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Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

It’s no secret that babies are notorious for creating food messes left and right. Especially when stressed-out parents are trying to feed them in a highchair out in public, whether that’s in a nice restaurant or a child-friendly establishment.

While all messes can be cleaned, the debate about who is responsible for sweeping up the bites the child plops on the floor is a never-ending one. And one story on the British parenting forum Mumsnet exemplifies this perfectly.

Recently, a new mom sparked a heated debate after sharing that a cafe manager handed her a dustpan and brush to clear up a few bits her little one left on the floor. As the “torn” parent detailed in the post, the place advertised itself as a family-friendly cafe, but clearly didn’t like what her “screaming overtired baby” had left them. So continue scrolling to find out what happened and read on for the divided opinions fellow Mumsnet users expressed down below. Then be sure to decide where you land on the matter and weigh in on the discussion in the comments!

Recently, a mom wondered if the staff at a “family-friendly cafe” were unreasonable for asking her to clean her baby’s mess

Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

Image credits: Harry Grout (not the actual photo)

Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

Image credits: goodmorningsunny

For new parents, bringing their little ones to a cafe or a restaurant can be a daunting experience. And a 2019 survey conducted by Caterer.com confirms this, as it found that over half of new moms and dads research thoroughly online to ensure their chosen restaurant is child friendly. What’s more, this group of parents is the most conscious of their kids’ impact on other diners: 45% reported feeling pressure for their little ones to behave.

Unfortunately, there’s a slight disparity in how the restaurants and parents see the family dining experience. While 92% of restaurants viewed their establishment as “family-friendly”, 67% of parents surveyed thought restaurants need to accommodate families better. In fact, two out of five parents said they have left a restaurant because it lacked basic family facilities.

But the topic of who’s responsible for cleaning up after little babies at dining establishments is still divisive, and it keeps resurfacing on the internet in some form or another. So to gain more insight into how parents feel when dining out with their little ones, as well as how to handle these situations better, we reached out to Olivia Edwards, The Positive Parent Coach.

According to her, going to a restaurant or a cafe with kids can be stressful for several reasons. “Firstly, if you’ve booked somewhere you are always conscious that you have a specific time to be there, which is always tricky when you have children because they are on their own time schedule,” the founder of Raising Positive People told Bored Panda.

“Secondly, lots of parents worry about what other people in the restaurant might think of them. They fear that their child’s behavior is a direct reflection of who they are as a parent and a person,” Edwards continued. This can add additional pressure and create tension as parents feel they need to show model behavior.

However, Edwards added that children often can’t be controlled. “They are their own people and we can only role model and lay out expectations, we can’t predict how they will behave or force them into behaving in certain ways.”

“I feel society generally places unrealistic expectations on parents and children and so we compare ourselves to others (often through rose-tinted glasses) and spend a lot of time feeling like a failure or simply not good enough,” the coach added. “This isn’t true at all and we should all practice looking inwards rather than outwards and having compassion and kindness for ourselves.”

As young kids are still learning the art of self-control and etiquette, scenarios of dining out often come as a challenge. But it’s important to remember that these experiences are important for the little ones who tend to absorb new experiences like sponges. The more food they taste and new places they discover, the more they learn about their surroundings, and consequently, the world around them.

But how should parents react when their kid is making an enormous mess at a restaurant? According to coach Edwards, the answer to how all parties should handle the situation lies in the setting. “This is a very personal decision, but I would behave in the same way with my children as I would if dining alone,” she said.

“If I spill things, or there are chunks of food on the floor or across the table, I would always try to tidy this.” Edwards also makes sure that the cutlery and used napkins are on the plate so she could help the employee clear away. “I want to role model to my children being considerate of others.”

However, the coach wouldn’t start sweeping the floor. “I suppose it isn’t a black-and-white situation in that each restaurant will be slightly different. But if they are marketed as a family-friendly place, they should expect a degree of mess.”

For parents finding themselves in these situations, Edwards advised to always pick up any larger bits you see lying around or at least offer to do so, “if that feels right to you.”

“If at any point you feel you are being made to do something you are uncomfortable with, I would try to calmly say so. Perhaps make a note not to visit that restaurant again if you feel the way you are treated isn’t how you would like to be.”

“We are all human and sometimes staff have had a bad day and forget that families are only human too, so however you respond, I hope we can all do it with a little kindness,” Edwards concluded.

The story sparked a heated discussion in the comments. Many readers criticized the mom and said that parents should always tidy up after their kids

Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

While others defended the woman and noted it was rude of the employee to hand out cleaning tools to a paying customer

Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

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Ieva is a writer at Bored Panda who graduated in Scandinavian studies from Vilnius University. After learning the Swedish language and getting completely lost in the world of Scandinavian mythology, she figured out that translating and writing is what she's passionate about. When not writing, Ieva enjoys making jewelry, going on hikes, reading and drinking coffee.

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Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

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Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

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What do you think ?

POST

Lisa 2 years ago

I'm thinking maybe these moms make a bigger mess than they are admitting and don't really purchase items.

115points

Beck 2 years ago (edited)

I agree. She says herself that her kid is "screaming". I used to be a waitress. I bet it is at least 3 or 4 women that come in every week, leave the place a mess. Noone wants to sit next to them so if you have sections, they are the only ones in your section. They probably only ever eat something small and coffee, and it is their home brought snacks all over the floor. Since they did not order much, the tip was tiny, AND they sat their from lunch time till they had to get older kids from school at 3. I can see it now. They prob leave $3 for 3 hours. And leave a huge mess.

81points

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Vain Black 2 years ago (edited)

Not me. I am there to eat food I didn't have to cook for once in my life and damn well am I gonna eat. 20% tip at least (round up to the nearest dollar) with a $5 minimum. It's been a long time since $5 was less than 20% on my bill, though. I'm tipping well because of the mess not because of the service. I can't stay even the whole hour I've allotted in my schedule sometimes. Once I even had to change it to go when they reached the table.

7points

Phil Tune 1 year ago (edited)

Problem with this is the restaurant is marketed as family friendly. That marketing is intended to draw families with small children who might otherwise have anxiety taking their kids to a nice place. This is ABSOLUTELY on the cafe. Don't market as family friendly if you don't want loud messy humans around your fancy patrons. Disclaimer, parent of small boys here, they are loud but relatively clean.

1point

Bryan W. 2 years ago (edited)

Agreed. Most businesses, especially in service industries with thin margins, that make it past a year have to have a reasonable expectation of messes being made by customers, but there are a lot of entitled nitwits roaming around that don't understand what "reasonable" means and would rather bend the truth to try to dox a business than admit that maybe they're kind of nasty people.

34points

Libstak 2 years ago

I wonder if these mothers of babies that make these messes leave a decent tip?

62points

Minath 2 years ago

This is from the UK where leaving a tip is a bonus rather than a necessity, it's less common in a cafe than a restaurant as well.

19points

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Monosyllabic girl 2 years ago

As a former waitress i can say no they don't. They leave a crumpled dollar in a pile of melting ice cubes from where their darling knocked over the water glass. You also can't seat anyone near them because they spend time talking to each other and ignoring screaming babies who are lobbing fries at other customers and kicking the table or booth wall. When my kids were that age i didn't go to sit-down restaurants, it's disrespectful to other diners. If it has come to the point where they hand you a dustpan it was not the first occurrence. Yes it could have been handled more tactfully but it gets difficult when dealing with a table that all the staff fights over not having to serve.

9points

Jenny Driver 1 year ago

The vast majority.....the bigger the mess, the worse the tip.

3points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago

Wonder if they let baby splash food on the tray on the table and on the walls and floors and walk away saying oh well daddy will clean it up or Fido can lap it up and then baby crawls in fido's Silvia and puts hand in mouth and mommy says ain't that so cute .

3points

Rachel Ann 1 year ago (edited)

That was my thought, too. You don't treat a customer that tips well like that. Just having a screaming baby should be cause to tip well, then you leave, what sounds like, an over the top mess every time. I wouldn't want them coming back chasing away better behaved customers.

2points

Lea S. 2 years ago

Some do, some don't. Yes, I have real life experience.

1point

Brendan 2 years ago

Parents should clean up after their kids, but they can't leave it spotless. We do as much as we can when we eat out with our kids (including picking food up off the floor), but we don't carry a mop and bucket around with us.

42points

Sonja 2 years ago

I went out with my nephews and niece endless times, even when they are little. I've never experienced something like this. But my nephews and niece really only ever left a few dry crumbs, never a real mess. But lately I was out with a friend and her baby and what she called a few crumbs was a cookie explosion I'd be ashamed to let my siblings kids make in a cafe. Some moms are really messy and don't see the problem. Far beyond what's reasonable. No one expects people to leave everything spotless. But if it's not possible to remove it with a short swipe with a broom you have made an unreasonable mess.

39points

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Kitty Jordan 2 years ago

This. I feel bad because yup, my toddler drops things on the floor and I try to clean it up as best I can, but I don't have anything but napkins usually. Also, it's kind of bizarre to me that people are saying "I would leave if I saw a mess on the floor!". Well, yeah. That's why they sweep periodically? When I worked in the food industry, we swept the floor regularly... it was just a normal part of the duties. I wouldn't get annoyed at some crumbs on the floor nearly as much as when people left a bunch of stuff on the tables instead of throwing it away. That said, the OP's dismissive attitude makes me wonder how much of a mess she's really leaving.

14points

Musicon HaidaGwaii 2 years ago

I don't see anywhere in any comments where anyone is expecting parents to carry around a mop and bucket. Thank God I don't need to serve people with your mentality anymore.

12points

Lea S. 2 years ago

No one is suggesting that. The floor in restaurants gets dirty, babies or no. I think the expectation here is to clean up the big pieces off of the floor with napkin/baby wipe.

11points

Kharyss 2 years ago

Having worked in catering I’ve seen parents walk away from what is basically a food fight without even an apology. Food on the floor, the walls, the seats of chairs. Everywhere! If you can’t control your kids enough to stop them throwing their food around, you shouldn’t bring them out to eat. I have no objection to cleaning up a few crumbs or dropped napkins etc. But some parents take the absolute p!ss.

38points

BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago

I stopped eating out for about a year with my youngest because she was so messy at restaurants. But I've seen other parents who didn't even bring a diaper bag for their toddler. Toddler do what bored toddlers do and they left a giant mess. I always feel bad for the staff, they literally don't get paid enough

13points

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Gozer LeGozerian 2 years ago

Having a kid does not mean you're excused from cleaning up if it makes a mess

32points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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Black Pearl 2 years ago

I think the cafe is probably just sick of this group of mothers with loud, messy babies coming in once a week. I'm assuming they don't often clean up after making messes and the staff is unhappy with it. I also bet that the mother is downplaying the mess her baby made.

