To think that older people could try to remember what having young children is like?

[HeidiKat]

It was my DH's birthday yesterday, we went out for lunch to a Chinese restaurant, taking 6 month old DD with us. She is usually well behaved and sat fine in her highchair during our starters but started to kick off between courses and by the time our main course came she was in full on meltdown. Me and DH took turns eating and trying to comfort her, cuddling her, walking up and down and pushing her back and forth in the buggy, nothing worked for more than a couple of minutes. The whole time, we were getting filthy looks and comments from two pensioners at the next table, the man said to me at one point could you not take her outside, some of us are trying to enjoy lunch. Taking her outside wasn't really an option as it was chucking it down with rain and it wasn't like we were ignoring her and letting her cry, we were doing our best. I know it's irritating having to listen to other people's baby crying but this is advertised as a family friendly restaurant and surely if you are that precious about it you would eat at home where you are guaranteed peace and quiet.

Just imagine the thread-a pensioner took my baby so I could eat!

It's hard because you both need support when your baby cries and cries but people love to coo over a sweet sleeping baby but want to get as far away as possible when they're noisy. I feel for you but think back to how you both would have felt before you became a parent! I feel just as strongly about other situations where others spoil meals - for example, we went to celebrate a birthday in the evening with a group of other adults and next to us was the girls night out from hell- shouting and talking loudly about their di**os etc.. They were all about 40+... god we were pissed off. It's about taking over someone's space.
Don't feel bad though- I'm sure you are disappointed it didn't go well. your meal was spoilt.

*too.

In think instead of to think older people could try to remember what having young children is like perhaps one saying:

To think that assuming its everyone's problem that you demand to sit and have lunch and inflict YOUR unsettled, screaming child on others, and in turn expect them to accept their lunch being ruined, is just bloody rude!

Your child, your choice to parent and accept the sacrifices that sometimes come with that. If you can clearly see that your child is causing strangers distress, pack your lunch up and take your (clearly unhappy) child with you.

YABU You should have taken her outside. And tbh at one time that was a standard response. I can't remember when my children were younger anyone not taking a baby outside in similar circumstances. I think though people are generally more selfish now and this is an example of that.

Aw op. You must have felt a bit like it was not your call to make as your dh was quite keen on eating out. And you were trying so the whole thing must feel quite unfair.
But other are right (if a little harsh) a screaming unsettled baby needs to be taken home.
Most of us have had to do it. The couple you think have forgotten what it was like were probably thinking 'we would never have persisted with our meal if our baby was yowling'.

I am in Spain four of five times a year. Crying babies get taken out there too.

writer Tis true, DS was born in Canaries and lived there until he was 2 yo. I always had offers to look after him when in cafes etc just whilst I drank a coffee - you know the ones you down in 3 seconds! We ate out in a local restaurant once a week and the owners 14yo DD would come and take DS for a walk up and down so we could eat from when he was about 6 months and less amused by just watching. She used to just pop down stairs and ask if she sould take him for a wonder - even hen he was asleep. 'Twas a small village mind.

heidi I won't say yabu because you've graciously accepted it. As a parent you live and learn, and learn and learn and .............you get the picture.

Might add those offers were not whilst he was screaming Might be why he never got to meltdown stage though?