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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

baby behind counter

44 replies

AlexVause82 · 30/09/2014 18:25

Went to my local Chinese takeaway last night about 10pm and the owner had their baby (I'd say she was about 9 or 10 months old) in q high chair in the middle of the area behind the counter. Its a fairly large area where chips are fried and hot food is passed etc. Is it just me or is this a massive breach in health and safetY? I'm not going to report it but I was shocked

OP posts:

Canyouforgiveher · 01/10/2014 04:59

Many years ago we went to Spain with our 6 month old. Every evening we went to the local across the road restaurant that dh and his family had been going to for years. Every evening the baby would be taken behind the counter/into the kitchen while we ate our dinner. Best holiday ever.

Rusticated · 01/10/2014 07:29

The Chinese takeaway I used to go to when I was a student used to feature three or four small children sitting on the shelves behind the counter doing their homework/watching TV. Everyone in the queue used to end up testing their spellings and times tables. It was adorable. And it did wonderful hot and sour tofu.

Artandco · 01/10/2014 07:42

Completely normal.

I once had a conference at work I had to be at when ds2 was 3 weeks old. I had ds1 16 months with me also.
Ds1- played with an aqua draw ( new that day, lots of spare water pens pre filled) for 90mins! Just in the corner behind me.

Ds2 - slept in sling, and breastfed towards end.

After many people commented they hadn't even known they were in room. Others said it made them more relaxed to have normal life incorporated

They are now 3 and 4 and between them have come to work with me often. I have a basket of supplies in office for them. I can't afford 5 days full childcare x2 in London. Dh has same at his so we combine sometimes working from home, sometimes both with one of us, or split them. Eldest now has school and youngest nursery x2 days

CaulkheadUpNorth · 01/10/2014 07:43

I remember being very jealous of te child whose family ran the take away we went to. We were a similar are (8 or 9) and she would always take the orders and wait at the counter. My dad told me it's because her English was better than her parents, but I've no idea if that was true.

Laquitar · 01/10/2014 08:17

This was my childhood.

Op do you call a babysitter everytime you cook or run the hoover or something?

MandarinCheesecake · 01/10/2014 10:08

At our local takeaway the owner has their 2 young daughters behind the counter.

Its lovely to watch them playing whilst waiting for our order. We had a cute re-enactment of a scene from my little pony the last time we were in!!

formerbabe · 01/10/2014 11:01

No different to a kitchen at home.

It is massively different actually. They are selling food to the public. Not that I would be bothered about the baby being there.

ConkerTime · 01/10/2014 11:05

I grew up spending a lot of time in my parents' shop.

When I bother to think about it I feel my own kids have missed out on a massive level of socialisation and feel a pang of sadness for them!

Cardriver · 01/10/2014 11:20

I've always taken my children to work with me (at appropriate times) until I got a bollocking for doing it about 6 weeks ago. Don't I know the rules, I was asked. Erm, I've worked there 9 years and nobody told me the rules had changed

During a safeguarding session a couple of weeks ago we were asked what we would do if a client turned up with her 8 year old DC. I was just about to say that if it was an appropriate situation I would get some paper and colouring pens out and ask if he/she wanted juice. But I couldn't get a word in with people saying that they would contact social services because the poor mother obviously couldn't cope and needed some help. By that point I was

Igotafreegoattoo · 01/10/2014 11:26

OP did you want everyone to pile in with "OMG that's terrible MY baby is asleep by 6.30 after a bath heuristic play and cuddles in the dark?"

It's normal. I doubt the child is in danger. Glad you aren't planning on reporting though

Artandco · 01/10/2014 11:49

Car- that's really sad! I own the company I work in so make the rules, which means I say my children are more than welcome. Anyone who doesn't like it doesn't have to work there. It also means I'm happy for others to bring their children to work. At the moment we have my x2 when they aren't in school/ nursery/ or at home with dh, plus x2 babies. It's an advantage for me as mothers have a shorter maternity leave ( only 3 ish months usually), as can bring baby back with them.

CinnabarRed · 01/10/2014 12:46

Depending on distances, I'd be a bit concerned that the baby might get burnt by fat spitting off the deep fat fryer. But assuming that the high chair wasn't too close - and the baby was content - then it's fine.

chrome100 · 01/10/2014 14:36

I don't see the problem with kids in takeaways but kids in offices are another thing altogether!

I work in a university and the academics are always bringing their kids in during the summer. They charge up and down the corridor, are brought in to "say hello", mess about etc. I really can't get anything done! Sometimes I've been asked to look after them whilst their parents have meetings. I think that's really unfair.

Artandco · 01/10/2014 14:41

Chrome - in my office you would know beforehand that children were around so can choose to join or work elsewhere. They don't charge around either. There is a communal playroom where parents can take child and work on laptop, or they generally just stay in parents private office. If they want to run about they are taken outside... Most are babies anyway so parent just sets up sleeping/ play area in own office

Lonecatwithkitten · 01/10/2014 14:52

Like Art I own the business. By 5 my DD could prepare a box for puppies born by c- section. Now at nearly 11 she can open all the packs for surgery and can correctly identify all the abdominal organs and major vessels in the abdomen. Not mention kennel and floor cleaning. Though kitten and puppy cuddling is till her favourite occupation.

mijas99 · 01/10/2014 14:55

Artandco - you must have some really placid babies. Do you drug them? :)

DP and I are self-employed and can't do anything with our two around. They really don't understand that their parents should be working and not entertaining them, or trying to get them to sleep/eat etc

Stupidhead · 01/10/2014 15:16

There was a little girl in my old Chinese who was about 7, she'd take the money and help pack. She was absolutely adorable.

Cardriver · 01/10/2014 19:40

I do most of my work from home and the DC know that there are times when they have to be quiet or not bother me as much It's easier now that they're older, 7, 14 and 18 but I have to have some rules in place, like in the school holidays there is no loud, brashy, American, irritating TV allowed until after 11am or loud singing or musical instrument playing (looking at you DD1) so I can work for a few hours first thing. They know that this means I can do something with them later on. I do breathe a sigh of relief when they all go out to school and college and I'm left in a quiet house

Artandco · 01/10/2014 20:11

Nope, just what they are used to. Like I say there are 4 including mine currently coming into the office sometimes, they all know the routine.

I usually take mine out an hour before work, ie we walk/ scoot there instead of bus and go via park so they have some energy burnt off. We swim most evenings so they know that's due also. Sometimes it's just a few hours, sometimes longer. They know now that the more they interrupt, the longer it will take.
I usually just set them up with something in hour stints ie line table with newspaper, give clay and tools and leave them to sculpt/ make something the next hour or so. Then clear up, 5/ 10 min chat/ toilet, and set them up with something else

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