29points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago

If I worked there I would most definitely hate to see that bunch walk thru the door go to McDonald's grab some kid meals go to park let kids eat and play and you chat about the next thing that comes up and throw away the trash in trash cans.

9points

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birdhouse 2 years ago

As an adult, if you were to drop food on the floor you would pick it up. Why is it ok to leave it on the floor if a child does it?

29points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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Caryle 2 years ago

Yeah I’m with the guy who said if there was a bunch of babies in a restaurant he would immediately leave and the woman posting her grievance already said her baby was screaming in cranky how about don’t subject anybody to that that’s trying to have a nice lunch how about you meet in somebody’s house and then you can trash their house or clean their house as you see fit but don’t subject people to a big group of babies for crying out loud in a restaurant, that’s not what family friendly means,I’m sure the whole staff groans every time one of these groups come in

26points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago (edited)

I myself hate to hear a baby screaming forever or a lot of loud talking and laughing exspecially at Waffle House they laugh out loud about everything and mock people .I went to a Mexican Restaurant the woman who worked there had a child who got up got fries and a water sat down and the mom was talking to a FedEx ground guy four Mexican men came in ordered beer and food this little girl was jumping around wanting the men's attention pulled up her pants leg to show her boo bo and then a Mexican couple came in mom was talking a 1000 words per minute and loud so loud people outside probably heard her by the time I left there my head was hurting and had to take a goody powder and I will not go back there again the older I get the more loud talking and laughing hurts my ears so I don't visit these places anymore.They need to be considerate of the customers eating trying to enjoy a meal instead of listening to a bunch of monkeys in a zoo.

3points

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Atlasheld 2 years ago

It’s unreasonable to bring a screaming teething baby to any sort of restaurant. Family friendly or not. Further, if the baby makes a giant mess then yes parents need to pick it up. If an adult went in there and threw food all over the floor they’d be kicked out. Their job isn’t to pick up after a baby.

20points

mm65851 2 years ago (edited)

I think the message from the staff, is that they are not welcome - noisy, not purchasing much, probably overstaying their welcome and not great tippers. Just a guess. I also have waitressed and many times parents just let their babies and toddlers tear up food and napkins, etc. and make huge messes because it's keeping them quiet and occupied. Kids don't want to sit around a cafe for hours... I question that the mess was only a 'few bits'. I think it was way worse, or the management was actually trying to deter the group from visiting again. I also think people should at least attempt to clean up or offer to clean up, but most places (if they really wanted to keep them as customers) would say 'No'.

19points

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

3points

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Stephaniep 2 years ago

She says repeatedly she would "of course" clean up but doesn't bring cleaning materials then gets upset when handed cleaning materials...

18points

Rob Eman 2 years ago

How dare they tell me what to do! You call this friendly! My friends would clean this for me!

4points

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cah 2 years ago

She should have asked for the supplies to clean up after her baby, not wait for someone to ask her to do it. It probably happens every time she's in there.

17points

ZombieGirl 2 years ago

Family friendly does not mean leave a mess on the floor. It means there is a childs menu, no smoking, the place isnt rowdy, etc

16points

Amused panda 2 years ago

Well, this is a cafe in the UK so they would all be no smoking on the premises.

3points

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kath morgan 2 years ago

I don’t see how “family friendly” entitles you to grind food into their carpet on a regular basis.

14points

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

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GemmaL 2 years ago

I've had a LOT of experience as a waitress (used to be restaurant manager) and young kids coming in would be my idea of hell. The mess would be ridiculous and so many untitled parents. Waitresses don't get paid enough to pick up after your sex trophies :)

14points

firecrackershrimp 1 year ago

Bahaha. Sex trophies. That's a good one.

0points

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Cooper Beth 2 years ago

OP said she couldn't clean up previously because she didn't have any cleaning materials. She was handed a dust pan and brush. Cafe staff don't do that to repete customers unless they have established a need to. When my three were little and made messes, I carried wipes and cleaner their faces, hands, the high chair they sat in or the spot at the table before they left. It was also practice to look for food or other things they had dropped on the floor and pick them up as well. My baby, my mess no.matter where we were. Also, if a baby is so overtired, don't go out if doing so is going to cause stress. It won't matter to miss a week.

14points

Rob Eman 2 years ago

Excuse me. But how else is this parent going to have a relaxing time then? Have you ever tried to feed a hobbgoblin?!?!?

-1point

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Paul Rabit 2 years ago

I think if your kid is so young or rambunctious that they make a mess to the point that the staff is handing you a broom to clean up, you should probably consider another venue for getting together. Meet at a park and bring snacks. Alternate a different parent hosting each week. Or find a TRULY family friendly place…like a Chuck-E-Cheese?

13points

Id row 2 years ago

Family friendly does not mean, "Please feel free to leave food all over the floor whenever you come in". This definitely isn't the whole story. This mom group must have been on their last nerve for the manager to resort to doing that.

12points

April Stephens 2 years ago

I agree with the response that I would sweep up that time and then never go back, though I am struggling to imagine how I would both hold a screaming baby and sweep at the same time. Not enough hands for that! From my own experience, I have been a member of several mom's groups though the years, and we've never met in cafes, actually. We meet at church, parks, or houses of the members. I would not recommend a restaurant as a venue, if it's at all possible to avoid it. I took my toddler to a restaurant once without another adult family member to help, and she was pretty well behaved until, while I was eating, she sat on my friend's lap and started eating noodles off my friend's plate! 😳🤦‍♀️ My friend swore it was fine but didn't eat another bite. Yeah, I would not leap at the chance to take a baby/toddler by myself anymore! If there are two parents or grandparents, they can take turns keeping an eye on the baby.

12points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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pebs 2 years ago

Probably a long story of mess before.

11points

Lori T Wisconsin 2 years ago

Leave a place as you found it. Dirty dishes are expected, not trash on the floor. What piggies these moms are. Not a good example to be teaching your rug rats.

10points

The Starsong Princess 2 years ago

That cafe is perfectly ok with you never returning. I wonder if the food mess came from foo you purchased or food that you brought. Most places will let you bring food for a baby but they do not like to clean it up.

10points

Helen Roberts 2 years ago

I always carried floor wipes and anti bac spray in my baby bag so I could clean high chairs etc when I arrived and clean up after us when we were leaving so no, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask. I just think you wouldn't leave the mess at home or in a friends house so why should you in a public place.

9points

Ryan-James O'Driscoll 2 years ago

If the kid has made an unholy mess, the customer should at least offer to clean it up, or preferably just ask for something to tidy up with. But I also wouldn't expect a customer to worry about everything or to actively look for signs of a mess. Little bits and pieces get dropped all the time by all sorts of customers. It's par for the course for any restaurant. If a business cannot handle that, they are in the wrong trade.

9points

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

4points

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Mason Kronol 2 years ago

When my friend who had never worked in a restaurant and wasn't always the most courteous person to wait staff had a baby I was expecting the worst. I was pleasantly surprised at how much care and patience she took to teach her baby/toddler/child to eat and have manners. She would ask the staff if they could put a small plate of age appropriate veggies and fruits to snack on. She asked for a clean damp dish towel so she could wipe up the mess as needed through the meal. She picked anything that was large and went on the floor with the extra napkins she asked for. If her child got fussy (rarely happened) she would take distraction measures or it was time for her to leave. Of course I helped, and anyone else with us did too, and people -staff and customers- gushed over what an adorable, well behaved and adventurous eater she was/is. It should be the norm but as a former restaurant worker I know how people like the OP let their young ones behave. Parents can prevent some of the mess.

8points

Roberta Perkowski 2 years ago

As a former server I would be happy to clean up after the said 'messy' child for you as long as you leave a large tip.

8points

Gwyn 2 years ago (edited)

I try to clean up after my kids in restaurants within reason- I'll happily pick up a napkin or nuggets off the floor but typically if there's a lot of crumbs or it's wet or something, it's just not reasonable for a customer to do that. I leave an extra large tip if the mess is going to take more effort than usual for the staff to clean up. I remember once when my eldest was 1 she accidently knocked a plate over and the place was carpeted, there was really no way I could clean it up. Even with best efforts if you have babies messes happen occasionally. I have never been asked to clean, staff have told me not to worry about it...so I'm guessing if they actually brought her cleaning supplies and asked her to do it, this lady might be abusing the goodwill of the cafe.

7points

Gwen Johnson 2 years ago

I am thinking this group was a headache, didn't order much, stayed too long and then tipped minimal if at all. I would have asked you to do the dishes as well.

5points

Kathy Davis 2 years ago

I guarantee if the group was spending enough money and tipping appropriately for the noise and mess there would be no problem. Sometimes groups like this cause a restaurant to lose more revenue than they bring in.

5points

L̸1̶z̵ 2 years ago

Every time I go out to eat, I clean up any crumbs that I've left because I think it's rude to leave a mess. I've also never been asked to clean up after myself in a food service establishment, and have never made THAT much of a mess. I suspect that OP leaves a bigger mess than they claim to, and that's why she was asked to clean it up. I've asked customers to clean up after themselves only when they were being disgusting (i.e., a guy in Tim Hortons once blew his nose out onto the floor of the restaurant so I gave him a mop and told him to clean it up because gross and food safety!!!)

5points

Dana Ondráčková 2 years ago

My friend got sick in a restaurant And vomited on her way to bathroom. I calmly asked for a mop And a bucket with water and I cleaned after her mess while shocked workers watched me And thanked mem its our mess. My friend was put of question cleaning her mess And I was There so...

5points

Atlasheld 2 years ago

They are already giving you a huge discount so your food is practically cheap for the baby. They make nothing off of that. They don’t have to pick up after your sloppy butt. Babies and restaurants, even family restaurants, don’t mix.

5points

April Stephens 2 years ago

I think I missed the part about the discount -- what discount did they get? Or, I'm sorry I don't know much about dining customs worldwide, but is it customary in some areas to sell baby food cheap at a restaurant?

8points

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KK 2 years ago

As a current food service worker, I'm tired of seeing the mess that people leave. I used to work in a college dining hall, and visitor days were the worst. We'd have people literally leave their finished plates/drinks on the table-despite the exit clearly being marked with a Dish Return sign.

