Dining room screaming baby

[ceejay3377]

I've read all the replies to this post, and while I empathise with those who find the loud screeching of a baby intolerable (I myself have misophonia - look it up if you are not familiar with it), I do think that it might be presumptuous to blame 'bad parenting'.

 

We have a 10 month old who we have been dining out with pretty much since he was born. We are courteous to other diners and we have removed him on the odd occasions that he gets upset. But by and large, he is quiet and rarely makes much more than a happy gurgle or 'gaga' while eating. (I count myself very fortunate that he is such a sunny, easy going baby :))

 

The exception is when wait staff or other diners (you now, all those other people in the dining room or restaurant) try and engage with him. I don't think we have ever had a meal when some one else hasn't wanted to play 'peekaboo' or other similar game with him. We don't mind, and certainly appreciate the attention from others (as any normal, proud parents would). However, when others do this he will squeal with delight or let out some other loud noise. It is only natural for a baby/toddler to do this.

 

So, as parents, we try very hard to be courteous and do the right thing, but please remember that there are many other people in the dining room who may be the reason behind the squeals (delighted or otherwise) that you find intolerable. Perhaps, in these cases, you should approach the offending diners or wait staff and kindly ask them to refrain from engaging with the small child ...

[Cruisin' Chick]

I am a crotchety old thing, and sometimes have to try REALLY hard to find my inner peace in the face of other humans and all the annoying stuff they do.

 

But I recognise that's largely my problem, and one I have to deal with if I'm going to climb onto a boat with a few thousand others in close quarters.

 

So I while I understand where you're coming from, I disagree. I think it's actually the people who can't hack sharing a public space with other humans, and those unpredictable and sometimes outrageous things other humans do, who would be better off camping in the middle of nowhere.

 

I've decided not to ever let those things ruin a well earned holiday.

 

A movie theater and a restaurant are two totally different venues. Everyone is expected to be completely silent is a theater and even adults talking at a normal volume continuously should be asked to leave. A happy screech in a restaurant once every 10 minutes that lasts less than a second is NOT the same thing.

 

Exactly. It's up to everyone to try to be considerate (like the ADULTS who were gabbing during two shows on a recent cruise). Parents can (and should) take out a fussing baby or toddler. It's not that difficult.

 

Side note: tonight hubby and I were at a nice (for us) restaurant. At the next booth, a little girl was getting restless as the family was finishing up...so she came over to visit us. Hubby wasn't bothered at all and was very sweet to her, calling her princess. She was waving to us and we were waving back. The mother was rushing trying to gather up all their stuff but little girl wasn't bothering us at all.

[pseudoware]

It is all so simple......be considerate of others and remove a screaming or crying child. It's not rocket science. It's simple consideration:rolleyes:

End of thread.

Unfortunately, there are too many parents these days that are either not cognizant of this or just don't care.

 

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[lahlah57]

Although I don't myself fancy them, I'm beginning to see why adult only cruises are so popular...:rolleyes:

 

Thats right and once I went on one adult cruise......I never looked back. A much more relaxing vibe and these sort of threads would not be an issue......sweeeeeeet silence.

[Who Cares?]

Thats right and once I went on one adult cruise......I never looked back. A much more relaxing vibe and these sort of threads would not be an issue......sweeeeeeet silence.

 

Except for the screaming, bumbling drunks! :D

[sail7seas]

On what cruise lines have you actually run across anything but a very rare "screaming, bumbling drunk"? Maybe Carnival but I've sailed HAL, Princess, RCI, Celebrity, NCL and Carnival once (sort of) and only one time have we been repulsed by a real 'drunk'. A reference such as this puzzles me.

 

Edited November 8, 2015 by sail7seas

[NLH Arizona]

On what cruise lines have you actually run across anything but a very rare "screaming, bumbling drunk"? Maybe Carnival but I've sailed HAL, Princess, RCI, Celebrity, NCL and Carnival once (sort of) and only one time have we been repulsed by a real 'drunk'. A reference such as this puzzles me.

 

I've been on a number of lines and many, many cruises and only once did I run into a bumbling drunk and it was on Crystal.

[Who Cares?]

On what cruise lines have you actually run across anything but a very rare "screaming, bumbling drunk"? Maybe Carnival but I've sailed HAL, Princess, RCI, Celebrity, NCL and Carnival once (sort of) and only one time have we been repulsed by a real 'drunk'. A reference such as this puzzles me.

 

 

I have sailed Carnival mostly (8 out of 17 cruises) but have seen at least one irritating drunk on every single cruise I've been on (with the exception of the USS Abraham Lincoln). That includes RCCL, Princess, NCL, and yes, even HAL.

