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.

You don't want opinions you want validation
The poll is at 96% yabu and you're still arguing you aren't
The lack of headphones alone tells me the type of person you are

Totally this - no one enjoys talking to your children OP. They are being polite (unlike you).

YABVVVU to allow your children to have their iPads on anything other than silent/headphones. If they can't learn to talk quietly, they can't have an iPad.

Exactly my thoughts! Being told no and then trying to plead and argue it because she insists her children are well behaved. Why do some people think they’re above the rules 🤷‍♀️

This ^
If I don’t have childcare on the day I don’t make an appointment.
I was also amazed that you offered to make volume low!!!! No volume or headphones should be negotiable.

Your children may be absolute perfect poppets for all any of us know but the spa staff are not babysitters and on the other side of that door they were so hostile about is all manner of hot liquids, chemicals, sharp things, naked adults, etc and they could easily have caused havoc or an accident to themselves or others, or seen or heard things unsuitable for them while completely invading the privacy of the other customers. It's just your nails love, get some perspective?

I don't even get my nails done, ever, but even I know that a nail salon at a spa in a hotel isn't going to be the same as your usual nail bar. I have also never been to a spa but I totally know that they're not for kids.

You were told no and you didn't like the answer. They weren't rude, they were firm and unwavering. YABU.

I feel like people are deliberately missing out the bit where I mentioned turning the sound down or off.

If they had been allowed to sit somewhere you could hear it in one of the treatment rooms then I’d have turned the sound off and let them play a game or colouring in on it quietly instead of watching something together.

I am trying to get them to wear headphones but they need to learn how to speak quietly when they can’t hear their voices. I wasn’t going to let them sit watching it on full volume!

You should have accepted no as an answer and not been pushy
Perhaps their insurance doesnt cover under 18 on the premises

Yes, and see if they can make it all the way to the end of the appointment without snacking 🙄

No wonder so many adults boredom eat if they've been given food all their lives to 'keep them occupied'.

Please stop trying to justify your entitled and selfish behaviour.

Please reconsider taking your children to nail bars at all. I really wouldn't want their lungs exposed to the solvents and acrylic/gel dust.

Or they could read a book! The 9 year old especially should be able to concentrate on a short novel for a bit. Why is a tablet always the go to? (I speak as someone with a 5 and 7 year old).

One of the reasons I don’t use headphones is because then they can’t hear themselves and talk loudly, with the sound down really low they talk quietly.

You said they would be quiet. Talking is not them being quiet.

No beauticians I've ever been in allow children. You can't parent your children if you are getting your nails done. Unless you think everyone else should have to listen to you shout (because they aren't right beside you) to tell your children to be quiet.

You are very unreasonable @OrlaMcCool and entitled. Complaining about being told no the business wasn't going to change their rules for you is the height of entitlement.

You wouldn't take no for an answer so of course they had to be firm.
It's a kid free spa, so no your kids can't come. Go back whilst they're at school or stick to the walk in place.

It’s a spa not a nail bar. How can you not know the difference?

I think yabu I’m afraid. I’ve taken my kids to have my nails done where I knew the owner and there was space for them to sit and wait. Plus there was only room for one customer. But I wouldn’t take them to a hotel spa, that’s very much an adult only space.

Perhaps look into finding a mobile nail technician who will come to your house instead of taking your kids to school to your nail appointments.
Yabvu. I love going to get a pedicure before holiday, I have one in a private treatment room - even if I were having it in a communal area I don’t want to hear even a low hum from an iPad or chatting from anyone tbh.

Your normal places have always just been polite when they should have told you no. Unless they offer kids manicures kids aren’t welcome. Some places are for grown ups only, they are a place where other customers have an opportunity to get away from kids and enjoy some grown up time without having to mind their language or discussion content.

Id probably appear ok with the presence of your kids and may even interact with them because I don’t want to be mean to kids but it would tarnish the experience for me.

If I went to my normal nail salon and there was a child watching an iPad with audible sound, I would be furious, let alone at a spa.

Is the volume on when they go to your usual salon?

I feel you are deliberately missing the point where EVERYONE has told you that using a personal device in public should be silent.

Maybe they can learn how to speak quietly while using headphones in your own home? And rather weird that they can't do that already.

Low volume is almost more annoying. That indecipherable tinny drone that just irritates. The only answer is no volume, end of.

Could you find a mobile technician locally who would do it for you op? Post on local Facebook groups ?

🙄🙄🙄

People are just being polite, no one wants children in a beauty salon. People go to escape kids. I would be mad if there were children there when I got my nails done. It’s an adult space.