Crying babies ruined my fancy dinner with my husband - selfish parents should order Deliveroo instead of taking their children to restaurants
- She fumed on Mumsnet that people brought children to a restaurant at 7:45pm
- Read More: My Valentine's Day meal was RUINED by unruly children
A woman has divided opinion after raging that a stranger's crying babies ruined her ‘very exclusive dinner’ date with her husband.
Taking to the British parenting platform Mumsnet, the woman revealed she'd 'splurged' on an expensive fine dining experience with her husband, which was ruined by 'squawking' babies at the restaurant.
She fumed that people had brought young children to a restaurant at 7:45pm and didn't leave until 9pm, saying when her children were younger they were in bed by 7:30pm most nights.
Calling the parents 'selfish' and urging them to order from Deliveroo if they are not cooking, she said: 'Babies need sleep, not fine dining.'
Some were sympathetic and said she was right to expect peace and quiet in a nice restaurant, but others disagreed and urged her to choose a later sitting next time.
A woman raged on Mumsnet after strangers' crying babies ruined her ‘very exclusive dinner’ date with her husband (stock image)
The post read: 'I went for a very exclusive dinner Saturday night. I'd been looking forward to it for ages. £150 per head place, which is a huge splurge for us.
'A family of 4 were seated next to us at their 7.45pm arrival. The (about) 3 yr old was 50 percent pacified. The (about) 9 month old in the high chair squawked for about 30 mins then fell asleep, looking very uncomfortable slumped over the side of the highchair.
'If their noise wasn't bad enough, I could hear another child crying in another part of the restaurant for about an hour.
'That child's noise got louder as they were pushed in their pram crossing the restaurant to leave around 9pm. I commented and gestured to my partner. I wasn't as subtle as I thought in this, as the mum looked cross, waved her arm at me and mouthed: "F*** off".'
She continued: 'When my now adult children were that small, they were in bed by 7.30, unless there was an event like a wedding.
'We got babysitters for evening meals out...very rare as very hard to get babysitters. I would never have dreamt of taking my under 5s to quiet intimate adult spots, then letting them cry for the majority. For 1, I wouldn't have enjoyed my food and 2, neither would those around me.
'There's a reason Deliveroo exists. Use it. And stop being so fricking selfish. Babies need sleep, not fine dining.'
Taking to the parenting platform, the woman revealed herself and her husband 'splurged' on an expensive fine dining experience which was ruined by 'squawking' babies at the restaurant
However some rushed to the comments to defend the families who brought their young children out to dinner
However some rushed to the comments to defend the families who brought their young children out to dinner.
One person said: 'It's your fault for not checking if kids are allowed sorry. I wouldn't like this either but if kids are welcome that's what happens rightly or wrongly.'
Another said: 'Children have as much right to be in a restaurant as you do. Times have changed, people enjoy spending time with their children and if they want to bring them out for dinner then why not! And bed at 7 is very early for most families.'
Someone else wrote: 'Parents have just as much right to take up space as non parents. Children have just as much right to take up space as adults do.
'If I go on holiday I really look forward to going for nice meals and will spend time researching where to go. No way would I leave ds with a stranger so yes he will come with me providing children are allowed.
'If you want a child free experience then go to an adults only restaurant or book a later dinner. Some people want to celebrate nice things with their children like birthdays or promotions etc etc. Why should they be resigned to do that at the likes of McDonald's for many years until their kids are old enough to be seen and not heard to appease people like you?
However others were on the woman's side, with some saying children should be in bed at that time
'Plus this is how dc learn to behave in those types of settings. I'd much rather bring ds somewhere decent than a restaurant where all the kids have their face in an ipad. (No judgement I get some kids need this to be occupied or parents need a time out, just not my preference).
'If ds fussed I take him out immediately until he settles but if he's babbling and chatting then I have no problem with that. I think drunken loud tables of adults can be much much worse but you never see them talked about in these types of threads.'
However others were on the woman's side, with some saying children should be in bed at that time.
One person said: 'I’m with you OP and I have a 2&4yo. They’re not happy out that late and should be in their beds!'
Another said: 'I agree, the kids don’t enjoy it (otherwise they wouldn’t be crying), so it’s about the adults putting themselves first. And a baby asleep late evening slumped over the high chair clearly needs to be in bed! Why do these parents spend all that money to have a stressful time with their crying kids?'
Someone else wrote: 'YANBU Op. Babies should be in bed by that time. It's selfish of the parents to drag them out at that time. If you are paying that much per head, it's reasonable to expect to enjoy your meal in peace and quiet.'
