I went for a meal tonight with my Partner and we actually took our baby with us, are some of you shocked???

Question

according to some people on here it would have perfectly acceptable to have left our little man alone

We can even see our house from the restaurant so surely we should have left him alone to enjoy ourselves without him bothering us

But no, we took him with us

How many of you are wondering "why did you do that"

Answer 1

It would be silly to leave a baby alone when you can take him with you. People who care are stupid because everyone else takes their children with them, so why shouldn't you? I think it perfectly acceptable and I bet he's a cutie! I care more if people bring their kids and they cry and cry and cry, which is wayyyyyyy more un-acceptable and rude to boot.

Answer 2

I'm just glad you managed to have a family evening out.  

Answer 3

Good for you.  I just hope he slept through it and did not scream his head off and annoy other people in the restaurant - many of whom might have been paying childminders so they got a child-free evening.  

Answer 4

Would expect nothing less from you Paul.

Answer 5

well Im certainly not.  Of course i see the irony in your question, but shock-horror, a family going out to dinner?  who'd have thought it.

I agree, how selfish and thoughtless can that family be.

edit - hahaha I feel people may not get my sarcasm.

Answer 6

No u shouldn't leave a 10month old baby alone for 3hrs while you enjoy a meal so it's as simple as.....GET A BABYSITTER!  The last thing people want when they are trying to enjoy a meal is some screaming brat on the table next to them with parents who couldn't give a to$s and are to busy trying to get a bottle of wine down their neck. U had a child so accept that he is part of your family and look after it and stay at home or fork out the money and get a babysitter so you can have a nice time without it.  

Answer 7

******** h**l ..I hope Mike W was taking the pi ss on his answer...serious stuff... What are you saying mike? children should be seen and not heard? F`you you old man, get with the real modern day life.

Add: Paul C, I grasped what you are saying, some of these answers astound me, they cant see the reason on your question.

Answer 8

My father in law always used to say that a baby is a fully paid up member of the family and there is no reason why he should not go with the family. We have always included our now grown up children and our grandchildren, but we arrange events with reasonable bedtimes, which may be later than normal. Although on a very special occasion that is ignored and we have never been let down by downright bad behavior although they will talk to people at other tables older people with grandchildren are usually happy with this but courting couples quite rightly are not        

Answer 9

I would do my civic duty and report your and your partner to the Police for willful neglect to an innocent defenseless child.

but I know you would never do that because you are parents who do love their child  

Answer 10

How old is your baby? Taking your sarcasm out of the question and looking at the facts, shouldn't he have been in bed getting some sleep? Or did you feel that it was justified to keep your baby up just to prove a point?

How about leaving your baby at home with a responsible babysitter so that he can get the rest he needs to grow and thrive?

Answer 11

Good for you!  From the time our son was tiny till high school and beyond, we would take him with us .  My parents did the same with me.  My son was so precious and well behaved, why not?  It's a lot better than worring all evening, going out to call home, etc.  They grow up sooner than you think - enjoy them while you can.

Answer 12

Who cares what you and your "partner" do?  

Answer 13

The way to teach children how to behave in a restaurant it to take them to a restaurant when they are at their best - not tired or overly hungry.  You take age appropriate distractions like a few crayons and a coloring book or a picture book or small cars or trucks or a small doll or stuffed animal.  You ask the waitress for a few crackers so the child doesn't have to cry from hunger or you make sure to have the baby food ready.

If the child becomes too fussed, you leave.

My son never bothered anyone in a restaurant and we took him from the time he was 2 weeks old.  He's sixteen now and we don't need the crayons anymore...

If you're going for an expensive meal to a restaurant where reservations are necessary the ideal thing would be a good sitter, but there's nothing wrong with well-prepared parents taking a well-behaved child to a restaurant.

Answer 14

To begin with, -what you did was the Best thing. Secondly- you NEVER leave a Baby alone outside of Earshot... What other people "think about" what you did- DOESN'T matter. Child care is a BIG Responsibilty...- and You guys sound like you're doing a good job... So enjoy your Son, & keep up the good work!  :)

Answer 15

The last thing I want when I'm going out for a nice meal, and I'm sure plenty of others feel the same is a screaming child ruining my night

I bet the people at the surrounding tables were well chuffed when they saw you walk in with an infant!

I have completely grasped the 'point' you feel you are trying to make

Fact is it looks like it backfired on you slightly

Answer 16

Not shocked at all. In the rest of Europe noone would even question it - it's the done thing - I don't know why people think it's so strange to follow suit over here!

Answer 17

is this supposed to be clever and funny? i dont understand why you are announcing this on YA. should anyone care what you do? im puzzled. is there a cryptic clue that im missing?

EDIT .ahhh. right. you're working class. now that explains errrrr ummmmm what?  please explain . im intrigued now.

Answer 18

Why would anyone be shocked. People do take their children to child friendly restaurants like McDonalds and Pizza Hut.

Which did you have?

Answer 19

I have grasped what you are saying & I just hope your son doesn't grow up with your self-righteous attitude.

OK, time to think of other sorrows in our world...

Join the Save The Children Fund, where you can give money & time to help many children who are truly alone & suffering.

Answer 20

When I see stuff like this I really have to fight a wish that something bad happens to punish your smug judgemental worldview, but no, I won't.  I hope you had a good meal and that your child grows up to be a nicer person than you.

Answer 21

I am glad you took him with you.

Answer 22

you should have got a baby sitter, i really hate it when people bring their kids in to restaurants!

they are for adults, kids can go to BK and that sort of place. but restaurants should be kid free zones.

its one of my pet hates!!!

Answer 23

Paul.....I'm appalled by your lack of trust of your son...your guilty of wrapping him up in cotton wool when he should be left to his own devices, i'm mean come on what harm could become of him?.

Please if you require further info regarding parenting please contact Kate or Gerry McCann on 08900-40-40-40....

Answer 24

No i think its good u took him with you, dont leave him on his own no matter how close the restaurant is, if you want to leave him at home get a babysitter.

Answer 25

I hope he behaved himself I hate having a meal with babies crying and small children running all over the place. What are you looking for.? A medal ?

Answer 26

There you go judging others by their mistakes and yet you expect sympathy when you've been stupid.Hypocrisy FTW.

Answer 27

Well done for talking him with you and having a nice family night out once he was always by your side there was no harm in it some else would have got a babysitter for the night  i hope you had a nice night out  

Answer 28

I'm not wondering Paul as I know you will do the right thing for your little man.

Answer 29

Cheap shot Paul. Actually you wouldn't have been allowed to take your little boy into the restaurants that my hubby and i go to now for a good night out - children are not allowed, even if they are being breast fed. We had three of our own and have done the parent bit and certainly do not want small crying babies on our nights out. Small children should be at home in bed - they need their rest in order to grow, but there are a lot of selfish people out there who think that their little bees knees should be idolised by everyone else - sorry, it's just another baby, cute as it may be, and we all have the same or similar. Mine were in bed by six pm until they were four, eight pm until they were ten and then nine pm until they were 14 unless they had something special going on. If you cannot afford a babysitter then please choose your venue carefully, not everyone appreciates someone elses little darling.

Answer 30

You did the right thing. I'm sure there is no way you would even think about leaving the little one at home on his own.