What a refreshing change

[MamaDo]

Yep I have to say this is a pet hate of mine ... NOT babies crying but definitly toddlers/older children throwing tantrums and running amok when out eating........this is mainly because I've worked hard to raise my first child who is coming four to know that he isent allowed to run around/scream/play right next to other peoples tables etc........so it does annoy me when your in the middle of dinner and someone elses child is over beside your table practically swinging off it because
A) its extremely irritating and
B) its distracting for your own children who then understandably want to get down to play with them.........

The thing is to teach him how to act we didnt shout/hit etc but yes on occasion one of us took him somwhere quiet and told him that he needed to stop the tantrum ............basically the way we see it is...when we go out for dinner... its as a family, so we actually WANT Evan at the table, we like his company...some parents ...the kind who let them run riot or scream at the table because all they want is a bit of attention would nearly make you wonder if they really WANTED their children with them??? when we want a dinner for two, we arrange a babysitter!!!!

I think that as a parent you generally know the right response at the right time...i.e. a very young baby is more than likely going to be looking for something when its upset ....not knowingly causing trouble! a toddler may have learned that throwing a tantrum is a good way of embarrasing you into giving them what they want and therefore taking them away from the table to have a quiet chat and explain that they shouldnt be doing that etc tends to work better as they learn that crying /screaming when out wont be tolerated or at least wont get them what they want..but yes there definitly are those people out there that dont seem to give a fig about other people wnating a nice dinner and more importantly dont seem to give a fig where or what their child is up to!!?? Dont they ever WORRY when they are out of sight...if nothing else would this not make you keep an eye on them?

anyway rant over : )

 

[SKATERBUN]

Yes I would also second that its toddlers and older children who can be a bit of an annoyance if the parents just ignore them and carry on with what they are doing. Babies fair enough, I think you are right Mamado its more likely that a very young baby is upset and cannot really communicate what the problem is, esp the colicky ones. Babies who are teething as well can also be in a lot of discomfort. I do my best to settle my LO when out in public, and even have to go home if she doesnt settle in 1/2 hour.
I wont sit it out in a busy hot noisy cafe if its going to irritate her more.
I usually know when shes having an off day.

 

[Lara310809]

Babies don't throw "tantrums", they cry when they need something, and you should try to provide that ASAP. A toddler is a different story; a toddler (I'm not stating age, because I don't know when a child begins to have tantrums, but I know toddlers are capable of them) who throws a tantrum should be dealt with; disciplined etc, but sometimes the parents cannot stop them. I am all for quietening a child that is throwing a wobbly, but TBH until you are that parent, you don't know what it's like. Don't get me wrong, I hate the parents that let their kids run riot and don't actually try to stop them. Their children don't have the sense, but the adults don't have respect for the other diners, or the business. You should do all you can to calm them, and if they don't, the other diners should be able to accept a certain level of disruption, but if your kid is being terribly behaved, you should, in my opinion, consider leaving... if you're not prepared to keep telling them off

I used to get frustrated with parents who would bring their babies to restaurants, because I really noticed it when they cried, but since having my LO I have takenn her everywhere, and if she cries, I deal with her, and if she doesn't quieten, I take her out and soothe her, or get her to sleep before coming back. Now I don't bat an eye at any other baby; and actually I don't even notice them. My mum has commented about me taking LO out to lunch when I go out each week, because she's concerned other diners will get annoyed with her if she cries, but I remind her that if I don't go anywhere, she won't get used to it, and actually, I would go crazy being stuck in the house all the time. And actually, she sleeps much better in noisy environments, so why stay at home when I can go to dinner in a noisy restaurant and she'll probably sleep through the whole thing anyway?

 

[Feltzy]

I've just been to a tesco cafe today and got some lunch for me and Evie, when we were eating a little girl came up and tried to take Evie's food, the mother was sat watching her and just let her get on with it. I was quite shocked because if Evie did that I would take her away and not let her disturb people eating. She was running around the cafe and I saw her going to a few other families tables and disturbing the children eating and the mother just sat watching her, I couldn't believe it.

I felt compelled to write it on this thread because when I read it this morning I thought no I don't get annoyed by kids crying etc, but I was a little annoyed today at this girls mother as she was at our table for over 10 mins while we were trying to eat and not once did she come and ask her to come away.

If we are out I expect Evie to sit at the table and I don't let her run loose around an eating estabishment, for her own safety but also because I know its a nuisance. If she started crying/throwing a tantrum I would try to calm her indoors but if it carried on we would probably just leave in a hurry, we've had to do this before.