Horrified at 7month old in pizza express with screen

[MadeinSW3]

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.

I'm horrified every time we eat out there seems to be a younger and younger child with a screen. Volume up too so it's really antisocial. How are children supposed to learn how to eat nicely in public and actually have a decent conversation if they're never shown or allowed to

@Piglet89

AND as well as allowing my son to watch Telly and a screen now and again while out, I also give him a little bit of chocolate after his evening meal every day.

apply.judicialappointments.digital/vacancies

Here’s the link for you if you’d like to become a judge. Otherwise, jog on.

😂

I can beat this, on a train today, baby around 1 year old allowed to crawl around on the floor, dummy dropping out onto the floor under the seats (floor was vile and grubby). Mum was too busy looking at her phone. She dragged the baby out from under the seat as we got closer to the station, he was bawling and she roughly strapped him in, shoving said dirty dummy back into his mouth.

I felt sick for him, he’s played on my mind all day 😞

I'm so sorry that I don't feed my small child shit and actually engage with him when we're out. What a total handwringing cunt I am. Jesus wept.

@Seemssounfair

If there was no volume on I would have thought it was a bit of lazy parenting, but none of my business.

If there was volume on I would have complained to staff.

1. It's Pizza Express not the Ritz
2. Why complain to the staff, they're not doing anything wrong.

@HeadToToesNo

You do you. You've got no idea what's going on for other people. I'm no fan of screens, especially at such a young age, but I think you ought to focus on shit that actually impacts your life.

Yes yes and yes.

This with bells on

Maybe they just needed 45 minutes to relax and eat because every other fibe of their very being was given to their baby every other minute of the day? I am going to confidently assume that you are well out of the baby stage and have forgotten how overwhelming it is.

I'm so sorry that I don't feed my small child shit and actually engage with him when we're out

How have people extrapolated "this child was on a tablet in pizza express" to "this child's parents never interact with them".

Are they just stupid or...?

Well, I didn’t call you a cunt - I do struggle to avoid judging such boorish language, I confess.

I can beat this, on a train today, baby around 1 year old allowed to crawl around on the floor, dummy dropping out onto the floor under the seats (floor was vile and grubby). Mum was too busy looking at her phone. She dragged the baby out from under the seat as we got closer to the station, he was bawling and she roughly strapped him in, shoving said dirty dummy back into his mouth.

That situation isn't even a little bit the same.

@roarfeckingroarr

That's really sad. I've never put my toddler in front of a screen .

You're missing out imo.

I remember having a friend over for a playdate when our DC were around 2.5 and, after 2 hours of playing, tempers were fraying, tantrums were starting up, my back was hurting from pretending to be a lion and being climbed on by three toddlers and I still hadn't had a chance to ask her about her new job.

So I turned on In the Night Garden, we retreated to the kitchen and blissful peace descended as we drank coffee that was actually hot. And our three little angels sat side-by-side on the sofa, entranced, with nary a peep.

Now it's our shameful secret. We end playdates with an episode of Paw Patrol or some such and have an actual chat. We call it self-care.

Judgy McJudgeface

Haven’t read thread but bet OP has a cast of thousands including sisters, parents and nanny's helping look after their own child. Poor parents in question probably have zero help and this was their one chance this week to have a conversation in ages.

@Yumperwumpee: I know.

Had I said “I never speak to my son and I feed him exclusively chocolate”, then I think we might need to have a conversation.

@roarfeckingroarr

I'm so sorry that I don't feed my small child shit and actually engage with him when we're out. What a total handwringing cunt I am. Jesus wept.

I'm sure Jesus would be very proud of you 🙏 And weeping for all the other little children forced to watch screens and eat chocolate, and their horrible parents never interact with them. Ever. Bloody bastards. 😲

Good lord, I'm horrified too.
I always used to prop the Britannica Encyclopedia up in front of mine followed by the complete works of Shakespeare.

Can I ask all the super mums how you do it then? I rarely go out, but when I do there’s not a chance in hell my 18mo would sit quietly in a high chair for even 2 minutes. She won’t look at books, toys etc, she would scream, throw then around. Doesn’t care for food or snacks really, wouldn’t tolerate me reading or talking to her she’d shriek and just want to be out running around. She’s a bloody nightmare to be honest. For 29 days of the month or whatever I’d spend all day in the park, outside, running her around, but the one rare time I’d like a coffee, I’d have to use a screen. What else am I supposed to do? Some children just don’t sit quietly in high chairs.

I used to read the children Mein Kampf for some light bedtime reading 👍

I don't get it. Ok you're "horrified" the baby was given a screen (dramatic) - but the fact that you've come here to complain about it says even more. There are more important things going on in the world.

Like others have said you don't know the situation at home. This could have been that poor woman's first time out bringing baby & she didn't want them to be fussing so she could enjoy her meal? Perhaps she had been offering toys etc but they were just being constantly thrown to the floor so she opted for screen just to have a fucking hours peace?

People always go on about others mental health and mothers doing things for themselves and having a break but then when they do exactly that get judged and then slated on social media. It's ridiculous.

The fact that you were horrified at this says more about you than it does her. What a lovely sheltered life you must live.

@Yumperwumpee

It might make me boring and judgmental but not a lazy arse parent. I was never that!

So you never took the easier option? Never formula fed? Never sent your child to nursery? Never fed them freezer fish fingers instead of making your own? Never distracted them with a toy or game or book? Never used bribery or rewards?

I have used books and toys to entertain my babies because thats normal and I have rewarded my babies with love and praise.. But those other things... no. I never sent my babies to nursery, I never formula fed, I never bribed them. That's quite normal!

Can I also just say as someone who had a mum who literally never put herself first in any way - that shit comes back to bite you in the arse. If I occasionally do something "lazy" to enable me to stay sane and happy so that I can fulfil my child's emotional needs, then that's fine with me. You won't get a medal for being a martyr and some day your children won't thank you for it either.

Perhaps they needed to enjoy a meal in peace for once, I know I did.

Sitting in a restaurant at that age would be really boring for a v young child, especially if the adults want to chat. I can’t see anything wrong with letting them watch a tv programme for a while. I genuinely don’t get what the issue is!

God some of you would HATE how I've parented then. So far so good, screens, treats and all. I can assure you I'm far from lazy, but you'd no doubt have judged away on a tiny snapshot of my life without having a bloody clue about what went on all the other hours in it.

Bully for you if you never let your child have screen time, here's a medal.

I hope they really enjoyed their pizza and I'm sure baby went home happy with no harm done.

@Yumperwumpee The two strong independent female adult dds I raised have never had a complaint about their childhood.
They have good careers and are financially independent. So I must have done something right!