Rude staff at restaurant

[ProudAuntieof3]

Did we over-react? I was at a restaurant in London Bridge (F&G) with my 3 nieces and nephews. Everything was great, the little one (2 years old), between courses, got up and wanted to see what was going on at the bar, which was right next to our table. There were empty stools and she started climbing them, without disturbing anyone. She happened to touch one of the plates that was laid out for future patrons. At that point, a staff member became irate, telling us to sit down and that now she'd have to change the plate because the baby had touched it. I was very shocked. All three children had behaved impeccably and were very polite. The baby wasn't running amok and was not disturbing anyone. We paid for what we ate and left. Am I being unreasonable?

Yes

Yes, you were being unreasonable.

You were completely unreasonable

YABU. Kids shouldn't be climbing or touching things, it's not a soft play.

Yes, control the children.

Yes.

no doubt if the plate had been red hot just out of a dishwasher the parent would be complaining that the establishment had injured their child….sorry but keep 2 yr olds under constant supervision in restaurants….and keep,them out of pubs! Sorry.

All three children had behaved impeccably

No they hadn't. They were touching clean cutlery and climbing on stalls.

You might think the children weren't disturbing anyone, but they clearly were if the staff had to comment on it.

Well presuming you also paid for the food coming after the course you had ordered aswell Yanbu to pay for your goods and leave when you want.
I wouldn’t want to eat from a plate someone’s child had touched so the staff were right.
Control your children better so they’re not touching things that people are going to eat from.

The children may have been well behaved. The adults who let them climb over furniture less so!

Yesterday I was in a very busy city centre bar….that has a restaurant area…some mother decided to allow her ‘little darling’ to wander round and round the bar area, climbing up steps …child looked about 2 & was wearing one of those horrible plastic pelican bins things…this was totally inappropriate for child and customers.
Your child is only cute in your eyes…here very often totally annoying & a nuisa To others.

YabVu

YABU.

Would you and the parents have been fine with the child injuring themselves on the stool while climbing, or burning their hand while touching crockery?

It's bad that staff had to step in.

Is this a joke? If you think kids touching plates meant for other guests is ‘impeccable behaviour’, then it follows that this was one of multiple things. Why would you think that. No, op, most parents don’t allow children to climb at restaurants and touch clean plates not meant for them.

This has got to be a wind up surely? No one in their right mind thinks that a child climbing on chairs is appropriate restaurant behaviour?

Yeah you should have stopped her. It’s a restaurant not a hungry horse with a soft play.

I like kids but they can be pretty irritating when in restaurants etc if they’re supervised properly.

What’s a plastic pelican bin? Genuine question.

This can’t be real. No one is this dense.

Children should be seated in restaurants. They’re not for exploring.

I have never let my child wander around a restaurant. It's dangerous to do so and they definitely should be nowhere near other people's food. I'd have been so embarrassed.

This must be a reverse? If not you are completely unreasonable.

Yanbu

How can a 2 year old sit for the full course of a restaurant visit? It's not fair to say they should never go.

I find people who talk loudly about their themselves annoying at restaurants. Should they not be allowed either?

I also find big groups of adults annoying in restaurants. Can we ban them too?

Some people don't mind children in restaurants, some do but I don't think it's unreasonable that a 2 year old was exploring the immediate area between courses. And totally unprofessional for staff to react like that.

Is it a wind up that so many think op has been unreasonable?

This can’t be real, surely?

Seriously, why are some parents like this ? Sit your kid down or leave.

Moat 2 year olds manage fine if talked to and entertained at the table - colouring, books, stickers etc. I have nothing against children in restaurants, but parents are required to do parenting rather than let their children wander about.