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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give my toddler a bit of bread?

514 replies

ChequeredPasta · 03/10/2017 20:19

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 Shock 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?!

OP posts:
Robin2323 · 05/10/2017 20:17

I worked at Asda. One mum let her child scream for an entire hour going round the shop . We all want to feed that kid some thing - employees and other shoppers alike .

Stillonthatbloodycomputer · 05/10/2017 20:17

Free fruit for children in our local store

maxrayeseth123 · 05/10/2017 20:26

Halo bless you my child for you have sinned Grin it's all fair game till you reach the wine aisle....

Happyperson123 · 05/10/2017 20:38

Ha ha - I love that she is an untameable beast. Love it.

Regarding eating it - I don't know. As long as you pay for it I don't suppose the cashier will mind. It's hard work shopping with a toddler that's for sure!

scottishretreat · 05/10/2017 20:43

Eating a bit of a bread stick isn't like a gateway behaviour to ripping in to a whole chicken and scattering the bones about.
Grin

OrangePeels · 05/10/2017 20:44

It isn't theft for all those that are saying it is. The definition of theft:
To dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention to permanently deprive.

You plan on paying for it, you have the means to and therefore it isn't theft.

Ffs.

I had people several times pay for empty drinks bottles when I worked in a shop. Never occurred to me to berate them Hmm

Happyperson123 · 05/10/2017 20:58

I've always thought that you can't get done for shoplifting until you actually leave the store anyway.

Tweez · 05/10/2017 21:14

I always frown in this type of thing I’m afraid. It’s not yours until it’s paid for. I think it’s wrong personally.

oboyoboyoboy · 05/10/2017 21:20

I did it myself the other day. Running late for a meeting, starving hungry, massive queue in the Tesco metro. By the time I got to the till I'd only got 1/3rd of my sandwich left. I'm a bit bemused by anyone finding it a problem. The cashiers certainly didn't.

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 05/10/2017 21:24

Of course it’s fine. Think some people are getting a bit worried about nothing.

Glitterbug76 · 05/10/2017 21:24

Lucielucie
That made me laugh 😂 typical Waitrose staff

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 05/10/2017 21:25

Cashiers are used to it. Often hand them a wrapper of chocolate I’ve eaten. As long as you pay what’s the problem.

Sayyouwill · 05/10/2017 21:26

@MumsTheWordYouKnow that's just not very nice for the cashier

RhiannonOHara · 05/10/2017 21:29

There are people who feel they can eat whatever they want around the supermarket, wiping their hands on what, exactly?

Yes, and I said I do NOT eat certain kinds of food in the supermarket and messy foods are not the same as bread. Hmm

People on here need to remove the sticks from their arses.

It’s not yours until it’s paid for. I think it’s wrong personally. Get a grip.

MumsTheWordYouKnow · 05/10/2017 21:38

Scanning an empty wrapper isn’t nice - really why is that then Hmm cashiers normally smile in amusement and ask if they should put it in the bin.

Deckchair1009 · 05/10/2017 21:39

It’s not considered shoplifting until you left a shop without paying for something. My toddlers ate almost half a punnet of strawberries whilst I was at the checkout of the co-op the other day, the cashier thought it was hilarious as did the nearby customers. She said it had made her day!

Voice0fReason · 05/10/2017 21:39

There are people who feel they can eat whatever they want around the supermarket, wiping their hands on what, exactly?
On my jeans - obviously Grin
Why does that trouble you?

Voice0fReason · 05/10/2017 21:44

I always frown in this type of thing I’m afraid.
I'm afraid don't notice or care about people frowning at me.

Dianag111 · 05/10/2017 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Imonlyfuckinghuman · 05/10/2017 21:48

Why not take all your family and you could all snack as you go round
Grin

I've done this many times before . Evennate a sandwich once Shock

eastegg · 05/10/2017 21:59

There are five elements to the offence of theft, two of which are dishonesty and intention to permanently deprive the other party of the property in question, both of which are completely lacking in the scenario described here.

You don't have to leave the shop though, but you do have to have gone past the points of payment otherwise it's going to be damn near impossible to prove theft.

No way is this theft, and the idea of a supermarket wanting to prosecute is laughable.

NotKKW · 05/10/2017 22:12

It's absolutely fine! It's a piece of bread!! It's not like she popped open a bottle of champagne from the shelf and proceeded to swig it whilst doing her shop. Some
people really are too precious

KEF411 · 05/10/2017 22:13

Maybe better to have food from home with you when you take your toddler shopping, so you can give that to her if she really really needs to eat. Though, of course, this might be a case of I want it-and-I want it now-and I'll scream if I don't get it...

Would you do the same if she wanted an orange? Or a bar of chocolate?

Is it really okay to eat bar-coded, not-weight-dependent food in a super market? If so, what's to stop adults doing so?

Sayyouwill · 05/10/2017 22:47

@MumsTheWordYouKnow being passed your rubbish isn't exactly nice. I wouldn't do it to anyone else at work so I don't think it's fair to do it to cashiers just because they work in a supermarket.
Clearing plates from a table in a restaurant is literally part of a waitresses job description, but being passed people's litter because they couldn't control themselves is a step too far.
Giving a child a bit of bread to keep them calm is one thing but handing over a pile of rubbish is totally different.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 05/10/2017 23:00

eastegg. I'm KF met where are you at ? Isn't it nice that there are so many law abiding mums out there