5points

Lea S. 2 years ago

I can't tell where the mom is on this issue. She mentioned cleaning supplies a couple of times. I used to clean the carpets in a restaurant so I know that the bits of food are too big for the vacuum and the cleaner will simple pick them up with napkin or broom/dustpan. No one was asking her to get down on her hands and knees and scrub the carpet. You use your hand, a napkin, a paper towel, or a baby wipe and pick up the biggest pieces and put them on your plate.

4points

Linnea 2 years ago (edited)

This is like, the 10th comment to this post that mentions carpeting on a restaurant floor. Where on earth do you all live, where restaurants have carpeting? Literally the only times I've seen carpeting on a restaurant floor were in 70s & 80s movies. Nobody designs restaurants that way anymore. They figured out like 40 years ago that bare floors are way less work, and way more sanitary, because you can mop them down with sanitizing cleaning fluid every night. You can't exactly shampoo a carpet every night.

0points

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Jonathan Nichols 2 years ago

Is a mess that can be solved with giving an oblivious mother a broom for a couple minutes, really that much of an inconvenience? Or is it just on principle, cause these crazy ladies probably just trash these poor workers' days whenever they walk through the door. (Who tf goes to a restaurant with a screaming teething baby!?)

3points

William Fulton 2 years ago (edited)

It's funny, I used to wait tables and now I am on the other side as a dad. I remember being frustrated when people left their kids mess under and around the table. I felt like they should have asked for a broom to clean it up. If/when they actually did ask I would tell them not to worry about it, I had it covered. But just asking would have been a nice acknowledgement. Just leaving that mess without saying anything or trying to clean it up just felt kind of entitled. As a server, it was the principle more than anything.

3points

J Matz 2 years ago

The whole "screaming, overtired baby..." part makes me think that they'd prefer to no longer have weekly visits from noisy children and are probably hoping that this makes them not want to come back. Family friendly does not mean an establishment wants to sound like a chucky cheese. I can understand that parents of small noisy kids like to go out like anyone else, but everyone else shouldn't have their meals accompanied by the sounds of crying/screaming because of your decision to have children.

3points

Ariel McElroy 2 years ago

As a server, myself, this really angers me. Yes, the person was rude to bring over the broom and dustpan; however, these moms go there weekly. I'm guessing they're not big on tips for the server to do that. Not only are they (more than likely) being loud and noisy, they probably all want different checks (a hassel), they all have children (a mess) and they probably don't even attempt to clean the mess (regardless of what is stated). So, now the poor server is left with a huge mess, a table in their section that can't be sat in until the server has time to clean it, other customers that need attendance, a manger asking why a table hasn't been cleared and, oh, if you're just having a fantastic day, stickiness and food not only just on the tables)seats, but also on the floors. Then, you have those really great days when a patron decides to set their toddler down to walk out of the establishment, RIGHT ON THE STICKY MESS THAT HAS BEEN CREATED ON THE FLOOR!!!! It's now throughout everything

3points

jay weekes 2 years ago

I work at a restaurant for over 15 years I would never hand a parent the broom to clean up the kids mess!! In my experience most parents offer to clean which is nice but I would never make them do it !

3points

A. Embleton 2 years ago

Mother and restaurant worker here..... Beyond the debate about where the the line is in relation to parent clean up or staff clean up... why would you put the lady with the fussy baby in the position that she and said fussy baby have to stay longer...

3points

Lu Harris 2 years ago

To send a message, loud and clear: Clean up your act!

0points

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DKS 001 2 years ago

parents could bring a towel or something else to put under a high-chair or chair of a messy kid. Then simply fold it up and throw away the mess in a trash can.

3points

Giobemo 2 years ago

"Normally I would clean up the mess, but obviously I don't bring cleaning supplies with me to the cafe!" *staff brings over cleaning supplies* "How DARE they?!"

2points

Lace Neil 2 years ago

Family friendly doesn't mean that parents don't have to parent. If you can't or won't stop your kids from having a food fight every time you go out to eat, the do everyone a favour and stay home. I'm betting that the mess at the OP's table looked like a food bomb had gone off and it was the last straw for the owner.

2points

Death Glare Champion 2 years ago

When I go out with my grandcubs I tip big and clean as I go. I've been a waitress. Just be a decent human being. The golden rules is golden for a reason.

2points

Whitney Mitchell 2 years ago

When I was a server I remember a specific mom who would come in with her one year old about once a week. The kid ate from the mom's salad bar plate, shredded cheese, pieces of ham etc.The mess was so excessive and all over the floor it reached the tables on either side, making them unusable by customers.As a server, that costs me money when I can't have clients at my table. On top of that, her bill was never more than $15 her tip was never more than $2. I spent at least 35 minutes cleaning up after her table every time she came in, scraping cheese out of carpet. But the worst thing though, was that she acted completely OBLIVIOUS! She never apologized or seemed embarrassed by the outrageous mess. Finally, The last time I remember them coming I hovered over their table almost the entire time they were there. I actively crawled around on the floor and made a show of cleaning up after her child the entire time. I think my point that the mess was excessive was made.

2points

Patricia Johnson 2 years ago

We don't have any more little babies in my family, but a friend of mine does, & she bought this thing called a "Splat Mat" that she brings with her to put under the high chair because her toddler drops everything off of it. Then when she's done, she just picks up the mat & cleans it when home. It solves lots of problems. I think she got it on Amazon.

2points

SeaLouse 2 years ago

I work in a restaurant, and some people are just rude, entitled and disgusting. I’d be ashamed to leave food on the floor anywhere. You’re literally making someone else clean up your mess. Would you eat like a pig in someone’s house? Why is it ok in a restaurant? I’ve even seen people leave dirty diapers on the table! To make it even worse, these types of people rarely tip. If you’re going to leave a mess at your table, you at least need to leave a decent tip.

2points

Alex Martin 2 years ago

If you go back bring a small tarp and spread it out on the floor below all the high chairs. Take the mess with you when you go. If they complain just share that you are trying to save them from the trouble of cleaning up after babies. It's a pro-level passive aggressive move.

2points

JL 2 years ago

Maybe "family-friendly" means they treat you like family. And if you made a mess at the table, your family would tell you to clean it up.

2points

Marnie 2 years ago

I don't understand how this started where a parent just throws their baby in a high chair and let's them feed themselves when the baby is too young to do so neatly. You're supposed to FEED YOUR CHILD until they learn to do so themselves. If they miss their mouths, smear stuff, throw stuff, etc. then you should be feeding them because they are too young. Thus, there shouldn't be a mess under the high chair.

2points

RockSteady 2 years ago

I agree. Messes are made because too much is given to a child at one time. I see parents plop whole dishes of food in front or being unprepared to handle a kid. We would always ask for an empty bowl or have our own. Or bring a mat to put small amounts of food. If they made a mess, we would clean it up by asking for more napkins. As my kids got older, we would make the kids clean up after themselves. They learned quickly to not make messes. It isn't a wild concept.

3points

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LFish 2 years ago

Pick up after your child. I always used a baby wipes to get the food out from under the high chair. I also used placemats that stick to the table. They have entertaining characters on them and I could fold them and the mess up and easily throw them away. Babies are super unpredictable which is why we rarely took them to restaurants. It's not relaxing for me to have to walk out with them if they cry for longer than a literal minute or to clean up after them. If the whole thing fell apart and I were to have to remove the crying baby and leave the mess I would tip at least 50%-$10, whichever is more. Never order rice for your baby. Nobody wants to clean that up.

2points

Kat Min 2 years ago

I've made messes at tables, especiallyy breadcrumbs, and would have loved to be given something to quickly sweep them up with.

2points

Norma Reid-Hunt 2 years ago

My kids during the early self feeding phase could make awful messes, and food on floor is a safety hazzard, I always mopped up with napkin or what ever the biggest part of mess even on table, and leave a good tip. Waited tables and a mess takes so much times

2points

Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago

I always ask the staff for something to clean the mess if my kids have made mess - kids drop food, it happens but I wouldn't just walk away expecting others to deal with it. Multiple babies means it goes from a few crumbs and stray bits of food to a huge mess - it's only right to leave the place as you found it

2points

Jedidiah Martin 1 year ago

"Wonders" "if" that's "unreasonable"? What's unreasonable (and discourteous) is leaving a mess for others to clean up.

1point

Lou Cam 1 year ago (edited)

When mine were babies or toddlers I'd be on my hands and knees picking up mess in restaurants. I took a pack a baby wipes everywhere so always ready to clean. Now they're older I still take the wipes just in case of spills. No serving staff want to face kids mess and the other patrons either.

1point

Deedee 1 year ago

I think it's sad in this day and age that someone has to ask for validation for refusing to clean up a mess they did: this a clear of example of entitlement. Of course she should clean it up and I very much doubt it was just a few crumbs. I took my son out to restaurants and never once did i expect the "help" to clean up my son's mess. Waitresses work way too hard for the amount they r paid.

1point

Kelly Howell 2 years ago

If my kid makes a mess, i clean it. If she drops food, i pick it up (as i would if i dropped it). I got a feeling these moms come in often & leave a huge mess, little tip & dont really order enough to make it worth it. I would imagine if the waitstaff took it that far, it had to be really bad. I think its reasonable to expect a little mess or stickiness but i dont think child friendly means leaving a mess on the floor, highchair, table. Imagine clearing up after 6 babies & 6 mommas, in a rush. Even worse if they didn't leave a big tip. But even then, the tip is for the service, doesnt excuse making a big mess & leaving it for others to clean up after.

1point

Becky Potter 2 years ago

I took my son, about a year and a half to Taco Bueno. To my best efforts, he demoed a soft Taco and it was flat out everywhere. While he sat, I cleaned off the table, the bench seats, everything but the floor. Then I pushed what was in the floor into one pile and went over and asked for a broom or a dustpan, something to finish the job. They told me not to worry about it, so I took a few napkins back and gathered up the bulk. Yes, it was nice of them to finish, but it's not really fair to add a destruction derby kid to their list of jobs. I did the best I could with what I had and got it pretty good, tbh. No way would I have walked out and expected someone to deal with that.

1point

Mirei Mikagura 2 years ago

As both a mom and someone who has spent a lot of time as a restaurant worker, I can only imagine what kind of mess would prompt me to ask a customer to clean up after themselves on leaving the table, even as the kind of mom who cleaned up after my kids in public. It must have been one spectacular mess!

1point

Unfamiliar Tortoise 2 years ago

There are no more insufferable and entitled tw*ts quite like "moms"...

