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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Geffrye museum cafe tell me i can only feed my baby 'baby food in jars produced in sterile factory conditions'

76 replies

krisskross · 20/12/2010 16:34

We went to the Geffrye museum in London yesterday, as we do every Christmas.

My husband and I went for lunch in the cafe with our two children (aged 1 and 3). As we waited to order our lunch we got out some food to feed our children. As we did so a member of staff came to tell us we could not feed our children our own food from home.

I explained that we were ordering two adult lunches but the children would not eat this food. The waitress insisted this was the policy. I asked to speak to the cafe manager and she explained that we could only feed our children 'baby food in jars, produced in a factory in sterile conditions'.

I explained that I do not feed them this kind of food- they generally eat home cooked food. She insisted that this was for health and safety reasons- but then relented and said we could feed our 1 year old her pasta, but could not give my son his sandwich. Whilst we were glad to feed her, I was surprised a 'policy' could be so inconsistent!

When my husband asked if this policy was displayed anywhere the manager said it was but was unable to show us and then relented as a compromise 'just this once'.

What a ridiculous policy! I have never experienced such a policy in any visitor attraction, cafe or pub and it seems such a shame, as the geffrye museum actually makes a real effort to keep pre school kids entertained.

OP posts:

Sisqinanamook · 20/12/2010 16:53

Twice when my DS was a baby I had cafes refuse to heat my homemade puree and was told they would only heat baby jars, this was due to health and safety, perhaps I was completely inept and my homemade puree poisoned my child and I could blame them somehow, where as a jar would be blamed on the manufacturer. I understood their point (although I felt I was being penalised for homecooking!) perhaps this cafe meant something similar but waitress got confused??

I can understand why a cafe would not want you feeding sandwiches from home, a lot of such places do have a policy that no food or drink be consumed on the premises that has not been purchased there.

TattyDevine · 20/12/2010 16:54

I would hazard a guess that there was some cleaning up and wiping up to do (even if you picked up the majority of the scraps) from your children having eaten at their table yet zero profit made to them from them having done so, by the way.

Crumbs under the table, sticky fingers, splodge of sauce, etc.

I do think they are being petty, dont get me wrong - but this is possibly why they felt justified doing so.

TheFallenMadonna · 20/12/2010 16:58

I think YABU to feed a 3yo a packed lunch in a restaurant.

CoronaAndLime · 20/12/2010 17:01

Ah I have seen those box things.

I normaly would just ask for a smaller portion or order a normal one with a side plate - ok in the shairing option the adult gets a small meal, but then I make up for it by ordering cake!

flowerytaleofNewYork · 20/12/2010 17:02

YABU to bring your own food, unless as someone said earlier, one of them is a baby only having puree. I have a 3yo and a 1yo myself. Bringing a few rice cakes or whatever to keep them going while they wait for their lunch is one thing, I do that to avoid tantrums. But bringing their whole meal is a bit off.

ruddynorah · 20/12/2010 17:06

You took two different meals for your two children who are beyond early weaning stage? Why didn't you get them food from the menu? Could they have shared an adult meal if you didn't like the children's menu offering? I don't carry food for my 12 month old, nor my 4yr old.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 20/12/2010 17:06

I imagine the policy is that noone who could be fed by buying something from the cafe should be allowed to eat their own food there. Which is not unreasonable.

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 20/12/2010 17:07

What is unreasonable is making up some sillt policy instead of saying - "It's because we want you to pay us".

bensonbutnohedges · 20/12/2010 17:37

Lots of places have a sign saying "only food purchased at our restaurant to be eaten here" or similar. They usually make an exception for baby food, but once children have grown out of jars I can't see a problem. It is their restaurant so why should they have people bringing their own food.

ruddynorah · 20/12/2010 17:40

How did you not know what the food is like if you go every year? A quick look now just shows a lovely menu. they even do half portions for kids at half price. and they do sandwiches.

