Was I unreasonable to take my daughters with me to get my nails done?

[OrlaMcCool]

I changed my name for this because I’ve told other people about it.
I was planning on getting my nails done for a special occasion today and I went to a hotel spa I’d been given a voucher for.

I have taken my daughters (5 and 9) with me to a walk in nail bar before and they sit with snacks and their iPad.
No one has ever complained and some customers and the technicians seem to have enjoyed having them there and chatting about colours and designs. If it’s too busy for them to sit next to me then they sit in the waiting area.

The only suitable appointment was today at 4pm so after school. I had no choice so took my girls with me planning to do the same and let them sit and wait with their iPad.
When I arrived the woman on reception said in a really shitty tone of voice that kids weren’t allowed inside not even to wait quietly.
I said they would be really good but she said absolutely not because there were people in rooms having treatments and they wanted to keep a relaxing atmosphere.

I do understand this and didn’t realise that they did nails by the treatment rooms, I asked if there was anywhere else they could sit and I was practically begging.
Another woman came over and said she was the owner and said I needed to make another appointment. I explained I didn’t have a chance and that my daughters would be quiet and watch the lpad and I could turn the volume as low as possible or even turn it off, I was nearly in tears because I was embarrassed and frustrated.

The owner said that no children were allowed in the spa under any circumstances and was hostile and standing like a bouncer at the door. I left because I didn’t want to make a fuss but I was holding back tears and thought the way she spoke to me was rude and unfair.

I know it wasn’t ideal and I probably didn’t think it through properly because I’m used to taking my girls with me to the usual place I go to.
I think they could have been a bit kinder and let them sit in reception but I suppose they didn’t know that they will actually sit and behave nicely.
I’m not asking if I was unreasonable to take them, I want to know if I’m unreasonable for expecting the staff to have been less aggressive and for speaking to me that way in front of my children and making them sound like a nuisance.

I was going to complain to the hotel that rents the space to the spa but my sister said I was being ridiculous and told me to post for opinions on here.

Totally out of order to bring kids into a hotel spa. I’d be totally annoyed if I were another customer in there who actually pay for child care so I could have some blissful kid free spa treatment then have to put up with your kids.

Sorry OP but you are in the wrong here. You are just looking at it from a perspective of noise and its not that simple.

While it’s not illegal for a child to wait in reception, salons must weigh the risks and ensure they’re covered by insurance and compliant with safety regulations. If you're a parent, it’s worth checking with the specific salon and their insurer for their policy.

Insurance Considerations

• Public liability insurance typically covers clients and visitors on the premises, including children. However, insurers may require:
• That children are supervised at all times - yours wouldn't be as you are having your nails done
• That the salon has clear policies for minors on-site - in this case, that they are not allowed on site
• If a child is injured (e.g., by tripping, touching chemicals, or equipment), the salon could face liability claims. Insurers may deny coverage if proper precautions weren’t taken.

H&S considerations
Nail salons often contain hazardous materials (e.g., acetone, gel polish, sharp tools) that pose risks to unsupervised children.
Children may be tempted to touch or play with equipment before you sppot that they have moved, increasing the chance of accidents.
If your kids want to go to the loo urgently and you are sat there mid way through having your nails done...who takes them?

Its up to the company to decide how to mitigate that risk and in this case, they have done it by not allowing children in - fair point. You reasonably asked them to make an exception and they reasonably declined. Yu just didn't like the answer.

Also, if you have a reception area, its like a shopfront and having your kids in there could indicate that the place is busier than it is, so they may lose walk ins, or the fact that kids are in there, may put some off.

Sorry I agree with the spa I go to no kids spa/ salons on purpose. I have kids- but it is one opportunity to just relax in an adult only space!!

Ignoring the iPad focus and how utterly ridiculous it is to say ‘if people can’t cope with a 5 minute conversation with a child then that’s their problem’ (what.the.fuck)…. And focusing on your dissection of the conversation …

-you were politely told the policy and asked to rebook
-you refused and begged…
-you were told politely of the policy again and asked to rebook
-you refused and pleaded
-at this point the owner appear and was sharp and blunt which upset you.

So you were told twice and STILL persisted at which point it all got a little rude. So yes, yes iPad volume aside, you are massively unreasonable to say you were treated poorly and they should have been kinder.

And you would be utterly batshit to post a negative review based on this experience where you were wholly in the wrong

'The salon have been very gracious towards you by not requiring you to pay a cancellation fee for the appointment'

This was my thinking, they've lost the cost of whatever treatment you were having that day. I think they showed good faith in waiving a cancellation fee and upholding your voucher for another appointment.

YWBU

Its a bit cringe that you were almost in tears and visibly upset over not getting your nails done!

The world doesn’t revolve around you! 😬

Awaits for a spa receptionist to post to ask if she is being unreasonable to feeling intimidated & shook by a client refusing to take no for an answer at leaving her children in the reception 🙃

No means no.

