Hotel restaurant and iPads etc

[mckenzie]

We are on holiday and staying in a hotel with breakfast included.
Settle nicely at a table this morning, in the shade, over lookimgbthe gardens, watching the birds on the ledge. A family then take the table next to us.

The older child (I'm guessing age 5) is given an iPad and starts playing a game with noice so we can hear ping and pong and clapping and other computer type noises.
The younger child (I'm guessing 18 months) has a phone propped up in front of her and is watching a video of some sort so we can hear high pitched animated voices and weird music.

AIBU to expect the family to think of others and provide said children with headphones?

Some kids, especially toddlers won't wear headphones. They can be uncomfortable/ annoying for them

Well I find noises from phones/iPads annoying and uncomfortable....

FFS, if a kid 'can't' wear headphones, then they can't bloody have the iPad, or they can have it on silent.

Then they should be on silent or turned down very low.

Yeah they're being inconsiderate to allow that behaviour

Headphones or very low (person next to you can't hear low) or silent.

Yanbu

If a child won't wear headphones then they can't have the volume on and if they can't do whatever they want to do with no volume then they can't do it in public.

I probably would (and have done) say something to the family tbh, or expect the staff to have a word. Although it doesn't really sound like this family are going to be that bothered about anyone else really.

Yanbu- if my dd gets my phone in a public place the sound is turned right down so no one can hear it. She knows now to turn it down herself and ask if it's ok.

You can't really expect the toddler to wear headphones, the only really alternative is the child getting stroppy and screaming/running around. The eldest is a bit old for an iPad at the table though.

Tickytock1 no some children won't however that doesn't give the parents the right to inflict the noise from their family on other people. It's either no sound on, headphones or no phone, simply.
We have a no phones when we are out rule because I think it's rude and antisocial even with the sound off.

If a child won't wear headphones then they can't have the volume on and if they can't do whatever they want to do with no volume then they can't do it in public.
^^ This. It's called being considerate. Once upon a time it used to be standard practice....

the only really alternative is the child getting stroppy and screaming/running around
At which point the child gets taken outside. Still no excuse for inflicting noise on others.

DH and I were in a beach restaurant on holiday a few weeks ago. It was beautiful, lanterns strung from the trees, candles, soft music from a pianist in the bar, clinking of glasses and the waves crashing on the shore. It was 9pm.
Only five tables actually on the beach so you needed to book them in advance. A family with two small children arrived as we were starting to eat. They mother made a huge fuss about the menu not having children's food and then plugged the children into ipads with no headphones!1 Atmosphere ruined, all we could hear was cartoons and games!

I politely complained to the head waiter who asked them to turn the sound off, which they did until he had walked off then it went on again! The other tables were not amused either. we complained again on leaving and they apologised but it was so selfish of the couple!

Some kids, especially toddlers won't wear headphones. They can be uncomfortable/ annoying for them ok then but why as a parent can your child then disturb everyone else? It's either earphones, no sounds or no iPad

It's bloody inconsiderate to everyone around and it's one of my pet hates OP

The 'alternative' is not a child screaming or running around.

The alternative is called parenting.

Sorry since when is the only alternative "a child getting stroppy and screaming/running around the table"
Parent your children, don't let them scream or run around, have clear sanctions in place where children get rewards and know the expectations and if they can't behave don't take them to restaurants and spent time at home getting the behaviour sorted. Read books, take parenting classes, look online for tips but don't parent by allowing the child to be antisocial because at such a young age you can't control them, no wonder we have so many issues with crime and antisocial behaviour if parents can't even see that children should just be allowed to do whatever they want to keep the quite.

I would rather hear the noise from an iPad than a whinging child tbh.

My kids have ipads, we're not funny about them using them but they are banned in a restaurant situation even with earphones. How are they ever going to learn how to interact. If they kick off they get taken outside until they've calmed down. They're six and perfectly capable of sitting through dinner never mind breakfast!

My 3 year old won't wear headphones. If we ever give him a phone when out (only if he gets very unsettled) then it's on silent, or so low even I can't hear it sitting next to him. I don't want my meal ruined by the sound of the Wiggles, I doubt anybody else does either.

the only really alternative is the child getting stroppy and screaming/running around 😂 What a load of rubbish! Only time that is the only alternative is if someone can't be bothered to parent the child they have.

If your child is too young to wear headphones, they are too young to use an ipad. The are part and parcel.

Bit sad! Why can't they talk to each other, get excited about their plans on holiday? I can understand tablets at home for a bit of peace and quiet or to pass the time but on holiday?

The pads should be on silent so Yanbu there but children should not wear headphones, so damaging to their ears.

If my DS will not sit quietly or colour in or anything, tablet is used as last resort but I turn the sound off.

Why do people assume that a child without a device is going to run around screaming?! Wtf....

What? Headphones are damaging to children's ears now?!