iPads in a restaurant...

[NoNameNoGame]

So today I met a friend for lunch at a restaurant with her 2 DC (5 & 3). They both bring along their iPads and watch YouTube / play games with the volume on full blast.

I could see a group of 3 girls on a nearby table keep looking as I know the sounds must have been annoying for them. I was struggling to hear why my friend was saying and she did not seemed to be phased by the loud volume (X2!).

I tried to hint and say... Awww DC1 can you turn the volume a little low, I can't hear mummy (she didn't even react). I pressed the button on the iPad of DC1 turning the volume halfway down, thinking she would to the same to DC2. But no!

I have no kids.

AIBU - iPads on full volume in a restaurant disturbing other diners?...

Oh and to top it off, when it came to paying the bill she only paid £5 extra even though her DC had starters main and desserts!

Your friend is the shining example of parents who many of us would like to strangle. Completely oblivious to anyone around her, and she allows her children and/or their fucking gadgets to ruin what should be a nice experience.

You should have said something very direct to your friend. She's an idiot

There is another thread running on basically the same topic, there is an astonishing number of people who are saying it's just fine and we should get over ourselves and its normal and common now.

They're wrong. People who do this are anti-social dicks.

YANU. I wouldn't be having another lunch with her.

This is a bug bear of mine. I hate it. But be prepared for lots of people coming along to tell you why their child does this and that it's better than them throwing a tantrum.

Rude, rude, rude, the parent, not the kids.
Avoid her with kids for ever a while.

I was very pleasantly surprised on Saturday when we went out for lunch and counted 8 tables around us with children of varying ages and not one on any sort of device. It can be done!

And if the kids had been crawling under tables, screaming, shouting and making a scene people wouldn't be happy either 🙄

I'd arrange to meet her without her DC in future.

I know that some children need to be entertained in restaurants but surely that's what headphones are for. The iPads would annoy me almost as much as the splitting of the bill!

I hate it.

How is a child going to learn how to behave if a screen is given to them anytime they're out?

The iPads are fine (each to their own) but full volume and disturbing other diners isn't acceptable.

Why didn't you say something about the bill if you wanted her to pay for herself and her children?

It's always felt quite clear to me. If my children can't behave in a way that doesn't:t interfere with others, then we don:t hp or leave.

This includes needing to use electronic equipment, running around or crawling under the table etc

YANBU

And if the kids had been crawling under tables, screaming, shouting and making a scene people wouldn't be happy either It isn't an either or. Devices like that should be banned from places like restaurants...like cigarettes.

I don't think that children 'need' iPads to stay amused at restaurants, mine don't (although that's certainly not to say they wouldn't LOVE to have the iPad at the dinner table and I wouldn't hear a peep out of them for hours!) However, they are used to expected restaurant behaviour which includes quiet drawing, quiet I spy, or doodling etc! I take along a little tin with pencils, crayons, paper and stickers. Keeps them quiet and doesn't disturb anyone. They are 3 and 6 so this is easier now than it was when they were younger!

My children have iPads if we're out but the rules are not until we have ordered and they go away as soon as the food comes and if I hear the sound they get taken away.
I think some people have a complete disregard for everyone else. We we're in a restaurant at lunch today and they were two young girls skating around on their trainer skate things.

Just come back from holiday at a lovely hotel in Portugal. One of the hotel restaurants was taken over every day at 5:30pm by two families with their 4 children and 2 iPads with the volume on high. They had the place to themselves as no-one else would venture in until they'd left and the waiters clearly hated them, but were far too polite to say anything. Time for the restaurants to start saying no to this and asking such families to leave.

My DS is 2 and gets along just fine at a restaurant with crayons, paper, cars etc and us including him in the conversation. He's certainly not perfect and if he tantrums he gets removed.

I don't take the iPad on purpose but I have used my phone to entertain on the odd occasion the service is awful, like the example above. But it's certainly not the norm.

I'm due my first child in a few weeks and never intend to be a parent who does this, it's a massive bug bear of mine! Firstly for the reason you said OP about disturbing others but I also find it really sad to be honest. I saw a little boy who must have been somewhere between 2-4 years old sat in between his parents on the table next to us in Ikea a few weeks ago, and aside from the annoying noise level I felt so sad seeing this child completely detached from the world around them. Mum was feeding chips into their mouths every now and then and the child's gaze was firmly fixed on the screen throughout. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the parents want to be able to have an "easy meal" with their kids distracted... but what happened to colouring books or toys???

Is my son who has autism allowed his iPad when we go out to eat? He has it on silent. We're pretty much prisoners as it is because of his disability so for people judging, please think of someone like me.

You could have asked her to turn the volume down.

I don't really care what other people do with their families as long as it doesn't disturb me and mine, common courtesy if you like. If I had been in that restaurant I would complain.

And if the kids had been crawling under tables, screaming, shouting and making a scene people wouldn't be happy eithe

No, But if your children are so badly behaved that either they are running amok or need tv shows at full volume, you should keep them at home.

And please don't reply to that with "they may have special needs". Children like mine are not a card to be played to win an argument.

I agree with Bejazzled. Whatever works for you, as long as it doesn't spoil my enjoyment. I'm sympathetic to some situations where parents are trying their best, but not giving a rats arse if you are disturbing others, is not on

Deanna so children like mine, with Sen should stay at home if they are so ' badly behaved?' Really?

m due my first child in a few weeks and never intend to be a parent who does this, it's a massive bug bear of mine!

I said the same.

I didn't plan on having a child with multiple disabilities including autism though. Not only did all plans go out the window but I have certainly learnt to be less judgemental too.

As I have said on the other thread on this issue - headphones or volume right down for the sake of others nearby but if it makes a trip possible or even just easier then fine!