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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

If a restaurant accepts children ...

66 replies

nappyaddict · 12/01/2011 12:30

Then they should have at least 1 or 2 token highchairs?

I know you can attach them to a chair with a harness and reins which I've done before but you can get highchairs for about 15 pound, they hardly break the bank!

OP posts:

canyou · 12/01/2011 16:16

The H&S issue with high chairs where I worked was that you do the risk assessment, train staff to use them and then parents pop dc in and refuse to strap them, in use the table attachment and when dc fall out they sue as the risk assessment showed that the dc should be tied in at all times but the parent was not told that or ignored the fact,so it was bye bye high chairs. Less paperwork as well .
I use [[http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3764611/Trail/searchtext%3EHIGH+CHAIRS.htm this] when out to eat with dc

meantosay · 12/01/2011 16:32

True, activate, but you know what I mean.

Sirzy · 12/01/2011 16:45

Surely the risk assessment could just say "parents to be advised to strap child in"

canyou · 12/01/2011 16:52

Sirzy if it does some one must inform the parent and in a busy cafe/restaurant parents often help themselves to the chair before you can say anything to them, they can also deny that you told them to tie the straps [I fortunately had CCTV when some one tried it with us but still felt sorry for baby who had a terrible fright but thankfully uninjured]

Sirzy · 12/01/2011 16:53

Sorry but that is stupid and ott. Signs saying chairs are used a parents risk would surely cover it. I have never encountered such a problem tbh

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 12/01/2011 16:59

canyou I remember watching (and intervening) many a time as toddlers pushed their legs against the table, tipping the highchair back. We had a stone floor ffs! Parents were oblivious.

amidaiwish · 12/01/2011 17:05

i don't blame them, surely most people have some kind of portable booster if they eat out regularly.
keeping any high chair clean is a PITA never mind in a restaurant
plus the whole H&S issue.

mutznutz · 12/01/2011 17:06

nappyaddict How many of you with buggies are going tomorrow night?

canyou · 12/01/2011 17:10

Jena minding the DC is the waitress's job lol Disclaimer I know not everyone thinks like that and I used to love the parents who controlled looked after their Dc.
I am very aware of mine when we eat out and dessert is used as a major bribe
Amidaiwash I use my portable boosters aas I don't trust them to clean high chairs to my standard must transfer those standards to my own home

flootshoot · 12/01/2011 18:07

we've got a family restaurant near us - very child friendly, loads of highchairs, v. Good children's menu etc. - but no baby changing facilities whatsoever. And it's not like they don't have the space. The staff member I asked was very embarrassed when she told me there were none. V. Odd but just shows some places don't think!

trixie123 · 12/01/2011 19:11

we've got a little padded thing that strap onto any chair and has a three point harness in it. It lives in the boot of the car so we can use if needed. You can also get even tinier ones that are just a roll of cloth when not in use that slip over the chair back and form a sort of harness. Not ideal but better than nothing

ZillionChocolate · 12/01/2011 19:29

I would like it if places would specifically say whether or not children were permitted and in which parts. If I'm going out as a grown up, I don't want to be annoyed by other people's rowdy/badly behaved children. I think it would be fairer if establishments made a decision and then everyone would know where they stood.

NormalityBites · 12/01/2011 19:42

I would much rather go to a place that didn't have highchairs.

You have to locate them, or locate a member of staff to find one for you, then they or your have to position it at table, it's usually some kind of unnecessarily MASSIVE throne type arrangement with legs that stick dangerously far out at the back. Finding a place for it often requires lifting it over people's heads whilst they are eating or shifting all the adult's chairs round so the smallest member of the party commandeers the most space. They are usually old fashioned and grubby, the straps I've seen on some are unspeakable. Or missing. Or broken. You've got to figure out how to put it up which means putting something over something and pulling the other thing which I am to ostupid to figure out, mostly. Then you've got to brace the child in and if they are anything like my DD she would go rigid and have to be forced in shrieking.

I am terribly stupid and clumsy with straps and buckles, one of the reasons I've never strapped DD into a pushchair and if there is anyone else around I would get them to put her in her carseat, it is one of my most hated tasks.