[sail7seas]

Guess out of over 90+ cruises, we have been very lucky. Only saw it once and it was on HAL. :) A jerk made a total fool of himself in Crows Nest late night. He was escorted off the ship the next morning when we got to port.

[lahlah57]

Except for the screaming, bumbling drunks! :D

 

Carnival ...yes mixed in with the child versions.

Haven't seen it on an adult line:confused:

[jocap]

Except for the screaming, bumbling drunks! :D

 

From what I hear from forum friends, the only problem with adult cruises is that everything goes quiet soon after 10pm, which is why many prefer family ships. I've never heard that heavy drinkers were a problem.

We're hoping to do our first adult only cruise on the Marco Polo this summer, so I'll keep an eye open....;)

[SonarSonarSonar]

We are ultimately responsible for our own happiness. I learned a long long time ago.

 

When a kid screams I immediately ask for a table as far away as possible. I always scan the room before I ask and am way ahead of the waiter.

 

I never just sit there and "see my way through dinner." The family is already in distress and I don't need to be in distress as well.

 

It's nobody's fault....periodic screams or misbehavior is ok. Constant misbehavior is the parent's fault. I'm not there to referee between them. :)

 

Works like a charm, every time.

[momonthego17]

We are ultimately responsible for our own happiness. I learned a long long time ago.

 

When a kid screams I immediately ask for a table as far away as possible. I always scan the room before I ask and am way ahead of the waiter.

 

I never just sit there and "see my way through dinner." The family is already in distress and I don't need to be in distress as well.

 

It's nobody's fault....periodic screams or misbehavior is ok. Constant misbehavior is the parent's fault. I'm not there to referee between them. :)

 

Works like a charm, every time.

 

Being proactive rather than reactive, always a good thing. That's why I am seriously thinking about the activity bag that I mentioned earlier in this thread. :D

[moniquet]

From what I hear from forum friends, the only problem with adult cruises is that everything goes quiet soon after 10pm, which is why many prefer family ships. I've never heard that heavy drinkers were a problem.

We're hoping to do our first adult only cruise on the Marco Polo this summer, so I'll keep an eye open....;)

 

If it is true what they say about that ship there are many more problems than a screaming baby:eek:

[Hlitner]

Very interesting thread. So DW and moi have been blessed to have spent nearly 3 years on cruise ships (as passengers). Never once, have we been bothered by a screaming annoying drunk adult (although we have certainly been annoyed by some adults). But a screaming child/infant in a dining room, show room, etc. can quickly ruin the atmosphere for hundreds of others (of all ages). Screaming/crying children are just a part of parenting and there is usually nobody to blame. But when it happens, a responsible parent will remove the child/baby from the room and try to calmly deal with the situation (that is called good parenting). It is also common courtesy! And for those that try to play the equivalency game...shame on you since it just does not apply. Sure, there are other issues that happen on ships, but that has no relevancy to how to best deal with a screaming child/baby.

 

Hank

Edited November 9, 2015 by Hlitner

[rpb718]

I may get a bit of revenge though, for he & his wife just had their first last week and they had Twins....hehehe......

 

Your DIL's first name wouldn't be Katie - would it?

[Hflors]

This whole thread brought to mind a very special occasion that was totally ruined by a baby that screamed and cried the whole time.

 

My daughter graduated from college. Now you have to understand my dd did this totally on her own. After high school she wanted "nothing to go with school" Fast forward she is now 20 a mother and one day calls me and says she is going back to school. It took her 8 years of hard work (she worked full time, went to school part time, and she and her husband were also raising a son.) she graduated in the top 10 percent of her class in pari-legal studies from a private college near us. So graduation comes and her father and I invite the whole family. About 30 family members come to the restaurant that afternoon. It started about 4 pm. Anyway one of my nieces brings her new baby ( 4 - 6 mos old) She comes in the door as we are all ordering food. He is crying and she is holding him. The whole meal that baby cried and let out blood curling shrieks. Everyone tied to hold him and calm him so my niece could at least eat her meal. We took him outside, we brought him inside, nothing. Baby still crying and shrieking. After about an hour of this non-stop crying. My niece says to me. "Oh he does this every day at this time for about two hours and then he settles down". I was so shocked I didn't know what to say. Niece and still screaming baby leave right after dinner. Dh and I pay the bill. DD is furious. Instead the dinner being about her and her accomplishments it turned into about baby!

 

Lesson learned. When DD graduated from Law school she only invited people she wanted at the restaurant she wanted. Other than her son no children were invited.

