To give my toddler a bit of bread?

[ChequeredPasta]

I imagine this has already been done to death, and would get the answer if I could be arsed to scroll...
At Waitrose the other day. Put a french bread stick in the trolley, which my toddler (2) saw, and started reaching for it. Told her no, to wait, but she is an untameable beast became upset. So..... I tore off the end and gave it to her BEFORE paying One of the staff saw, and gave me a stinker of a look.

Now, my Mum used to do this with us. But, my Mum's understanding of social convention is.... interesting.
WIBU?!

Should be ! Not ?

No big deal.

People love judging and unfortunately you are inviting it by asking AYBU.

Much bigger things to worry about in life.

A food shop is no different to any other shop. Toys stay in the box until they're paid for, electrical stuff stays boxed, clothes are not worn. Until you've paid it isn't yours. A promise of the food, toy etc as soon as you've paid is usually enough to keep kids quiet.

God almighty some of the righteous people on here are hilarious! It's fine!! Loads of people do it including me! People who get so worked up about this seriously have no life!! It's a breadstick! Carry on.

Yawn! There's so many prissy people on here!

I open all kinds of stuff and give them to my toddler. I dare say she will never learn patience or rules and be a total thief and a rebel all because her mum opened the sweets before the checkout

'It's not technically yours until you pay for it' blah! I bet the op spends a fortune in that supermarket! I've never known staff to give two hoots personally. I guess there's always some jobsworth somewhere with nothing better to do but I've never noticed.

Not at all as you fully intend to pay for it when you get to the till.
Good parenting strategy!

Did you ever watch that scene fr that film "what I did last holiday" starring Billy Connolly as the grandad that died while on the beach wth his grandkids and they gave him a Viking funeral? There was a scene in it of his other daughter in law who lost the plot while shopping in the supermarket and picked up a pumpkin bigger than herself to throw at someone; whenever I think of the scene I die laughing; dare I recommend you do that to the cross eyed sales asst that was trying to give you a killer stare in our politically correct; must act very dignified manner society? 😂 😂 😂

I quickcheck so I've already scanned food. I've never heard of a Waitrose employee having that attitude. My dd once took a bite out of all the broccoli in the shop. I offered to pay and they told me not to worry!

I wouldn't as I'd want to avoid the situation where they'd expect something during every shop.

it's a common social norm to provide your child with food on demand- you have obvious intention to pay for it, and with a cost as low as a French stick I can't see how any shop would object to you feeding your toddler. I would not even give it a second thought as shopping with kids you have to have some adjustments. Better for all involved!

All the people saying you're stealing it, do you pay for your food in a restaurant before you eat it? If the intention is to pay for it I don't see the problem, I do it with my children, though my oldest won't as she feels uncomfortable doing it. Each to their own I say. The staff member who gave you that look is presumably of the opinion you shouldn't but I bet there are plenty of other staff members there who have no problem with it. I've not had any looks when my children do it, or maybe I've not noticed!

You know in a restaurant where you eat before you pay because the restaurant takes it in good faith that you won't run out without paying? Same goes. Unless all the posters here that think it's an issue only eat at McDonald's or Nandos...

Fwiw it isn't theft until you have left the store without paying.....

God, I sometimes eat things before I pay at the supermarket, and I don't have the excuse of being a toddler.

What with this and the Waitrose coffee thread recently, I'm feeling rather daring and naughty, in MN world anyway, at the mo.

In my day we adhered to the rule of deferred gratification!

Due to the amount of wrappers concealed on shelves I see every day I don't think that eating whilst shopping should be encouraged.

It's also foodstuffs that we sell- think an empty jar of cockles hidden amongst the throws, open cans of pepsi/ bottles of fanta tucked in between bedding, 6-packs of wotsits- all eaten- shoved behind plates and my favourite pick and mix cups half empty with sweets spat back in and dumped near pet food. This is just in the last two shifts I have worked, not to mention all the McDonalds coffee cups/ McSlurry pots abandoned willynilly we have to pick up daily.

It’s fine to do it. I’ve done it loads myself.

Be careful of saying no, then giving into the tantrum. You’re honestly better getting through it now or you set yourself up for a fail.

But this isn’t a criticism it’s so hard shopping with a toddler as it is anything for a quiet life! And we have a moment when we just can’t face a tantrum!

But think of the greater good!

Speaking as an allergy sufferer who has opened boxes of tissues and used a few when my own tissues have run out while shopping. When I do this I am in a situation where I have plenty of boxes at home and in the car but still buy a box, which I add to the boxes in the car. There is a limit to the number of tissues I can carry around with me, and space where I can put used ones in my bag too.

I have opened a packet of tampons, used one, and then paid for the box at the till too. Yes, I had two boxes at home. No, the ones in my bag were not usable as the packaging had burst open. And no, a wad of supermarket loo TP would not have worked.

I also once opened a roll of paper towels to wipe DD1's clothes one time when she puked in the supermarket. I wiped the trolley and the floor too.

It's really good business practice to smile at this sort of thing.

'it's a common social norm to provide your child with food on demand'. No.

I did the bread thing all the time (not for tantrums). Staff I store were used to lots of kids and could tell we'd all pay.

My only awful moment is when I paid, left store was almost when I spotted a load of shopping in bag underneath pushchair I hadn't paid for. Never moved my arse so quick back to shop to pay.

Totally fine as long as you pay for it and it's not a weighed item like other have said 😊

I love all the insults being bandied about just because you don't agree with another poster.

Why couldn't you just go and pay for it first? Takes a minute to scan and pay.

Nanny0gg (the Prissy and Righteous)

Well I let my car drink petrol before paying for it so yes it is okay. I also eat food in restaurants before paying.

The thread's moved on a bit but to get back to the chicken bones issue I think it's disgusting. Same as when you go to the cinema (which I won't do anymore) and step on soggy. slippy messes from entitled pigs.

I apologise for using the word 'pigs' actually, it's unfair to those animals. There isn't a suitable word for the scummy behaviour of some.

To the supermarket scoffers, is there anything off limits to you or not really? The end of a breadstick is the same as cooked chicken, is the same as crisps and any other foodstuff. I mean, if you defend your right to the bread then it's open season on everything else presumably?

I personally don't like it. I don't care if other people do like to do it, it doesn't change my viewpoint or presumably theirs.

I can see it from your POV as I do the same but I've had this conversation with someone that works in a supermarket and they get annoyed as people let their kids eat something then put it back on the shelf when noone is looking