Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let Dc play switch in a Michelin star restaurant?

224 replies

GCSquirrel · 06/01/2023 22:39

Dc is 7yo. I was supposed to be going for a 6 course tasting tomorrow evening but due to my friend’s childcare issues (her dh was supposed to be having her dc plus my 7yo for a sleepover but he’s got Covid) she had to cancel. It was booked using a voucher and as it’s such short notice if we don’t go tomorrow the voucher will be cancelled.

The restaurant have said they’re fine with dc coming as long as he isn’t disruptive. Dc is generally pretty well behaved but I’ve eaten at this restaurant before and the whole thing takes a good 2.5 hours. I think he would actually enjoy the food and the experience but obviously it’s a long time for a 7yo to sit still and be relatively quiet. If I let him play with his switch if he starts to get a bit fidgety he is absolutely guaranteed to be quiet. He got a new Pokémon game for it for Christmas and is obsessed with it.

If you went out for a posh meal would you be irritated if there was a kid playing switch there? I don’t know if I’m being really selfish to consider it but it was a really expensive voucher and I do like food.

OP posts:
SamanthaCaine · 07/01/2023 07:11

LesLavandes · 06/01/2023 23:55

Imo. No electronics. A book to read?
Drawing stuff, old fashioned conversation and of course eating!

Yep, this for me. But I've a dislike of any electronics at the table. Shouldn't be allowed personally.

We put a lot of effort into our kids eating at the table, which paid back in spades as they never had to rely on electronics.

Clymene · 07/01/2023 07:15

Marchitectmummy · 07/01/2023 05:07

I wouldn't mind as he isn't my child , however I would probably form a judgement. I wouldn't throw a device at my child to keep them quiet, and if im honest find it very lazy parenting. 7 is old enough to sit still for that period of time and join in the experience. At some stage he needs to learn to adapt to circumstance and behave accordingly.

However it's totally personal choice.

She didn't ask what you thought of her parenting, just whether it would bother you.

I'm sure she's well aware that some fictional 7 year olds can think of nothing more delightful than to sit at a table eating for 2.5 hours, making polite conversation Hmm

Shoxfordian · 07/01/2023 07:19

Wouldn’t bother me if I couldn’t hear them and they weren’t disrupting anything

Alondra · 07/01/2023 07:37

Frankly, I wouldn't take such a young child to a Michelin star restaurant, it's not the right atmosphere for a 7 y.o. He may enjoy the food or he may hate it, he's too young to have a developed a taste for fine cousine even if he enjoys a diversity of foods.

He's also young enough to be unpredictable if the atmosphere of the restaurant intimidates him. Dinners won't care about him as long as he's quiet and silent but, if for whatever reason he becomes loud, you'll be shown to the door.

I've always included my children since early age to go to restaurants, pubs and bars (in Spain). But I even draw a line for children in Michelin star restaurants.

Fadeout83 · 07/01/2023 07:37

Clymene · 07/01/2023 07:15

She didn't ask what you thought of her parenting, just whether it would bother you.

I'm sure she's well aware that some fictional 7 year olds can think of nothing more delightful than to sit at a table eating for 2.5 hours, making polite conversation Hmm

Show quote history

took the words right out of my mouth. Absolute fiction or living in fear of parents.

Bumpinthenight · 07/01/2023 07:55

We took our 3 year old for a lunch tasting menu back in the day. It wasn't until we were leaving that I noticed we'd been put one side of the restaurant and everyone else the other. Funny because our 3 year old had been practically silent eating her soup whilst the other child had been really loud and ran around!

The restaurant have said he is allowed. Take him, enjoy. Ignore the other diners.

rookiemere · 07/01/2023 08:01

No bother as long as I don't hear excessive noise from the DC or from the game.

rookiemere · 07/01/2023 08:04

Oh here we go again with the comments about electronics.

DS is an only and when he was younger and we were on holiday then yes absolutely after a day at the water park or beach we'd let him use the ipad to play Angry Birds on silent so we - and other diners - could enjoy our meal in peace.

He is 16 now and perfectly capable of eating politely and nicely- possibly because in addition to the two weeks of holidays per year and occasional meal out, we eat every dinner every evening together at the table,with no phones or ipads allowed.

LemonDrizzles · 07/01/2023 08:08

Also consider a few tv show downloads, a choice puzzle book or 2, undisruptive snacks, maybe even a drawing book.

Also peak at the menu and see if he could enjoy a lovely ice cream/ chocolate cake type pudding.

I only have wireless headphones for the 4 year old. The 7 year old had wired headphones. Do you have any recommendations for wireless 7 year old headphones?

