That they should have just got a fucking babysitter

[Happyeverafter73]

I am sitting in a nice restaurant trying to have a good evening with my friends. And the couple next to me have their baby, no more than 1 month old. Screaming his or her head off for half an hour.

AIBU that they should not bring a tiny baby into a restaurant?

So everyone agrees? Babies fine, crying babies to be jiggle and walked about with or removed?

Went on a horrific holiday in Ireland, complete with in laws and really noisy baby. I spent most meals walking up and down outside with screaming son.

I would never have bothered with meals out, but MIL had other ideas.
There is no way I would've stayed in that restaurant with my son. He was disturbing other people who want a nice meal.
Can babies cry for half an hour?
God yes!
Can the noise be that loud?
God yes!
Should quiet babies be allowed? Yes, but I wanted to escape my little demon. As for saying the parents have to put up with it as a PP has then so should others... What? Really? The parents have to because it's their kid! General public should not have to put up with anything!

It must be quite annoying for all those parents in that restaurant who have gone to all the effort of organising/paying for babysitting in order to go out for a nice meal with like-minded adults as an escape from kids/babies/family life, only to be met with exactly what they've escaped from.

So if the baby had been crying for half an hour by 7.13, they had clearly been there since about 6.43 which I think is a reasonable time for a family to be dining out. If you want to ensure a child free dinner book a later table.

I'm also intrigued by what 'nice' restaurant would allow a baby or people using their phone at the table.

Is the restaurant part of a chain by any chance? Is the baby the only person under the age of 18 in there?

Also, am I the only parent that doesn't mind other people's children crying? Because I don't have to deal with it!

"Evil but that's not the point is it? This baby wasn't asleep or appeased by feeding. He/she was screaming at the top of its lungs while parents continued eating." That sounds cruel, why don't the parents tend to their screaming newborn?

This thread has attracted posters who will fall over themselves to disagree with the consensus, I see.

Usually I roll my eyes and avoid when I see certain names.

But, I do have the pipe up and say all this nonsense about the UK being intolerant of children is just that. Nonsense.

It's perfectly ok not to want to listen to a baby screaming because the parents are ignoring it.

And sorry but what a load of shit about it being a much needed night out. Eating out is not a need. It's a want.

In some circumstances yes, Meltor. But not in a restaurant where I'm trying to have a relaxing evening with friends.

Agreed totally Madmags. I have three, isn't it just sensible to accept that you can't always do what you want with a newborn? I missed loads must admit...

"And sorry but what a load of shit about it being a much needed night out. Eating out is not a need. It's a want." Actually for a couple who have just had their first baby and life turned upside down a meal 4 weeks after having said baby might be a bit of a need to preserve sanity. I would have full sympathy for this couple but not tending to a screaming newborn is just awful. I never understand how people can do this.

Hardly preserving their sanity, just dragging other people down!

Well we are not on the fucking continent, we are here and we don't all think that our kids override everyone else's pleasure

Who's namechanged to hide the fact that they think the couple letting their newborn scream through everybody else's dinner are unreasonable, Fanjo?? Seriously!

At you?

YABU to think that they shouldn't bring a tiny baby to a restaurant. YANBU if you want them to deal with the crying.

That example still isn't a need

Exactly. You might desperately want to eat out but you don't need to. Especially if you're going to disturb every other patron. It's so entitled!

Well we're all entitled to our opinion, Fanjo. Nobody is adopting an opposing opinion just to spite you?

FFS, a month-old baby will not be 'learning' anything by screaming for half an hour in a restaurant!

Babies that young do not need to be out. They need to be fed. People should be considerate of other diners.

Mumsnet's favourite word there, 'entitled' lol. But in this instance I agree. If they need to get out of the house, why not go somewhere family friendly like Pizza Hut??