To think parents should bring babies to restaurants?

[BePoisedPlumViper]

I get that parents want to enjoy dining out, but isn’t it inconsiderate for those of us looking for a peaceful meal?

Title meant to say SHOULDN’T

Okay I really disagree! Your list of requirements for children to be allowed to eat in the same restaurant as you is a bit ott!!
remain seated at all times? Bit much! You never get up to use the bathroom etc? I wouldn’t care if a kid got up to pass something or get something from mum at the other end of the table. Better than making a whole scene across a table of ppl.
my kids don’t have access to devices but I couldn’t care less if someone else’s do and we’re in the same restaurant. No I don’t like it but it’s certainly not my business, they aren’t forcing me to watch!

Depends on the restaurant. I don’t think you get to have a peaceful meal at the Harvester.

Little babies just sleep, generally. The six to 18 months crawling/ weaning/ throwing food around is the worst age to take in my experience.

Only had an issue when my dd was 5 weeks old and was lying nicely on the table, but then skited a pint of beer everywhere. We did get banned from that pub

I’ve rarely been bothered by a baby in a restaurant… drunken, braying blokes? Yup. Hen parties ? … if you don’t want to see a baby or children a restaurant, go to ones where they’re unlikely to be…

Kids and babies shouldn't be in super posh restaurants (ie Michalin star places). But other restaurants are fine. Although I do think parents should be prepared to step out or even abandon plans if necessary. If you baby starts screaming their head of and feeding/changing etc doesn't work then I think you need to go outside with them - it's not fair on other diners to leave them screaming their head off.

A few times with a toddler we have sat down somewhere and realised straight away 'this ain't happening'. Toddler is agitated, grabbing at things, trying to throw things, noisy etc and we have aborted mission. Usually, at this point, we realised toddler had been in the car/pushchair for ages and hadn't had a good run about and play.

we went to a nice restaurant on holiday at about 9pm and at the next table the couple had brought a young baby. The baby screamed its head off the whole time and it really spoiled our meal. We couldn’t hear each other and it put me off eating. All the parents did was shoogle the pram to shush the screaming. So saying ‘go out later’ etc it doesn’t work if parents bring out children who really should be in bed and are upset and overtired.

I think the compromise should be no children under 10 after 8pm.

Some Michelin starred places are quite happy if you’re taking a baby. Toddlers can be a different issue. Older children are fine in most places.

I also 100% do not believe her about her own children either 🤣
I suppose they also tip the waiter, carry the plates back for them, insist they pay for themselves-and everyone else, buy extra portions to give to the homeless shelter and wipe the table down as they leave

Much easier to take a baby to a restaurant than a toddler ime. The parents should make the most of it while they can in my opinion.

Babies and children are part of life op

How is a baby or small child crying ‘a tiny bit of noise’? A crying or shouting child should be taken out of the restaurant and calmed down where they aren’t disrupting other people’s experience.

Preferable to drunk adults shouting and arguing imo. Or a bunch of loud adults yapping at the top of their voices. Young children do not know the rules, the adults should.

Doesn’t bother me as I appreciate babies will do what they do, and no parent can control what happens. Older children bother me, if they haven’t been taught how to behave when out in restaurants, ie screaming, running round, no table manners.

what about adults with disabilities who make random loud noises ?
that about older children who are autistic ?
what about my MIL who is partially deaf and after a few vodkas talks really really loud ?
if I waited for my kids to be calm quiet perfectly behaved I would be stuck at home never going out for last 15 years !!

It’s perfectly possible to find both situations unpleasant @Mum2jenny. And yes, young children don’t know the rules. Thats why it’s up to the parents to police their behaviour for them, by removing them to calm down if they are crying or being too noisy.

I find the sight of adults gawping at phones at dinner way more offensive than the sight of children.

At what age do you think is acceptable for children to go for a meal with their family then??
i took my two year old and 5 year old to a ‘fancy’ pub for lunch today. Can’t say I particularly enjoyed it as I was worried they would play up and annoy people around us, but it was a family members birthday and they chose the place. Do I just not leave the house until they are teens??

And what is done to remove loud noisy adults? Absolutely nothing. I’d much prefer to hear little children/ babies in a restaurant than loud noisy obnoxious adults. But that may not be everyone’s preference!!

But they're in those places too, these days.

Your newborns were clearly different to mine. My first was the variety that did nothing but scream at 2 weeks.

Anyway I agree that your typical Thai restaurant is absolutely a fine place to bring DC of any age as long as they're not disturbing anyone.

Fine dining is much like a hen do - sometimes it shouldn't need to be explicitly stated that children aren't welcome, parents should just read the room.

We took our babies, we don't take our toddlers. Even a very fancy 2 Michelin stars restaurant told us they would accommodate if we had to take our 2 months old.
Most babies aren't that disruptive, they sleep most of the time, feed a bit, go back to sleep ... Of course there are bad nights but it's never happen to us when we were out, unless it was a very special occasion we would probably have left then.

It’s mainly the noise and potential disruption.

YABU. I can guarantee you my experience in restaurants have more often been ruined by the noise and disruption caused by drunk adults, or a group of friends having a gossip than by a baby!!

It’s mainly the noise and potential disruption.

The "potential" disruption? So even a perfectly silent baby or beautifully behaved toddler/young child would unacceptable because of the potential for disruption?

Surely the issue is with parents allowing bad behaviour (children screaming, running around), or not taking a crying baby out for a little walk, rather than the actual children themselves.

No one reasonable can have an issue with a well behaved child who is making no more noise than the average adult having a conversation, or a baby who sleeps through the whole meal.

So parents aren't entitled to go out at a restaurant without the baby for a nice meal ??? Young age or not they simply can't be tied by being home every day. Babies need social life well as parents, choose shouldn't or should very wisely please.

Mumsnet: It’s unreasonable to go to a family-friendly restaurant and complain about crying babies and toddlers, you should go somewhere kids aren’t welcome.

Also Mumsnet; It’s unreasonable for any restaurant not to welcome kids, they must ALL be family-friendly!

I stopped going to restaurants once it became clear that the only people they’re now for is parents of small kids. I am ND and I can’t cope with the combo of noisy kids and sound-enhancing chrome/glass/metal design of pretty much all restaurants these days.