If a restaurant accepts children ...

[nappyaddict]

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!

NormalityBites What age did you move from having her in the sling to sitting on a normal chair on top of the sling? Did you use a cushion so she could reach the table?

Take your own portable booster then:(a) you don't have to worry about whether the restaurant has a high chair; and (b) the child will be properly pulled up to the table with you, able to join in and likely to be better behaved

pontissima I have arranged for the children 18 months+ to sit on a normal chair and the others are bringing pushchairs or using a harness and reins set if they have them as nobody has a portable booster.

Well it's not really essential - we have a local restaurant which is definitely kid friendly but the owner is pretty clear on her ideas!

Firstly, there are no kids menus because the kids eat the same as the adult menu but in smaller portions.

Secondly, there are no highchairs and no prams allowed inside (it's very small), but babies are practically wrestled off you at the door since they LOVE babies, and then get passed around all the wait staff and played with and kept entertained. Last time we were in one of mine went into the kitchen to make his own mini pizza, and he'll now eat it with loads of veggies on it too. I know this sounds a bit odd but it's really great for mums and dads who actually get to eat their meal!

But - no screaming children allowed inside. You are encouraged to take them outside and if you don't remove them pretty hastily, the owner bustles across and presents you with the bill and offers to box up uneaten food. She can't stand to hear tired/unhappy kids and figures if they are in that state, they should be taken home, not endure another 40 minutes of restaurant chatter.

I love it, but there are a few parents who have taken exception.

YANBU. If it's a family type place then they should have a couple of highchairs. Like you say, they don't cost much but are a huge help to people with little one's.
Although lot's of places don't really want the mess and noise they think little one's will cause.

Nappyaddict it is a 7 yro high chair Rubbermaid I think that is the make def no straps as there is no holes for them or anywhere to attach them and the rep could not provide them but the tray was designed to go right up and kind of trap the child, it is not in the current catalogue so I cannot link.
Also by putting up a a sign acknowledging a risk is unacceptable by our HSA as it does not show how the company reduced/controlled or eliminated the risk, we did have a sign showing how to use the chair and table attachment but it means nothing if there is an accident.
The company I worked for have refused to replace the older chair as they would cost Euro 230 each and if we added straps insurance would have an issue. The whole thing is crap really which is why I am so glad I walked out last week [not a great idea financially but heyho]

Why do they have to have such expensive ones though? Why not just have a couple of 10 or 15 pound ones? Don't have them on show so people have to ask for them and then you can set them up for the customer so they don't use them improperly.

nappyaddict I am guessing that if someone's child falls out of a high chair it's much easier to sue the restaurant than if say they fell out of their mother's arms.

I don't see why a restaurant should take that kind of risk. And actually people generally pay less attention to children if they are in high chairs because it gives a false sense of security.

Nappyaddict by buying from the catering suppliers they can get parts if needed, any problems a rep comes and fixes it, they are anti bacterial plastic, the rep trains the staff in use and cleaning and as they are usually solid pieces [do not fold up] there is little risk of trapped fingers or it being opened incorrectly. Also as it is a solid piece it is easier to clean. They also come with written instructions on use and type of cleaning and chemicals needed to clean.
Argos etc just hand you the thing and off you go which is apparently very dangerous for restaurants but not in the home
But I guess not many DC sue Mum and Dad

Oh right we just get ours from Mothercare. They deliver them in a big box, dump them out the back and that's it.

It depends on the chair NA. And where we are sat. We have often had a child sat on one of the sofa type chair between us while the other 2 sat in ordinary chairs. And by that i mean when they can sit unaided.

DS2 is supposed to sit in a special chair because of balance and core issues but we have never made that much fuss! Just sat him on all the coats if it was a problem.

Maybe i am just more laid back about these things....?

What's the youngest they've sat on a normal wooden type chair? Perhaps I'm finding it hard to imagine cos my DS didn't sit unaided until he was nearly 1.

NA stop stressing about it. You are thinking it thru too much. I actually have no idea, it's not something i make a record of and my youngest is now 2.10.

canyou Sort of changing the subject here but what is your view about people who leave loads of food on the floor that their babies have dropped. I mean like whole bread rolls, corn on the cob, potatoes, chicken wings etc as opposed to little bits of food like peas that they may drop. I have always tried to clear up as much as possible and put it on one of empty plates but I was once told this could also be a H&S issue.

Nappyaddict it is just what small people do, a brush and dustpan and a quick mop will fix it.
The reason they do not want people to clean it for H&S is that the piece that was picked up will leave a greasy residue that can not be seen and more of a slip hazard then the piece of food. But I do have to admit to cleaning up after my lot and telling the staff if it is very bad or asking for the dust pan and brush but TBH who's DC would make that much of a mess that you would be ashamed to ask staff to clean it.

On carpet it wouldn't matter if there was a greasy residue though would it?