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

Are you kidding me, some people talk on their cell phones in church.

Screaming kids are a reflection on their parents. My grandkids have never screamed or caused a disruption in restaurants or anyplace else. Their parents have taught them manners and etiquette. They are wonderful, well adjusted kids and I love being around them.

You are right Becky. If anyone, regardless of age, is having a fit in a restaurant or store they should leave. I have to say Shawn's comment is nuts. Sorry Shawn, if you take on the responsibility of a child that means you have to do things you don't want to do. If your kid gets out of hand, you take the kid and leave. Not fare that you miss out on a meal, even if you paid already. That's what being a parent is.

This is actually addressed to Shawn: When I go to a nicer restaurant, I expect to enjoy that meal w/o a screaming child. I don't think it would bother me if it were an infant. I'm talking temper tantrums here. If a child is old enough to scream because he's not getting his way, he's old enough to be removed from the situation and figure out WHY it's happening sooner or later. It may take longer the younger the child is.

If you have a fussy infant or a child with autism, do yourself a favor and give yourself a break. Get a babysitter. If you can't afford a babysitter, most restaurants provide take out.

A child doesn't magically start behaving because they turn 2 - or 4 - or 6. If you don't start early, you're screwed. Do yourself a favor and teach them soon: unless it doesn't bother you that your family/friends can't stand being around your kids because they're brats.

Do you remember the old Willy Wonka song? "Who do you blame when your kid is a brat? The mother and the father." They depend on YOU to teach them. Please do and their future daycare providers and teachers will thank you for it.

You're absolutely right! It doesn't matter to me WHO is making the disturbance, they need to leave!
When my sons were young, I took them to what I called "training" restaurants. You know, like McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc. Once they got the idea of how they were expected to act there, we moved on to Denny's, Shari's, etc. That way, they were exposed to "table service" restaurants, and knew what was expected there. Then we could move on to the finer dining restaurants! They knew that if they acted inappropriately at any time, that we would leave the restaurant and they would be missing their meal. Now, if just one of the boys acted up, we still left the restaurant however the one who acted appropriately was given his meal and got to choose the restaurant we patronized the next time.
This training was so effective, I got many compliments from others about how well behaved my boys were. My oldest son now has 2 boys of his own and has followed this training and now he receives the same compliment.
As far as anyone suing an establishment for this, it won't happen. How many times have you seen a sign posted in a business that proclaims that they have the right to refuse service to anyone!

Shawn, I DO have a child and when she was small and we went out to eat she was quiet and never made a fuss. On the occasion that she was cranky and started to cry I simply asked the server to box our meals and we left the restaurant. It's not just about you, you should be considerate of the other diners and allow them to eat their meals in peace. Too many people are rude and too many don't bother to teach their children proper behavior.

Bob - what you are nuts? Beating and whipping? I decided that most of the angry men that are stuck in political discourse just aren't getting any. Know what I mean???? They are like dogs that are in heat and not bitch will have them.

So these kids are being raised by socialists? And real socialists apparenlty in history are now not known for using heavy handed tactics and these kids are enjoying their misbehavior because they are being raised by socialist parents? Oh puhleeze. Ever hear of Stalin - he murdered millions of Russians and he was a premier socialist. Don't know history - I'm no surprised at all. Now I know you aren't too smart - you just hate the current president. But your moron is showing. Keep that anger going guy ----- but I suggest you find someone to give you some real love and caring. It will improve your life ....that cockamamie anger will just shorten it. Anger is not attractive but a sawbuck may help you in that department.

Nuts.

For all those who say parents should keep their "screaming" kids at home, call your parents right now and ask if you were 100% angelic growing up.

I agree that children should be taken outside when they act up if that is a possibility, however the family dynamics of today are completely different than those gone by. We have a lot of kids being raised by divorced parents or single parents or by two parents who both work, so that there are a lot of times when one parent is out to eat with multiple kids. It would be impossible for them to just leave the table. Instead of glaring at the family, who probably feel just as bad as you, why not try to help... Play peek-a-boo, drum your spoon on the table, do something positive.

Why should parents with kids be restricted from eating out any way? Any one who eats out knows what they can expect, if "screaming" kids annoy you so much, cook a meal in the privay of your home or BBQ.

Otherwise why stop at screaming kids. Why not restrict people who wear too much perfume, smell like cigars, laugh too loud, chew with their mouths open, people whose hair style is so big it blocks out the sun in the window...

Who in the world do you think you are to judge people with disabilties. To clarify is it all disabled people that should be sold to the circus or just children with autism? Your discrimination is the epitomy of ignorance, perhaps you are the one who should be sold to the circus.

Let me guess.... the dad who thinks it's discrimination is a liberal? Of course because they all have too many rights! Give me a break! I am a mother of three and I would never take my kids to a fancy restaurant when they are little. I have been in a restaurant when my little one started to cry and I immediately got up and went outside. That was at a Chili's ( the fanciest I will ever take a little kid, LOL). It is so disrespectful to the other patrons to sit there and allow your children to scream and cry. Horrible. Get over it parents - if your kids are being annoying - take them out!!

