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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that the restaurant whould have had a better "highchair"?

51 replies

mm22bys · 21/11/2008 15:11

We went out to lunch recently, and asked for a highchair for DS2 who has just turned 2.

The only highchair they had was a booster seat that did not have even a three-point harness - the child would have literally been sitting in a "booster" seat, but with no safety straps.

AIBU to think that on health and safety concerns alone the restaurant should have had a "better" highchair?

(We ended up walking out - there is no way even DS1 (4) would have been safe in the seat (he can sit in a normal seat but this one was too high even for him).

OP posts:
nailpolish · 21/11/2008 15:13

they dont have to provide anything

mext time take one of these

littleducks · 21/11/2008 15:17

he is four? my two year old would have just sat on an adult seat (not strapped in) or if height was a problem in their seat, i would be a bit miffed if i had an under one year old, i do have a totseat also but i think it would be too small for a four year old....arent most high chairs?

littleducks · 21/11/2008 15:17

he is four? my two year old would have just sat on an adult seat (not strapped in) or if height was a problem in their seat, i would be a bit miffed if i had an under one year old, i do have a totseat also but i think it would be too small for a four year old....arent most high chairs?

Lotster · 21/11/2008 15:19

It's a pain in the arse when there's nothing provided and I love to whinge about it loudly

But they have what they have. I just posted because a good emergency tip when you have a situation like this, is a cushion and a belt if you or someone you are with is wearing one. It's helped me out a few times.

nailpolish · 21/11/2008 15:21

he is 4???????????

my 4 yr old just sits on a normal seat

Lotster · 21/11/2008 15:22

No ladies, read it again

littleducks · 21/11/2008 15:26

oops sorry, i cant quite understand why the seat was so dangerous, maybe you had to see it

but if your ds is two is the first time this has happened? i remember having trouble when dd was 8/9 months (so bought a tot seat) but by two she would sit in a normal seat or on a lap i suppose if was really an issue

afraid you can only vote with your feet, and not all restaurants want to be family friendly

LIZS · 21/11/2008 15:26

I think most 2 year olds could cope with that or kneel up. At 2 neither of ours would have sat in full high chair while out.

nailpolish · 21/11/2008 15:28

even so, a 2 yr old doesnt needa high chair either IMO

Lotster · 21/11/2008 15:30

Probably depends on the 2 year old and whether they'd be running around causing havoc if not strappped down!

OrmIrian · 21/11/2008 15:33

A 2 yr old needs a highchair? I'm fairly sure mine didn't although my memory may be faulty.

For a younger child that would have been a problem I can see but I wouldn't have walked out.

OrmIrian · 21/11/2008 15:33

A 2 yr old needs a highchair? I'm fairly sure mine didn't although my memory may be faulty.

For a younger child that would have been a problem I can see but I wouldn't have walked out.

TotalChaos · 21/11/2008 21:26

YANBU. If they provide one then it should be a safe one (i.e. one with harness). btw some children older than two might need to be in a highchair rather than ordinary adult chair due to SN.

wrinklytum · 21/11/2008 21:30

My nearly 3 needs a highchair because she has balance issues.The last restaurant we went to had one however we had to remove her AFO's so we could bend her legs to get her into it as it had a fixed tray on it.

I guess restaurants just can't win,really!!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 21/11/2008 21:33

At just turned 2 my DS was definately better off in a highchair when we went out. IMO YANBU to expect something that is safe. If a restaurant offers childrens meals then they should offer the necessary equipment to go with them - such as seating. If I eat out I expect a safe seat and surely it's not too much to expect the same for our lo's. Unfortunately we experienced similar situations on a couple of occasions. We'd bought a cosatto on the move highchair so started popping in the boot when we were eating out just in case there was nothing suitable.

PSCMUM · 21/11/2008 21:33

best cafe in the world for this kind of thing: That Place on the Corner, Stoke Newington. Just lovely, so acommodating, a stress free feed for everyone!

bythepowerofgreyskull · 21/11/2008 21:37

I love it when I go to a restaurant that caters for families and they actually have good highchairs.
But there are lots that don't

callmeovercautious · 21/11/2008 21:41

Actually I sympathise. If my 26m DD is put on a normal chair she gets bored and clambers about. In a highchair she is Queen of the castle and will sit very patiently waiting for her lunch. She actually looks about for them in our local places then sends DH off to get "my chair"

Shitemum · 21/11/2008 21:47

I hope none of you ever try to have a meal with your small DCs in a Spanish restaurant...

Not only do none of them have highchairs or booster seats but they would just look at you like this if you asked for one.

I recently put a suggestion in the box at my local (Spanish) health centre asking why more than 2 years after it opened it still has no baby changing facilities whatsoever in any of the toilets but every waiting area now boasts an enormous TV screen screwed to the wall...

sigh.......

ToThrottleablackbird · 21/11/2008 21:53

Dont understand why people are sounding so harsh to the op

hifi · 21/11/2008 21:57

i never used the harnesses, at 4 he should be sitting independently i think.

mamadiva · 21/11/2008 21:58

My DS is 2.5YO unfortunately we can't take him out for a meal because

  1. He won't eat as is the fussiest eater I know
  1. He causes havvoc and is quite when people are trying to eat he is trying to scream the place down

But we did take him to Brewsters once supposedly family friendly gave us a highchair which was dirty and I mean mouldy food in the corners, was one of the vinylly coated ones and the vinyl was all ripped and had no harness!

I didnt even put him in it, I asked for a clean one and they brought me out a tub of wipes to clean it to my standards now I dont mind if they are a bit dirty they have a lot to do but mould and no harness (which was ripped off as could see the tears) just takes the piss.

mamadiva · 21/11/2008 21:59

Oh sorry rabbited on there.

No YANBU and a 2YO needs a highchair as far as I know it was a legal obligation to provide them nowadays?

bythepowerofgreyskull · 21/11/2008 21:59

Hifi her DS2 is 2 she isn't talking about her 4 year old

hifi · 21/11/2008 22:01

yes i know, i stated i have never used the harnesses, they are always manky.

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