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Original poster

Do you allow things to be eaten before paying?

532 replies

georgousbold · 21/03/2022 11:54

In a supermarket etc

When I walk around, I do open something to keep DS quiet. Works a treat.

Nobody has ever told me off or questioned me on it

Is this the done thing in the UK? Can think of a few countries it would be allowed in and nobody would say anything

But you could never do that in Japan for example, South Korea either

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 21/03/2022 22:18

Can kids not last five minutes any longer without a snack or a drink these days?

VampireMoney · 21/03/2022 22:51

@Toddlerteaplease

Can kids not last five minutes any longer without a snack or a drink these days?
Again with the 'these days' rubbish!! My eldest ones are 19 and 22 and they always had a snack in the supermarket! As did me and my siblings 40 years ago 😂
Sceptre86 · 21/03/2022 22:53

I remember seeing a Facebook post about this and people are firmly split into either the yes or no camp. For myself it's a no but then we don't tend to all go shopping together, dh normally does it or I get it delivered. If it's a single parent who has no choice but to take the child shopping and they are screaming their heads off I can see why they would do it.

LtMoose · 21/03/2022 23:04

Lots of judgy people on this thread!

DueyCheatemAndHow · 21/03/2022 23:10

It genuinely scares me giw much judgement social media has opened up for new parents.

I was in a supermarket the other day with my two (3.5 and 1.5). Littlest had taken ages to go to sleep for her afternoon nap so had it cut short for the preschool run. She was hysterical. I was guilt ridden and stressed. We had to go to get nappies and a few it's the online shop had substituted for unsuitable stuff. The trolleys don't have any kind of harness and she was desperate to get out. I occupied them for a bit letting them take turns putting stuff in but in the end an oat bar thing was all that placated her. No one had to touch anything germy. Honestly if if thought anyone was judging me for giving my daughter a healthy snack that kept her vaguely happier and more importantly safe I'd have felt shitter than I already did.

Thankfully that didn't happen and an older man in front of me at the checkout said 'you've got your hands full there... but you're doing a wonderful job'..which was lovely.

gamerchick · 21/03/2022 23:12

@LtMoose

Lots of judgy people on this thread!
So what? People will always judge. I don't like it, never have but why would you care if I do? Just crack on.

I just can't get on board with giving a snack I hadn't paid for just to shut my kid up so I could shop in peace but there are others who are so why care?

I'm sure I've had a lot of judgement in my time. One memorable 'autism didn't exist in my day' from a line of elderly people during a meltdown springs to mind.

Shit happens.

Babadook76 · 21/03/2022 23:29

@Toddlerteaplease

Can kids not last five minutes any longer without a snack or a drink these days?
Oh do fuck off dear
Doodar · 21/03/2022 23:38

DD used to sit in the trolley seat picking at a warm baguette, would never finish it before I paid for it.

bumbledeedum · 21/03/2022 23:58

Can't believe this is so controversial, who cares when you eat it as long as you're paying for it? And it can hardly be the actual eating in the shop element that's bothering a lot of people since apparently bring snack something from home is ok.

LondonQueen · 22/03/2022 00:02

I don't do an in person shop very often anymore but have done in the past, not sure what the issue is as I'm going to pay for it with the other items?

willweevergetthere · 22/03/2022 00:11

Never done it myself and Yes I do judge those who do.
If I needed to shop around a meal time I'd either plan to eat in their cafe or get something they could. Inch in the car.
How long does shopping actually take that a kid can't wait.

RichTeaRichTea · 22/03/2022 01:53

[quote Weekendtobegin]@TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo I agree that parents seem to be snack obsessed.

You can't seem to go anywhere without some small kid sucking on a soggy biscuit or demanding snacks from the vending machine.

Is it a new thing?[/quote]
Not really new. What I think IS more recent is people being less tolerant of hearing other people’s children make noise. So in response many parents are expected to pacify their children in any way to avoid other people having to hear children make noises and one way to do that is to give them snacks. You can annoy the “why are children obsessed with snacks?” brigade or you can annoy the “why is the brat making noise?” brigade, you can’t please everyone

Nat94 · 22/03/2022 02:08

No issue as long as you pay for it at the end. Surprising reading these comments about how much people over think it.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 22/03/2022 05:21

@LtMoose

Lots of judgy people on this thread!
It is MN. That goes without saying
JustWonderingIfYou · 22/03/2022 05:34

Its tacky and unnecessary.

Teach your child some restraint or bring a snack from home.

Why do they require a treat just to go around the supermarket? Especially an edible one. You're setting them up to have no self control.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 22/03/2022 05:44

@JustWonderingIfYou

Its tacky and unnecessary.

Teach your child some restraint or bring a snack from home.

Why do they require a treat just to go around the supermarket? Especially an edible one. You're setting them up to have no self control.

Bloody tacky 🤣
JangolinaPitt · 22/03/2022 06:28

Snacking is disgusting. Feed the before you go out.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 22/03/2022 06:32

Disgusting!

This really is peak mental mumsnet

Lightningrain · 22/03/2022 06:34

Why would people choose to give the messiest food to toddlers in the supermarket?

I can’t imagine letting my toddler have sausage roll, baguette, chocolate or crisps as we go round the supermarket, dropping crumbs everywhere and leaving sticky chocolate finger prints in the trolley. People might think it’s not a lot of mess just from their own child but if everyone thought it was ok the staff would be constantly cleaning.

I wouldn’t give those foods to a toddler in the car or at someone else’s house so surely it’s not fair to leave the mess for others to clean up in the supermarket?

RichTeaRichTea · 22/03/2022 06:36

What snacks do you recommend for a toddler in the supermarket?

fullofpips · 22/03/2022 06:54

Snacking is disgusting 🤣 that has really tickled me!

notacooldad · 22/03/2022 07:00

What snacks do you recommend for a toddler in the supermarket?
A banana?
Eating in supermarkets was never a thing when mine were younger. They were fed either before we left the house or when we got back so it was never an issue.

RichTeaRichTea · 22/03/2022 07:01

“ Eating in supermarkets was never a thing when mine were younger. ”

Are yours older than MNers on this thread? Because some of them say their parents did give them food in the supermarket.

TypicaIMe · 22/03/2022 07:02

Fuck me, snacking is disgusting Grin

I don't know wether that's the thread highlight, or comparing the difficulty of prosecuting a child for eating an apple to the difficulty of prosecuting a perpetrator of rape.

Pure, unadulterated, bonkers MN gold.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 22/03/2022 07:06

@JangolinaPitt

Snacking is disgusting. Feed the before you go out.
They just keep rolling in 🤣