It's not up to the restaurant. Customers can just get up and go. No check, no tip, you need say nothing to anybody, just leave. Eventually the owners and staff will check that eating in a relaxed peaceful place is what folks pay for.

You are the moron Shawn. You chose to have kids so you were clearly okay with having your meals and outings ruined by their moods and tantrums, the rest of the world did not agree to such things when you decided to have kids. Others do not have to suffer because of your choices and burdens. Whether it is from teething, a bad mood or because they are retarded... I really could not care less why your kid is screaming and/or crying, eating a meal does not entail screaming/crying so shut your kid up or remove them from the restaurant unless you are going to pay for everyone elses ruined meal.
Parents like you are selfish pigs. You think just because you have learned to tune out your piglets screaming or have lost a good portion of your hearing because of them and can continue on with a meal while they go off like a fire alarm that everyone else should just sympathize with you and deal with it. BS! The world does not revolve around you because you procreated, learn to handle your choices and burdens rather than force them on others.

Good Lord, as recently as a decade or so ago, parents used to respect others in public places and NOT subject them to undo noise or disruption. Today (unfortunately) we seem to live in the entitled era where anyone thinks they can do whatever they want. Sadly, no thoughts or respect for others seems to be the norm. I definitely don't blame the child (it is only trying to communicate as it best knows how...or how it was taught to seek attention). Isn't it the adult parents who should know what to do with respect to others in a public place? Then again, perhaps today there are less and less mature ADULTS having children and actually trying to teach them the behavior that they (the adults) were never taught. BRING EARPLUGS along with your walkmen! Ugh!

shawn you are a idiot, a newborn to a 2 yr old doesnt belong in a family restaurant , get a sitter leave the brat at home, parents/people/ like you with a anything has to be tolerated attitude are the problem

This reply isn't to any of the previous who replied in particular. The article said that if Old Salty was more expensive, a sign wouldn't be needed... Au Contraire!!! I went for a LATE dinner to Water's Edge (upscale shoreline restaurant in CT)... Late enough that any well brought up kid should be getting ready for bed, if not IN bed... nice ambience, live piano and violin playing... I placed my order, and a few minutes later, a family of 5 came in, with kids that looked to be 8 and under. The kids were loud, I could no longer hear the music. I hailed the waitperson, and said, either they get moved, I get moved, or I leave and stiff you for the meal (which hadn't yet been delivered). I DID get moved, however, I was moved far from the other diners and the music, vs. the noisy oafs being moved far from the diners and the music. My tip was only 10% and a note that said, wrong move, had you moved the noisy family far from the diners and the music, your tip would have been 50 or 60% vs. 10%.

I have not gone back there since.

What planet are YOU on? you gotta be kiddin' about the church comment! We put "cry rooms" in and they're empty!!!

It's rather easy to take an upset child outside for a little walk and some calm down time. My husband and I took turns doing so with our children and other parents should do the same. Another thing parents can do is bring items to entertain their children. An iPad or Gameboy system is great for pre-school on up with quiet games. Don't depend on restaurants to supply crayons and paper either. Bring quiet toys and books and TALK to your children while dining out too. AND most important, dine early. Beat the rush and you will not only have a child who isn't already tired and cranky, but you will miss the crowd who doesn't want your children around to begin with.

Yes, we took our children out to the "crying area" if they became disruptive during church services. We did not take them to nicer restaurants when they were very young for this reason. Not only did we not want to ruin the meal for other patrons, our meal was more enjoyable if we didn't have to handle that situation. Once in a while we'd pay for a sitter so we could go out and enjoy the treat of a peaceful meal and focus on each other. We'd sometimes encounter disruptive small children. Oblivious parents might get the "stink-eye" from us, but we certainly didn't assault them. That's the difference between children and adults. Adults are supposed to be mature and in charge of these situations. They should possess the ability to manage their emotions in public and use good judgment. Our "children" are now 28 and 25. From a young age, we taught them manners and good citizenship (by example) and that none of us is better or more entitled than another.

we even have a "crying room" desiganted at church forthese families with young noisy kids or crying babies. Some people still insist on sitting in church and letting there noisy child talk, eat snacks, cry, do whatever they want...play friggin matchbox cars all over the pews. so whatever, people are just plain rude anymore and the people like us who won't tolerate it or say something look like the bad guys! I have 2 kids and trust me I would never have been upset at a sign like that.

It really isn't fair to characterize all children as brats. A child's behavior is the result of either good or bad parenting. As a mother, grandmother, and teacher of 34 years, I have had experience working with and evaluating children from birth to elementary age. Parents need to take responsibility and teach their children the social skills and good manners that are required in a social situation. That being said, it is unrealistic to expect an infant is not going to get cranky, however, parents should respect the rights of other diners. It's just plain common sense. Don't take your children into any social situation when they are more likely to be overtired, stressed, over stimulated, ill, or over excited. Any public place can cause over stimualtion of their senses and that can lead an already tired, sick, or stressed child into a class a meltdown. As far as the sign goes, there is nothing offensive about it. I see nothing that states specifically that autistic children are not tolerated, and given the fact that this is a privately owned business, the owner has every to create as pleasant a dining experience that she wants for her customers.