Would you be upset by a toddler crying in a restaurant?

So yesterday my toddler had a pretty long day, almost no nap. We've been away from home for several days and she's a little dysregulated. We took her out for dinner and she had a pretty big meltdown near the end of the meal, and was also a bit fussy and hard to entertain until we got our food. The only time she really got to screaming-crying was at the end though, and we took her out quickly.

I came across a Reddit thread about an "entitled parent" with a screaming toddler in a restaurant. A lot of the comments below were of the opinion those parents should have made their kid be quiet, or taken her out, or just not gone out at all. I kind of get it. No one wants to be around a screaming kid that isn't theirs.

For us though the thing is that it was our last night out of town, we were all tired and had no food left in the airbnb because we plan these things pretty tight. We also didn't really want to do fast food or takeout because we had been having a LOT of terrible food and wanted to eat a decent meal (I'm pregnant, and fatty foods in particular are making me nauseated, so real food and good nutrition is kind of important for me). I felt bad taking my toddler out while she was overtired, and I get that it's generally kinder to not take an overtired child out in public, but in our case I really kind of felt like we had no choice.

So AITA? Should we have just stayed back at the Airbnb and gotten takeout? 🫤

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F 'em. They'll all cringe when or if they have kids of their own

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People that have kids will be thinking ā€˜oh that poor mum, is she okay’ . Not getting pissed off about it. The ones that haven’t got kids as said, will look back one day and cringe at their judgemental self.

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As long as you weren’t at some super upscale fancy place where people are paying for the atmosphere, I see no problem with it. We take our son out to eat all of the time. He’s pretty good and we try to keep him from getting out of hand but kids deserve to be in public spaces and they can’t learn how to behave in them if they don’t go.

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Only if it set my daughter off crying as well lol but no of course not, unless you were purposely making her worse or punishing her or something. Nothing I hate more than seeing an upset child and their parents start saying things like ā€˜behave or I’ll take your toy off you’ or ā€˜Santa won’t bring you any presents’, not only is it mean but it just upsets them way more

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The only way kids learn how to be in public is by being in public, parents shouldn’t be made to feel like they have to hide their kids away ā€˜just incase’. You done the best you could with a grouchy over tired toddler, and the fact the screaming didn’t happen till the end of the meal I’d say is a win!

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My opinion is as long as I can see that the parents care and are trying to help the kids through their moment then let them scream šŸ¤·šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø it's not like im in a fancy 5star restaurant lol
Now if the kid is going insane, destroying things, etc and the parents don't pay any attention to them I for sure judge

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If it’s a family-friendly place then absolutely NTA.

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you were totally fine then! We’ve taken our son with us to get sushi since he was like 3-4 months old. It’s never been an issue. Honestly, now at 13 months the bigger problem is he wants to make friends with the other tables and thinks he should get to wander around.

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I understand people don't want to be around crying children, then they shouldn't have any. They are the ones who are entitled.

This world has children, children cry. Children make tantrums. It is irrational to expect them to stay composed all the time.

If they want to go to a restaurant without risking hearing a child cry, they can find the kind of restaurant where they only accept adults.

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If they wanted a silent dinner they should’ve gone to a fancy restaurant that doesn’t allow children. Otherwise you get what you get and you don’t get upset. Our children should be allowed to experience life just like everyone else.

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Ppl are entitled to a child free life but not a child free world.. that’s on them! And I’m sorry you were made to feel an ounce of shame for involving your child in a normal outing.

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I don’t understand the acronyms but you can take your child anywhere unless there is a sign saying no kids allowed .

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You took your rod out and re-regulated the environment. It doesn't matter what others think of your parenting.
If they don't want the possibility of being around a child they can eat at home.

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I currently have a 7 week old and a 7 year old. My husband came home from work I had made him his tea which he ate, he then held the baby whilst I had a quick tidy up and put all the washing away.
He then informed me he was going to the pub to watch the football.
I asked if he could stay home as my eldest still has homework to do, the baby needs a bath, I need to express some milk, and it’s hard work getting them both to sleep, I also haven’t eaten any tea yet, I am shattered and I have a broken ankle to add to the mix.
He said I always make him feel like shit whenever he wants to do something and I shouldn’t have a problem with it. He then proceeded to tell me I should go
Out more often as he would prefer it 😔

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Would you be upset by a toddler crying in a restaurant?

So yesterday my toddler had a pretty long day, almost no nap. We've been away from home for several days and she's a little dysregulated. We took her out for dinner and she had a pretty big meltdown near the end of the meal, and was also a bit fussy and hard to entertain until we got our food. The only time she really got to screaming-crying was at the end though, and we took her out quickly.

I came across a Reddit thread about an "entitled parent" with a screaming toddler in a restaurant. A lot of the comments below were of the opinion those parents should have made their kid be quiet, or taken her out, or just not gone out at all. I kind of get it. No one wants to be around a screaming kid that isn't theirs.

For us though the thing is that it was our last night out of town, we were all tired and had no food left in the airbnb because we plan these things pretty tight. We also didn't really want to do fast food or takeout because we had been having a LOT of terrible food and wanted to eat a decent meal (I'm pregnant, and fatty foods in particular are making me nauseated, so real food and good nutrition is kind of important for me). I felt bad taking my toddler out while she was overtired, and I get that it's generally kinder to not take an overtired child out in public, but in our case I really kind of felt like we had no choice.

So AITA? Should we have just stayed back at the Airbnb and gotten takeout? 🫤

Avatar

22

Nursery

Hello school mamas!

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