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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think Coronavirus is not an excuse to exclude children from public places?

247 replies

RoseGoldCloud · 10/05/2020 09:27

B&Q have banned children from their stores due to Coronavirus. www.diy.com/customer-support#icamp=HP_Cat5_shopsafely
I get that people are scared in public places. I also agree that anyone not respecting the social distancing should be asked to leave. I don’t understand why they are excluding one particular group based solely on age. The rules should apply to everyone and anyone breaking it should have to leave. I have seen many children behaving really sensibly and I’ve also had numerous adults stand right next to me, refuse to follow the one way systems, touching baskets that have been disinfected and then putting them back. Why are the adults allowed to ignore the rules? But all the children get banned? What are single parents going to do if other shops start doing this? And what next? Are we going to ban other groups that are cared for? If we find out certain population groups are more prone to covid will we be banning them too? Are we going to ban children from all public places? Shops? Shopping centres? Town squares?

I recognise that people are scared but I think we really need to remember that we are fighting a virus not other people or certain groups of people.

So AIBU to think we shouldn’t ban people from a public place based on their age?

OP posts:
Original poster
RoseGoldCloud · 10/05/2020 13:40

If they are letting children in why put that on their website? People read that will rightly think they won’t be allowed in if they arrive with a child. If you just want to discourage something better to say ‘we urge customers to leave children at home if at all possible’. It’s not hard is it?

OP posts:
aSofaNearYou · 10/05/2020 13:43

Strange. Have you not considered using a buggy, trolley, reins or the good old fashioned holding her hand methods? It's not down to stores to ban kids because you cba supervising your 18 month old

Oh please, it was a generalisation that kids tend to touch stuff. I'm miles away from being a permissive parent so you don't need to try to tar me with that brush, but any time things are within reach she will try to touch them because she is 18 months and has no concept of germs. Yes I could keep hold of her at all times, which I would, but this would only be possible if her dad was also there with us because I wouldn't be able to actually do the shopping at the same time. And if all three of us are there, then two of us are there pointlessly so it brings us back to why allow kids in the first place.

Most parents I have seen are more lax than I am when it comes to letting kids wonder around and touch things, so I can see it being a pretty big issue.

Personally I would just only allow small children in buggies, so single parents are also able to shop.

avroroad · 10/05/2020 13:45

Oh please, it was a generalisation that kids tend to touch stuff. I'm miles away from being a permissive parent so you don't need to try to tar me with that brush

I was only responding to the information you gave about your child. You are the one that 'tarred' yourself, not me.

Porcupineinwaiting · 10/05/2020 13:45

People's idea of necessity is so variable though. Quite often it's the same as "it's more convenient ".

avroroad · 10/05/2020 13:46

If they are letting children in why put that on their website? People read that will rightly think they won’t be allowed in if they arrive with a child.

That is the whole whole point.

avroroad · 10/05/2020 13:48

Car park click and collect is partially active just now. You do have to join the queue to 'get in' but the marshal will go down the line asking if anyone is there for click and collect. They will take/send you to the exit door and they will let a colleague know you are waiting. The item will be brought out to a trolley and you collect it from there. This does very from store to store though, mainly depending on staff levels.

aSofaNearYou · 10/05/2020 13:49

Don't you think it would be your responsibility to ensure she didn't?

Yes, but I don't think very many parents would do a very thorough job of stopping it. That's why we have rules.

corythatwas · 10/05/2020 13:53

Fair point, Sofa.

coldwarenigma · 10/05/2020 13:54

I was in a queue to get a shower yesterday, ours packed up. The queue was generally good humoured and staff were having a laugh with people while they waited.
In front of me was one mum with 2 small kids. The guy handing trollies out told her they could go in and politely said something along the lines of 'I'm sure your children are well behaved but please keep them close to you' She put one in the trolley seat, one holding hand.
As I came out there was shouting. A bloke with other half plus two teenagers was kicking off because they weren't allowed in. So it looked to me as if the store staff were using discretion and being realistic.

Serin · 10/05/2020 14:00

I dont think B and Q is a safe space for kids.
They have been sued in the past when a ceramic sink fell onto a 4 year old.
Of course they cant exactly permanently ban them but it's effectively a builders merchants so just not somewhere I'd take kids.
Maybe long term they could have a creche like IKEA.

