Get off your phone and supervise your toddler!

[Toddlerteaplease]

Kid of about 15 months just wandering round Caffè Nero. She's very interested in the hot drinks on low tables. She's approaching other people and playing with their phones. Mum is completely oblivious on her phone. FFS supervise your toddler!

The fact is if you have a toddler in an environment with hot drinks there is absolutely no excuse for not keeping that child under your supervision and control, it starts and ends there.
As the OP works on a ward there is a good chance she is a nurse/doctor so if an accident were to happen she would no doubt be first on the scene to help. As she works in this profession and environment I don’t find it hard to imagine she has genuine concerns and cares about others.
Yes it is a good idea to let staff know but generally they will have already noticed as they repeatedly try to navigate safely around said unsupervised child.
We all know exactly why it’s not so easy to let a parent know; they are acutely aware of all the dangers from drinks and strangers etc and they have actively chosen not to parent. Do you think this person will take kindly to your pointing out their negligence no matter how kindly you attempt to say it? Maybe sometimes yes, but more often not, and then your coffee break is ruined as you face a barrage of abuse for your efforts.
I love small children but I don’t encourage them to get too close in a cafe situation because whilst I will immediately move my drink the next person may not have children and therefore may not know this is necessary.
You have a point OP so you are not being unreasonable, but the parent definitely is.

What about the other people in the cafe as well? You know the ones whose hot drinks and phones the kid is touching? Perhaps they should say or do something as well.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat yes, of course, they could. But as far as we know, they are not the ones vocally expressing some distress about it online to strangers and then equally vocally saying they are not going to do anything about it.

Well, they'll have to, won't they, if the kid looks to be in danger. But they shouldn't have to. So much neglectful parenting around - and, most probably, entitled assumptions that as there are other women around they will keep an eye while the parent goofs off on their phone. It takes a village, after all. rolls eyes

That’s horrible. If I saw a kid whose parent was slacking I couldn’t sit back and let them hurt themselves! I’d say something to the parent but to just ignore a toddler isn’t nice.
edit to say this was posted in response a pp not the op. It didn’t link for some reason. Op this is not aimed at you.

Theunamedcat · 15/10/2024 12:47

HappierTimesAhead · 15/10/2024 12:46
And you are on your phone here
**
Presumably she doesn't have a toddler that's wandering around begging to be scalded

This. Why the bloody hell should complete strangers in coffee shops have to watch out for someone else’s small child because that someone just can’t be arsed.

I can’t understand at all why so many parents seem to just not want to talk to their child.

Another thing (I hadn't picked up the bit about the toddler playing with people's phones) - do kids not get taught not to touch other people's belongings any more?

I hate kids that treat cafes like a playground. If they come near my table it's a stare and a very quiet evil "go away" tends to give them a shock. 👹