" Screaming Children will not be tolerated."

I think the two restaurants reasoned it wrong. First, they said since the ban, the profits go up. This is a time pre-and pro relation, not a causal relationship. It doesn't mean that the crying babies made the profits low and the two restaurants failed to rule out anything else to affect the profit. Second, something not against the law should not be absolutely promoted. Since telling lies (with no relation to economic or personal elements) is not banned by the law in my locality, then telling lies should be promoted then? Nonsense. As for me, however, whether to go to such a restaurant or boycot it cannot be determined simply by allowing or banning crying babies, there are too many factors to consider besides this.

I think it has a lot more to do with modern-day parenting techniques than anything else. When I was small (a long, long time ago), parents would discourage their children from screaming in public, teaching them how to behave respectfully when out anywhere. These days, I see parents tolerating all sorts of undesirable behaviour from their children. They seem to teach them no sense at all of appropriateness, regarding behaviour that's expected in different public places. A restaurant isn't a place to scream in - yet maybe a theme park or a bouncy castle park is, and the children should be taught that it's OK to scream in some places, but not in others. I'd certainly not boycott a place that preferred to create a peaceful, quiet environment for their customers to enjoy. I must stress though that I'm not blaming the children - it's the parents.

When my kids were little every year when I got my income tax return....I would dress them up in their very best and take them to the most expensive restaurant in our town.....to show them that when you work hard there are rewards...there were times they fussed and people would give me the evil eye...they deserved to be there as much as anyone...but I can see how a screaming, bawling child would wreck a dinner for some. To me....kids are welcome anywhere...crying or not. I probably would boycott a place that banned them. I however.....really love kids!

I suppose this would depend on where you stand on the issue. It's hard to be a parent of a young child and have control over every aspect of behavior all the time. They usually act up at the most inoppertune times in the first place. It's how you teach them to act in public though...if they never go...they never learn.

I haven't seen anything like those here. I guess they're just trying to minimize the noise inside the restaurant because maybe it's half library. They should have a way to handle the screaming babies in order for them to maximize their customers or else their competitors will be more beat them.

I have a problem with any posh type restaurant because, a-I cannot afford it and b-my money is green and is accepting anywhere. If it was children friendly before, then it could not be a fancy place, so they should not ban children. But if they revamped the place to be more posh or rub elbows with the Muckety mucks, then I guess I can see it. I also do not like a restaurant that requires you to wear a suit jacket. I dress the way I dress and like I said, my money is good anywhere.

If it was a date night I would. I hate to say it, but when DH and I are out without the kids, we like peace and quiet. Luckily our kids are pretty well behaved. If my 16 month even attempted to make a fuss in a quiet restaurant, we wouldn't stay.

Personally I think for me it would depend on what type of restaurant it is and what type of food and atmosphere as well. If it is a higher class dining place I would think they are really only doing more of a service, and actually surprised people would want to bring kids there. But if it is more a family style they could be hurting business as well. Overall I think it does need to be up to the restaurant and think when higher class that is a great rule for sure.

I AM GLAD YOU STARTED THIS!!!! Personally, I think their measures were drastic. What the sign should read is: "Screaming children will be asked to leave." The thing is, my husband and his exes raised their children so that at the age of two years old, they knew how to behave in a 5-star restaurant. I don't cringe when I see a baby, I wait to get annoyed until the little one has proven to be annoying. If they assume that all children scream, they are descriminating, but if they state the consequences for such behaviour, they are letting it be known that this is a quiet restaurant.

Well for me it's not really a problem. I don't see any reason to not go there... if the restaurant had good reason to put up a rule like that then I guess it's a legit rule. Screaming children could really make business go down, if they constantly annoy the customers and drive them away, you could understand why they need a rule like this. This might be a little unfair to those with well behaved kids, though. I don't think there's much of a choice here

I was once in an upscale restaurant, celebrating a friend's baby's baptismal, and was told that my kid was too noisy. Lunch was over, and people were just relaxing and talking, and my son who was then just a little over a year old was on my lap feeling a bit restless. So, I proceeded to play with him and make him laugh a bit. It wasn't screaming or anything, yet one lady still came up to me, and told me off, that I was too noisy for the other guests (not with our party). I felt embarassed, and from hence vowed not to come in any restaurants that didn't allow kids. I know how some parents just let their children run around and misbehave. I don't tolerate misbehavior with my children, but I also don't like them not enjoying a family outing. And if this means not going to upscale restaurants, then so be it.

People with children below the age of six will not go. Others may prefer. I remember have read this : An airline has banned children in its business class because those who are travelling by that objected to children being allowed. This happens. I will go only to a place where children are allowed because we have young grand children.

My children behave quite well in resturants or anywhere else we go. They know better than to act like animals when we are out in public. I am a very strict parent though. Most parents are not strict but I firmly believe in being strict. I would have to boycott it because not ALL children are like this. Once again here we go with assumptions and generalizations!!!! Now I can understand if there is a sign up that says if your children become out of hand we will refuse to serve you. Wouldn't that be more fair than assuming ALL children will misbehave???

You said these were fine dining establishments. If I am going to be paying for an expensive meal, I want to eat it in peace. Apparently I am not the only customer that feels this way. Now I am not against kids in restaurants, but unfortunately modern parents aren't to good at making their young ones behave in a polite fashion. I don't think young kids should be banned nationally from going to restaurants, but I do think the higher class ones should be able to make rules on such matters - especially if they have a less than romantic history with younger children. There are other places to eat if one has young kids. Just to note, I can be understanding of kids crying if they are tired or hungry, but from my experience, the usual cause of the fit is because mommy or daddy refused the child something or the child is just a plain brat.

I don't mind if there are children in a restaraunt, and I don't mind a small amount of the noise that you'll get with that. but if children are screaming. as opposed to maybe being a bit noisy, and then calming down when encouraged to, then that would detract from enjoying my meal. I think that if children persistantly scream and can't be calmed, then it's the parents and children that shoul leave, rather than ruining it for everyone else. just like if someone is raging drunk and shouting, they should be removed so that everyone else can enjoy their meal that they are paying good money for. so neither really. I wouldn't see any reason to boycott somewhere that doesn't allow young children. it's up to them who they allow to dine there. some places won't let you in if you have trainers, some if you're under 18. a more adult place may choose not to allow children. people with children can choose to go somewhere more child friendly. I don't actively seek out a place that doesn't allow children, but I don't think its unfair to ask any customer who is being disruptive to other peoples enjoyment to leave. and a screaming child that can't be calmed is disruptive, whether they do it through malice or not.

For myself, who doesn't have any kids, I wouldn't boycott such restaurants - I might actually enjoy the extra peace and quiet! There's nothing worse than being in a restaurant or an aeroplane or something and have kids screaming the whole time. I do feel sorry for families who do have young kids though - I guess it will be difficult for them if they want to eat out and don't have anywhere to keep their kids. The thing is though, if these restaurants are fine dining restaurants, then maybe they are not all that suitable for children either - if people are going out with their kids then they should go to more family friendly places!

I can see why they would make such a rule since many customers are annoyed by people bringing in their screaming children. Although it's impractical to expect babies to not scream, it hurts their business more to not ban it than it does to allow it.