DilysPrice · 20/12/2010 17:45

I love their cafe, it had great food when I took the DCs there. I think the waitress's explanation was silly, but I think they are within their rights to stop a 3 year old eating your own food in their cafe (they probably have an indoor picnic area don't they?)
In your shoes I would have ordered an adult meal, shared it with the 3 year old and topped up with cake/fruit salad/whatever.

silverfrog · 20/12/2010 17:48

How odd.

I regularly go into cafes/bistros/restaurants etc and bring out food for my 2 dds (before anyone shouts, they have multiple allergies) - working on the same assumption as you - dh and I are always orderng a full meal, and we will try to order some pudding for dds (eg fruit) if possible.

We have never been challenged at all, and usually have a whole bag full of food, which all looks "normal" eg sandwiches, fruit, raisins etc.

togarama · 20/12/2010 17:49

A bit of both.

YANBU for not feeding your children pre-prepped food in jars. I'm all for feeding babies smaller, less salty poortions of adult foods. YABU for taking a sandwich for a three year old into a cafe rather than sharing your food / buying them something. ++

The way they explained their policy is totally bonkers. If they'd just underlined that only food bought in the cafe could be consumed on site, I would have some sympathy with their position. But all the stuff about babies having to eat out of jars and bringing H&S into the equation is just bosh.

ragged · 20/12/2010 17:51

What TheFallenMadonna said.

togarama · 20/12/2010 17:51

(Portions. DD had opinions and bashed the keyboard while I was typing...)

PixieOnaLeaf · 20/12/2010 17:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hairyfairylights · 20/12/2010 17:54

Bit of a pain. Well, a lot of a pain, but don't most cafes have a policy of 'only food purchased here may be consumed on the premises'?

JamieLeeCurtis · 20/12/2010 17:55

I don't agree with those of you saying it's not OK to take food for the 3 year old. As long as the adults are eating, I don't see the problem with this. Many 3 year olds are very fussy. Lucky for you if you have not experienced this

starkadder · 20/12/2010 17:57

I think it's absolutely fine to take a sandwich for a 3 yr old as well, if both adults were eating.

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 20/12/2010 17:57

i think, allergies aside, that YWBU taking stuff for your three yr old. but not the one yr old.

I HAVE to take food for dd4 with me (allergic to milk, eggs and nuts) when out and about, but if planning ahead and know where we will be, then try and find allergy advice online or call ahead. but even when caught out, usually a plate of chips and sauce will keep her happpy. not ideal but means she can eat with us.

RockinRobinBird · 20/12/2010 17:59

Museums are extremely short of money and rely on the income from their shop and cafe. A jar of baby food is one thing but bringing in your own food for a child more than capable of eating anything is not on. If everyone did that it would make a dent in their income. In these cash strapped times it's part of supporting these places and you obviously value it if you go every year.

usualsuspect · 20/12/2010 18:01

They should have just said its for financial reasons because they have to make money, and people bringing their own food are taking up seats .Thats the real reason and quite right imo.

ShanahansRevenge · 20/12/2010 18:01

Your children aren't babies any more...well maybe the one year old is..I suspect if you had ordered a sandwich for the three year old and fed the one year old your own food they would not have said anything.

If I went to a cafe with my 6year old and got out her packed meal...any restaurant would tell me I could not do it...so I don't see why you should expect to feed a three year old food from your own home when they don't let anyone else.

My children won't eat fromt the kids menu either...and I would not epect them too...we get ours who are 2 and 6 a toasted sandwich or some soup and bread...maybe basic pasta dish for them to share.

thisisyesterday · 20/12/2010 18:02

i think at 1 and 3 your children would be perfectly capable of eating something off the menu surely? unless they are incredibly fussy and/or have allergies??

i think you are being unreasonable to expect to be able to take your own food into any cafe or restaurant, not many places I know allow you to do this

TheCoalitionNeedsYou · 20/12/2010 18:02

JamieLeeCurtis - But that's not the cafe's problem. Order the 3 year old some food. If they are too fussy to eat it, THEN I don't think the cafe is going to complain about you topping them up with your own food.

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