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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be seriously contemplating legal action????

403 replies

WaitroseHater · 22/01/2010 17:57

Shopping in Waitrose this afternoon trying desperately to get baby to sleep in the process. Can't stay in the house currently during her big sleep as have builders in, so planned to do the big weekly shop. DD normally goes off to sleep like a dream but today decided she didn''t want anything without a fight.

I've learned to tune her out, apparently others havent. In the BABY aisle of all places, 2 OAP's blocked my trolley and said I was not allowed to leave the aisle until the baby stopped crying or I left the shop . DD in a sling btw. One of the OAP's SHOUTED that if I needed to 'shove your teat in its mouth then you better do it or I will take her myself and get someone to take you out'. Obv attracted other shoppers and security.

Manager came to see what the fuss was and after me explaining asked me to leave. I abandoned half-full trolley in serious flounce mode. I honestly they were being absolutely horrendously discriminatory against my crying newborn!!!! DH is being extremely unhelpful saying I should have left to 'take the high road' Do I actually have a legal case about this?

OP posts:
LadyBiscuit · 23/01/2010 20:09

Sometimes it is unavoidable, yes. But shopping in Waitrose? Hardly something that can't wait is it?

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 23/01/2010 20:15

It might be the only chance she had between running around like a blue arsed fly- who knows other people's circumstances?

I don't know what Waitrose is anyway- I'm up t'north. I'm basing it on Asda in my head.

LadyBiscuit · 23/01/2010 20:18

It's more like Booths

I do know that sometimes it is unavoidable - of course I do. But some sensitivity to the fact that other people are likely to find it grating in the extreme (even if they are sympathetic) wouldn't go amiss. We all know that a new baby's cry is designed to be as annoying as possible so it doesn't get ignored.

I find it sets my teeth on edge, particularly if it's not my child so I can't do anything about it.

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 23/01/2010 20:19

Ah Booths, now you're talking my language

bibbitybobbityhat · 23/01/2010 20:20

Waitrose is an upmarket supermarket.

Think of it like this:

Kwik Save
Iceland
Asda
Morrisons
Tesco
Sainsburys
Waitrose
Harrods

(Lidl and Aldi are off on a funny kind of tangent. They have their own branch line).

Do you have John Lewis ooop north? Waitrose is their supermarket.

LadyBiscuit · 23/01/2010 20:33

I actually prefer Booths to Waitrose. But you don't get them in London

NonnoMum · 23/01/2010 20:58

OP - hope you are OK.

Hope you've had a better day.

As I said, I believe you - hope you've at least managed to draft that letter of complaint. Yes, sometimes babies cry - and the Brits need to get a bit more family friendly.

Am still up for a boycott of Waitrose.

Maybe those who have trouble with the sound of a crying baby are those who get the let-down reflex? I know I do. Maybe that's what happened to the old ladies; they didn't want the hassle of the extra washing of their John Lewis blouses.

wearthefoxhat · 23/01/2010 21:14

LadyBiscuit - I love Booths too, and lucky for me, there's one 10 minutes away from my home (the staff there would never dream of chucking out a mother and screaming baby)
(my chidren call it Boobs though, which lowers the tone rather)

boobookins · 23/01/2010 22:06

Booboo is not a Troll and I'm not a man - I'm a 33 year old female who remembers how she was brought up, has seen her god children brought up the same way to grow into well behaved teenagers who will - and if this site is still up in 10 years time I'll report back and confirm - grow into well adjusted adults

The reason we have so many school refusers, ADHD cases etc etc is because Parents let children do what makes them happy.

Ask yourself - do you want to get up and go to work? (If you work I mean).. Most people would rather not but they know they have to because thats life.

Chiuldren need to conform

cory · 23/01/2010 22:50

boobookins- the OPs thread was not about a child old enough to be disciplined but about a newborn baby. Do you really remember when you were a newborn baby? In that case, I imagine you would have to belong to some other species than the human.

