fits...

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Indeed 😆

takealettermsjones · 09/09/2026 21:11

Whisperwaves · 09/09/2026 21:05

Another all other parents are shit except me thread. The it doesn't happen in Waitrose bollocks is peak snobby MN too,

Nailed it! Do you think they realise nobody believes them though? 🤣

emptythebin · 09/09/2026 21:11

Loads of dc in my Waitrose & M&S including my own, depends on the area I guess!

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/09/2026 21:08

Whisperwaves · 09/09/2026 21:08

If the cap fits...

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It doesnt, but you carry on dear if it makes you feel better.

Whisperwaves · 09/09/2026 21:08

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/09/2026 21:07

Or call me a muppet, apparently!

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If the cap fits...

PyongyangKipperbang · 09/09/2026 21:07

MademoisellePraline · 09/09/2026 21:00

It comes down to the fact that a lot of people these days really dont give a shit how they inconvenience others as long as they get what they need/want.

Yep. But don't you dare say so. They will tell you there's absolutely nothing that can be done because that takes effort and giving a toss about anyone other than themselves

Or call me a muppet, apparently!

emptythebin · 09/09/2026 21:06

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emptythebin · 09/09/2026 21:05

5mins of screaming dc means you need alcohol?!