With DD not being used to a highchair she would always try to climb out. Or scream. But we used to go out for lunch every week when she was a baby with my MIL and my MIL would pay, and insist she should be in a highchair........so I would actively try to find places without highchairs But then my MIL thinks she should still be in a highchair because she is not at adult level at the table (she is 4.5yo fgs)

I also support not allowing buggies but I think buggies are a general complete PITA that should only be for outdoors if used at all.

tigitigi · 12/01/2011 20:23

We had a foam portable booster with harness that we kept in the car and hung over the buggy when DS and DD were young. After 2 they are out of the pushchair and out of the highchair anyway so it is not a problem.

I refuse to consider whether a place is child friendly or not (I'd rather go somewhere where there are no other children), mine are well behaved, quiet and sit at the table. If a place does not want my children they don't get my money or that of my family - ever again and I will blacklist them with friends. Don't even get me started on child menus - total rubbish that the kids won't touch.

Appletrees · 12/01/2011 20:42

No.

meantosay · 13/01/2011 11:14

My kids used to refuse to sit in the high chair anyway, after the staff had gone to the trouble of bringing it over.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 13/01/2011 12:13

canyou Sorry what did you mean by "in use the table attachment"?

NormalityBites Did you alway sit DD on your lap then whilst you ate? I used to find it pretty awkward to cut and hold DS at the same time.

OP posts:

canyou · 13/01/2011 15:28

Sorry the in should not be there I meant do not do the use the table attachment which on some styles are what keeps the child in the seat safely

DanceInTheDark · 13/01/2011 15:32

not all children need to be in highchairs....all mine sit in a real chair

Original poster

nappyaddict · 13/01/2011 15:42

DanceInTheDark From what age though? You can't expect a 6 month old to sit on a normal chair with some sort of harness and without a booster they won't be able to reach the table.

canyou Can you show me an example of a highchair where you need the tray to keep them in? I've seen some highchairs where the bit between the legs only works if you use the harness otherwise the baby can slip through though.

OP posts:

DanceInTheDark · 13/01/2011 15:49

They won't be able to reach the table in a buggy either unless it's a stokke.

I don't expect everyone to cater for what my family may or may not need on a day out. That includes highchairs/kids menus etc. You make do with what THEY have...sit child on your knee/ask for an extra plate and give them some of your food.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 13/01/2011 16:17

DanceInTheDark You haven't said what age your children sit on a normal chair without a cushion or booster seat. The babies that can't reach the table can be handed food to hold but it's a bit awkward because a lot of foods can't really be eaten like this. Peas, diced vegetables, mash potato, jacket potato, pasta, rice, noodles etc.

Like I said we have decided to forfeit high chairs over nicer food so we will be making do but a lot of people would take a lack of highchairs to mean it was a subtle hint that children aren't welcome and from my experience this is generally not true.

canyou Wouldn't a sign saying high chairs are used at your own risk cover any potential sueing issues?

OP posts:

NormalityBites · 13/01/2011 16:20

nappyaddict - when a teeny baby she'd just stay in the sling while I ate, sometimes on the front, sometimes on my back.

When she started nicking food from my plate I'd take her out if she wanted, and she'd sit next to me on a normal chair or bench, usually sat on the sling (which protected chairs from food smushing etc and could obviously just go in the washing machine) When she started propelling herself from chairs, I would use the sling as a harness on any normal chair. Though that stage only lasted from about 9-11 months and she's been happily on normal chairs with a cushion since then.

Except for at MILs house when she was still attempting to fold her into a high chair when she was nearly 3

mamadiva · 13/01/2011 16:31

NA please tell me you are not tryng to put your 4YO in a highchair???

kittybuttoon · 13/01/2011 16:32

One of our local coffee shops has recently got a box of pre-school-age toys, to make the buggy brigades feel welcome.

Kids can sit on the floor, play with toys under people's dirty feet, and then return the (by now filthy) toys to the box, for the next person.

Ewwww!

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