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AIBU?

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Original poster

To complain about no highchair rule

162 replies

Lofu · 17/10/2020 16:51

At a garden centre today we went to the cafe for lunch. I have been before pre covid and know the little corner where they keep the highchairs, so went and got one.
Half way through our meals a server came over and told me off for using a high chair. Apparently they are not allowed to use them because of covid.
This is the first place I've heard of such a thing. Would I be unreasonable to email a complaint? I can't decide whether the cafe are well within their right to make whatever rule they like, or whether it is discrimination of children.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lofu · 17/10/2020 20:37

Oh I didn't realise one of my comments had been removed. Let me reiterate the point I made and I shall omit the rude bit:

My child is a person who is as entitled as anyone to eat in that cafe. I support adult only places but this was a family friendly establishment.
Expecting my child to be treated like a person rather than a nuisance does not make me entitled. Those who think otherwise need to give their head a little wobble.

OP posts:
Fedupmum88 · 17/10/2020 20:40

Yanbu!

I went to a garden centre who said I couldn’t have a drink outside because it was against government guidelines 🙄 but I was fine to sit inside. Madness!

Livelovebehappy · 17/10/2020 20:46

I wouldn’t be happy that they had the highchairs there to take, and then made a point of telling me off for taking one. The highchairs should be removed from sight if they shouldn’t be used. You can’t have them there with no sign suggesting they’re out of use, then kick off when someone uses one.

SleepingStandingUp · 17/10/2020 20:47

I can understand them trekking you off for helping yourself, bit not for gaming you using them in a family place. I always ask for them / chairs now and someone fetches them and gives them a spray down / moves the chair.

Yanbu, I would def send an ail to complain and see if it's actually a member of staff who was just wrong
I wouldn't include anyone's name

Al1langdownthecleghole · 17/10/2020 20:59

Those who are saying high chairs can just be wiped, what about the straps?

I wouldn't use a high chair in a public place just now.

liveitwell · 17/10/2020 21:01

If I went I'd be screwed as I have twins.

I would email, not a complaint but more of an email to let them know how difficult some will find this as and how off-putting it will be for many targeted audiences.

SleepingStandingUp · 17/10/2020 21:26

@liveitwell

If I went I'd be screwed as I have twins.

I would email, not a complaint but more of an email to let them know how difficult some will find this as and how off-putting it will be for many targeted audiences.

But @liveitwell surely you can just put them on your lap in turn whilst driving got drinks and eating hot food. I mean surely you've trained then to sit there placidly??
SleepingStandingUp · 17/10/2020 21:27

@Al1langdownthecleghole

Those who are saying high chairs can just be wiped, what about the straps?

I wouldn't use a high chair in a public place just now.

I just don't strap mine in 🤣👍
Floatyboat · 17/10/2020 21:28

It's a stupid rule but even stupider to complain about it.

AibuTellMe · 17/10/2020 21:33

YABU OP

Scotmummy1216 · 17/10/2020 22:01

Yanbu why can adults have chairs but babies not allowed to sit in a well supported seat to eat. Do they not clean the tables etc? Stupid especially when infants least likely to spread covid. Also if they dont want people to use them then they should remove them from the cafe

Yetiyoga · 17/10/2020 22:08

I wouldn't be complaining but I do think the no highchair thing is odd.
I have to say though, government rules are pretty clear now that you go to your table and get up to go to the toilet (with mask) so would have sat down and asked for the highchair instead.

Meatshake · 17/10/2020 22:09

Bonkers. Just spent a week in Butlins and every restaurant we went in there had high chairs available to use.

Let's face it, the bastard things were seldom cleaned in restaurants prior to covid, covid is doing them a favour because parents are more likely to wipe them down before putting little Timmy in the damn thing.

Busybee143 · 17/10/2020 22:28

When we went out for a meal with our little one we brought some antibacterial wipes to clean the high chair down we were going to use. For those saying that the cafe doesn't have time or it's impossible to clean the high chair thoroughly I bet the high chair had less germs on that the table and chairs we sat on.
For those people saying sit them on your knee.... You must be childless that's all I can say!

LuaDipa · 17/10/2020 22:32

I don’t think you are wrong to be put out op. I wouldn’t choose to eat a meal anywhere with a small child on my lap.

I do wonder if all of these places with the arbitrary ‘rules’ are the same ones complaining that Covid is destroying their business. I think it’s pretty obvious that if businesses make eating out too uncomfortable and inconvenient, less people will want to do it. I would provide feedback to that effect, and I wouldn’t return. Why would you repeatedly choose to pay for an experience that isn’t enjoyable, Covid or not?

Aridane · 18/10/2020 07:49

Expecting my child to be treated like a person rather than a nuisance does not make me entitled. Those who think otherwise need to give their head a little wobble

What does giving your head a wobble mean? I quite often see it here

tortoiseshell1985 · 18/10/2020 07:52

At our local Asda cafe a man came in, used app washed hands, wore mask then got told off as he had his newspaper under his arm. Not allowed to bring that in. Because of Covid....

Cloudybean · 18/10/2020 07:55

What does giving your head a wobble mean? I quite often see it here

It's what people say when others don't agree with them, but they have run out of actual things to say.

Aridane · 18/10/2020 07:56
Grin
MynephewR · 18/10/2020 08:03

I work in a restaurant and they are being ridiculous. We use the same wooden highchairs where I work.

Before covid - 30 seconds to clean off food and sticky finger marks from a highchair with sanitiser
After covid - 30 seconds to clean off food and sticky finger marks plus an extra 30 seconds to give it an extra clean with the sanitiser

If the server had said "sorry you can't use a highchair because I cba to clean it, and covid is a great excuse" then I doubt many posters would be defending them. It seems that all customer service workers have to say now is "because of covid" and they can be as lazy as they like 😂

AlwaysLatte · 18/10/2020 08:08

We used to have a fabric high hair that you could wash and put in your bag - worth getting one of those? Agree that having a toddler on your lap when you can't put them down anywhere is impractical trying to eat and especially with hot drinks.

AlwaysLatte · 18/10/2020 08:10

NB I wouldn't complain. Highchairs are hard to clean at the best of times and if mine were toddlers now I wouldn't be choosing to use them in cafes just at the moment.

shesgonebatshitagain · 18/10/2020 08:11

I try to avoid eating in a cafe / restaurant/ pub with my three young children as much as possible
They are almost 3, 4 and 6 so even now it’s still hideous.

All the grabbing cutlery, banging things, knocking things over, the field of food on the floor afterwards, having to open half a dozen those fucking ketchup sachets that go everywhere but the plate, endless face and hand wiping, cutting up fish fingers etc and then your own food has congealed by the time you can eat it. Or they want your meal.

Up there with soft play and a hangover

But they should have removed the high board of it presents them with such a Covid conundrum

seayork2020 · 18/10/2020 08:24

No it is not discrimination, has the world gone mad?

ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble · 18/10/2020 08:29

I wouldn't complain, but I would send an email to ask for clarification about the rules and suggest clear signage on their website,at the cafe ,when people book etc. Particularly at a place that advertises itself as a family place/gets most of it's custom from families due to location.

If it's a sensible,essential in these times and reasonable rule that they fully support then it should be advertised as such and parents should be made aware before they go in, not just a passing comment at any random time during the visit.