Put your frikking babies to bed!

[Plsdiscuss]

I went for a very exclusive dinner Saturday night. I'd been looking forward to it for ages. £150 per head place, which is a huge splurge for us.

A family of 4 were seated next to us at their 7.45pm arrival. The (about) 3 yr old was 50% pacified. The (about) 9 month old in the high chair squawked for about 30 mins then fell asleep, looking very uncomfortable slumped over the side of the highchair.

If their noise wasn't bad enough, I could hear another child crying in another part of the restaurant for about an hour. That child's noise got louder as they were pushed in their pram crossing the restaurant to leave around 9pm. I commented and gestured to my partner. I wasn't as subtle as I thought in this, as the mum looked cross, waved her arm at me and mouthed fuck off.

When my now adult children were that small, they were in bed by 7.30, unless there was an event like a wedding. We got babysitters for evening meals out...very rare as very hard to get babysitters. I would never have dreamt of taking my under 5s to quiet intimate adult spots, then letting them cry for the majority. For 1, I wouldn't have enjoyed my food and 2, neither would those around me.

There's a reason deliveroo exists. Use it. And stop being so frikking selfish. Babies need sleep, not fine dining.

No!

Children do NOT have to be badly behaved when out.

If parents are forking out for a meal with their kids I presume they want to enjoy it too.
Start slowly when they're young and they get used to behaving. And on the occasions when they don't you deal with it.

But just because you're eating in a McDs or Weatherspoon's you are paying for your meal and you are entitled to enjoy it!

I think it's weird to care what time other people put their kids to bed. And it's weird to be against children being in restaurants as a default.

I'm very against disruptive behaviour, be it from adults or children. And I'm absolutely against lazy parenting, which ignoring your screaming child is. If the restaurant are happy to accommodate children then absolutely fine, as there's places to suit everyone. You'd mostly not notice children because they mostly behave well. But if your kid is shouting, crying etc then please just tend to them.

Maybe it never crossed their mind? We've booked a Michelin star place later this year. It's a rare indulgence and I honestly never thought about the possibility of there being kids there. I can barely we can afford to take ourselves, the idea is taking kids was just way beyond my imagining.

It will be our 4th fine dining experience, never any kids before, even at lunch. I'm quite worried now but we've paid and it's non refundable so we'll just hope we're lucky again.

It's a bloody rude response and if I was spending that much on dinner, I would like to eat it in peace!

@MissScarletInTheBallroom

Read my post again- here it is for ease;

“Is it funny that you struggle to use google?

Try searching ‘adult only’ instead of ‘child free’

I live in the arse end of nowhere and I found 2 within half an hour of me in about 30 seconds of looking.”

If you search ‘child free’ it will bring up results related to children eating free/places to eat with children.

I realised that after I replied.

I've now searched for adult only, as you suggested.

All my results are for adult only spas, or restaurants which look very nice but have kids menus on their websites.

Most people are oblivious to the fact they don't get enough sleep let alone their children. Sleep hygiene is really bad with electric gadgets children falling asleep and being carried to bed.

If it's so early why are so many restraints nowadays shut up and in darkness by 10?

Maybe. I’ve always found at least 1 child in Michelin star places… never one being loud/a problem though.

I have a high tolerance for kid behaviour though- it’s other adults that annoy me. We went for a ‘naice’ lunch the other day- baby in high chair/being breastfed was no problem. The grandparents on a Skype call to their grandchildren at the tops of their voices were a lot more annoying, and went on for 40 minutes without stopping.

Memories of sitting waiting outside the Working Men's Club with a can of shandy & a bag of KP Crisps just came flooding back.

I don’t know what to tell you, I found a selection from Burnley to Devon before I stopped looking.

If it's so early why are so many restraints nowadays shut up and in darkness by 10?

Yeah, habits have definitely changed, not many restaurants keep serving much past 9 these days.

A few places will , it’s not hard . Eat shellfish or a
propwr steak you will get there fast , specially if drinking too

Lazy parents are often the issue.
No one wants to hear someone's badly behaved child/ren in a public place.

That hellion that screamed blue murder for the duration of an 8 hour flight while the mother did nothing except demand an I pad was a case in point.

The child was a complete pain and made headline news.

The adults that annoy me are the ones taking photos of everything. I was near a couple a few days ago , where she was ridiculous, keeps saying wait wait wait take one eating this bit and now put the knife like that and then they made a video .

Exactly but people are saying 7.45 is early go out to eat at 9 I can only think they haven't got a clue nowadays.

It's none of your business if people have brought their children to a restaurant that you're in... Not their fault that you left your child at home is it? 🤣 Stop being a snob.

I can introduce you to mine if you like? 4mo and his bedtime has been 7pm since about 11 weeks, I think we've had 2 night where that hasn't been the case and in both cases he was in his bed sleep by 8 at the latest. More luck than judgement but it's not impossible.

Totally with you OP - children that age should ideally be at home but if not parents should opt for a more casual dining environment and not ruin special occasion dining for others. Crying children should be taken outside the dining room without delay.

Mine is in bed at 7 on the dot every night without exception but at the same time, if I wanted an adult only meal I'd go somewhere without highchairs and a kids menu.

I can see why you didn’t appreciate the noisy children OP. There are so many places, activities etc geared towards young children and families in society so I don’t think there is a lack of choice. That being said I think these type of restaurants should make it clear that the area will be child free after say 8pm otherwise they will find they risk losing lucrative clientele! There is a reason why a number of adults only resorts have started popping up for holidays and they are not for adults wanting to party. Unless the children are your own it’s just not relaxing, and ends up making staying at home or socialising at friends’ houses the better option 🤷🏻‍♀️

"Snob" - really?!!

Explain to me now what is snobbish about wanting to eat a nice meal in peace without screaming children? Of course it's their business!! They're the ones stuck listening to it. If you can't control your children then leave them at home!

A few places doesn't really constitute the average price either does it?

I've no idea why people can't read properly on this thread. Most places don't charge £150 per head for a meal. Some do, sure, and they're in the minority typically offering an experience as opposed to a steak and scallops.

My 10 month old is the kind of child who likes to be in bed by 7 at the latest.

However if he was happy to be up later I would happily take him out for an evening meal. I would also be happy to give you the same response as the other mother.

You have no right to tell others when their children should be in bed. If you want a child free evening then go to a restaurant that doesn't allow children.....

I’m curious are there many adults only restaurants? Genuine question as I don’t think I’ve officially come across any!