To take a 3 year old to the Ritz at 17:30?

[PreschoolattheRitz]

We've been invited by grandparents at the end of April.

It’s a hotel. Of course you can take your child to a hotel.

*There will be things to eat.

If there are other small children that he can sit next to, they'll amuse each other.

It wont be that late.*

No other small children.

8pm is late for getting him for my child.

I was going to say that my dd at 3 would have been fine, but then remembered that at 3 she lay on the floor under the table of our nearest posh restaurant to have a poo. In a nappy I hasten to add.

Exactly. Even the best behaved 3yo can have a bad day.

That's another point. How close are the loos? He's toilet trained for over 6 months but can still leave it to the last minute!

God what a ridiculous idea. It’s so terribly stuffy there at the best of times but I would hate to go with a 3 year old and wrong timing as well.

I honestly don’t see what the problem is? Surely you are vigilant about the toilet and can take him or if he’s really unreliable use a pull up. 5:30 is a perfectly normal time for tea.

@PreschoolattheRitz

My child doesn't even like sandwiches or cake. So.

Op, please use this exact phrase as your reply to your in laws

Omg I just googled the Ritz to see how bad it could be... those chairs am I alone in only feeling comfortable taking my 4 year old into restaurants with booths???
It all looks so breakable...

@5zeds

I honestly don’t see what the problem is? Surely you are vigilant about the toilet and can take him or if he’s really unreliable use a pull up. 5:30 is a perfectly normal time for tea.

Yes of course I'm vigilant.

5:30 is not reasonable when in central london.

I’d enjoy it so it’s hard to see what the problem is. Do you never go out or travel with your boy? Surely you aren’t all home every day for 5:30?

Not a chance! I went at 32 and felt awkward

Ds1 was feral at 3... DS2 is charm personified and would be absolutely fine! He's so laid back and happy to just chat or colour in or play quietly with his little dinosaur toys...

I suspect it was meant as a nice idea and 5:30 isn't mega late at 3!

7:30pm would be a definite no no!

@5zeds

I’d enjoy it so it’s hard to see what the problem is. Do you never go out or travel with your boy? Surely you aren’t all home every day for 5:30?

We're gone by 6 generally. Bath at half 6, lights off at 7.

He doesn't nap anymore and sleeps 7 til 7.

What's odd about that?

@Mammyloveswine

Ds1 was feral at 3... DS2 is charm personified and would be absolutely fine! He's so laid back and happy to just chat or colour in or play quietly with his little dinosaur toys...

I suspect it was meant as a nice idea and 5:30 isn't mega late at 3!

7:30pm would be a definite no no!

17:30 isn't late. Travelling home afterwards, is

No sorry ywbvu. Get a babysitter for the afternoon. Not the right place for a 3 year old.

I think it would be fine.

I’d have been fine with it, 4 adults and one child is a good ratio but depends on whether they’re the type of grandparents who like to involve the child or just talk over them like they’re not there

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to imply you were odd. I’m a “bring the kids with us” person but I honestly don’t know anyone who has to be home for bedtime for one off events in the way you describe. How do you go on holiday for example? I think he would probably be fine but it reads that it’s particularly the venue that’s the problem. I haven’t been to the ritz for years but it’s just a hotel, and they should be accommodating you. Surely the concierge would store a car seat for you, so you could taxi home? Surely ds can snooze in the car and then be popped into bed when you get home?

YANBU, OP, and I like the cut of your jib.

I'd be livid if I'd forked out all that for an afternoon tea (and I have, it was only ok) to have a kid next to me. Tea at the Ritz is a grown up affair.

Good luck with the in laws!

@JorisBonson

YANBU, OP, and I like the cut of your jib.

I'd be livid if I'd forked out all that for an afternoon tea (and I have, it was only ok) to have a kid next to me. Tea at the Ritz is a grown up affair.

Good luck with the in laws!

Thank you, and thank you!

To me, it's just not worth it!

We did that with a 6 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old.
They actually were brilliantly behaved! They sat and chatted to us and chowed down all the cake. I mean afternoon isn’t like an evening dinner type event, there’s limited waiting around for the food which is the trigger for kids right? We got there, we all chatted for about 10 minutes and then the food arrived. I hadn’t given them much lunch so they enthusiastically dived into the cakes. It was honestly really fun and no screens, colouring or stickers were needed!

@5zeds

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to imply you were odd. I’m a “bring the kids with us” person but I honestly don’t know anyone who has to be home for bedtime for one off events in the way you describe. How do you go on holiday for example? I think he would probably be fine but it reads that it’s particularly the venue that’s the problem. I haven’t been to the ritz for years but it’s just a hotel, and they should be accommodating you. Surely the concierge would store a car seat for you, so you could taxi home? Surely ds can snooze in the car and then be popped into bed when you get home?

The venue is the main issue. Routine etc are secondary but having a tired small person being made to sit at in a very borjng restaurant isn't relaxing for me.

Holidays are different, not that we've been on one for 18 months!

Really honestly, No.

I've been to the ritz. It was incredibly stuffy, uptight, rigid and formal. And it cost an absolute fortune.
People won't want an unruly toddler screeching through their expensive fine dining experience. Please don't take him if there is even a chance that he will cause a fuss.

@PreschoolattheRitz tell the IL's the Dorchester is nicer

@Plonque

Really honestly, No.

I've been to the ritz. It was incredibly stuffy, uptight, rigid and formal. And it cost an absolute fortune.
People won't want an unruly toddler screeching through their expensive fine dining experience. Please don't take him if there is even a chance that he will cause a fuss.

He wouldn't screach but he'd moan from boredom, bless him.