SmackDown: Should a Kid Be Allowed to Scream at a Restaurant?

Can't you read. The lady said she had twin 3 year olds. You are one of those parents who just sit there and don't pay attention to your screaming BRATS.

I found it amazing, it seems "almost" everyone was in agreement other than one parent, which tells me, MOM you can't control your child! I've seen parents who seem almost embrassed because they can't control their kids - this is the kid when they get hurt the parent wants to sue the restaurant owner. Who's at fault? parent who didn't make their children behave or restaurant who doesn't have the sign up?I have two grown daughters who i never allowed to do the running up and down the rows of tables but i see parents who ALLOW this and just keep on talking like nothing's happening. Like many of you said, I've come for a nice enjoyable evening. Yes I have whether it's "I don't want hear your conversation", vulgar language, kids acting like they're at the zoo, said something to them or ask the manager to do something. Then do remember to tell those parents who child/children are well behaved, it's nice to see their face light up in with pride of their children and themselves.

What about a child who is a special needs child. That is when this goes to far.

Perhaps the dumbest response I've ever seen in my life. Please tell me exactly how you stop a newborn to two year old from crying. Do you think telling them to behave solves the problem? You're all morons. Try having kids someday and you'll understand. The kids that you can instruct to stop screaming, AREN'T THE ONES SCREAMING . It's not a behavioral or upbringing issue, it's an age issue. They're babies. Should parents seriously not be allowed to go out ever again because they don't know when their toddler might have a meltdown? And that's what this comes downs to. Parents don't enter a restaurant with a kid screaming already. When it happens, it happens some time after they've ordered usually are already eating. What are they supposed to do... get up and leave? Seriously typical responses from narcissistic AOL users.

Due to misbehaving children in my own family, I am no longer a fan of children. Especially screaming children. I greatly resent it when I'm trying to enjoy a meal, a bus ride, or anything else where I have to listen to a screaming child. I know when I was a kid, if I were to scream in a restaurant, I would be removed immediately. The trouble with today's parents is it seems that nobody wants to take responsibility and discipline their children, anymore. It scares me to think of 10 years down the road when these kids of today are going to be running our country.

Hi,
My husband and I are older. When he and I go to dinner, I don't want to have our conversation ruined by someone screaming child because the parents are not in control. My children are grown but if they had acted up in a restaurant one or the other of us would have accompanied the child to the car, rolled the windows down and sat there until the child was ready to talk about what was wrong. Until they learn to communicate their needs without screaming like a brat, they don't deserve the privilege, yes privilege of going out to eat. Our kids were always well behaved at restaurants and please and thank you or no thank you isn't just for the restaurant. What happened to common courtesy? Thanks,
sharon

Unfortumate;y under our socialist government we arent allowed to punish our kids any more, this is why we have so many run away mannered kids today, punishment doesn't have to be beating a child but whipping them shouldn't be off the table, this is the reason we have so many kids today going wrong, all kids aren't alike, some need more severe punishment than others, all we have to do is punish them so that they remember that they don't want it again, this is what makes kids better adults. Punishment is one thing, abuse is another and parents should be allowed to adjust their own punishment to a level that the kid remembers it.

This is noise pollution. I understand why this bothers people. What about visual pollution? Should I have to eat looking at fat people? Or what about a skinny person who is badly color-coordinated?

If a child screams in church you SHOULD takle him or her out. What church do you go to?

92% of those polled agreed that children should not be allowed to scream and ruin other patrons' dinners. Absolutely. There's no question here as to what's right. As a small I child I was taught that there would be no screaming or tantrums in public. I knew that by the time i was 4. And we NEVER went to restaurants when I was a child. I can remember my earliest restaurant meal on a driving trip .... I was probably 5 and had a cherry coke.

Nowadays more familiies go to restaurants. Understandably. But there's no reason to bring a screaming baby to the table and sit there while he howls. It's the parents' duty to go outside and calm the child.

