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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think the person who brought their baby to Wimbledon should be ashamed

335 replies

StunningCunt · 03/08/2012 16:41

Crying in the middle of the point, 17-16 in the final set of the semifinal, do people have no sense???

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 03/08/2012 22:16

The Olympics is promoted as an inclusive event, but when you look at the ticket information it does say that they advise you not to bring babies. Some sports would be completely unaffected by a crying baby, which is why they expect people to exercise common sense.

Take your baby in to the basketball where there is going to be noise from the crowd anyway, but don't take your baby into a tennis match where it is commonly accepted that silence is required.

IceCreamCastles · 03/08/2012 22:22

I had tickets to the tennis this week and did intially think about taking ds (4.5 months).

It didn't take me long to realise that it wasn't a great idea Grin

It wasn't an easy undertaking either way- was out of the house for 18 hours- had to express 30oz to cover his bottles for the day over the course of 2 months prior to the event and was frantically expressing in the loos in between matches to stop boobs exploding!

It was worth it though- had an amazing time!

SDTGisAnOlympicWolefGenius · 03/08/2012 22:24

Surely the issue isn't that it was selfish of the parent to take a baby to the tennis, it's that it is selfish of them to allow that child to disrupt the concentration of the tennis players who are trying to do their best, have worked hard to get where they are, and deserve to have the right conditions to do their best.

If a baby stays quiet at an event like a tennis match, or at the theatre, or cinema or a concert, or whatever, and if the parent is willing to take the child out if they are disrupting either the performers or the audience, then there's no problem taking the child along. But if they let their child spoil the performance of those involved, or the enjoyment of the event by the majority of those present, then that is rude and selfish.

RubyFakeNails · 03/08/2012 22:24

I hate tennis but I do hope someone told them off for being so stupid and selfish.

miaowmix · 03/08/2012 22:25

\golden bear no need to be sad. I think most of us prob do love our babies and children Smile, but perhaps we have perspective?

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 03/08/2012 22:28

They could have taken it in turns to go into the match without the baby.

thekidsrule · 03/08/2012 22:28

but why do children need to have access to EVERY event,be it tennis cinema,theatre etc

it seems the new fashion

Goldenbear · 03/08/2012 22:29

So book a sitter for the Olympics? Did you see the same opening ceremony for the Olympics as me? Very young children performing at 10pm at night- they should have been banned, these pushy parents should be ashamed, what where they thinking that this was a family event? Schools including it in their curriculum, do they think children would be interested, need to know about an exclusive adult event??
Oh but it's not.
The Olympics is the most child centric sporting event that London has hosted but parents are expected to get sitters for their kids and are self absorbed if they don't - ridiculous!

thekidsrule · 03/08/2012 22:31

track,field etc are different to a tennis match

do small chidren go to snooker matches ???????????????????????????????????????

janey68 · 03/08/2012 22:33

I think if you read the thread GoldenBear, rather than getting apoplectic, you'll see people are saying include children where it's appropriate ie, they will understand and enjoy it and not disturb other spectators or competitors.

I am sure a lot of children enjoyed the Opening Ceremony and indeed other events, it will make a lasting impression on them and they did it without affecting other people's enjoyment.

But a crying baby in a tennis match FFS?

If you're going to use inclusiveness as part of the argument, at least apply some common sense.

AnnieLobeseder · 03/08/2012 22:34

Um, we're talking about babies here, Goldenbear, not children able to behave appropriately. And we're also not talking about all events, just the ones where silence is expected from the spectators.

For example, I am taking my 7yo DD to the taekwondo. But not my 4yo. Because I know my 7yo will not disturb the other people who have also paid good money for tickets, but my 4yo will. So we took 4yo to the men's road cycling instead so that she could also experience the Olympics. It's not rocket science to work out how to involve children without infringing on the rights of others to enjoy their day out in peace.

Were you the parent of the crying baby by any chance?

Madeyemoodysmum · 03/08/2012 22:35

I am in the no babies camp but tbh if the rules of entry allow babies then entitled parents will take them and are doing nothing wrong really

I was at ballet last year where a mother brought an 18mth old. They were up and down like a bloody yoyo and toddler was trantruming. Playing up through out. I was fuming and complained. Got a refund and now they have a note on the performance advert to say recommended for over fives. No blanket ban tho.

Unless there is a blanket ban you will always get parents who have no consideration for the others in the audience

doublevodkaandcoke · 03/08/2012 22:36

Goldenbear you are doing the classic MN thing of exagerrating the opinions of others in order to back up your own point. This really fucking bugs me

No one has said that they Olympics shouldnt be inclusive of young kids where appropriate - a tennis match isnt appropriate.

