Cafes only allowing food bought on the premises to be consumed by your baby

[pincushionqueen]

Little bit shocked, today I went with a couple of friends and our 3 babies to a cafe in Forest Hill. We ordered cake, coffee etc and I proceeded to feed my 11 month old some raisins I had bought with me (mainly to keep her occupied) my friend's son was eating a rice cake. The waitress came over and very politely said that in the future would we only feed our children food bought on the premises and showed us some shelves full of Ella's kitchen baby foods. I pointed out that my daughter doesn't eat purees and the waitress said any suggestions for baby suitable foods they could stock would be welcome.

I think this is outrageous and I will not be going there again (which is a shame because it is a lovely place with lots of room). Has anyone else encountered this rule anywhere else?! Am I over-reacting?!

[Convex]

id be put out too, but... within their rights i think.

id think it was more relevant if you were actually feeding them lunch though. snacks seem a bit harmless.

[bluesuperted]

I think you're not overreacting. I'd be really irritated, toddlers have to eat lots of snacks every day to maintain energy levels and unless the restaurant was specifically selling healthy individual snacks at a reasonable price (e.g cut up bits of cucumber, individual packet of raisins, single rice cake etc) I don't see how they'd be within their rights (certainly don't count pur?ed shop bought meals as equivalent). Even if they did I feel that they should be longsighted enough to realise a happy munching toddler is much more preferable to a grumpy one and will probably be accompanied by a mum who buys more cake and coffee!!

[Clare11]

They should really take a food order for the baby at the same time as for the mum/carer to make it clear.

Having a ramp out the front makes it seem baby and pram friendly but do they have formula on offer?

They don't have fruit, or individual bags of raisins etc on offer, just one brand of baby food. It was quite a shock to hear a couple of rice cakes wasn't allowed.

I was quite stunned when this happened. And yes, I was with pincushionqueen at the cafe in question.

[JessM]

Name and Shame!

Where was it?

More fool them, I'm guessing you won't be going back there!

I haven't been to Green and Blue since a waitress there rolled her eyes and said "for fuck's sake" when she saw the mess my daughter and another baby made with their snacks. (She didn't realise I was there, I was behind my buggy putting something in the underneath!) We used to go every week as well.

Someone at Le Chandelier once sent a friend of mine to the loo to breastfeed. I've never been there since either.

[Convex]

Sent to the loo to bf! That is awful!

[susyp]

i find that unbelievable, I always bring my daughter her own lunch as she can;t eat much in cafes due to an allergy and also it's very rare that what is on offer is that healthy.

i def think you should name and shame - the beauty of this forum is so that you can do just that!

susypx

[bluesuperted]

Yes please PM the name if you don't want to do it publicly ;)

I think it's extra outrageous if not even fruit was on offer! I find that if I am in a coffee shop (fairly rare with my toddler now as he's so active), I am always up for buying him something if there is something a) healthy and b) well priced, but I would have no qualms about feeding him something I brought with me; funnily enough I don't think he'd understand if I explained the finer points as outlined by the waitress.

RE: The Chandelier - they are so anti-parents/kids in there, awful, I haven't been back since they told me that they had too many prams (I was entering with a 4mo in a sling!) already....

I wish we were more Continental in our approach to dining with kids, although having said that I went to the relaunch of the Rye last night (really fab inside and out btw) and they were wonderful with our 22mo. We ordered him a small side and gave him some healthy bits off our plate but didn't bat an eyelid while he munched on oranges and strawberries before the food turned up - presumably because they had some experience/knowledge of under-3s and their patience thresholds?!

[tomk]

Le Chandelier is a nightmare for parents of young kids. Always thought it bizarre that they opened in (what felt like) the middle of ED's baby boom.

[nikki73]

bluesuperted does the new rye allow kids in the evening? the old one didn't after 7.

pincushionqueen: it sounds rather petty of them. I wouldn't personally wouldn't go back.

[bluesuperted]

nikki73 - not sure actually, good point. We were there at 5pm and left by 6pm but that was our choice! No mention was made of a latest time for little ones and there were quite a few kids there when we left (the outside space and table tennis table makes it have a real family vibe).

[pincushionqueen]

Canvas and Cream. Named and shamed.

Thanks for your responses, I would like to add that the other cafes in Forest Hill have all been very accommodating with my daughter-The Teapot, St Davids and From the Forest are all favourite haunts of mine (though usually with pincushionprincess in a carrier as they are all very small).

[nikki73]

Thanks bluesuperted. Will enquire and report back. Wish I'd gone now. Sounds like it was fun.

[nikki73]

out of curiosity just went onto the cafe's website. there seems to be a health and safety argument behind their policy. Wonder what it is:

http://www.canvasandcream.com/events/tuesday-treats-for-toddlers-from-tues-12-june/

[Bellenden Belle]

I went there a couple of months ago so I don't know if things have changed since but they offered no baby changing facilities. They had a huge downstairs with unisex open plan toilets and seemingly ample space to fit a changing table but nothing. I ended up changing the poor mite balanced between the two sinks. For me that was a clear indication that this was a place not really catering for families. Perhaps that has now changed if they are offering storytelling for children.

