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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not pay for DS's meal in restaurant tomorrow?

29 replies

WestieMamma · 10/10/2013 16:12

In light of previous threads on here I'm not sure whether to pay or not. We're going out to lunch at one of those buffet restaurants where you pay a fixed price and help yourself to as much as you like. I know they make their money on the fact that some eat a lot less than others but DS is only 6 months and will probably eat less than other customers leave on their plates to be thrown away.

What do you think?

OP posts:
PickleSarnie · 10/10/2013 16:14

Would a restaurant seriously charge a 6month old full price?! Have they said they would?

Whereisegg · 10/10/2013 16:16

I doubt very much that they would charge you for a 6 month old.

cakebar · 10/10/2013 16:16

If he is going to go in a high chair and make mess they have to clear up and take a space at the table, then I think yes. Do they have a child price? I wouldn't pay an adult price for a 6 month old.

Delilahlilah · 10/10/2013 16:16

They normally have a nominal charge in places like that for babies / toddlers. The local one here is £2. Phone them and ask what their policy is.

PollyIndia · 10/10/2013 16:16

My baby is a year old and I still share my lunch with him most of the time rather than ordering separate food. At 6 months I definitely would have shared. I wouldn't pay for his own serving.

Original poster
WestieMamma · 10/10/2013 16:17

I don't know, but we last went there when he was 4 weeks old and the waitress did ask if he was having the buffet Shock

OP posts:
MummyPig24 · 10/10/2013 16:19

The Toby car very used to give the kids an extra plate and then they would have food off mine or dhs plate. They offered this, we never expected it. I would ask how much the children's buffet is and they might say he is free.

alarkaspree · 10/10/2013 16:19

I would be very surprised if they expect you to pay. For, say, a 2-year old I would be wondering whether to pay or not, but a 6-month old? No way. He is a tiny baby. (We have often eaten in hotels in the USA with a breakfast buffet, they are almost always free for age 5 and under.)

Unless you've been to this place before and know the food I'd assume that it won't be all that suitable for an infant anyway, and just take whatever you'd normally feed him for lunch with you. I think the normal rules of restaurant eating don't apply to babies under 1.

WillYouDoTheMonsterMash · 10/10/2013 16:20

My local one doesn't charge under 4s. I wouldn't pay for a 6mo. Are you doing purées or finger foods? Take your own stuff for him if you're worried.

usualsuspect · 10/10/2013 16:20

Just give him some off your plate.

Original poster
WestieMamma · 10/10/2013 16:21

He will most likely only have a tablespoon of rice (2 if he's hungry) and a couple of slices of banana from the salad bar.

OP posts:
jacks365 · 10/10/2013 16:37

My local buffet doesn't charge for under 2's then a child price until 11. They are wonderful with my youngest dc even making a drink up in her beaker if she runs out.

Hawkmoth · 10/10/2013 16:38

If they charge there's something seriously wrong. My DD wasn't charged at six and she ate twelve kilos of seekh kebab as they make their money off the adults and beverages.

NatashaBee · 10/10/2013 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lollypop1983 · 10/10/2013 16:43

In our restaurant, at buffet, we only charge over 2, and only if they sitting with a full plate.

Viviennemary · 10/10/2013 16:45

I've not come across this before. I would assume that you wouldn't pay as he would hardly be eating very much at his age. Good idea to call them in advance and ask and there won't be any misunderstandings.

froken · 10/10/2013 16:47

Defiantly don't pay!

Are you baby led weaning? Could you just take a jar of food or some chopped up banana from home? Or feed him before you go.

I go to an all you can eat Chinese and I asked them if I needed to pay as ds likes to eat tge advocado sushi ( random dish at an all you can eat Chinese but oh well!) they laughed at me and said ofcourse he doesn't have to pay ( if they had said anything over a pound he would have been given a jar)

Enjoy the meal :)

LadyGoodman · 10/10/2013 16:50

I was at a place like that earlier this week with a nearly 2 year old and wasn't charged and he's a big 2 year old with a big appetite.

exexpat · 10/10/2013 16:55

Have you checked the restaurant's website for its charging policy?

At one huge buffet place near here, 0-4s are free and 5-11s are half adult price; at another the child price is based on a maximum height (so tall DD has been at adult price since she was 9); the 'minimum charge' is £2 or £3, and child price is half the adult one, but it doesn't say exactly what the start age for the child price is.

I presume the minimum charge is not just for food, but use of the high chair, any extra cleaning etc - a 6-month-old may not eat much, but can create rather a lot of mess.

Trying to charge full child-price for a 6-month-old would be unreasonable, in my view, so I would try to negotiate if they did that.

Bedtime1 · 10/10/2013 16:58

If he's only 6 months why dont you take your own bits of nibbleS for him. He won't want much anyway. You could give him a bit of rice of your plate if he sees it and wants to try a bit .

meganorks · 10/10/2013 17:39

I can't believe anywhere would charge for a 6 month old! Or object to you taking your own food. Just take your own pot of something.

KenAdams · 10/10/2013 18:01

"I presume the minimum charge is not just for food, but use of the high chair, any extra cleaning etc - a 6-month-old may not eat much, but can create rather a lot of mess."

Hmm
AryaofhouseSnark · 10/10/2013 18:04

I would check first just to clarify, but we were never charged for Dts when they were babies.

Lots of buffet places we went to did free food if they were in a high chair.

froken · 10/10/2013 18:15

Lots of buffet places we went to did free food if they were in a high chair

When I was a student I would have sat in a highchair for a free buffet dinner!

AryaofhouseSnark · 10/10/2013 18:25

froken, if I didn't have such a big bum I would have tried to climb in myself.

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