Asking staff to rinse toddler plate

[leggingsandasweatshirt]

I am extremely hormonal so potentially being unreasonable, but interested to see if others think this is a reasonable request or if I am over stepping:

We were out for lunch today and I brought a suction plate for DS (almost 2) because he is likely to launch a regular plate. When we'd finished I realised I'd run out of nappy bags so didn't have anything to put the dirty plate in inside my bag.

I explained this to the waitress and apologised for being a pain and asked if it was possible for someone to give it a quick rinse so I could put it in my bag without covering everything in gravy.

She looked at me like I'd just shit on the table and responded she was trying to clear the plates. I was mortified that I had clearly offended her and said it didn't matter. My step mum then suggested I rinse the plate in the sink in the toilet which I hadn't thought of, so I then went and did that.

I have asked restaurants to do this on occasion before - am I being an entitled wanker or is this a reasonable request?!

In short term yes?? Bringing a suction plate until success in getting a child to not throw a plate and food is a pretty good solution to just letting the child chuck plates around at diners. Obviously there's the long-term option of teaching the child what to do but that takes time, any parent will know that. And then the option of bringing the child at all which isn't always possible or fair, especially when suction plates exist for this very purpose.

The waiting staff are generally too busy to be wiping down plates that don’t even belong to the restaurant, you’re a CF. Just make sure you’ve got wet wipes next time.

And I'm sure they won't miss you

You are funny 😄

You're reading comprehension is poor.

You quoted me.

Read the tag properly mate.

I'm sure the last thing op wants is her toddler throwing plates, you'd think from some of these replies that she was encouraging it

Some times toddlers throw stuff, because they are tiny arseholes still learning

I can’t imagine that I am the only parent whose child didn’t have a suction plate when eating out and also didn’t chuck plates around at diners. The long term option of teaching the child what to do tends to take less time when it isn’t avoided.
Each to their own I suppose.

I would have wiped with a serviette or baby wipe or taken to toilets, but I do not think your polite request was unreasonable. She could have said, oh I’m really sorry but I’m not supposed to use the chef sinks (or whatever) if that was the case, or I’m so sorry but I’m rushed off my feet, but she chose to look at you nastily and make you feel shit. She was rude and I would not have tipped or returned there.

My reading comprehension is fine, your SPAG is poor, it’s ‘your reading comprehension’.

All I said was I responded to a poster. The thread is too long to remember who that poster was. Even if it was you, my point still stands.

I'm in agreement with this comment

Depends on the child

Yes but it's a little difficult to try and teach the child that when eating at a restaurant. The teaching should happen at home not in front of others and it doesn't happen immediately depending on each child.

Honestly I don't see an issue at all with suction plates though. I get people not liking her asking the waitress and all that but actually taking one with you isn't an issue at all surely?? What do you have against a person taking their own plate for their child?

If you have a small child who may upend their plate unto the floor or even throw it then it's better not to risk that when out eating

No need for those who's child never did it to worry about suction plates, they grow out of it while still young regardless

@ourflagmeansdeath as I said, each to their own. I don’t have an issue, just find it odd if eating out myself.

Couldn't you take it to the loos and rinse it in the sink?

@ClaireStandishsLipstick if you don't have an issue with it then why comment about it on a thread where the question in hand isn't about the suction plate but the washing of it?

Why not? The toddler needs to eat.

Because the toddler of two years of age is yet to be born who can polish off even a smaller roast dinner. Seems likely to be a lot wasted

@CraneBoysMysteries because I didn’t get the memo telling me that I had to only reply to the question specifically asked by the OP at all times and that I wasn’t allowed to garner an opinion or question anything referred to within a post.

You've brought a plate from home, because it's more convenient to use, I'd be cleaning it off myself in the bathroom, not asking wait staff to take it back, wash it, dry it and return it. It does seem a tad CF'ish I'm afraid.

I think it's fine but I'd never have asked myself! I would have washed it in the bathroom.

YABU

She was probably busy and trying to do three things at once. Why couldn’t you just have wiped the plate and put it in your bag and put Ito the dishwasher when you hit home?

Perhaps, but the alternative is to shirt change the restaurant really. I have always bought food for DC unless it really was not possible.

Well you've obviously never met my oldest

I mean if there are two adults eating in my experience you just give the child a bit off both of your plates and get maybe a starter or a dessert or both to make up what you missed in the main course. It is ridiculous to waste that much food to feed a toddler who will eat maybe a third. Restaurants do understand this.