1point

Meh 2 years ago

I'm guessing maybe the other mums in the group make a bigger mess and the staff have had enough. This lady just got the brunt on it

1point

Meh 2 years ago

I was part of a mum group ( kids are older now) one of our friends had her children later than the rest of us as she went to uni first and was a bit younger than the rest of us. Omg was she entitled ( the reason we are no longer friends). We used to go on holiday together once a year. I remember watching in horror as this ( now ex ) friend tipped a plate of spaghetti on her child's high chair for him to basically throw all over the place. I had to constantly remind my children to take care not to slip over on it. I remember thinking that's gonna be hell for her to clean up when we were done. She did not even attempt to clean it and just rudely left it for the staff to do. She was always rude to service staff which always annoyed me ( we also worked in the service industry) but that was extremely embarrassing. We've since had a falling out and got rid of the toxic people in the group and are so much happier.

1point

Kay Romer 2 years ago

"Family friendly" doesn't mean "bring your untrained children to trash our place." We never took our kids to a restaurant until they could behave at a restaurant. That means not throwing food everywhere (something they never did anyway) and not melting down. There's an age where kids are able to do that, and until then you stick to picnics and babysitters.

1point

Candice Blanton 2 years ago

The cafe staff are paid to clean up it's part of the job. That doesn't mean they have to clean up what looks like a tornado hit called a kid. It's probably because other people leave huge messes, so now, everyone has to clean their mess. It's meant keep those parents who let their kids destroy their table. If they have to clean they won't come in.

1point

Pin Taco 2 years ago

Nope welcome to reality, you clean up after your kid.

1point

madamjoiedumort 2 years ago

You choose to have and keep a baby and so choose the inconvenience that comes with them. Yeah it was a minute mess but that's the point.

1point

tHeBoRdEsTpAnDa 2 years ago (edited)

It depends how much of a mess OP made, but it's advertised as family friendly, this is not family friendly. Food on the table, yeah you should tidy up, but if it is on the floor, then it's not really OP's responsibility. ETA Personally I wouldn't bring a teething baby to a restaurant, they're LOUD. The baby probably made a lot of mess. Again, it's very vague, I really don't know

1point

BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago

I'm torn on this one mainly because I think we haven't been given enough, or correct, info. As a mom of a messy 2 year old, I always try to tidy up after ourselves when we leave. There is always some noodles or whatnot on the floor that I'm sure I miss. Sometimes, I couldn't clean it up because kiddo was too little for time outs and was really wanting to play with the squishy textures. I don't live in a topping country but if I HAD to leave a mess behind, I'd apologize and leave a large tip. You have to make some effort. I look at it like if I was at a friend's house. I would be mortified if my kids made a big mess and wouldn't be able to leave without cleaning it. Young kids have tantrums and like to get messy, we can all understand that. I'm thinking this mom group leaves A BIG MESS and doesn't make it worthwhile for the restaurant to serve them

1point

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

1point

Ches Yamada 2 years ago

From her first sentence she states she does this each week, so it's a common occurance. They make a mess over the normal amount, they should help clean it. My mom didn't even take me to a restaurant until I was two to avoid this situation.

1point

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

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Meredith K 1 year ago

The “it’s the servers job to clean up after people” answers are the kind of people who leave piles of clothes on the floor of dressing rooms, frozen food they’ve rejected by the laundry detergent, and empty Starbucks cups on Target shelves. You make a mess, you are responsible for cleaning it up. The server is there to bring you food, not be your child’s maid. I’m horrified if I, a grown woman, leave a small piece of French fry on the floor of a restaurant so I immediately put it on a napkin on my table. Who are these people that are NOT embarrassed for leaving their own garbage behind because they’re too entitled to be courteous to a space that isn’t theirs? My mother would have my a*s.

0points

Cami Ream 1 year ago

Can you imagine having the nerve to bring your screaming kid into a Cafe for several hours, and wanting to complain, when they didn't kick you out on your a*s?? Wow

0points

El MasChingon 1 year ago

f**k that place, I have managed multiple restaurants and have never asked a guest to clean up after themselves

0points

Bloobee bloobee bloo bloo bloo 1 year ago

I work at a restaurant. A larger group of people with kids came in, one baby in a high chair. The baby made a mess in the floor. They offered to sweep it up but being a mom I understood and said it was no big deal, it wasn’t that bad, I would clean it up. They ended up being regulars who came in at the same time on the same day every week. After that the baby ended up leaving huge messes all over the floor. Again, no big deal cuz that’s what babies do but the parents never once even bothered to pick even the bigger pieces of food or garbage up. And the older kids would be running around their group of tables the whole time. I was so happy when covid closed our lobby and I’d never have to deal with them and their messes again. When my kids were small I’d always at least clean up the worst of the mess they’d leave behind

0points

pancake dreams 1 year ago

This reminds me of the snotty-mom club that I had to serve when I was a restaurant worker. Half eaten food methodically smushed into the carpet, mustard and ketchup bottles played with and smeared up and down the seats, napkins shredded. They would always apologize, but it meant nothing, they never tried to stop their children, never so much as waved a hand at it. Would often complain that I didn't fill their coffees enough, that I didn't provide good food on the kids menu, that the restaurant was noisy, when often the noise was other patrons raising their voices to talk over the rowdy children. One time they tipped me $1.50 for it all, I remember the one lady shrugged and said "Im sorry, children are expensive. You'll understand one day".😑😑😑 These groups are always worse then they claim.

0points

Dawnieangel76 1 year ago

They sell plastic mats to catch messes under a high chair for this very reason! I'll bet she leaves her spilled popcorn & soda in the theater after a movie. They're not our slaves.

0points

Devon M 1 year ago

I worked in a restaurant for years where kids got to eat free on Wednesday nights. Even the most considerate, cleanest families left some mess, but many were a mac and cheese covered, spilled drink disaster. The first few years I was a hostess and part of my job was to bus and clean the tables. We never expected parents to clean up. It was much appreciated when they did, but part of the dining experience is to not have to clean up, and, I was getting paid to do it. It was my job. I get that places are short staffed now and we should all do what we can to help those that serve us, but restaurants that cater to families/small children should expect a mess, and as long as you don't have carpet or fabric upholstery, it shouldn't take more than a minute or two to clean up with the proper supplies.

0points

Bunnie Hartley 1 year ago

Never in my life have I heard of a "family friendly cafe". Cafe are where they serve coffee and brunch. And they are typically smaller than restaurant with less seating and smaller tables. So I can image them combining tables adding boosters . And a mommy groups leaving a big mess on ground. Then server has to tell the next person they have wait longer till she cleans the area to server the next person who mostly be impatient not tip.

0points

Bunnie Hartley 1 year ago (edited)

I worked at Kroger .At a bakery next to Kroger Starbucks. I remember some mom gave her 7 yr girl coffee. The girl was jittery from the caffeine so she drop the cup, and knocker over a whole display of glass containers of sanders carmel.in the bakery aisle. You can't sweep carmel. The mom looks me doesn't apologize then says well she didn't even like it anyways.Then points to me and yells hey you it's your job to pick it up. Me 8 mths pregnant on knees picking up shards of glass with my bloody hands, gloves torn off because we didn't have a mop. Her kid her mess.

1point

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Ambry Petersen 1 year ago

Food for thought. By making the mother clean up you are extending the time you have to listen to her screaming baby. So the staff should ask themselves which they prefer cleaning a quiet mess (crumbs on the floor don't scream) or listening to a screaming child so you can avoid sweeping up a few crumbs. Also alot of people are simply assuming that the Mother's didn't order much, how do they know? I have a new little one and If I were to go out to lunch I'd be wanting a decent meal to give me energy for taking care of my child. I've worked in restaurants before and trust me cleaning a baby mess is far better than cleaning the bathrooms and trashcan.

0points

Spring Wilcox 1 year ago

It's your JOB. Would you tell an adult to clean up after themselves. No, because you wouldn't get a tip, would get yelled at but it's ok to do it to parents. You youngins don't know what it means to actually do your job. I worked as a waitress and have seen it all. I also have 4 kids; each 2 yrs apart. Get over yourself and do your job. If someone had done that to me, I would have set everything done on the table and left, never looking back. Then told every parent I know. Don't p**s off parents.

0points

Spring Wilcox 1 year ago

That's what you are hired to do. Would you do that to a grown person that made a mess. No, you wouldn't. So why put added stress on a parent of a small child. When I was waitressing, I never complained about cleaning up after a child(ren). That was my job. You youngins think it is above you, get over yourselves.

0points

Phil Tune 1 year ago

Hot damn, is this a US vs EU culture thing? American here, and a "family-friendly" restaurant expecting parents to clean up after their kids is insane. Socially, it would be appropriate for the parents to offer apology and recognition for the people having to clean up, tip appropriately, etc. But if I owned a restaurant I'd fire someone on the spot for suggesting customers SHOULD clean spills. Now we are the type that we clean our table as much as possible before we leave and still leave good tips. We have two small children. I would leave a massive bad review for this establishment.

0points

Mike Beck 1 year ago

I'm thinking you can easily see the vast gulf in the definitions of "little" and "reasonable". On the one hand, you have people thinking it's perfectly ok to trash a place since "tHat'S WhaT thEy'Re pAiD foR!!11!" but they'd be posting on AITA if a guest trashed their house since "thEy'Re gOnnA cLeAN it AnyWAy". On the other hand, you have people like me that wipe the table (not wash, just wipe the crumbs into a plate) and gather the dishes since I'm not a 12yr old a**hole and would do so whether I'm at home, out to eat or at someone's house.

0points

Carrie Neuschel 1 year ago

I did restaurant industry for 30 years. I was appalled at the messes people left. Makes you wonder what their house looked like. When did parents stop feeding their children until the child could feed itself? I've seen parents put non fingerfood in front of the 1 year old and let them eat with their hands. How barbaric and lazy of the parents. I fed my child non fingerfood until they could use the utensils themselves, neatly. If my child threw fingerfood like a French fry down. I would pick it up, throw the second one, must be a sign you're not hungry. No more food in front of you. I've watched parents continue to put food in front of the child that continues to throw it down. All the while saying, "Johnny, don't do that ". I've had to take highchairs to the dishwasher to be hosed down because of how bad the child smeared food everywhere. Yes, clean up after your child! The server is NOT your maid or housekeeper. Family friendly doesn't mean you can trash the place!

0points

Thecoolbonnie 1 year ago

Of all the many years I waited tables, I have seen the worst of the worst! And I'd say MAYBE 10% of of parents try or offer to pick up. As a mother myself, I think you should ATLEAST pick up the big stuff?