An autistic child may make a lot of noise ... but he's not sitting there screaming in that uniquely piercing baby's cry. And it won't be a continuous half hour. I don't have any problem with the occasional screech from an autistic child, although I would probably discreetly ask for a table swap. But I wouldn't be angry at the parents. I AM angry at parents of normal, screaming, bratty kids. Very angry.

There's a resturant in Flagler Beach Fla. that has a similar warning. They have a sort of mild warning printed on the menu to keep children under 12 in control and in there seats. Totally agree 100%.

perfect analogy of people's reaction to children screaming in church (where a priest or minister always asks the parent to remove the child) compared to the same screamer in a restaurant..where the manager should make the same request...

As is too often the case, incredibly inconsiderate people insist it is their right to upset other peoples' lives (or peace and quiet) and the law is all too happy to oblige them. We have a two year old who is just entering her "screaming" year(s). We like to eat out. When the child gets out of control, we feel it is our duty to whisk her out of the restaurant until she settles down. Sure, it upsets our meal, since my wife and I may end up eating alone while the other babysits the child on the sidewalk, but that is one of the minor burdens of parenthood. I couldn't imagine we should have the right to disturb every other patron in the restaurant because we are too selfish or callous to manage our own screaming baby.

I remember very well that when we went out, we children sat and said nothing unless spoken to. Now that's not to say we didn't enjoy going out, but our parents had rules and we obeyed them or got a spanking right then and there. Today the brats are out of control and the parents are worse because they think they have the right to ruin my meal instead of disciplining their kids.

On another note, If you happen to see a sign of this sort at an establishment, don't bitch and moan. I'm sure there is a Chuck E Cheese you can take the screamer to. Or how about this for a concept, hire a baby sitter.

How about being a real parent and taking responsibility for your child for once? I'm a parent, a single parent at that, due to the fact that I'm a widow. My child is 8. She knows better than to act up when we are out ANYWHERE because if she does, then she has to sit on the couch, no tv, no games, no friends every day after school, only allowed to do homework and have supper, bath and then off to bed for a week. I am also a bus driver for my local public school system. We have cameras equipped on our busses NOT for the protection of the children, but to show parents how unruly their child is when they are suspended from the PRIVILEDGE of riding the bus. And, yes, just like a driver's license, it's a priveledge not a right. Rules are made for a reason, to be followed, and to show and have respect given. Not every child is evil, autistic, or unruly by nature, but a lot of the unruliness stems from parents thinking that wherever they are, or wherever they drop their child off at, be it the bus, school, day care, a sitter's etc, that their darling little angel can possibly do no wrong, and every one else is wrong for trying to correct their misconduct. You have to have a license to get a dog, but anyone can be a parent, nuff said.

Take the kid to the damn Mickey D's, if they can't act the way they should - same for adults that can't act the way they should.

If you order off of the menu that is HANDED TO YOU, you shouldn't have to put up with loud, obnoxious crap.

There is a restaurant for that - fast food.

As a parent of 8 children, I can't stand when my husband and I go out to a nice restaurant (NOT MCD'S) to enjoy a quiet meal and I have to deal with hearing kids scream, talk loud, fuss, etc. If I wanted to deal with that, I would have gone to McD's. Furthermore, when we have gone out, and been seated next to children, I request to be moved to the other side of the restaurant. But, first and foremost...the parents are to blame. They should teach their children to be quiet (note, I did NOT say silent) when their are others around them, and if they can't - well - leave them home! I know the difficulties of getting a babysitter some times, but that doesn't excuse the rude behavior of the parents for not respecting others.

This is just about one restaurant requesting "no screaming children." If anyone is upset about this restaurant's new policy, just don't go...or don't take your screaming kid! Does it really matter WHY the kid is screaming? I don't think so. The person sitting 2 tables away from you and your screaming kid, doesn't know why, nor do they probably care why your child is screaming....they just want it to stop! I have 3 children who are beyond the screaming and tantrum years, but while they were in those years my wife and I got baby sitters when we wanted to go to a "nicer" restaurant, or we took the kids with us to many other "children friendly" places. Now if McDonalds or Chuck E Cheese starts a "no screaming kids" policy, then you've got a legitimate complaint!