This. Send them to sit in the car?! Hardly traumatising

OP, the bottom line is, it doesn’t matter what anyone here thinks about children being in nail bars or similar. The point is, this salon didn’t allow children, whether that be personal choice, customer requests or insurance reasons. You think they were unreasonable to have this rule and wanted them to break it for you. That is the unreasonable part, not them refusing.

I think people (including me) have mentioned the iPad noise because for the majority of people this would be hugely annoying in this situation, no matter how low the volume or where they were sitting, this coupled with you repeatedly asking them to bend / break rules does sound (rightly or wrongly) a bit entitled.

Ooo I missed that! This one is fun though 😂

You wanted to let your kids watch an iPad with the volume on in a spa?! You are being very, very unreasonable. Even on a low volume noise from other people’s phones and iPads is incredibly irritating - it’s selfish behaviour and sets a terrible example for your kids.

It is an issue - nothing worse than having a relaxing manicure/pedicure and some entitled person turns up with their kids ….. and I have kids and wouldn’t take them to any appointments like this.

Nor around your nails. And long nails are not hygienic- that's why they are not allowed on hospital staff.

OP, I used to get my nails done at a salon, the owner’s young daughter would often be there and she would chat to the customers…constantly. I used to be polite but pretty much ignore and not engage-not because I’m nasty, but (as others have said) because it’s an adult space and I wanted some peace and quiet. I don’t always want to be around kids! In the end I stopped going as it was obvious the owner thought her daughter was adorable and did nothing to acknowledge the reactions of the customers. Your girls might have enjoyed the experience, but can you say the same for all the staff and (paying) clients?

If this was such a special event ( usually known well in advance ) why did you leave getting your nails done until the last minute?
if it’s absolutely imperative 🙄 to get your nails done couldn’t you have arranged it when your kids were at school…..

Very unreasonable and entitled.

Nobody wants to talk to your kids, and nobody wants to hear your kids bloody iPad, on low or otherwise.

Most spas are kid free so YABU. You should have booked at a time when they could be looked after by someone else.

No. You didn’t let it go and got defensive and argued with them. Sad to say but your children are not important to others. I have 4 kids and i used to get my nails done every two weeks. Now I never get them done, why? Because I do not have time. That’s life. Harsh but true.

I would be really angry if I went to a spa for a treatment and I could hear iPads or children. I am paying to escape that thank you very much

Your kids only have to ask a loud question once and thats the peace gone. People pay for the peace. Completely unacceptable.

The only way other people cant hear the iPad is to have the sound off. You cant have it low without headphones and people not hearing it. Often you can hear it even if the person is using headphones.

I know what you mean! People can get very judgy and I believe it’s more important to be kind than to be right. That doesn’t make you a pushover; you just don’t have the need to be rude to people to get your point across and you use empathy and kindness towards others. I always treat others the way I treat someone I love dearly. People respond kindly to me too and it’s always been my mission to scatter kindness.
Sure, you’ll meet rude people and IMO they don’t deserve your energy and I find it best not to get involved with them.
These people in this spa were rude and disrespectful to you. You didn’t know children weren’t welcome because where you normally go to get your nails done, it’s never been an issue so you didn’t even think it’ll be an issue. They could have said ‘I’m sorry but could you please re-book because unfortunately we are not permitted to have children on the premises.’ You’d have left disappointed but not made feel bad and humiliated. You might have gone back. After the way they treated you, you’re not going to go back.
They could have also said ‘We don’t usually allow children on the premises but they seem well behaved and if they can be quiet then they are welcome to stay.’
Conversation management is a skill as is customer services, and these people don’t seem to possess these skills.
They can have their rules and they can enforce them, but there’s no need to be rude! 💛

I’m sorry but you’re 100 being unreasonable. A beauty salon is no place for children and you obviously pushed and asked for an exception so they were going to have to be a bit blunt to get you to bugger off.

Could you not have booked them into an after school club if you were so desperate for your nails done. I’m honestly shocked you thought it would be ok at all.

Obnoxiously entitled. And turn your iPad volume completely off in public!!

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 yes! I worked as a nail tech and had a strict no children policy. Not only is it against most people’s insurance policy, children present at appointments add extra time. Even if they sit immediately on arrival and perfectly still, without uttering a word the mum is still distracted and focused on watching their child. If the child then moves, talks to any other customers, looks at the colours, ANYTHING else - it costs more time of the appointment. It is so rude to bring a child along, especially if you don’t ask first. It just says ‘my time is more valuable than yours and I don’t care if I make you late for the rest of the day’. Nail techs and other beauty professionals as usually self-employed and each treatment is timed to the minute when planning their diaries and prices, any distributions like that cost money.

that’s not to mention if a child fell, came into contact with any of the numerous chemicals in a nail salon or any other possible situation which would cause a disturbance to the treatment and that of all the other clients. Baffles me how clueless some people are!