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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Horrified at 7month old in pizza express with screen

999 replies

MadeinSW3 · 22/01/2022 15:00

I went for lunch today at pizza express, there was a couple giving their ?7month old a bottle with a screen propped up with something Disney to watch. They then plopped baby into high chair and put something else on during whole time at the stable. How can people be so stupid! The baby was looking around elsewhere for something more interesting.

OP posts:
SpikeySmooth · 22/01/2022 17:59

End not door Angry

glittereyelash · 22/01/2022 18:01

Maybe just enjoy your lunch and don't stare at other families and then you won't be horrified.

Yumperwumpee · 22/01/2022 18:01

A book would have done!

It's a frigging seven month old baby! Mine at that age just tossed whatever you gave him on the floor!

BABAHOTEL · 22/01/2022 18:02

Remember people that OP also mentions they were giving her a bottle also!!! What's the relevance in even mentioning that?

PinkArt · 22/01/2022 18:03

@jobsharenightmare 'Cancer diagnosis pizza express lunch? Come off it'.
That's exactly what we did when my mum was diagnosed with cancer. Dinner rather than lunch, but yes we went out for pizza. It's really not far fetched that after bad news no-one felt up to cooking and that getting out of the house served as a small distraction while we processed the news.
No clue what the situation with this family was but there's a lot of judging on this thread when no-one knows what might have been behind one parenting decision for a couple of hours.

allbartwo · 22/01/2022 18:03

@EIIa

Yes but you can give them toys or books or a rattle though! I get that the parents wanted some peace! A book would have done!
You could argue toys or a rattle could be annoying. They'll probably get thrown and the baby will cry, which is annoying.

Not sure what a 7 month old would do with a book. Eat it maybe.

DemBonesDemBones · 22/01/2022 18:05

Were you really bored with your lunch companion? Why were you staring at fellow diners? Weird.

Wineisoverrated · 22/01/2022 18:06

@ChargingBuck

I once sat in a Starbucks cafe with my eldest in a high chair watching my phone when we were going through a family crisis.

Come on now @Wineisoverrated - give us the full story.
Did you PLOP your baby into that high chair?
Confess! - out with it - nobody's judging they're just CONCERNED and HORRIFIED. Grin Grin

Plopped? Goodness gracious no!

She was flung. If memory serves, head first. I don’t even think it was Disney she was watching. I think it was channel five… the horror! She may even have been eating chocolate buttons at 9am in the morning because I couldn’t battle to getting her to actually eat a real meal.

suzieruns · 22/01/2022 18:06

@Momicrone

Yes I'm sure the child will turn out just fine, never been any proven links between screens and mental health in kids Hmm
Better let the education system know then. My child's homework is mostly online and shock horror, some games and digital books. Catch a grip. Many many more things that could happen in life to result in poor mental health than some screen time.
Cronehands · 22/01/2022 18:07

I wasn't allowed to read my book in church. Reason being, if people could that I could read, they'd thing I should be reading the mass.

My poor mum. She cared so much what other people thought.

Thhhhheeeeelong · 22/01/2022 18:08

Well aren't you just perfect then Hmm

JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 18:08

@DemBonesDemBones

Were you really bored with your lunch companion? Why were you staring at fellow diners? Weird.
You never people watch?

When you go out to you only look at your companions? Not glance around, go to the loo?

SouthParkCovid · 22/01/2022 18:10

Meh, we don't know the whole history though do we?

Baby could of had a really bad nights sleep, be teething, poorly or generally a bit of a whinger!

Parents need to eat!

My own 7 month old is plonked in front of the tv in her bouncer whilst I eat. She also has a bedtime story everynight and lots of playtime with myself/toys/other babies etc.

It's all about moderation.

WindyState · 22/01/2022 18:10

Personally I don't go to public spaces and judge the other people who are out and about.

Because that's something a dickhead does.

Yumperwumpee · 22/01/2022 18:11

My own 7 month old is plonked in front of the tv in her bouncer whilst I eat.

Not good enough. You should be reading her War and Peace.

MajorCarolDanvers · 22/01/2022 18:11

What drama llama you are OP.

ballsdeep · 22/01/2022 18:12

Horrified?!

Jeez how would you feel if you saw the child nibbling a dough ball or pizza crust?!

BABAHOTEL · 22/01/2022 18:13

@WindyState

Personally I don't go to public spaces and judge the other people who are out and about.

Because that's something a dickhead does.

This is the best comment to here! Is it ok for me to steal this and use in future?
JigglyPiggly · 22/01/2022 18:13

@WindyState

Personally I don't go to public spaces and judge the other people who are out and about.

Because that's something a dickhead does.

Bullshit
WindyState · 22/01/2022 18:14

@ballsdeep

Horrified?!

Jeez how would you feel if you saw the child nibbling a dough ball or pizza crust?!

I bet he was drinking juice with artificial flavourings as well.

I hope OP called social services, can't be too careful.

BABAHOTEL · 22/01/2022 18:14

@JigglyPiggly age was t glancing g round, she was watching and listening I g to their conversations! She needs to get a life and keep out of others.

Wineisoverrated · 22/01/2022 18:14

@Jobsharenightmare

PropertyFlipper I think this too. I also highly doubt this was a one off but it's what most posters here want to assume for some reason.

Cancer diagnosis pizza express lunch? Come off it. How about accepting some parents choose lazy methods of entertaining their child for a quiet life. That's their perogative, but still not great for the child.

Have you ever received shocking news and not known where to go? Didn’t think you can face home just yet and drifted into the first cafe/restaurant you could just for somewhere to sit?

Possibly the restaurant is in the town centre/near somewhere and they needed to kill time. Who knows?

The absolute narrow minded hostility on here is bloody horrible. Even if the baby is given a screen EVERY meal it’s in no way going to stunt their growth or give them a massive developmental delay. There’s far worse things a parent could do to a child than give them Bluey at the dinner table.

We come from a generation that had no screens and I can bet a good bunch were threatened into behaving or were taken to the toilets to be shouted at or smacked. I’d have far preferred a screen.

girafferafferaffe · 22/01/2022 18:14

I hope they enjoyed their meal and didn't see you ogling and judging

catgirl1976 · 22/01/2022 18:15

Yes screens aren’t ideal but I remember me and DH having to take it turns to eat when out with DS or me being just about to take my first bite and having to stop and see to him and being tired and hungry. If I’d thought a screen would get us the 3ins to eat a nice lunch together in peace I’d have been sorely tempted

BABAHOTEL · 22/01/2022 18:15

@WindyState not juice but a bottle!!!!

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