[pcur]

My husband and I eat all our meals out, and we decided it's best to be pro-active in restaurants. We immediately scan the place to see if there are any small children or babies, and then ask quietly to be seated elsewhere when greeted. If we cannot see the whole restaurant, I just scan as we are being escorted, and then quietly request a better location that I've determined is a "safe" zone.

 

We have learned that there are all kinds of parenting styles, and you cannot rely on parents to always be considerate of other diners if their children are disruptive. To many parents it appears they are so accustomed to the noise level it doesn't register with them that other people are not used to it.

 

On cruises we eat at 8:15 - 8:30, and I cannot remember the last time we saw a baby or toddler in the dining room; it's been that long ago.

[13cheermom]

I honestly don't understand why parents bring babies onboard a cruise ship. When our children were young we planned appropriate vacations that allowed them to enjoy and have fun in the setting we were in. There is nothing for a baby to do on a cruise ship. Sometimes as the adult we just need to make the best decision not only for ourselves but for others around us. In today's me-me society it doesn't seem to happen to often unfortunately. :(

[pcur]

I honestly don't understand why parents bring babies onboard a cruise ship. When our children were young we planned appropriate vacations that allowed them to enjoy and have fun in the setting we were in. There is nothing for a baby to do on a cruise ship. Sometimes as the adult we just need to make the best decision not only for ourselves but for others around us. In today's me-me society it doesn't seem to happen to often unfortunately. :(

 

I agree.

 

35 years ago I was talking to a co-worker. She helped a friend who ran a group travel guide service, using her paid vacation time to go on these great trips to help with the groups. This one was a RCCL cruise, and she said she took her 3 year old with her. Raved about the children's program.

 

I had been cruising for 7 years, and couldn't figure out why taking very small children would be a relaxing vacation for the parents on a cruise ship.

 

We took our sons to an all-inclusive twice when they were little. It was in Barbados. It was a lot of work the first trip with son #2 still in diapers.

 

So, it's not that I think parents are selfish taking small children with them, because I did it. But, there just seem to be better choices for the comfort of the parents and the toddler/baby than a cruise ship.

[JVilleGal]

I honestly don't understand why parents bring babies onboard a cruise ship. When our children were young we planned appropriate vacations that allowed them to enjoy and have fun in the setting we were in. There is nothing for a baby to do on a cruise ship. Sometimes as the adult we just need to make the best decision not only for ourselves but for others around us. In today's me-me society it doesn't seem to happen to often unfortunately. :(

 

 

Ditto!

[CruiseBride926]

I honestly don't understand why parents bring babies onboard a cruise ship. When our children were young we planned appropriate vacations that allowed them to enjoy and have fun in the setting we were in. There is nothing for a baby to do on a cruise ship. Sometimes as the adult we just need to make the best decision not only for ourselves but for others around us. In today's me-me society it doesn't seem to happen to often unfortunately. :(

 

 

We will be taking our daughter who will be one and a half with us in September. We weren't planning on booking a cruise but after getting married on a cruise a couple weeks ago we decided that she would enjoy it. For us it works because I tend to do more while on board and he prefers to kick back and do more on excursions while I'm a chill on the beach girl. It works out well because no matter what either one or both of us would have no problem hanging back with her so she can stay on her routine.

 

 

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[moqui_girl]

I don't really understand the comments about not taking babies of toddlers on cruises. I think it's the prefect holiday for a young family. We have just taken our 22 month old daughter on her first cruise and we all had a lovely time. It was relaxing for us as we didn't have to cook or clean an left us free to just enjoy quality time with our daughter. We would never cruise without her, she is our family, where we go, she goes. In addition she has a complex heart condition so leaving her with others is not an option. I cannot understand how anyone could go away without their child/ren for longer than a night or two.

 

We took her to the main dining room every night of the cruise, except one when we all went to a speciality restaurant. We were not comfortable leaving her with the kids staff, although excellent, there were too many issues with her health to hand that responsibly to someone else. We came prepared with a bag of tricks to entertain and she was great. In fact people on several surrounding tables came up and commented on how good she was. I will say that wait staff did engage with her a lot and played with her often so might well have generated some laughing but it appeared not to cause an issue.

 

In any situation, if people apply some sense there shouldn't been too many issues. I don't think it's necessary to remove babies from cruises all together for everyone to have a good time!

[luddite]

I didn't say "babies shouldn't be allowed in the MDR".

 

Shewt.......

I'll say it..........

[momonthego17]

Shewt.......

I'll say it..........

 

Say what?