Spaghetti201 · 07/01/2023 08:17

If I had to take my own kids it would spoil the meal for me! But I prob wouldn’t mind someone else’s kids in the restaurant. I would be searching for alternative childcare asap so I could enjoy a peaceful meal.

Herroyal · 07/01/2023 08:26

Books, colouring, bits of Lego, Dobble, east card game, some little figures to play with….
all better than having a child sit with their face in a screen.

Clymene · 07/01/2023 08:29

Herroyal · 07/01/2023 08:26

Books, colouring, bits of Lego, Dobble, east card game, some little figures to play with….
all better than having a child sit with their face in a screen.

Why?

Abraxan · 07/01/2023 08:29

rattlemehearties · 06/01/2023 23:24

Interesting replies! I would absolutely be a snob about this and think it was poor if I saw it in a restaurant. He should be able to behave at the table and maybe enjoy the experience at that age.

You could bring some paper and crayons? But the Switch would be like an adult staring at their phone the whole meal - really gauche! I am surprised so many people think it sounds fine.

Whilst I wouldn't do it myself, it just wouldn't bother me if someone else did. Tbh if in silent I'd doubt I'd even notice as would be more,focused in my own food and the people I was with.

I also wouldn't know the background. I work with children this age daily so know that there can be a whole load of differences in 7yo children. So wouldn't presume to judge a parent of a child who was sat quietly and not disturbing other diners.

I would be more likely to judge someone who was openly or visibly judging others however, as they'd probably me more obvious and distracting and I'd wonder why they were so concerned about how others chose to dine rather than focusing on their own meal.

pd339 · 07/01/2023 08:32

PleaseCleanTheWholeToilet · 06/01/2023 22:41

Why does anyone elses opinion matter?
as long as silent or ear plugs, who cares. Will the other child have to go to tho?

Thankfully, some people still take other people into account in deciding how to behave. We haven't totally been overrun by the "me me me" brigade yet!

WhatInFreshHell · 07/01/2023 08:34

@rattlemehearties Yes, you sound like a snob

Abraxan · 07/01/2023 08:35

Will the other child have to go to tho?

I read the op that the other person have cancelled, so will be looking after their own child at home.
But the OP's child was supposed to be staying with them - and now can't sue to the covid.

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 07/01/2023 08:35

@Alondra she doesn't have childcare so no choice to take him..can't cancel or voucher which presumably was expensive will be wasted
@Herroyal Lego and double?? Seriously? Far more disruptive and noticeable to others than a silent screen.
Also, he's only there because bhe has to be ..I'm sure the op and her friend don't want to play sodding dobble at this experience. It's a one off, not a policy for every meal out ever.

FlounderingFruitcake · 07/01/2023 08:37

It’s fine with no sound and also turn the brightness down so it’s not a stand out glare in a room of otherwise dim lights.

All the kids in my family (nieces, nephews, my own DC) have been to Michelin restaurants from quite young and generally we avoid tasting menus, they have a main whilst we do starters, then a pudding whilst we do the main and at that point, when they’re done eating and are about 1.5 hours in, we allow screens.

Herroyal · 07/01/2023 08:38

‘@Herroyal Lego and double?? Seriously? Far more disruptive and noticeable to others than a silent screen.’

yes, treating your child as part of a family or event or meal farther than sticking them on a screen to be ignored.
It’s hardly radical.

MilkyYay · 07/01/2023 08:38

Its a bit weird but if quiet not the end of the world.

Waste of a nice tasting menu though, won't he just be tired being up late? In your shoes I'd book someone off sitters and find another adult to take!

MilkyYay · 07/01/2023 08:40

Id also say, in a Michelin star restaurant i wouldn't expect there to be children and the types of conversations i and friends have over dinner aren't always the easiest to explain to children. Don't expect fellow diners to adjust their conversation because your 7 year old is there.

MilkyYay · 07/01/2023 08:43

It’s so very apparent here how many people have never eaten Michelin and are just going off what they’ve heard. I promise you there are children in 3 stars.

Ive eaten in many. In the evenings, 8pm onwards, younger children are rare. Of course you get occasional kids. Its more common for there to be none, especially outside London.

DottieUncBab · 07/01/2023 08:44

As long as it’s silent / got headphones on I wouldn’t be bothered

MassiveSalad22 · 07/01/2023 08:46

I’m just impressed your kid is guaranteed to be silent when playing switch. Mine makes all sorts of noises, cheers, jumps up, does victory laps etc.

I deffo wouldn’t take a kid tbh

Merryoldgoat · 07/01/2023 08:47

As long as it wasn’t super loud I wouldn’t care.

Swipe left for the next trending thread