0points

Veronica fiedzuik 1 year ago

I'm appalled. I was a waitress for about 5 years. If I had told a customer to clean up after themselves......I would've been fired, and rightly so. That's your JOB. I don't care if that baby smeared oatmeal on the walls and seats. If it happened, it's your job to clean it up. If your going to get that offended at a baby eating breakfast in your section then you need to find different emoyment because your far too sensitive for the restaurant industry

0points

Veronica fiedzuik 1 year ago

I'm sorry. I was a waitress for about 5 years. Cleaning up after customers is your job. If I would've handed a broom to any customer and told them to clean up their own mess.......I would've been fired. And rightly so. Nobody wants to do their job anymore. You're a waitress. And your going to be so offended at the mess left by a baby eating breakfast in YOUR section that your actually refuse to clean it up? Find another job. Obviously your to oversensitive to work in the restaurant industry

0points

Brent Kaufman 1 year ago

I really don't know what is the correct way to handle this. I don't know how big the mess was. Wait staff work hard. We can all agree on that. We should try to not make their job more difficult. However, when someone says "It's not the waiters' jobs to clean up after customers." Who in the self-entitled world thinks that it is their job to do anything other than wait, serve, wipe? They are there to do whatever needs to be done. That includes cleaning, changing the sign outside, pick up trash in the parking lot if needed. A thoughtful person would try to, at least, make a show of cleaning the larger bits. But when worst comes to worst, it falls on the staff to do THEIR job. Regardless of what the mother and manager did in this instance, those responders, above, who think that they get to decide what their own job is in a restaurant, probably will go from job to job thinking that everyone else is the problem.

0points

Joyce Blodgett 1 year ago

One thing I learned when my son was a little buy; NEVER take a tired baby to a restaurant....there isn't an excuse for exposing a little child to an adult's world when said child can be at home where it can be itself, not having to be exercising what little restraint it knows just because the adults want to have "fun" for themselves. My son was killed in an accident 15 years ago as a young adult, so he didn't have any children himself, but we'd discussed things like this as he was thinking about marriage. One of the things that stood out to him was that we, his mother and father, chose to forego such outings, primarily because Son was ADHD, and it would have been sheer hell for him to have had to try and sit still in an unfamiliar environment for longer than his attention span would allow (and I liked staying home because I didn't like my MIL, who was the only reason we ever went out to eat. Loved my FIL, just not the Wicked Witch of the West).

0points

GA Chic 1 year ago

I always have a roll of masking tape in my bag ($1.25 at Dollar Tree), it easily picks up crumbs, dog hair, etc from restaurant floors, clothing, vehicle seats, etc. I never leave a restaurant seat, bathroom, etc in worse shape than when I arrived. I wipe sinks areas after I wash my hands. It's shows common sense and respect. For over 6 months I met a friend for lunch once a month. It was our adult time to eat a salad and visit away from work and family distractions. On the 7th month I was surprised she was already seated, she was notoriously tardy for everything. Then I saw she had all 4 children with her and they were throwing Cheerios at one another. The crumbs were all over the floor - it was a mess. Neither of us had a cellphone so I rushed to the table and explained 'something came up and I wanted to be certain she heard from me I had to be elsewhere'. Rather than a kind show of concern she complained now she 'had to deal with all 4 of her heathens alone'.1 child per marriage

0points

Tracey Banks 1 year ago

I always kept half a shower curtain in my diaper bag. Whenever we were goingvout to eat, I would unfold it and place it under the highchair. After the meal, it was folded up with the mess inside. It made dining out a little less stressful, for me and the restaurant staff.

0points

Linda Santiago 1 year ago

I was a waitress for years. I would never ask any of my customers to clean up their mess. I am well aware little ones can make a big mess. I hope it reflects in the tip they leave me. If not no big deal. My.job is to make their dinning experience enjoyable. I clean it up regardless.

0points

Marie Buckley 1 year ago

I feel so very strongly about this it’s the first time I left a comment. If you allow your baby to throw food on the floor it is definitely your responsibility to clean it up. If your baby was fussy in restaurant then again it is your responsibility to leave. Yes it maybe an inconvenience to you but that is part of being a parent. Do not let you baby throw food on the floor or disturb others. I am a Mother of two and have often sat in the car with my crying baby while others finished their meals.

0points

Eliza May 1 year ago

If I have the option to go into a dog-friendly cafe, I don't get to leavd piles of milkbone crumbs or big slobs of water from his bowl on the floor. The cafe is friendly to the dog's *presence* (his loud panting, his odour, his body and bowl on the floor) not to his mess.

0points

Chris Carter 1 year ago

I worked in a cafe and at least the little howlers that came in were not nearly as messy as half the adults that came in. Never asked anyone to clean up after themselves because one of us would go out with a rag and cleaner for the table and broom and dustpan for the floor because it only takes one "oh its not that bad" to get a customer complaint about the place. The worst was a group of loud church friends that each brought at least two kids with them a couple times a week and the kids ran everywhere. But never demanded to nake them sweep the floor cause, surprise!, the one with the broom is getting paid to do that and as a family friendly establishment we didnt want to drive away customers. Yes, cleaning up after your kid in public like the high chair or table is greatly appreciated, but if they are so unbearable just banish them from the establishment and call it a day. The employee has to actually clean the tables, the high chair and table anyway so who cares? Find a new place hun

0points

Rosalie Dann 1 year ago

Heck of a lot of assumptions on here. I have NEVER been handed a brush and dustpan nor seen any other customer handed one and I have seen messes on the floor in cafes. Obviously if I spilled a drink etc I would ask the waitress if I might have a cloth to wipe it up but NEVER HAVE I EVER seen a customer who was expected to sweep up. Of course our cafes and restaurants DO pay their staff a decent wage and they are NOT dependant upon tips.

0points

Luner nightmare 1 year ago

I am asking this out of pure logic you come to a restaurant to eat something that tastes good and not clean up or worry about mess I mean my family we pick up the trash and put it all on a plate so like straw rappers, napkins ect and we never try to make mess besides sodas they are paying customers you know what to expect so if you didn't want it you could have politely came over and banned them or put a sign that said no kids below four allowed they know the mess baby's usually make they should be prepared to deal with it.

0points

Biliegh they/them 1 year ago

I would never expect a customer to clean up. That's why you go out. I'm only a cashier at a dollar general and I literally clean up after people every shift. That's my job!!! I would never go back to a place that made me clean up after I ate. What next? Bus your own table? Is that what we are heading to with all this self checkout and kiosks at fast food places? Are they trying to distance everyone from each other?

0points

Jenny Driver 1 year ago

Pictures or it never happened. One person's "just a little bit" is another person's crushed in sticky mess. Why force the kid to sit through a meal when they are over tired and in pain?

0points

stephen storer 1 year ago

I worked in the restaurant business in many different roles including bus boy. My job, as bus boy, was to clean up the tables and floors. It was what I was getting paid to do. I wasn't being forced to do it. It was why I was hired. If I didn't like it I could have quit. Yes it sometimes sucked, but that's life. You sometimes have to actually DO THE JOB YOU ARE HIRED TO DO! Yes, babies make a mess and in a family friendly establishment you will have plenty to clean up. It's you job to do it. It's nice when the parents helps, but you should never expect it. I have 3 kids myself and I try to minimize the mess but you can't get it all, I just leave a bit extra in the tip.

0points

Teddy O'Malley 1 year ago

I took my niece (then 5) to Taco Bell bc she was craving a specific burrito and she ended up spilling some of her nachos and cheese in the floor. I was embarrassed and started trying to pick it up but the staff said it was ok. They have cleaning supplies and it happens 🤷‍♀️

0points

DH HD 1 year ago

If the restaurant portrays itself as child or family friendly then I think it is the restaurant's responsibility to clean up typical mess a child makes. If the child makes a huge mess I think a parent should offer to help clean up. As for a rag if something spills or pick up excessive things off the floor. I did not take my kids to restaurants until I knew they could behave appropriately. Why should I subject a messy or loud child to others who are trying to enjoy their meals? A parent insists on taking their child to a restaurant needs to be considerate of others and offer to clean up big messes or remove an unruly child from the restaurant

0points

A Random Anvil 1 year ago

It sounds like someone didn't want to do their job, so they decided to outsource it to the customer. Or the customer was being unreasonably messy.

0points

Jason Wolfe 2 years ago

Also condiments and coffee creamers and sugar caddies are not toys. After your baby fingers all of them they must be tossed. You would not let your baby waste sugar and the like at home would you. It cost money even though we allow you to use it free.also your baby or small child stacking and using the creamers for building blocks does not mean your child is intelligent or creative. Just the opposite your child is wasteful and destructive.

0points

Jason Wolfe 2 years ago

Leave between 3$ and 5$ for the guy who cleans the tables on top of what you leave the server. Make sure you tell her it's for the busser.stuff left on the floor is above and beyond normal cleaning

0points

Darci Pichette 2 years ago

There are so nay differing opinions on this one. I used to be a server and I remember how frustrating it was to have to clean up after children when they made a huge mess and the tip given was never enough for the amount of mess the children made, besides the fact that I would loose other customers just because there was children in my section or having to deal with children running g around while I carried hot food to other tables. I am also a mother of four children, my serving days are long gone and I am still completely aware of the messes my children make and they get scolded and told to help clean up after themselves or when they were babies I would clean it up myself, I know how stressful taking children out is and I truly avoid it unless I have to for a family event, just so I don't get stressed out by expecting too much from my little ones. I would rather meet at a park with a takeout lunch instead. If I want quiet with no children I don't go to a family friendly spot.

0points

Giobemo 2 years ago

Thoughtful of staff to bring you the very cleaning supplies you yourself lamented not having brought with you... Could have just thanked them and cleaned up the mess you made (yet again). "Family Friendly" doesn't mean they love dealing with the extra hassle that small children and babies can cause if their parents are too tired or too busy to handle themselves. "Family Friendly" does not mean nanny service or daycare. And just because you know your baby is capable of making much bigger messes doesn't mean you don't have to bother yourself with smaller ones.

0points

Alissa Rittler 2 years ago

Not having anything to wipe up your baby's mess is a p**s poor excuse to leave it for the wait staff to clean up. Any reasonably well-prepared parent, who readily admits their baby makes a mess, would have the sense to pack a stash of paper towels and even a mini hand broom and dust pan in their diaper bag.