[Beagle]

I am glad you named the cafe as I do know it and had been tempted to go but I have an issue with this. If you and your 3 friends were having coffee and cake you must have spent close on ?15, the fact that they are willing to lose this money for the sake of a rice cake seems short sighted in the extreme. To me this would mean they really don't want mothers with kids in tow.

Put me in mind of this story from a few years back,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13411614

[Clare11]

There were no baby changing facilities yesterday when this happened. I had to change boy on a big chair downstairs, despite a huge area to easily put changing facilities in.

Sometimes I think cafes etc forget that it's 'coffee mums' that keep them ticking over.

It was also quite empty when we were there so you'd think they'd be trying to NOT put parents off with this food rule.

[oimissus]

bizarre. I have taken my own food for my baby into John Lewis / Peter Jones cafe without ever being told I had to buy food there (good thing too as in those days there would be nothing that she would eat) - given that the baby's carers (parents / grandparents / random chum) are spending a decent amount of money it seems spectacularly shortsighted. I think it would be actually quite unfair for parents to assume cafes would provide baby-suitable food, on top of childrens' and adults' meals, much better for parents to provide their own. If you like the place you'll keep going and as your child gets older they'll be eating off the menu. Not rocket science!

[Saffron]

Anyone emailed them the link to this page?

[email protected]

Maybe they'd be willing to make some changes.

[canadianlisa]

Okay, I have mixed feelings about this post. I also go to this cafe quite a bit as I live in Forest Hill. Sometimes on my own and sometimes with my very little one, who is breast fed and sometimes with my 2 1/2 year old. It is really lovely addition to the High Street and I think that it would be a shame if people did not try it due to this post. When we have gone with our big girl we did buy her an item from the menu which is what I expect to do with a child of her age.

It is a fairly new place and I think that they are probably still finding their feet / trying out things. I have also noticed that they don't have changing facilities but there is a really large area downstairs and I just used my mat on the floor when I was there. They also have a notice on the menu that they don't want more than 3 pushchairs at a time in the cafe despite having lots of room. However, I was in there recently with my baby and there were at least 6 Mums and babies with buggies and they were not complaining.

It does seem an odd rule not to allow babies to eat food from home but at the same time it is their choice to make these rules and they are not a publically funded creche / park cafe / leisure centre. It is a really lovely cafe that they have put a lot of time and work into creating and not sure naming and shaming in this way is that helpful. Aside from all of this, not everywhere has to cater for Mums / babies (and I am saying this as a Mum who likes a coffee / cake).

Maybe worth emailing though to explain your point and offer some suggestions for healthy snacks.

[Saffron]

I think if they're going to exclude people from feeding their own babyfood from home, then they really do need to provide better changing facilities than on the floor! Yes, someone please email them and get back to the EDF with your news. I haven't been to this cafe yet, otherwise I'd email them myself. xx

[mrsS]

I have to agree with canadianlisa, not ALL cafes need to be child-friendly and I totally understand places like Le Chandelier and this cafe in Forest Hill for maybe not wanting it to be a child-friendly place, despite being in the middle of nappy valley. I sometimes go to Le Chandelier because it is the only place in ED where I know I will be able to drink my tea and eat my cake without the feeling of being in a creche.

[fapl]

Some people here may even appreciate a cafe that isn't baby friendly in a couple of years when you have a morning all to yourself. I would love to be able to sit in a quiet cafe with newspaper, but I know I won't be able to for a couple of years yet :)

[Saffron]

mrsS Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have to agree with canadianlisa, not ALL cafes

> need to be child-friendly and I totally understand

> places like Le Chandelier and this cafe in Forest

> Hill for maybe not wanting it to be a

> child-friendly place, despite being in the middle

> of nappy valley.

Erm, but their website says they have baby/toddler activities at the cafe... hence my point about providing baby/toddler changing facilities, which goes for any eatery doing the same!

> I sometimes go to Le Chandelier

> because it is the only place in ED where I know I

> will be able to drink my tea and eat my cake

> without the feeling of being in a creche.

I haven't been there recently, but the cafe at the community centre in Telegraph Hill used to do a "quiet Friday". Quiet older children or babes in arms were fine, but patrons were respectfully asked not to bring loud and boisterous youngsters on Fridays. If you're on the Nunhead side of ED, might be worth a look. xx

[midivydale]

Hi,

Personally i would be reluctant to go back if i had been told this. I was there with baby ivydale earlier in the week and staff was lovely. I had a lovely falafel and the lady that served was v baby friendly. Hopefully they will respond positively to any feedback and change their ways.

Re le chandelier i am in two minds. I have been greeted v rudely when entering with push chair actually i was told to leave. I understand but come on, there is no reason to be rude. Be polite about it. However, i do like the fact that there is an establishment here in nappy land that caters for the not with child market. I think it goes someway to create a teeny tiny bit of diversity in nappy land. And i love the fact that when i have the rare mornng off i dont have to spend it listening to other peoples screaming babies :).

If only they were not so damn rude!