Original poster
RoseGoldCloud · 10/05/2020 14:02

@Notyourmumma this is exactly what I’m concerned about. It’s got a big sidetracked with B&Q being a DIY shop. I don’t think what happened to you is acceptable at all

OP posts:
avroroad · 10/05/2020 14:04

Maybe long term they could have a creche like IKEA.

Oh come on now. Maybe parents could take responsibility for their children and not expect shops to provide childcare!

Rosebel · 10/05/2020 14:08

Actually B&Q can refuse entry to who they like. They don't want children in their store, if you don't like it don't shop there. I have not been there for about 20 years.

coldwarenigma · 10/05/2020 14:11

Maybe long term they could have a creche like IKEA.

Oh come on now. Maybe parents could take responsibility for their children and not expect shops to provide childcare!

YY to @avroroad, and honestly the entitlement of some is exactly why kids are being restricted across the board not just B&Q
Grin you couldn't make this kind of stuff up..oh well, its given me a giggle.

LadyPenelope68 · 10/05/2020 14:23

@slipperywhensparticus
What is on the website and what is happening in different stores may vary, but I can assure you that at my local store yesterday, I went for a click and collect and it was brought to my car!! I did NOT have to goninnstote, or queue.

Aesopfable · 10/05/2020 14:32

Oh come on now. Maybe parents could take responsibility for their children and not expect shops to provide childcare!

It is not about entitlement it is about commercial decision making. If B&Q assessed that a lot of families might want to shop at their store but are put off by lack of childcare/would be encouraged to come or spend more by the provision of childcare, then B&Q would provide a crèche. That they don’t suggests that they do not see it as something that would impact significantly on sales.

Aesopfable · 10/05/2020 14:34

Having said that, in normal times B&Q do provide children’s DIY/Gardening classes so they obviously do see some value in attracting families/future customers.

coldwarenigma · 10/05/2020 14:41

Don't forget that supermarket/hardware etc stores will have lower level numbers of staff, some staff will be shielding/taking leave to look after loved ones. We are not as a society functioning normally.
Staff working in a customer facing role may be worried about the potential to become ill. Your 'right' to take Tarquin and Jemima for a browse because you are bored will have to take a backseat for now.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 10/05/2020 14:42

I guarantee that if my 18 month old was in b&q, she would touch (and probably lick) everything,

When my children were 18 months old they were in a buggy and not put close enough to touch or lick anything!

Do people really not give their children (once of an age to have an opinion) any say in how their bedrooms are decorated and furnished?

Aesopfable · 10/05/2020 14:43

Tarquin and Jemima won’t be see dead in B&Q.

FraterculaArctica · 10/05/2020 14:45

@Lemonblast removal of screen time, removal of favourite toys. But doesn't work because he pays no attention to warnings that any of these things will happen, just carries on anyway. Then tantrums and destroys the house when they are removed. It's like he can't make the connection.

avroroad · 10/05/2020 14:46

It is not about entitlement it is about commercial decision making. If B&Q assessed that a lot of families might want to shop at their store but are put off by lack of childcare/would be encouraged to come or spend more by the provision of childcare, then B&Q would provide a crèche.

You don't think that perhaps, somewhere along the line, it has been discussed? Do you seriously think the PP who suggested a crèche was thinking of a really good and new idea?

This is ridiculous. Parents need to get over themselves. B&Q don't have a crèche because they have already made the commercial decision not to have one.

stayathomer · 10/05/2020 14:48

OP I'd say if you turn up or call they'll bring it out to you. It's just so people don't take their kids in as a day out

scarbados · 10/05/2020 14:51

Great so read that all MNers have perfect children who behave like angels in shops they're not interested in.

Makes me wonder why my husband comes home from work at B&Q covered in paint at least twice a week because someone's perfectly behaved little angel has been allowed to climb up the shelving and knock paint cans onto the floor, where they break open and cover the adorable little darling in paint which the parents then demand that staff clean off them.

And B&Q is NOT a public place - it's a private business and B&Q are within their rights to say who they want in their store at any time.

Saints13 · 10/05/2020 14:54

Unfortunately there are parents who never will restrict their child or admit they have misbehaved in public, and think that reasonable behaviour does not apply to their child. Who have in a way probably contributed to B+Qs decision.