0points

Trisha B 2 years ago

I’m of the opinion both parties are wrong. Idk if the mum(s) ordered or tipped well for the time they used the space. Idk the persons reasons for offering the dustpan and brush. I feel the teething baby may also dropping food he/she doesn’t want or is in the dropsy game stage. I didn’t do coffee out with my two during that stage. There is a social pressure to entertain the kiddos (keep them quiet) and keep their area clean. So during that stage I’d take my coffee to the parks. Let the kids play and tire out. If my kids weren’t toddling I’d walk with my two in the stroller.

0points

TheWeeb 2 years ago

God, worst mom group I ever had left the food, trays, drinks, garbage, EVERYTHING on the table and in the floor and booth surrounding it. There was ketchup everywhere and it was all just a mess. There was also a small purse still sitting in the booth, and they hadn't left the parking lot yet (we were about to close so I went out to clean it right as they went out the door). I told one of them there was a purse still there and asked her to please come get it, and we got in and said oh, it's her daughter's and she had already told her to get it and she'd make sure to get on to her for that later (mind you, her daughter was maybe 4 at best), and then was miffed I hadn't cleared the table off yet when we got back inside for her to get the purse and was asking me what I thought customers would think of me just leaving the mess of the table and then ragging on me about having gloves on to clean it ("we don't have -the rona- why are you treating us like we're dirty?") It was a wild experience

0points

Carrina Hanson 2 years ago (edited)

I used to work at a Labou in Sacramento, and while yes, it is very frustrating when people are overtly messy, I can't say I can condone the managers actions, if her story is actually how it happened. Yes, it is cafe staff's job to clean up. That does not mean you leave a horrible mess for them, which I think was what really happened.

0points

Houseof No 2 years ago

Parents are responsible for the behavior of their children. That said, if your child is creating that much of a behavioral issue, it might be necessary to start limiting public outings with the child if their behavior is raising everyone else's stress levels.

0points

Lena 2 years ago

Definitely bad tippers

0points

Sunny Day 2 years ago

I would guess the issue was so much the mess made by the baby as what mom was doing while baby made the mess. Talking to her friends, playing on her phone, everything except "watching the baby".

0points

Judith Thompson 2 years ago

PEOPLE ARE PIGS If I were the server, I probably would not have offered the dust pan but I would be gagging if I had to clean it up. I suggest a surcharge for food left on the floor. This would be a notice stuck in the menu., and the surcharge would go to the server.

0points

KimB 2 years ago

The staff is tired of cleaning up after them since they meet there every week...time to find a new place...although if they're that messy they'll likely encounter the same thing everywhere

0points

Dagnirath 2 years ago

As someone who was a busser/host/food runner in a restaurant for nearly 4 years, that literally part of the busser's job description! No one likes it, but one of the realities of restaurant work is cleaning up after messy babies and kids. There may be more to the story than she's said, but I think this is one of the rare times a restaurant deserves to be review-bombed.

0points

Austin Frank 2 years ago

I worked in the restaurant industry for a few years(wasn't a big fan), but it's a waiter/waitress' job to be hospitable and clean after customers, unless you have allotted personal for such a thing. You first of all can't treat a customer any different just because you stereotype them and know they will tip next to nothing, and second of all, you can't have a customer do your job for you. I usually clean after myself and family when dining out, just to be helpful, but can also understand you have to get that screaming child out of there asap. If you can't go above and beyond, you'll never progress in any line of work.

0points

Lailanni 2 years ago

If the cafe provides high chairs they should be prepared for some mess, if it's a large mess they should offer or leave a bigger tip

0points

Jess Baldo 2 years ago

Idk to me the screaming baby sounds like the real problem here lol and then they leave a mess on top of that

0points

Sparkle 2 years ago

I wouldn't leave a tip, and I probably wouldn't go back. If I have to clean up a mess at a restaurant, I can save money by staying home. To be clear, I went to a restaurant with my oldest when she was a year old, and she made such a mess! I got down and tried to pick up the pieces of food and trash that I could, and our waitress stopped me, asking what I was doing. I told her I was trying to help since we made such a big mess, and she laughed and told me that that's what she gets paid for. So, I feel like the cafe staff are overreacting big time.

0points

Mabylene 2 years ago

Being a sever at one time in my life I didn't appreciate some of the messes babies and kids left but I never expected the customer to clean it up. Spot sweeping after a table leaves is normal if it's too messy, and if a child does make a mess then the parent should leave a bigger tip to compensate. If I walked into a restaurant and saw staff demanding a customer clean up their kid's mess I would leave.

0points

Thang Nguyen (mightychuot) 2 years ago

I think that the resturant is wrong for askingcustomer to clean up....that is the sole reason for opening a resturaunt, is to clean up after customers who payed to be there no matter what mess they've made, and definitely should be more considerate to a baby parents. I'm sure they have witnessed the even repeatedly, and should've come up with a better ways to address their concerns ,either with signs posted or verbally with their returning customer prior to serving them. It's just wrong if they want people business and afraid of loosing it by doing what I've said prior to to serving them, there wouldn't be anything to talk about. Instead they accepted the business knowing the results and deals with it in a disrespectful ways toward the parrent in front of a crowd....

0points

Bravo6Two 2 years ago

So the mess was only enough for a hand brush and dustpan....do these cafe people ever sweep the entire floor?

0points

Whitney Mitchell 2 years ago

I kind of like this idea. Let her see how long it takes to clean up after an excessive mess. There's no way she allows that kind of mess at every meal at home.

0points

Whitney Mitchell 2 years ago

I used to serve a restaurant that had a salad bar customers could add. I recall one specific mom, that came in weekly with her 1 year old. No kids meal, he just shared her salad toppings. The cheese and bits of ham were EVERYWHERE. It made 3 of the 5 tables in my small section unseatable. Took me about 40 minutes to clean up after her every time. The worst thing was she acted 100% oblivious. Her bill was always less than 15$ and her tip was about $2. Everyone's time is worth something. I never expected her to clean it up, but she never apologized or seemed embarrassed, didn't even seem to try and prevent the mess. NOBODY should treat service staff like that.

0points

abbie allbee 2 years ago

I did and would have cleaned it up close to leaving. But since she was acting that way. I would have asked where to send the bill.

0points

Jonathan Allen 2 years ago (edited)

The last comment from mummy gummy where she claims they are paid to serve and clean up after you is such an entitled statement. Yes they are paid to serve you, wipe the Table and sweep. But they get paid below minimum wage and you expect them to go on their hands and knees. I've cleaned a few baby chairs in my time wiping them down but the worst ones are when a parent will feed their baby applesauce or baby food and it just drips everywhere all over the high chair and underneath and in the crevices. I even had one or two times where a high chair would be trashed and a parent will want to swap them out and in the end I would have to clean up 2 high chairs and be left a tip of like a dollar or two. If you can't leave a decent tip then the atleast clean up after yourself to the best of your ability.

0points

Carrie Whitaker 2 years ago

"British parenting forum" This is in the UK, where gratuity isn't considered part of earning a living wage. That's a pure north America/US attitude. Make it required to earn living wage there? And you get shut down quickly. That is the LAW there. So no, they are not earning "below minimum wage".

1point

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Amanda 2 years ago

I'm thinking that's the job they are paid to do. Especially with their wages going up so much lately.(USA). A huge mess from multiple children I would hope mothers were better mothers and take better care and more attention paid to babies so mess isn't made so huge in first place but for staff to hand a busy mom with no hands left adust pan and brush, for anything less then a whole plate full of food, is just so rude.

0points

Kimberly Gross 2 years ago

Well I'm a mother of 6 boys, they are grown and I now have grand children. In my opinion if the mess is outrageous then I would offer or just clean majority of it up myself anyway. I get that nobody wants to sit around food all over the floor and the staff definitely doesn't have time to do a deep cleaning of the area but to hand any customer a broom and dustpan is just plain rude. If your a family friendly care then your going to have little people come in and throw anything they eat on the floor period. Unless you have a baby that use a fork and spoon when he comes out to eat then there is going to be a mess. I would either clean most of the mess or leave a bigger tip. Cleaning up after guess sorry to say is part of the job!! I work in fast food and mainly in the drive thru but I definitely still go and sweep and mop the lounge area because not all people are clean and tidy for one and I believe some parents bring there children out to get a break from the mess they would have at hom

0points

Jessica Olson 2 years ago

I always added 10$ on top of the 20% when my kid was little. And I'd tidy it as much as possible. If she was in a mood and threw food then you don't give the kid more till you leave. It's ok for them to drop a few crumbs but a big mess shouldn't exist. If it did I'd actively ask the waiter for something to clean it with...

0points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago

It is not the servers job to clean up after your messy kid it's your child your mess you sat there watching it happen and didn't stop it and it got bigger.A waitress or server has tables to tend to not be Molly maid behind you and I know I use to wait tables and when I carried my kids out what was dropped on floor was picked up with napkins and put on a plate on table and my dishes was racked out and stacked and glasses joined together in one glass or two and stacked and bowls and silverware and highchair wiped as well so the waitress is not rushed no more than she already is.Leave a tip and tip her with clearing up the table.

0points

Kevin Felton 2 years ago

You're absolutely right it is totally unreasonable and I don't know why anyone could have the gall to bring a baby out in public and not clean up after it. There are cities where if you're dog shits on the sidewalk, you can get a ticket for not cleaning it up. What in the world would make you think your disgusting bag of DNA could make a mess in a restaurant where people are eating and you wouldn't be responsible for it. I can't imagine that level of entitlement.

0points

Vain Black 2 years ago

Maintain heavy eye contact while you pick up the tip and put it back in your pocket.

0points

E V 2 years ago

I've worked customer service before. Yes, it's part of their job to clean up the customer's mess. They were out of line to hand out a broom. HOWEVER, it's NOT an excuse to leave behind a huge mess, especially without saying anything. Kids or not, don't be a jerk. Keep the mess minimal as possible. At a certain age, you need to have your kids learn basic manners. Until then, you're responsible for cleaning up after them until they can do it themselves.

0points

Deborah B 2 years ago

Servers depend on tips. Time cleaning up after you is tip money they can't earn. Unless you're tipping big to make up for the extra work (and I suspect that you aren't) clean up after your baby.

0points

Cyber Returns 2 years ago

I don't ask if I can clean up any mess made by me or my family, I just do it. I grab some napkins and wipe the table and clean up as much as there is on the floor. My daughter has grown up and left home now, but I still wipe down the table when I'm done

0points

Charl Marx 2 years ago

Clean up after your child, honestly the entitlement of some people is ridiculous! Tired or not, it takes 30 seconds to pick up some food off the floor. It's really not hard.

