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.

I have children and I would never dream of doing this. You were told no children when you arrived but you tried again to get your own way, you asked for it it my opinion. The staff at the spa should never have been put in that situation. Your sister is right, you are being ridiculous and will look ridiculous if you complain. What were you thinking?!?!?!

What would you have done if your dds had wanted to go to the loo. Would you expect the receptionist to deal with it ?
Same if one of them went outside..would you go after them or expect someone else to ?

Your children should not be regularly exposed to the toxins of nail dust in nail salons. Those micro particles are able to bypass nasal hair and enter the lungs. The long term damage is unknown, and many of the chemicals used are very nasty. I would be very concerned, if I was exposing my growing and developing children's cells to this.

I think this is the issue. Adults would have to make their talk absolutely child-friendly and that’s not reasonable.

I remember when a group of women were coming to mine for a good old coffee and catch-up and one brought her 8 year old daughter who (poor child) sat with us the whole time despite all kinds of alternative activities being offered. A very dull and censored time was had by all! Grrrr.

I think the response to them saying no should have really been ‘apologies, could I book another slot please while I’m here?’ And leave it at that. I wouldn’t want to be in a situation where I wouldn’t want to return.

Honestly no one wants to hear your kids iPads in spaces they aren’t meant to be in. That you even tho k this is ok reeks of entitlement

As a qualified nail tech I can say that, regardless of setting (nail bar, spa, home salon) it is absolutely unreasonable to take kids to a nail appointment. At the very least it's a nuisance which results in service time over-running and at worst it's a health and safety issue and can invalidate the nail tech's insurance. It's also a slippery slope to expecting you to do nail services on minors, which will also invalidate your insurance.

As a former self employed nail tech, let me tell you why they weren't "kinder" to you. You book someone in, if you're halfway decent, you have difficulty fitting people in and you have a waiting list. Your client rocks up with 2 kids in tow which, in addition to invalidating your insurance, you've never seen before and have no clue whether they're going to behave or trash the place and alienate the rest of your clients. Not only do you now have a hole in your appointments that you've no way of filling, and a hole in your pocket to match, but then your client gets whiny about it.

How much do you think nail techs earn that they can be all bright and breezy when your sense of entitlement takes food off their table, at zero notice? I wouldn't have just told you to book another time, I'd have fired you as a client for doing that. Many other nail techs would have charged you between 50% and the full service fee so you got off lightly with just a bit of attitude.

And don't even get me started on how unreasonable it is to expect to leave them at reception. It's unfair both to the receptionist whose job it ain't to babysit 2 small children and your children themselves. As the mum of a 7 year old, I wouldn't dream of leaving them anywhere unattended by a safe and well-known adult.

As well tolerated as you think your kids are at your walk-in nail bar, it's completely inappropriate, massively hazardous and you need to stop that.

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the snacks that the OP said she supplies the kids with in her original post. After all what could be more relaxing in a reception area than crunching and crumbs 🙁

It's their rules. You are out if order and sound like an entitled Karen.

My nail salon has two nail artists and I’ve seen kids sat on the sofa on the iPad while the other nail tech does their parents nails, it really wasn’t an issue for anyone and there wasn’t a peep out of the kid, so it probably depends on the child.

Take your money and your custom elsewhere. You are a paying customer and although you should not have brought your children with you they didn't have to be rude and confrontational. I am sure there are plenty of places that will be glad to accept well behaved children (and potential future customers) in their waiting room.

Some places are child free. The end. They don’t need to have a reason and they don’t need to make exceptions for ‘quiet well behaved’ ones. I don’t know why some parents can’t accept this.

There is no volume on an iPad in public that is acceptable. If the children talk loudly with headphones on, that is also unacceptable, but the solution is not to put the volume on. How about reading a book or not taking them? I can assure you that even if nobody says anything about your inconsiderate noise, they may still be very bothered - and judging you.

Trust me, it's an issue. They may not say anything to you, whether out of politeness, needing the money or just because beauty therapists are passive-aggressive AF, but the top 5 rants in all the professional support groups are:

1. Client says nail just fell off (accompanied by photo showing clear signs of picking / trauma)
2. No show / cancelling less than 24h and refusing to pay clearly signposted cancellation fees
3. Kids / pets at appointments (including expecting nail tech to put nail products on under 16s)
4. Champagne taste, lambrini budget
5. Ignoring industry standard service intervals (2 weeks gel polish without overlay / long extensions, 3 weeks everything else, 4 weeks if your nail tech is great and you wear gloves and do aftercare) and going 5-8 weeks between appointments

I would say ask any nail tech but few would say it to your face. They just put up until they can replace you with a respectful client and then either they hike up the prices or it becomes mighty hard to schedule appointments with them, they just never seem to have an appointment when you're free. #truestory

After being told “no” you then pushed it and asked receptionists to look after your children. They need enhanced police checks to do that sort of thing anyway! Worst of all, no headphones for their iPads! When I go to a spa I expect an adults only space for my well earned money. You were being a child. I suggest that if you need your nails done again after 3pm, you buy some nail varnish and do it yourself! Also, buy your children some earphones thus teaching them some manners when using phones and iPads in public!

I don’t have kids, so it’s not a problem for me. My nail tech has actively encouraged me to bring my dog to an appointment though and I cannot stress enough how that would be more disruptive than any child could be 😂

When you walk into a spa like this the last thing you want to see is kids in the reception area or anywhere for that matter. People go to (mostly!) get away from their kids!!! You were being super unreasonable and you made it worse by begging and being manipulative.

No hint of volume should ever be on any device in public areas, by anyone- child or adult. It’s the height of rudeness imo.

You shouldn’t be taking them with you for these appointments- if nothing else, surely all the fumes can’t be good for them?

No one needs their nails doing so badly they need to be in tears at being told they can’t. Couldn’t you just have popped a bit of varnish on at home if pushed for time?

Have you considered that it might have been for insurance purposes that Children aren't allowed in the Spa area? There was no need for the owner to be so rude to you though, However, if she'd allowed your girls in she'd have to allow others to take their children in & then it could be a case of areas being taken over by kids waiting on their parents to finish their treatments & other kids might not be as well behaved as your DC.

I'm all fairness it sounds like you continued to badger them them to agree after that had told no and the reasoning behind this .
My current hair salon (more high end than previous ) doesn't allow children ,suppose it's health and safety also other ppl don't find out own kids as endearing us .

Do you think it was because it would impact on her break or something? She maybe had a 15 minute break between you and the next person?

If everything you say is true then she was unreasonable but I cannot help but wonder whether you have form for being late.