Leading on from the 8yr old tantrum thread...

BitterAndTwisted

Eh, your first mistake was waiting anywhere for a table for 45 whole minutes. Life's too short and we're in a recession. Restaurants are everywhere wanting our business. Find a decent one

duchy

I'm obviously a strange mother as I would take my baby out of a proper resturant (carvery and upwards) if he was screaming enough to disturb other diners-and when he was older he was expected to stay at the table and join in with the meal-or again we went outside for a little chat-possibly a run around out of the way before returning. I don't see why just because my little cherub has turned into son of satan other people who have paid good money to eat too should have their meal ruined. A little bit of consideration doesn't hurt anyone and teaches the kid a good lesson about how the world doesn't revolve solely for their benefit too (at least when out and about-at home he was the centre of my universe )

pleasedelete

toomanyshoesfortwofeet wrote: »

I'd like to think I'd offer to hold the baby for them so they at least have a chance to eat together.

A woman offered to hold my ds1 who was a crying ball of colicky fury at 8 weeks. I was at a coffee shop, I 'd just sat down with my cup when he woke up, I'd just walked for an hour to get him to sleep. I remember how grateful I was - she also taught me the art of a decent swaddling technique - I could have cried.

That is what I would have done. My daughter only really cried once in a restaurant that I can remember. We were in Majorca on holiday-1st night - just arrived. We were just thinking we would have to go back to the apartment and eat breakfast cereal (the only food there) when unbelievably a couple who were my mothers friends walked past! Hadn't seen them since our wedding 10 years earlier. They took her off for an hour while we ate. She was 11 weeks old.

Never forgotten it and I often rock strangers babies to sleep now or get my teenagers to walk them round outside.