Loud babies in family-friendly restaurants

[picksthemusic]

The reason I'm asking is beause we were out to our favorite conveyer-belt sushi place, and it's very family-friendly. Lots of families with kids and babies. M was doing her "happy screaming", and there was also a couple behind us that had a crying 3-month-old (we didn't care, we were really sympathetic, actually) that ended up leaving because they couldn't calm the baby down. Every time M screamed we shushed her and I ended up apologizing to the family on one side of us, but they didn't mind because they had a rambunctious child of their own they were dealing with.

Anyway, it's not that M is upset or throwing a fit, she's screaming just to scream (or get our attention, or test her voice, or whatever). And since she's 8 months old, it's pretty hard to control, even with a binkie.

What are your thoughts (especially those of you without kids)?

[sarack]

happy screaming doesn't really bother me. but if they won't stop and do it straight for 30 minutes, that is kinda ridic. at that point, i feel like i'd be embarrassed as a parent and leave.

[madDawg228]

I voted slightly annoyed, but I can ignore it. But, I would be more than slightly annoyed with "happy screams" because I wouldn't feel any sympathy for the family or baby (but I would for sad/crying screams). If I was at a place that was obviously family friendly (Red Robin, etc) I would deal with it and do my best to ignore it because that is just what is to be expected sometimes. But I would probably send a few evil-eye glances to the "happy screamer." I'm a cranky child-less person, though

[amandasw]

May 25, 2012 10:27:36 GMT -5 sarack said:

happy screaming doesn't really bother me. but if they won't stop and do it straight for 30 minutes, that is kinda ridic. at that point, i feel like i'd be embarrassed as a parent and leave.

pretty much this.

[amandasw]

May 25, 2012 10:31:27 GMT -5 madDawg228 said:

I voted slightly annoyed, but I can ignore it. But, I would be more than slightly annoyed with "happy screams" because I wouldn't feel any sympathy for the family or baby (but I would for sad/crying screams). If I was at a place that was obviously family friendly (Red Robin, etc) I would deal with it and do my best to ignore it because that is just what is to be expected sometimes. But I would probably send a few evil-eye glances to the "happy screamer." I'm a cranky child-less person, though

ok, I also kind of agree with this. IMO places like Red Robin are so loud anyway it doesn't matter. I wouldn't have thought I was going to a family friendly place if I went out for sushi, in all honesty - it doesn't mean it isn't, I just wouldn't be expecting it personally. Usually when I think of sushi places they are more quiet, so one kid screaming would be more obvious. But if there were lots of kids and families then I probably wouldn't notice.

[jennlin]

I voted slightly annoyed, but I'd deal with it. I'd rather hear happy screams than cries, but I'm not gonna lie and say it's perfectly fine. I think the difference is if the parents aren't doing anything about it- if the parents are working to fix the disturbance, regardless if it's crying or happy screams, I don't mind, but if the parents are ignoring the baby-obviously that's the reason the baby is screaming/crying, right?

[georgeharrison]

May 25, 2012 10:40:11 GMT -5 jennlin said:

I voted slightly annoyed, but I'd deal with it. I'd rather hear happy screams than cries, but I'm not gonna lie and say it's perfectly fine. I think the difference is if the parents aren't doing anything about it- if the parents are working to fix the disturbance, regardless if it's crying or happy screams, I don't mind, but if the parents are ignoring the baby-obviously that's the reason the baby is screaming/crying, right?

This is just what I was going to say. If the parents are shooshing and trying to distract the kid to control the screaming, I figure they are doing the best they can. If the parents are just chatting with each other and ignoring the child's outburst, then I'm pretty annoyed.

Also, there are some places you just shouldn't take kids that age. When Tman was an infant, we took him out a lot, but then we didn't take him anywhere that was supposed to be quiet until he was probably 3. We went to Red Robin a lot during this time.

[emyinpink]

I'm probably a horrible person (and I don't have kids), but this is a reason DH and I almost never go out to dinner on the eastside. I hate when parents take their kids to restaurants and the kids/babies are noisy/screaming/etc. I don't care if it's happy screaming or crying screaming. I go out to eat to enjoy great food and talking with friends or my husband, not to listen to children. If there was a kid who wouldn't shut up and the parents weren't doing anything about it, I would probably either gripe about it to my DH, ask to move tables, or potentially leave.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2012 11:38:52 GMT -5 @emyinpink said:

I'm probably a horrible person (and I don't have kids), but this is a reason DH and I almost never go out to dinner on the eastside. I hate when parents take their kids to restaurants and the kids/babies are noisy/screaming/etc. I don't care if it's happy screaming or crying screaming. I go out to eat to enjoy great food and talking with friends or my husband, not to listen to children. If there was a kid who wouldn't shut up and the parents weren't doing anything about it, I would probably either gripe about it to my DH, ask to move tables, or potentially leave.

+1

I might have messed up the poll because I picked I'd leave, but I usually don't frequent family friendly restaurant, but if I do I sit in the bar.

[Deleted]

I voted SS, but the fact is, I HATE happy baby "screams." That pitch really kills my ears and is like nails on a chalkboard for me. Once or twice, I try to ignore, but if the child is doing it constantly AND the parents make NO effort to shush it, I get cranky REALLY fast. I'll start shooting the table evil eye, bitch to H, and try to hurry up and leave fast.