Do you bring your babies to the restaurant?

It's not even about the rest of the patrons, because frankly I couldn't care less. It's about the fact that clearly your child is unhappy, and you should try to solve the problem, since young babies don't cry unless there's a reason. And sometimes, that reason is simply that they dont' want to be in a busy restaurant because they're feeling stressed and need some quiet time.

^^ don't really care how your experience is, but if my baby is screaming I will tend to her and make sure she is ok

I care how other people's experiences are. To a point. I would hope that someone sitting near me in a restaurant would mind their P's and Q's so as not to disrupt other patrons, and I do the same. It's common courtesy in my opinion.

My point is though that I'm going to calm my child down in a quiet, private area, not because of the other patrons, but out of concern for my own child. Child trumps other adults. But the result is the same -- no screaming baby in the restaurant.

Yes of course, child trumps anyone else.

The way you describe your experience sounds pretty awful.


However (and I'm not saying this is the case with you) I hate it when a kid is being a kid, and someone is rolling their eyes or sighing or whatever. My children are BEYOND polite and behaved in public. And I'm not sure I remember anyone doing this to us. But I have witnessed a kid be a kid, not overly obnoxious or anything close to that, and someone having a flipping fit about it.

As a customer, I must say, I do really appreciate the parents who make an effort to calm their children down, whereas I have been guilty of the eye-rolling when a parent does nothing. BUT I don't think I overreact to normal children things....I just eye-roll or heavy-sigh when the child NEEDS tending to and the parent is oblivious or just doesn't care.

I was at Babies R Us last week and a woman was shopping with her newborn and her mother. While they were waiting in line, the baby started to cry. He was strapped in his carseat, which was in a shopping cart. all the woman did was push the cart back and forth. I wanted to scream at her to pick her baby up! He was crying ans crying, and it was very distressing to me. I have never, ever let my newborns cry like that. Some parents just don't get it.

I would bring my youngest son (4 months) to a restaurant in a heartbeat.. the reason why? because he is a very laid back baby and I know he only fusses if he's hungry, which I would just feed him there if I had to and he'd be fine..

My 18 month old on the other hand? Oh hell no. LOL.. Why? because I know for a FACT he will scream. He is extremely temperamental. I have tried to bring him to restaurants in the past and all he did was scream and scream as soon as he was out of food... Never again.. I will have to wait until he's old enough to understand I guess. Sucks for me but what can ya do!

I have 2 children and for people to say only take them where there is a childrens menu is unfair. My children are great in public they are polite and have never had a problem with them out of control crying. I make sure to have a bottle or a drink for my children and a toy or two to keep them occupied to avoid any meltdowns.
Long story short its the parents decision if they want to sit theri listening to their child cry and make the rest of the customers listen as well. Unfortunatly some parents have the capability to tune out their children.
I also find it slightly funny how you say when I have children I will not be taking them to that type of restraunt, chances are youll change your opinion on ALOT of things once you have your own child. Trust me I used to say stuff like that too!

I think it's cute that you think you won't take your baby to place like that one day.

Everyone makes "rules" for their future babies.

And then they have a baby.

^^^
This. I used to think that way too. I had children and I know better. I'm supposed to only go to Red Robin because I have kids? Or I should pay a babysitter every time I go out? I don't think so. I take responsibility and teach my kids how to act when they are out. I do not eat at RR if I can help b/c it's too bloody loud without screaming babies. Same with most other "family friendly" places. My kids don't need a kids menu to know what they like to eat. They also don't get the privilege so often that they take it for granted. We go where we like and they act appropriately. If they start to act up, they go outside for a talk with Dad.

In addition, if I did go to the family friendly places, I hardly think it's ok to let the kids rant in there just because it's cheaper. Please.

We have always taken our children out to eat. Do they go to the high end places, no, those are saved for date night. When they were smaller, it was not unusual for one of us to take the fussy, crying, not behaving child out of the room whether we were at a restaurant, store, church or other event. Now, I bring something to entertain them (they are 6 and 9) and they know what is expected of them in public. Even if its a bag of crayons and a few piece of white paper.

well I deem myself an advosary for the crying babies parents..............ima start just telling them..look I did not come to this store to hear a crying baby, so please quiet your child or leave the store cause DONT NOBODY WANNA HEAR THAT!

And they didn't come to hear a whining adult, either, but no one says boo about that.

feed them monsters at home .......

Even if they have a children's menu, that doesn't mean that others in the place should have to tolerate screaming babies or unruly children. Sorry, if you have a baby that's prone to crying fits, and won't stop in the restaurant, my meal shouldn't be ruined, nor should any other patrons. Take the child outside until they stop crying and screaming. If you have kids old enough to be mobile, keep them at your table, and reasonably quiet. Just because you have to put up with these things on a daily basis, doesn't mean others should have to. And yes, babies cry, I know that. A little crying is one thing. A kid that cries none stop for the entire time I'm there, or a kid that has to scream everything he/she says? Either you have to sacrifice going out to eat, or you need to find a way to get it under control, and do so in a reasonable time. This isn't just at eating establishments either. My child is grown, I don't want to listen to babies whaling away anytime. I've been in a grocery store and seen moms with kids screaming at the top of their lungs for the entire time they shopped. Mom simply oblivious, tuning it out. Meanwhile all around her suffer. I'm not beyond saying something to them either.

it would be interesting to see how many of the people who don't like children "spoiling" their meals don't have kids of their own?

You just referred to someones child as "it"... :huh:

I call my kids "it" matter of fact thats my 9 year olds nickname!

Along with Sponge, Ickybobcrane!

When they are yours you can call them whatever. How about the next time you see another persons child you refer to the child to their parents as "it" and tell me how that works out for you.