Kids in coffee shops - yay or nay

Some people think their toddler is a godsend to mankind...

Of course kids can be in coffee shops and the like, and the vast majority are no disturbance to anyone - a small baby in a high chair eating - or failing to eat - cake and grinning gummily at the world can be very entertaining. Problems only arise when parents make no effort to mind their kids, let them run riot around the place while absorbed in their chat or their phone. There is a lot of difference between a toddler having a toddler type meltdown and kids who are old enough to know better being allowed to play chase round the tables.

A cafe isn't a playground, kids have loads of energy so take them to the playground and let them run some of it off before expecting them to be peaceable in a cafe. People are entitled to have a quiet cuppa and a chat, just as parents are entitled to bring in kids, but there has to be a bit of consideration on all sides.

You're always going to get people in cheap coffee shops and cheap Ryanair flights that think they're at the opera or a Swan Lake ballet. These people are usually the ones that didn't grow up going to cafe's, restaurants or foreign holidays and think because they're paying they're entitled to five star treatment and a zen like ambiance. Unfortunately for them, they're just normal people in normal places surrounded by other normal people.

If they want peace and quiet they have to chose their cafe's better. Costa at 10am isn't a good choice for this lot, but they don't know any better.

If you want to take your progeny out, and they cannot behave, then do the decent thing and stick to places built for children, McDonalds and the like.

Absolutely bring em. Our lad, 3, loves going for a babycino and is always fine. If he has a whinge we figure it out there and then. Don't think we've ever had to leave anywhere with him due to any behavior. If you want a quiet place to read a newspaper then choose more wisely.

Something I just realised a couple of weeks ago was a thing was a baby chino. It is frothed milk with chocolate powder on top. Are any of you familiar with this or do I just have odd friends? Haha

I think you were dead right to handle it the way you did, well done. The coffee is usually terrible in those soft play places, go wherever suits you, parents are the coffee shops bread and butter, that's why the sell juices, and kids chocolate lollies, and baby chinos and stuff. Its not like you wandered into an old man pub.

Tell them to go **** themselves. I saw a similar situation a couple of years ago. Family with 2 young kids on a Sunday afternoon and 3 oul fuckers sitting not too far away, a young adult and his two parents. Kids weren't misbehaving, just beings kids. But when the grumpy oul shites got their bill they whinged about kids being in the place. The manager looked a bit surprised but told them it's a family premises and they're more than happy to serve families. The father of the kids heard them complain and asked them why didn't they have the balls to say something to him instead of bitching now about him and his family to someone else. One the of idiots in the group started hissing!

To top it off, the manager went over to the family and apologised and told them they'd be happy to have them back again.

Babycino?

small foamy milk drink. might get lucky and have hot chocolate thrown in