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

In reply to Shawn, obviously a permissive parent will excuse a child's behavior regardless how it affects others. Shawn, children reflect how they are raised. You had the child, its your responsibily to raise the child in a civilized way.

Shawn, 1) If a child, baby or otherwise is screaming in a restaurant, they need to be removed from the situation until they calm down. No, you don't yell at an infant to tell it to stop screaming. You just take them out, find out what the issue is, and tend to it. It's very simple. 2) Yes, children old enough to take instruction do scream and cause a fuss. If you don't think that, then I can't believe you have any kids of your own, or have any experience with kids whatsoever.

As far as Shawn's comment is concerned, babies should not be taken to fancy restaurants. They won't be able to eat the food there anyway and will probably be rather frightened by all the lights and noise and strangers (which is why they'll be screaming). The decent thing to do is to find a sitter for just one night or leave them with their grandparents. If you can't do that, wait till they're a little older and bring them then. Also, if someone does have a toddler who starts screaming during the meal, a person should take them outside for a good talk about how that isn't appropriate. It works even better if both parents are there because one can go outside with the child while the other guards their plates. The better idea would be to take the kids to a restaurant they might actually like, one that has burgers instead of calamari. If parents will have more curtesy for others, people can all digest their meals in peace.

"...No child screams without reason...."


and those of us with well-behaved children or no children, don't CARE what the reason is.


"...About the only thing that does work is a little understanding..."


No, that does not stop the mis-behaving child. What works is removing the offending person, large or small, from a place the rest of us have to put up iwth them.

I agree Shawn... except I don't wish these people EVER have children as they just don't 'get it'.
Kids scream - it's healthy for them to do so, and sometimes they don't even know why they are doing it.
And I'll tell you something else, if any resturants where I live place those rediculous signs on their establishments - I will refuse to go there - even without my screaming child!!!
I think alot of people will feel this way, which means that these resturants will lose business - so be it!!!

people should eat at home if they have that big of a problem with a screaming child.

I'm a parent with 3 children under 7. Thankfully they are well behaved in restaurants- even so- if we do go to one, we go in the earlier hours closer to 5. When I did not have children, I couldn't believe how badly behaved some kids could be in restaurants, and that their parents wouldn't do anything about it. I finally noticed they were usually there in the earlier dinner hours. I started going out around 8:30 or later and never had to deal with them. So, unless you're in Disney World, you should be safer if you go later.

You wouldn't allow a child to be screaming at the table at home. You either make there tails go to there room or spank there back side (which if people do that more they straighten the butts up) or if a small child change the nasty diaper or feed them!!

I agree with the sane and considerate posters here! There is no excuse for acting like a brat in public. I'm in my mid-40's and if my brother and I acted up we were taken outside until we able to be civil. Especially in church - most have a supervised Nursery where they expect your children to scream - not during the service in the front row. Weddings, the movies, restaurants too!! Unfortunately the parents of today were apparently not brought up to think of others and be considerate. Everyone has "rights" these days - "I will do what I want, when and when I want and to hell with everyone else and what they think!" It's so sad and they don't even "get it" - their answer - oh let's just file a lawsuit and complain our rights have been violated.......
If I were the restaurant owner I would rather lose one customer with a screaming kid and have my regular customers happy, as they will come more often and bring their friends, due to the great atmosphere and someone not being afraid to say - Enough!

Our Pastor had a wonderful saying he would frequently use before special events at the church. "Good intentions and crying children should be carried out immediately". A wise and tactful man.

You are so ignorant. Remember you were a child once too. Only some one without compassion can make such an ignoramous statement like you have. I have been to plenty of restaurants where there are people who are obnoxious and annoy the people around them. If you want peace and quiet when you eat, then do it at home, don't go out.

get over yourself may god have mercy on you i have a good doctor for you are having issues in your own life thats why you keep your anger going and but fault on everyone else i will pray for you but that mother ALONE MY SON

Anybody who thinks its OK to let your child have a "Meltdown" in public is an idiot NOBODY wants to be burdened with your bratty kids but you and other lousy parents like you.
People work hard all week to afford to have a quiet peaceful dinner
quit being a tightass and hire a babysitter if your child is prone to these fits in public and that goes for any public place where people just want to get away from everyday stresses.
It was your choice to bring children into the world now the consequences (Good or bad) are your problem and not the rest of societies.
Children have meltdowns because they are ALLOWED to, this is the behavior you should expect when your kids are "YOUR" entire Universe.
I raised 2 children who are now 26 and 24 and I NEVER laid a hand on either one of them but make no mistake I never tolerated this kind of behavior especially in public. It is your obligation to get up and leave (wheather in a restaurant, store, mall wherever you are)with your bratty kids, the fact you are in a line to pay or sitting at a table with your food there is YOUR problem, not the rest of the worlds.

im not sure what church you go to but jesus never turned children away especially sick ones oh and by the way no one seems to mind these children when they are teens and paying your social secruity !!!!

To Becky that wrote.."If a kid cries in church, don't you take them out so you don't ruin the service?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If only that would be the case. Prior to reading your comment, my mind went to all those parents that let their children scream in Church. What has become of common sense and courtesy to let other people enjoy their time away from home.

Shawn: Stop being an idiot - ahysterical idiot at that! No one suggests you should persuade children to stop screaming; we are saying that you should remove them from the restaurant )or the church) or any other formal public occasion if they scream. And really, never go out again?? Come off it! Babies don't stay that ungovernable forever and, in the meantime, have you ever heard of babysitters?

The most annoying adults i ever met, where also the most obnoxious kids i had known growing up. Why dont you morons think about when you used to be children and how awful you where and still probably are. Innocent children shouldent be discriminated agianst for learning how to cope with emotion in public. No one discriminated against you for being so judgemental and stupid!

u would think that one would take there screaming child out of a restraunt or church, however teaching children 2 b respectful in public has become obsolete! yes i have children, no u cant control a infant or very young toddler, that is when u take them 2 the restroom or outside, teaching them from the start that they dont get 2 stay an scream benifits them in so many ways, they will learn quickly that good behavior is rewarded w/ fun thus making it pleasent 4 urself as well as others around u. can an autistic child b taught this, YES i have seen it done, and when they r having a meltdown they 2 should b takin outside or the restroom, as a matter of fact mayb they r trying 2 tell the situation is overly stressful 4 them. However i have noticed parents 2 day r 2 busy w/ themselves 2 bother teaching there children any manners at all. I cant tell u the amount of times i have had 2 listen 2 a screaming child while the parent chat obliviously on there STUPID CELL PHONE!

I hear so many parents say, "If you don't behave, we're going to leave", yet they NEVER pack up their food and go. It took ONE time for each of my children to learn that if they acted up we left. Period. Our 10th wedding anniversary was coming up and we saved for months to afford a Steak & Ale dinner out. A huge treat for starving medical students. The evening was ruined by parents who let their two young boys literally run around the tables. I'm still mad to this day.

SHAWN (aka Idiot). You must not have had children- Moron. All sensible parents would get up and take the screaming child outside. Then when things calm down (if), you go back into the restaurant