0points

alexa pretchet 2 years ago

I would always at least offer to clean my children's mess, but I also understand that it is really stressful having an over tired crying baby. When my baby cries and I cannot calm him I try to leave as quick as possible to avoid annoying others. Im not sure if I would consider cleaning in such a situation.

0points

Michael Largey 2 years ago

Cleaning up the dining space after the customer leaves is routine in most restaurants. And would the manager made the same demands of a group of male customers, with or without babies?

0points

Scrogginj 2 years ago

Is it unreasonable? Yes. The staff signs up for that when they take the job. But it’s also very inconsiderate to leave food on the floor. In fact that’s down right disrespectful. And you should be ashamed if not embarrassed for leaving a mess like that. Leaving food everywhere is the equivalent of drawing a smiley face on the floor with ketchup.

0points

Marina Rocha 2 years ago

We most certainly do not sign up for this when we take the job. We take the job thinking people will behave in a civilized manner. It's indeed very disrespectful. And a "little bit of food" for some moms are most definitely not a little bit

16points

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Angie Falzarano 1 year ago

Yes that was unreasonable by a restaurant. It's part of a wait staff or bus people job to clean tables and chairs and things on the floor. Not patrons. Jeez what is this restaurant thinking. Best thing next time if there is a next time, gladly accept the brush and dustpan sweep it up and dump it on the table. If they don't like on the floor obviously they don't have an issue with the table.

-1point

Julian Hall 1 year ago

Ridiculous. You have a cafe; that means you have to clean your cafe. Would Peet's coffee hand someone a dustpan and not expect to be fired? Cleaning up the cafe is someone's job who works there and they get paid. I would NEVER go there again and would post a negative review about the bullying, passive/aggressive tactics of this stupid cafe.

-1point

Shoshana Sherrington 1 year ago

Amazing how no one thinks they should have to do their jobs. Table cleanup is part of a cafe workers job. No one should leave behind a disgusting mess and obviously it's nice to stack your plates and toss out your own napkins etc but that isn't a requirement for eating out. Especially if the place is advertised as baby friendly. They can complain about you after you leave but to hand you the dustpan? Ridiculous

-1point

missy gonzales 1 year ago

if an employee ever handed me a dustpan and broom i would be asking for a paycheck as well, im not here to do your job, if i wanted to cook and clean i would have ate at home. babies are messy, of course i’ll clean the table with a napkin while i’m eating but i’m not gunna get 409 and wash the table down and mop under it after. i’m a guest.

-1point

Yodelis Sosa 2 years ago

This Is Ridiculous!! My Mom Has Always Taught Us To Clean Up After Ourselves. We Always Clean Up The Table As Best We Can With Napkins & Organize The Plates & Eating Utensils In Way That Will Make It Easier On The Staff. However, I Truly Believe That In This Situation, The Staff Were Wrong. It's Part Of Their Job Description To Clean Up The Area All The Time Anyways!! We've NEVER Bent Down And Actually Cleaned The FLOOR!! That Is Disgusting!! If I Wanted To Clean, We Would Have Stayed At Home!! Plus, I JUST Ate!! I Go In, Order My Meal, Organize Everything Nicely, And Leave. And Those Of You Here Saying That She Needs To Tip More Or Extra, Are Also Wrong!! She Needs To Tip More Or Not Ever Eat Out Because She Has A Baby?!?! Not To Mention The Fact That It's A Family Friendly Café?? Even More Crazy If The Place Itself Offers A Highchair!! I Have Never Seen Or Heard Of Any Establishment, No Matter How Expensive Or Inexpensive, Tell Their Customers To Clean Up After Them!! 🙄🙄

-1point

Jon K 2 years ago

I laughed so hard at one of the comments suggesting that if an adult dropped something they'd pick it up. Nope. Part of dining is other people cook, serve, clean up and wash the dishes. If things got a little more messy I'd probably tip a little extra but that would be it. Same goes for a kid.

-1point

Dorey Bell 2 years ago

Because your baby made a slight mess, I don't agree with you cleaning the floor. Also, you did not work there, so those on the clock, are responsible for the upkeep of the restaurant.

-1point

Kate Schenk 2 years ago

If I were handed a broom and dustpan, I would clean up the mess and REMOVE the tip off the table. I would also leave a bad review to top it off. Family friendly my a*s.

-2points

Linnea 2 years ago

These women already don't tip and are a total pain in the a*s. That's the WHOLE REASON the manager did the "here's a mop and broom to clean up your mess" thing. It's a passive-aggressive way of saying, "We don't want your business anymore. You're not worth all this hassle. Get TF out and don't come back."

1point

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Loreitta M Tuthill 2 years ago

Baby's make messes. Kids make messes. Adults make messes. When I go out to eat it is not my job to clean up: including the table, seat, floor, or do the dishes. All of those are parts of a restaurant business and falls to the employees. Management can grab a broom just like the wait staff or buss staff. Some customers will be messier than others, it goes with the territory. So please let the exhausted mother and her overtired baby go where she has to clean up after all of her family 24/7. Don't give her a broom and dustpan at the restaurant. Yes I worked as a waitress, on my nights off from my full time critical care nursing job. So I go out to relax, leave a good tip, and don't plan to ever doing any clean up.

-2points

Rasheeda Shaheen 2 years ago

I AM SICK AND TIRED HEARING PEOPLE TALK SO BAD ABOUT KIDS AND BABIES THEY ARE LEARNING REMEMBER YOU USE TO BE 1 SMH YALL ARE SO IGNORANT WONDER WHY THIS WORLD IS SO RIDICULOUS WONDER WHY GOD LOVES BABIES AND KIDS MORE THAN ADULTS YALL ARE THE PIGS NOT THE KIDS. SO THE KIDS HAVE TO SUFFER SO IF YOU HAVE KIDS YOU SHOULDN'T WHAT TAKE THEM OUT FLY IN AN AIR PLANE. EVERYONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY I HOPE YOU ALL GO TO HELL

-3points

Mrs.Pugh 1 year ago

No❤

0points

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Rasheeda Shaheen 2 years ago

I don't care if a baby is crying making noise mother's have right to eat out as well. When do you expect a parent to no longer be responsible for their child's mess. How many kids leave food on the floor. I have never been asked no c**p like that. Don't get me wrong I do try to clean up after us but I gets approach by the staff not to worry about that. I always leave a nice tip as well. If it's family friendly than you need to expect kids making messes. They can hand me a broom and pan all they want I would leave it there it's what they are being pay for don't like their job quit. This is why I want to open a restaurant just for kids if you don't have a kid you can't come in if you don't like cleaning up after kids don't get a job there.

-3points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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Tams21 2 years ago

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Freelove 2 years ago

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RockSteady 2 years ago

No, it isn't. I put myself through college waiting tables and people like this OP are inconsiderate entitled jerks. Clean up after yourself or ask the waiter for a broom or napkins. If the waiter says "just leave it" then fine. But to not attempt it, that is rude. It sounds like these people have caused issues in the past. If you leave a mess, atleast leave a large tip. I make my kids clean up after themselves if they make a mess. They are now 9 and 12 and know to stack the dishes, clean up their napkins, ect. It isn't hard.

11points

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NopedOut 2 years ago

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Lisa 2 years ago

I'm thinking maybe these moms make a bigger mess than they are admitting and don't really purchase items.

115points

Beck 2 years ago (edited)

81points

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Vain Black 2 years ago (edited)

7points

Phil Tune 1 year ago (edited)

1point

Bryan W. 2 years ago (edited)

34points

Libstak 2 years ago

I wonder if these mothers of babies that make these messes leave a decent tip?

62points

Minath 2 years ago

This is from the UK where leaving a tip is a bonus rather than a necessity, it's less common in a cafe than a restaurant as well.

19points

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Monosyllabic girl 2 years ago

9points

Jenny Driver 1 year ago

The vast majority.....the bigger the mess, the worse the tip.

3points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago

3points

Rachel Ann 1 year ago (edited)

2points

Lea S. 2 years ago

Some do, some don't. Yes, I have real life experience.

1point

Brendan 2 years ago

42points

Sonja 2 years ago

39points

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Kitty Jordan 2 years ago

14points

Musicon HaidaGwaii 2 years ago

I don't see anywhere in any comments where anyone is expecting parents to carry around a mop and bucket. Thank God I don't need to serve people with your mentality anymore.

12points

Lea S. 2 years ago

No one is suggesting that. The floor in restaurants gets dirty, babies or no. I think the expectation here is to clean up the big pieces off of the floor with napkin/baby wipe.

11points

Kharyss 2 years ago

38points

BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago

13points

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Gozer LeGozerian 2 years ago

Having a kid does not mean you're excused from cleaning up if it makes a mess

32points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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Black Pearl 2 years ago

29points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago

9points

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birdhouse 2 years ago

As an adult, if you were to drop food on the floor you would pick it up. Why is it ok to leave it on the floor if a child does it?

29points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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Caryle 2 years ago

26points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago (edited)

3points

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Atlasheld 2 years ago

20points

mm65851 2 years ago (edited)

19points

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

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3points

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Stephaniep 2 years ago

She says repeatedly she would "of course" clean up but doesn't bring cleaning materials then gets upset when handed cleaning materials...

18points

Rob Eman 2 years ago

How dare they tell me what to do! You call this friendly! My friends would clean this for me!

4points

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cah 2 years ago

She should have asked for the supplies to clean up after her baby, not wait for someone to ask her to do it. It probably happens every time she's in there.

17points

ZombieGirl 2 years ago

Family friendly does not mean leave a mess on the floor. It means there is a childs menu, no smoking, the place isnt rowdy, etc

16points

Amused panda 2 years ago

Well, this is a cafe in the UK so they would all be no smoking on the premises.

3points

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kath morgan 2 years ago

I don’t see how “family friendly” entitles you to grind food into their carpet on a regular basis.

14points

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

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0points

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GemmaL 2 years ago

14points

firecrackershrimp 1 year ago

Bahaha. Sex trophies. That's a good one.

0points

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Cooper Beth 2 years ago

14points

Rob Eman 2 years ago

Excuse me. But how else is this parent going to have a relaxing time then? Have you ever tried to feed a hobbgoblin?!?!?

-1point

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Paul Rabit 2 years ago

13points

Id row 2 years ago

12points

April Stephens 2 years ago

12points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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pebs 2 years ago

Probably a long story of mess before.