Goldenbear · 03/08/2012 22:39

Putting up with noise from a baby is part of public life, it is very self absorbed to think that all such annoying noises should be removed, stopped in public.

I never said I was sad GreyGardens, I said some people enjoy the company of their children more than others, this is true and nothing to do with me having perspective.

theinets · 03/08/2012 22:41

Very selfish behavior from the parents.

ilovesooty · 03/08/2012 22:43

No one has said that they Olympics shouldnt be inclusive of young kids where appropriate - a tennis match isnt appropriate

Exactly. By all means include children who can behave in a way appropriate to the event, but that doesn't include babies at tennis matches.

modifiedmum · 03/08/2012 22:45

It's not a "part of life" I'm sorry thats ridiculous. I would be VERY pissed off If i was a tennis fan and paid loads of money for a ticket for some IDIOT to bring along their newborn who wah wahhed all the way through the match. Also the excuse of "first time parents" etc is a load of rubbish, unless you've lived under a rock you'll know newborns have a habit of making noise whenever they want. Archie is my only child and I'd NEVER have taken him anywhere like that and ruined it for everybody else and I still wouldn't now. To expect them to sit there and not make noise is plain stupid and selfish as it does ruin it for everyone else. Why should everyone have to suffer because of ONE kid. Also, the cinema thing... well I have perfect hearing and find the cinema quite loud myself so I think it's a bit odd personally that peopel would take their newborn to a cinema......

ilovesooty · 03/08/2012 22:45

Putting up with noise from a baby is part of public life, it is very self absorbed to think that all such annoying noises should be removed, stopped in public

A tennis match, an opera performance, a ballet, a symphony concert do not qualify as public life where babies should be taken and other people should just suck it up if they cry.

thekidsrule · 03/08/2012 22:49

cant say ive heard of small babys at footy matches Grin

scottishmummy · 03/08/2012 22:57

no.no one needs to suck it up if wean cries
parental responsibility to soothe or not take baby to theatre,sports,ballet,etc
it disrupts others enjoyment and experience

tiggytape · 03/08/2012 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edam · 03/08/2012 23:00

Even if the rules do not actually ban babies, the parents were doing something wrong - distracting competitors during an Olympic semi-final is very selfish.

SDTGisAnOlympicWolefGenius · 03/08/2012 23:01

Some sports/events need quiet, Goldenbear, so are not suitable for crying babies or tantrumming toddlers. If an athlete has trained for years to represent their country, then they deserve the respect of being given the best conditions in which to perform - and if that means the spectators being quiet, then it is wrong for someone to be noisy, whether that be talking on their mobile or letting their baby scream and distract someone at what might be a critical point.

The parent's right to take their baby wherever they want does not trump everyone else's rights, I am afraid - there has to be respect and compromise from all concerned - so if you want to bring your baby to the cinema or a concert or tennis match, that is fine by me, as long as you are willing to accept that I'd like to be able to listen to the film or concert without a baby screaming on and on, or that the tennis player deserves to be able to do their best, without being distracted by a baby crying loudly.

I don't think it is unreasonable to take children to events that are suitable for them, or to events that need quiet if they can be quiet (or if you will take them out if they are causing a disturbance), but equally, I don't think it is unreasonable for people to be able to enjoy an event that may have cost them a lot of money - and is anyone really going to tell me that the sound of a baby screaming is enjoyable - more enjoyable than a blockbuster film or well played point I. Tennis, or beautifully performed gymnastic routine?

HermioneE · 03/08/2012 23:02

Putting up with noise from a baby is part of public life, it is very self absorbed to think that all such annoying noises should be removed, stopped in public.

Really? Imagine what a scream from a baby could do during a dressage event.

It is incredibly self absorbed to think that athletes should have to put up with unexpected baby noise during one of the most important events of their lives.

onetoomanytoo · 03/08/2012 23:25

when you decide to have kids you decide to, to an extent, forgo some of the joys you had in life pre- children, a whole night's sleep, lay ins on a sunday morning, all night partying, lazy pub lunches, you get my drift.
a day out to an olympic tennis match is one of those,
life for everyone else does not revolve around your little bundle of joy, only your life does.
if you do want to do the things you did pre kids, you get a baby sitter or other child care, sorry, its a fact of life, if you can't get a baby sitter you just don't go, it that simple.