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Original poster

Maximum of 2 people per household - no exceptions for small children at Dunelm - any other shops have this policy?

96 replies

JMAngel1 · 17/06/2020 19:27

So I tried to get into Dunelm today with DD10 and DD8 - I was told only max of 2 people per household. No exceptions made for small children - do they think we should leave them outside like dogs? I'm playing tag team with work with DH - we work on opposite shifts for NHS across the full 7 days so there isn't any day that I could leave them with him and vice versa. This seems like a crazy rule.
Are there any other shops with this rule just to avoid me making a wasted journey and also having to crawl away with my tail between my legs?

OP posts:
daisypond · 17/06/2020 21:16

They aren’t small children. Going to Dunhelm is unlikely to be crucial. You shouldn’t have taken them.

ToothFairyNemesis · 17/06/2020 21:19

@FrostyGirl66
Not sure about your area, but where I live in the south, it's been hot and about 35 in the car. I wouldn't leave my kids in there either.
Not sure about your area but in mine our cars come with opening windows.

Original poster
JMAngel1 · 17/06/2020 21:23

Wow, just wow.
There are vipers on tonight.
I'm leaving this here as yet again MN has turned into a bitch fest.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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General shopping
SouthWestmom · 17/06/2020 21:23

Three kids and one in a buggy would be a nuisance at the moment popsicle - no matter what engine thinks kids are fidgety trippy little buggers who touch things wiggle and separate so you have to avoid five people not one

SouthWestmom · 17/06/2020 21:23

Engine? Anyone

heartsonacake · 17/06/2020 21:23

@TerrapinStation

I agree with the policy, I don't want to have to wait longer in a queue because unnecessary children are taking up the quota of customers allowed in the shop.
Absolutely this.

You also don’t have small children.

ChaoticCatling · 17/06/2020 21:25

A 10 year old is generally old enough to be left home alone. A sensible 8 year old I would (and did) leave for an hour or so. If you had small children you would have a point.

BIWI · 17/06/2020 21:33

@JMAngel1

Wow, just wow. There are vipers on tonight. I'm leaving this here as yet again MN has turned into a bitch fest.
Grin

Because people are pointing out that you are wrong?!

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 17/06/2020 21:34

Nobody has been a viper.

BIWI · 17/06/2020 21:35

@FrostyGirl66

Why wouldn't you leave them in the car?

Not sure about your area, but where I live in the south, it's been hot and about 35 in the car. I wouldn't leave my kids in there either.

Might have been 35 in the car, but no way was it that outside. (I live in the South too Hmm)

No need to leave them in the car because there was no need to take them in the first place!

If you can't have someone look after your children then you don't need to go shopping given the current circumstances.

And there's this wonderful invention called 'internet shopping' Hmm

PerspicaciaTick · 17/06/2020 21:35

Our local B&Q aren't bothering with social distancing at all. No queuing, no arrows, just business as usual. No idea how they can get away without even a nod to keeping customers and staff safe.

Reedshoes · 17/06/2020 21:36

I suppose the argument is you could buy online.

I personally think that’s ridiculous as they’re kids and too young to be left home and it’s far to hot to leave them in the car. What other option do you have. I can’t wait until this nonsense stops!!

InspectorCludo · 17/06/2020 21:36

I went into a small local shop to buy a gift this morning. They had a sign saying maximum 3 customers. Didn’t strike me as unreasonable but would have excluded any parent with more then 2 children.
I think the policy varies quite wildly and there is little consistency.

Sirzy · 17/06/2020 21:37

Shops are still learning, especially ones that have only just reopened. They are trying to do their best to keep their staff and the shoppers safe in these bizzare times.

For the first time they don’t want people going in to browse the stores, they want people going in grabbing what they need and leaving.

For the time being shopping isn’t really a leisure activity but one out of necessity

BIWI · 17/06/2020 21:38

@Reedshoes

I suppose the argument is you could buy online.

I personally think that’s ridiculous as they’re kids and too young to be left home and it’s far to hot to leave them in the car. What other option do you have. I can’t wait until this nonsense stops!!

Take your first paragraph.

Compare with your second paragraph.

Bingo!

ineedaholidaynow · 17/06/2020 21:39

Many times it will depend on size of shop, but shops want to maximise paying customers and also maintain social distancing.

HailHydra · 17/06/2020 21:39

Off you huff then. You could go to
www.dunelm.com/
Whilst you're not posting here.

xmummy2princesx · 17/06/2020 21:40

It is annoying I have a 2 kids 3 and under and I ham a single mum and I’m scared to go to the shops just in case we get turned away

TerrapinStation · 17/06/2020 21:47

@JMAngel1

Wow, just wow. There are vipers on tonight. I'm leaving this here as yet again MN has turned into a bitch fest.
Disagreeing with you isn't being bitchy, if you ask for opinions you're going to get a range of them.
NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 17/06/2020 21:48

I think 8 and 10 are really tricky ages and some will be ok to be left at home/in the car, and others not at all. My eldest is 8 and he’s kind of 90% really reliable and mature and articulate, so when I roll my eyes about him other adults are often “Shock but he’s a great kid, isn’t he?”, but sometimes he does things that are completely fucking stupid and I would not leave him in a car alone/in the supervision of most 10 year olds.

Different story cos Sainsbury’s is an essential shop and mine are 8 and 2, but the security guard asked me a few weeks back “are you all coming in?” when the three of us got to the front of the queue - no, I thought I’d leave the kids to run around in traffic. Hmm Obviously it’s not ideal right now, but mostly if parents are taking their children shopping with them just now it’s for good reason. Dunelm might not be ‘essential’ from one week to the next, but I can quite imagine it might become ‘essential’ over 3+ months of lockdown... (cue loads of posters falling over each other to say that their whole family have been sleeping on a single mattress on the floor rather than even consider endangering others by buying a new bed during the pandemic, obviously).

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 17/06/2020 21:50

@xmummy2princesx

It is annoying I have a 2 kids 3 and under and I ham a single mum and I’m scared to go to the shops just in case we get turned away
And this is exactly what enrages me so much - it’s shit. You should not have to feel like this and make this choice - but probably you’re quite right to. Sad
Time2change2 · 17/06/2020 21:51

I also have a 10 year old and 8 year old. No way would I leave them in the car or at home!!?
I would leave them to pop into a petrol garage or similar but not to go into dunelm where the car is completely out of sight and the queue inside can be big. I guess if I was literally running in grabbing something and there was no queue not so bad but The store is very large, often you need to browse at what is there and make a decision and if you are getting a few things then it will take a little while!
I wouldn’t leave my 10 year old at home for more than 10-15 mins either. No way in hell would I leave them together at home as they would end up killing each other.
Every child is different and mothers instinct will tell you if it’s safe or not (for most people)
However- if I was in your position OP I would buy online and have it delivered or click and collect. There are plenty of non essential things I would like at the moment but if I can’t get them online then I am just making do for now.

ineedaholidaynow · 17/06/2020 21:51

Maybe the 10yo could be left in the car and 8yo go in the shop with OP

peppapigisscottish · 17/06/2020 21:53

Unless it's children's clothes shopping then you didn't need to take them.

peppapigisscottish · 17/06/2020 21:56

It is annoying I have a 2 kids 3 and under and I ham a single mum and I’m scared to go to the shops just in case we get turned away

If you are genuinely scared to go then you need to get some help for anxiety.

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