DuelingFanjo · 23/01/2010 23:01

oh goody, Boobookins is back.

boobookins · 23/01/2010 23:02

If the baby is not wet, hungry, or cold/too hot - and the OP's was non of that -its crying because it can and wants attention. The most basic human instinct.

But all humans need to learn we cant give into instinct just because we can - and baby's can be taught that if you don't give into it - I remember my learning that my mum hated my gran because she wouldnt et me cry - my mum did if she knew I was not suffering - you know what - by the time I CAN remember - I knew well enough not to cry if all I wanted was attention (note - I was not neglected and got plenty of family time but childish tantrums were not tolerated) - children cry to manipulate their parents to what they want - be the adult

Tori27 · 23/01/2010 23:06

My daughter had colic and cried all the time - shopping help my sanity and I always felt insulted when people suggested DD was hungry... if she was hungry I would have fed her, I was not neglectful. So I do sympathise. I don't think you have a legal case but I would give The Sun or the Mirror a call... or your local paper.

Please ignore the "saintly" mums who reckon they would have left or gone to a mother and baby room. When a baby is over-tired this isn't always realistic and their comments could really hurt your confidence - don't let it! ;-)

DuelingFanjo · 23/01/2010 23:06

Boobookins, if you read the OP you will see that she was tuning out. Ie, not giving it the attention you seem to think the baby didn't need. You are contradicting yourself now.

boobookins · 23/01/2010 23:14

No I'm not - the OP felt free to inflict HER child and HER childs random crying on everyone else. I like children I do not like their crying - thats why I dont' have one of my own because if it was it would be my problem and not one I want to take on.

Its HER problem not the other shoppers.

My comment was in the general attitude children are small adults who need to be humoured - they aren't - they are children who need to be taught their place in the world. And yes - that iust being seen and not heard.

when they mature they earn their place in society

JemL · 23/01/2010 23:19

boobookins "children cry to manipulate their parents to what they want"

Children do turn on the waterworks. But small babies don't. They don't manipulate, control, or blackmail you. They just cry.

doesntplaywellwithothers · 23/01/2010 23:25

Newborn babies don't know HOW to manipulate, and ignoring their cries is PROVEN to have a detrimental effect. Though, I guess it's pretty darn easy to be a hard ass about newborns crying when you don't have any.

LadyBiscuit · 23/01/2010 23:25

boobookins - you are barking. Small babies don't become better human beings if you ignore their crying, they are damaged by it.

Given that you've admitted that you know bugger all about a) children and b) child psychology and development, I don't really think you're in a position to offer an opinion other than 'I don't like the sound of crying babies'.

AnyFucker · 23/01/2010 23:28

boobookins, I am glad you have decided not to procreate

'tis for the best

you fucking nutter

cory · 23/01/2010 23:32

So you've come onto this thread about a newborn babies to talk about how older children in general behave, boobookins. Well, that's very interesting. What shall we talk about next?

KittyNotVengefulAnymore · 23/01/2010 23:34

I still think boobookins is a Troll. More so after searching posts and finding 2 different job descriptions within a week or so. Not that that is particularly a reason to think troll, but something just doesn't sit right.

But, one thing that I did find refreshing and was thankful for after looking at previous posts... boobookins has claimed that s/he has "no children and will not have any."

Thank goodness for that!

boobookins · 23/01/2010 23:35

o why should I have to suffer your crying babies when I see evidence of parents who don't inflict them on others who choose not to have them having perfectly well adjusted children

Your crying babies are annoying to everyone but you

saintlydamemrsturnip · 23/01/2010 23:36

Pmsl @ booboo's attempts to talk looking after newborns. Anyone want to hand her a shovel? She may need help with that hole she's digging.

doesntplaywellwithothers · 23/01/2010 23:39

Why are you even on MUMSnet, if you aren't a mum, and never plan to be??? Do they not have forums for childless, self righteous,condescending know it all bitches?

JemL · 23/01/2010 23:44

Boobookins, you've got that wrong. Other people's babies crying is just white noise to me. I don't have to do anything about it, and am therefore free to ignore it. When I had no children, I never even registered babies crying. I find it a bit weird you have such strong opinions on it...!