RANT- screaming babies in fancy restaurants

[starchild]

I think that everyone with babies will say too bad because they want their babies to go everywhere they go. And I think that everyone without babies will agree with you that they want an adult night out without the crying kids.

 

When I'm in these situations I always feel bad for the parents. It's not like they are happy that their baby is wailing and they are probably feeling the hate from everyone in the room. I would like to think if it were me that I would take the baby outside for awhile like you mentioned because I have been the angry diner too and I wouldn't want to spoil other people's dinner, but maybe the realistic thing to do is let the child cry until it can cry no more. It seems a lot of people do that too.

 

All I have is babysitting experience so what do I know

[emme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelle6114 What I am trying to say is, why take the chance of ruining someone elses special day? While it can be endearing to listen to your own child have a tantrum, it is not for total strangers who are spending hard earned $$$ to have a nice meal.

I completely agree!!

I have children and I would be completely embarrassed if I took my infant to a restaurant and he/she screamed the whole time. I am not selfish enough to stay in the restaurant and ruin everyone else's meal therefore I would leave with my child.

I also agree that infants should be allowed anywhere...but with that said...I hope that parents have consideration for others.

[ChelseaRose]

Unless the parents are complete idiots, I'm sure they felt the heat from everyone around them. I think most parents do, unfortunately they weren't able to calm the baby down and figure out whether it needed a new diaper, food, or it was just tired and crabby. I'm not sure what, if anything, i would have done in your situation, but I understand the need to vent!!

[aimee!]

what a bummer... i know exactly how you feel. i too love babies, but not always the screaming.

 

this reminds me of that episode of sex & the city... i'm going to go see if i can find the quote. well- i can't find it! did i make it up in my head? haha

[Alyssa]

that sucks i have to say i am pregnant and i would never take an infant to a fancy restaurant unless he/she was well behaved - if the baby had a meltdown in the middle of the place either me or my DH would have to take it outside / to the car until it calmed down.

 

and i don't really have a problem with "adults only restaurants" just like their are AI's that are adults only.

[josee]

I know exactly what you mean, I have kids but was considerate enough to know when to leave if my kids were screaming and disturbing everyone. Unfortunately, not all parents think the same way. Sorry your special night was ruined.

[JOSIE]

I agree, the poor baby. If she cried for that long she was clearly in need of attention and someone should have taken her out of the situation to calm her down!

[SSNM]

I can totally empathize with the OP. I think it is a fine line between common courtesy and compassion. We should all be doing everything possible to make sure that our dramas and our priorities are not imposing on other people -- that's just common courtesy. However, we all need to have compassion in situations where it can't be helped. In this situation, the parents should have taken the baby away from the dining area and dealt with the crying as a courtesy. If it is a situation where they could not do this, then everyone else just needs to have compassion and understand the situation.

[islandbride317]

I'm not a parent yet, so I can only speak as a patron....and as a former waitress of many years!

 

What bothers me most are people that let their toddlers/kids run wild or don't even tell them to stop when their kid is incessantly kicking the booth, when YOU are seated on the other side!! I'm paying just as much as they are to dine there, so why should I have to feel like I am a "bad" person just because I am not entertained by their "little angels" behavior? I, for one, get sick of having to sit there and pretend to smile as if I am overjoyed to have my dining experience with my family and friends overtaken by the people we were unfortunate to be seated near!

 

Once, I kid you not, someone's little boy actually climbed up into our booth when we were at a Cheesecake Factory in Baltimore, and the parents took close to 5 minutes to come over and get their kid from complete strangers while they laughed and giggled about how cute it was! Cute? Hardly! RUDE and actually, really unsafe in today's world.

 

And, I'd like to mention that some of my friends with kids have vowed not to take them out to a "civilized" restaurant (something more sophisticated than McDonald's is what I am saying) when their child is too young to know how to behave in public....and I applaud them for it. I am most likely going to take the same stance, having waitressed for years in high school and college, and also know what a "joy" it is first hand to have to watch your every step with a heavy tray of hot food, because they can't be bothered to keep their child under control, and more importantly, at the table! And let me say, even though it's sooooo totally wrong, it would have been MY fault (or any other server's for that matter in the eyes of the parents and the managment) if we would have fallen and spilled hot soup or coffee all over someone's 2 year old because they were playing in the walkways, underfoot......grrrrrrr.

 

But hey, that's just my humble little opinion...hope y'all don't hate me too much for it!

[SSNM]

Not at all, Islandbride!

 

I too get annoyed with people who let their children run feral and then when you trip/bump into them and they get hurt, it is your fault! How about control your kids so they don't get hurt in the first place??

 

And I agree, if you know your kids can't keep up with the ambiance of a place, please have courtesy and keep them at home, or pick a family-friendly restaurant.