11points

Lori T Wisconsin 2 years ago

Leave a place as you found it. Dirty dishes are expected, not trash on the floor. What piggies these moms are. Not a good example to be teaching your rug rats.

10points

The Starsong Princess 2 years ago

10points

Helen Roberts 2 years ago

9points

Ryan-James O'Driscoll 2 years ago

9points

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

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4points

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Mason Kronol 2 years ago

8points

Roberta Perkowski 2 years ago

As a former server I would be happy to clean up after the said 'messy' child for you as long as you leave a large tip.

8points

Gwyn 2 years ago (edited)

7points

Gwen Johnson 2 years ago

I am thinking this group was a headache, didn't order much, stayed too long and then tipped minimal if at all. I would have asked you to do the dishes as well.

5points

Kathy Davis 2 years ago

5points

L̸1̶z̵ 2 years ago

5points

Dana Ondráčková 2 years ago

5points

Atlasheld 2 years ago

5points

April Stephens 2 years ago

8points

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KK 2 years ago

5points

Lea S. 2 years ago

4points

Linnea 2 years ago (edited)

0points

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Jonathan Nichols 2 years ago

3points

William Fulton 2 years ago (edited)

3points

J Matz 2 years ago

3points

Ariel McElroy 2 years ago

3points

jay weekes 2 years ago

3points

A. Embleton 2 years ago

3points

Lu Harris 2 years ago

To send a message, loud and clear: Clean up your act!

0points

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DKS 001 2 years ago

parents could bring a towel or something else to put under a high-chair or chair of a messy kid. Then simply fold it up and throw away the mess in a trash can.

3points

Giobemo 2 years ago

"Normally I would clean up the mess, but obviously I don't bring cleaning supplies with me to the cafe!" *staff brings over cleaning supplies* "How DARE they?!"

2points

Lace Neil 2 years ago

2points

Death Glare Champion 2 years ago

When I go out with my grandcubs I tip big and clean as I go. I've been a waitress. Just be a decent human being. The golden rules is golden for a reason.

2points

Whitney Mitchell 2 years ago

2points

Patricia Johnson 2 years ago

2points

SeaLouse 2 years ago

2points

Alex Martin 2 years ago

2points

JL 2 years ago

Maybe "family-friendly" means they treat you like family. And if you made a mess at the table, your family would tell you to clean it up.

2points

Marnie 2 years ago

2points

RockSteady 2 years ago

3points

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LFish 2 years ago

2points

Kat Min 2 years ago

I've made messes at tables, especiallyy breadcrumbs, and would have loved to be given something to quickly sweep them up with.

2points

Norma Reid-Hunt 2 years ago

2points

Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago

2points

Jedidiah Martin 1 year ago

"Wonders" "if" that's "unreasonable"? What's unreasonable (and discourteous) is leaving a mess for others to clean up.

1point

Lou Cam 1 year ago (edited)

1point

Deedee 1 year ago

1point

Kelly Howell 2 years ago

1point

Becky Potter 2 years ago

1point

Mirei Mikagura 2 years ago

1point

Unfamiliar Tortoise 2 years ago

There are no more insufferable and entitled tw*ts quite like "moms"...

1point

Meh 2 years ago

I'm guessing maybe the other mums in the group make a bigger mess and the staff have had enough. This lady just got the brunt on it

1point

Meh 2 years ago

1point

Kay Romer 2 years ago

1point

Candice Blanton 2 years ago

1point

Pin Taco 2 years ago

Nope welcome to reality, you clean up after your kid.

1point

madamjoiedumort 2 years ago

You choose to have and keep a baby and so choose the inconvenience that comes with them. Yeah it was a minute mess but that's the point.

1point

tHeBoRdEsTpAnDa 2 years ago (edited)

1point

BluEyedSeoulite 2 years ago

1point

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

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1point

Ches Yamada 2 years ago

1point

Rahul Pawa 2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

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Meredith K 1 year ago

0points

Cami Ream 1 year ago

Can you imagine having the nerve to bring your screaming kid into a Cafe for several hours, and wanting to complain, when they didn't kick you out on your a*s?? Wow

0points

El MasChingon 1 year ago

f**k that place, I have managed multiple restaurants and have never asked a guest to clean up after themselves

0points

Bloobee bloobee bloo bloo bloo 1 year ago

0points

pancake dreams 1 year ago

0points

Dawnieangel76 1 year ago

They sell plastic mats to catch messes under a high chair for this very reason! I'll bet she leaves her spilled popcorn & soda in the theater after a movie. They're not our slaves.

0points

Devon M 1 year ago

0points

Bunnie Hartley 1 year ago

0points

Bunnie Hartley 1 year ago (edited)

1point

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Ambry Petersen 1 year ago

0points

Spring Wilcox 1 year ago

0points

Spring Wilcox 1 year ago

0points

Phil Tune 1 year ago

0points

Mike Beck 1 year ago

0points

Carrie Neuschel 1 year ago

0points

Thecoolbonnie 1 year ago

0points

Veronica fiedzuik 1 year ago

0points

Veronica fiedzuik 1 year ago

0points

Brent Kaufman 1 year ago

0points

Joyce Blodgett 1 year ago

0points

GA Chic 1 year ago

0points

Tracey Banks 1 year ago

0points

Linda Santiago 1 year ago

0points

Marie Buckley 1 year ago

0points

Eliza May 1 year ago

0points

Chris Carter 1 year ago

0points

Rosalie Dann 1 year ago

0points

Luner nightmare 1 year ago

0points

Biliegh they/them 1 year ago

0points

Jenny Driver 1 year ago

Pictures or it never happened. One person's "just a little bit" is another person's crushed in sticky mess. Why force the kid to sit through a meal when they are over tired and in pain?

0points

stephen storer 1 year ago

0points

Teddy O'Malley 1 year ago

0points

DH HD 1 year ago

0points

A Random Anvil 1 year ago

It sounds like someone didn't want to do their job, so they decided to outsource it to the customer. Or the customer was being unreasonably messy.

0points

Jason Wolfe 2 years ago

0points

Jason Wolfe 2 years ago

Leave between 3$ and 5$ for the guy who cleans the tables on top of what you leave the server. Make sure you tell her it's for the busser.stuff left on the floor is above and beyond normal cleaning

0points

Darci Pichette 2 years ago

0points

Giobemo 2 years ago

0points

Alissa Rittler 2 years ago

0points

Trisha B 2 years ago

0points

TheWeeb 2 years ago

0points

Carrina Hanson 2 years ago (edited)

0points

Houseof No 2 years ago

0points

Lena 2 years ago

Definitely bad tippers

0points

Sunny Day 2 years ago

I would guess the issue was so much the mess made by the baby as what mom was doing while baby made the mess. Talking to her friends, playing on her phone, everything except "watching the baby".

0points

Judith Thompson 2 years ago

0points

KimB 2 years ago

The staff is tired of cleaning up after them since they meet there every week...time to find a new place...although if they're that messy they'll likely encounter the same thing everywhere

0points

Dagnirath 2 years ago

0points

Austin Frank 2 years ago

0points

Lailanni 2 years ago

If the cafe provides high chairs they should be prepared for some mess, if it's a large mess they should offer or leave a bigger tip

0points

Jess Baldo 2 years ago

Idk to me the screaming baby sounds like the real problem here lol and then they leave a mess on top of that

0points

Sparkle 2 years ago

0points

Mabylene 2 years ago

0points

Thang Nguyen (mightychuot) 2 years ago

0points

Bravo6Two 2 years ago

So the mess was only enough for a hand brush and dustpan....do these cafe people ever sweep the entire floor?

0points

Whitney Mitchell 2 years ago

I kind of like this idea. Let her see how long it takes to clean up after an excessive mess. There's no way she allows that kind of mess at every meal at home.

0points

Whitney Mitchell 2 years ago

0points

abbie allbee 2 years ago

I did and would have cleaned it up close to leaving. But since she was acting that way. I would have asked where to send the bill.

0points

Jonathan Allen 2 years ago (edited)

0points

Carrie Whitaker 2 years ago

1point

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Amanda 2 years ago

0points

Kimberly Gross 2 years ago

0points

Jessica Olson 2 years ago

0points

Patricia Keith 2 years ago

0points

Kevin Felton 2 years ago

0points

Vain Black 2 years ago

Maintain heavy eye contact while you pick up the tip and put it back in your pocket.

0points

E V 2 years ago

0points

Deborah B 2 years ago

Servers depend on tips. Time cleaning up after you is tip money they can't earn. Unless you're tipping big to make up for the extra work (and I suspect that you aren't) clean up after your baby.

0points

Cyber Returns 2 years ago

0points

Charl Marx 2 years ago

Clean up after your child, honestly the entitlement of some people is ridiculous! Tired or not, it takes 30 seconds to pick up some food off the floor. It's really not hard.

0points

alexa pretchet 2 years ago

0points

Michael Largey 2 years ago

Cleaning up the dining space after the customer leaves is routine in most restaurants. And would the manager made the same demands of a group of male customers, with or without babies?

0points

Scrogginj 2 years ago

0points

Marina Rocha 2 years ago

16points

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Angie Falzarano 1 year ago

-1point

Julian Hall 1 year ago

-1point

Shoshana Sherrington 1 year ago

-1point

missy gonzales 1 year ago

-1point

Yodelis Sosa 2 years ago

-1point

Jon K 2 years ago

-1point

Dorey Bell 2 years ago

Because your baby made a slight mess, I don't agree with you cleaning the floor. Also, you did not work there, so those on the clock, are responsible for the upkeep of the restaurant.

-1point

Kate Schenk 2 years ago

If I were handed a broom and dustpan, I would clean up the mess and REMOVE the tip off the table. I would also leave a bad review to top it off. Family friendly my a*s.

-2points

Linnea 2 years ago

1point

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Loreitta M Tuthill 2 years ago

-2points

Rasheeda Shaheen 2 years ago

-3points

Mrs.Pugh 1 year ago

No❤

0points

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Rasheeda Shaheen 2 years ago

-3points

NopedOut 2 years ago

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Tams21 2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Freelove 2 years ago

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RockSteady 2 years ago

11points

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NopedOut 2 years ago

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Mother Is Handed A Dustpan And A Brush To Clean Up After Her Baby, Wonders If That’s Unreasonable

Recently, a mom wondered if the staff at a “family-friendly cafe” were unreasonable for asking her to clean her baby’s mess

The story sparked a heated discussion in the comments. Many readers criticized the mom and said that parents should always tidy up after their kids

While others defended the woman and noted it was rude of the employee to hand out cleaning tools to a paying customer

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