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

There is no need to read the room, you just ask the restaurant. A lot of fine dining places are perfectly happy for you to take a baby in a pram.

It’s never been something I’ve come across tbh but I imagine that if a table of drunk adults are being very noisy and unpleasant, the restaurant should ask them to quieten down.

It’s usually much easier to ignore the loud adults than it is the high pitched scream of a young child. Particularly if you are wearing hearing aids.

Babies are members of the public. If you don’t like them, don’t eat in a public place or go to somewhere that’s adults only.

Any human, little or big, should be allowed. Everyone should be mindful of noise and that includes very loud fussy crying from baby that doesn’t stop (fine if it starts but parents maybe need to step away if baby or toddler not soothed, until they are calm).

In addition, adults that laugh loud and talk loud, thinking they are super witty and have the most awful foghorn of noises, should also be made to leave and calm down before they come back. Sometimes their noises is what sets off the child.

So I don’t agree that children shouldn’t be allowed, I think any noisy patron should leave the dining area until they are calm.

I can kind of get you, however, myself and partner haven’t been out together since DS (21m) was born as it’s just us 2 so sometimes people don’t have a choice but to bring their baby

Doesn't bother me in the slightest, but then I have a kid of my own. Is it because babies lack sophistication? 😂

We always took ours early when they were little, like 5/5.30. I think that’s reasonable.

I don't mind a baby or small child being in a fancy restaurant provided the parents take it out when it starts screaming, throwing a tantrum, running around the place (in the case of small children), yelling, or banging cutlery on the tables.

I also don't want to listen to loud performance parenting.

I don't mind adults being in a fancy restaurant provided their friends take them out when they start screaming, throwing a tantrum, throwing food, staggering around the place, yelling, or banging cutlery on the tables.

Don’t be a dick

It has never occurred to me (even before being a parent) that children wouldn't be welcome in a restaurant. It's a restaurant, not a nightclub.

Obviously there's varying standards of behaviour you'd expect depending on the restaurant, Toby Carvery more relaxed than Michelin star place.

If you don't want children there I'd probably go for a later dinner, but if it's lunchtime or early evening I would expect children

A waiter once tried to serve DC 'skin-on mini potato wedges'. DC informed them that they were chips and asked for baked beans please. So yeah, we may be lacking in sophistication.

I agree. Always took DS out with me to places. He is a very calm child - not sure if my nature or nurture or a bit of both! Even when he was 2 he could in a cafe and have lunch with us calmly. I used and still do prefer to go to supermarkets with him than without as he actually calms me down 😂
He has never run about screaming. I was maybe easier when he was a baby even more so as cafes were visited if we were out and I needed to BF him

Yes- all babies should not be allowed out of the house until they’re 16 so YOU can have peace and quiet wherever you go 🙄

Depends on the restaurant and time. 5/6pm in a bog standard restaurant? Yes. 9pm in a Michelin star restaurant? No.

I have an 11 month old. He's been to many restaurants. Family birthday meals, lunches with other friends with babies. Always been fine. And tbh, he was usually interested enough to be pretty chill. I bring toys and try time it for when not tired. Luckily he's never had a full on screaming meltdown. I assume that will come more in the age 1-3 range 🤣

I really hate this attitude in this country, go to Italy, or Spain or Greece and you will see families out late at night eating, singing enjoying themselves loudly, it’s lovely seeing families enjoying each others company and spending time together. Why must we be so terrified of “disturbing” others that parents feel guilty about taking their children out for a meal, children are members of society and have just as much right to be in public spaces as you.

Christ you object to the potential disruption
Fucking hell.
The world is not catered to everyone's individual preferences and if you can't enjoy something unless no one around you acts in a way that yiu deem undesirable then maybe you shouldn't be going out.
We really need to start being responsible for our own reaction to things in the world.

I'm fine with it, though I find it totally bizarre that parents find it acceptable or necessary to stick a 'phone in front of said baby to entertain it while they eat.

I do agree with this.

I experience more loud adults than I do kids in restaurants. I don’t see kids as often as some seem to.

Can’t actually boot the loud talkers who don’t seem to have volume control.

I usually took my children after the lunch rush where it was quiet and we were often the only ones there.

As long as they are not crying, sure. If they start being a nuisance, they should leave (same applies to pets, adults, anything).

This and not everyone has a babysitter!

I said yes YABU - but that's because your OP said parents shouldn't bring babies to restaurants - full stop - and that is entirely unreasonable in my opinion.
There are restaurants - and then there are Restaurants!!

Babies and children need to learn how to behave when eating out. They are small people after all, not a separate species, but there is a time and a place for everything. Perfectly ok to take them to a lot of the family oriented chains, to start learning. Families with babies shouldn't be made to feel they aren't welcome to eat out at all.

I agree that top-end restaurants where the clientele are looking for excellent food in a peaceful, adult type, atmosphere, and spending a lot of money as well, are not appropriate until you know your children can be trusted to behave, (and babies can be unpredictable, so that also applies to them too). Especially after, say 7.30pm in the evening. But that is not what you asked in your question!

The biggest problem anywhere is 1) parents who let their little darlings run riot, or don't remove a screaming baby when it is being very disruptive to those sitting nearby and 2) Loud obnoxious, drunk adults who don't give a fig about the effect they have on those sitting near them.

Depends on the baby, the restaurant and the situation
Anyone eating out needs to be conscious of the people around them whether that's removing a crying baby or a friend that's had too much to drink.

Oh yawn. I bet youre someone who thinks babies shouldn’t be on planes either

I don't mind it but if the baby starts screaming and it goes on longer than a few minutes take the bubs outside.

It's not fair on people who are trying to talk and enjoy their evening if there's a screamer right next door for the whole 2 hours.

Take the wee one out and walk it around, get some fresh air. Don't subject people on and on and on to screaming. It's really not fair.

I can't stand it when people keep on shhing over and over as the bubs screams its heart out relentlessly. It's like the parents are deaf or something or they are so used to it, they forgot that actually, we have re-adjusted from the 100db baby phase and now would like it to be something of the past, thank you very much.

As I say I'm quite tolerant for a bit, but we all know when a baby is unsettled for more than it a bit, that's it. It's not going to calm down, is it?? Just quit the evening and go.

No but it becomes inconsiderate if the child is very distressed and after a bit the parents don’t take it away from others to calm them down.