Baby in car seat next to me whilst having a pedicure

[mackthepony]

Prepared to be told IABU.

Came for a pedicure. One seat left, and in the seat next to me is a baby in a car seat. Mother is next to him on other side.

Baby looks around 4 months old. Dummy in, peaceful (so far).

Aibu or do you not bring a baby to a beauticians?

@CatsareMyBoss I agree with you

You can pop feet into flip flops mid-pedicure. I’ve done it myself when a fire alarm went off. But in any case, she could also pick the baby up and soothe it if need be. Her hands are free during a pedi.

The fact that you stopped having manicures when you had a baby is neither here nor there. That was your choice. It doesn’t have to be everyone else’s.

@Hardbackwriter yes! I've seen many many posts on here about 'I've got no child care I'm going to take my child to my appointment aibu' and 99% of the time they're told book a mobile appointment.

I don’t think ‘you can’t take your baby to a nail bar because one day it won’t be a baby any more’ is a very compelling argument, is it?

What are these fumes? I have regular pedicures and there are no fumes at all.

The what? I've been thinking of getting something done with my feet, my hips aren't as flexible as they were and cutting my toe nails is a bit of a challenge, particularly the left foot for some reason But a toenail grinder sounds scary. Might have to have a rethink.

As a lone parent with no help from family I had no choice but to take DC with me when they were pre school to any appointments
before phones and iPads - would take colouring or a sticker book - small puzzle or picture books
I only ever managed quick treatment or dry cut etc though!

Used to go with mine when he was little, went with my mum and he would go between us and no one cared. In fact he used to get loads of attention from the other people there

YANBU at all OP, I absolutely love having my nails done as it’s an hour every three weeks when that’s completely for myself and I don’t have to think about my child. I’d be pissed off if that hour was interrupted by a crying baby or bored child trying to get attention. Thankfully my salon has a no children policy due to so many parents letting their children run wild and not being able to control them when their nails are on the lamp.

Yabu - don’t agree with your reasoning
however, children shouldn’t be in salons with strong fumes of acetone etc.

I work in a salon, we don’t mind people bringing their children and babies in. We do appreciate well behaved ones. We have had some that aren’t.

The only frustrating thing is when someone needs to pick baby up mid polish. It doesn’t make for a desirable finish to the nails. I have children of my own though and appreciate it’s not easy to come alone.

I go to a cafe to relax, have a cuppa and a slice of cake, read a book. If you brought your baby in, fast asleep, and I said ‘Excuse me, but I’m trying to relax. This is where I come to get away for some peace. Your baby MIGHT wake up at any time. How am I expected to enjoy my cake with that fear hanging over me?’ you would rightly think I was insanely entitled and mad. But that is completely equivalent to what you’re saying here. A cafe is a luxury too. You don’t need to take a baby in one. A baby a few months old can’t avail itself of the menu. People go there to relax. But people take babies in them all the time. Occasionally they cry. But if they do not, nobody demands they are removed just in case.

a) you said she could take the baby out and it was that comment I responded to. We all know someone won’t pop into flip flops and go outside mid pedicure if the baby cries. The salon will have a time limit for the treatment apart from anything else, and you can’t take an indefinite break mid way through

b) The point is that it is a choice to go for manicures/pedicures or not. So the argument of “I need to take my baby or I wouldn’t be able to get a manicure” is a shit one, because not getting a manicure is a totally fine option. If it is not suitable to take your baby to an optional luxury, then you don’t get to have that luxury. Maybe it is suitable to take the baby - but that depends on the environment and if it’s fair on other customers, not on whether you’d have to miss out otherwise. It’s not like missing a medical appointment for lack of childcare, which would be cause for complaint.

You’ll note I never actually said people shouldn’t take their baby to a salon. I said it depends on the salon, which it does. But all the hand wringing of “well I’d never have had a beauty treatment if I hadn’t taken my baby” is just silly.

You sound like more hard work than the baby