'AITA for asking to change tables because of a crying baby? The mom got angry.'

Two frustrated mothers got into it at a restaurant, and Reddit definitely took a side. Decide who the a-hole is for yourself...

"AITA for telling a waiter I want to change tables because there is a crying baby next to me?"

u/Ok_Candy7966 writes:

My husband and I went out for dinner a couple of nights ago. It was the first time by ourselves after our baby was born. It’s my second child, the first for my husband so it was kind of a big deal for us. We got a babysitter and we went to a very nice fancy restaurant.

A few minutes after we ordered, another couple sat on the table next to us… with a small baby in a stroller. At first it was fine but after a few minutes the baby started crying. They tried to comfort it, but every time it seemed they had managed to make it sleep, it woke up crying again.

By then we just wanted to leave but we had already ordered so we decided to ask the waiter if we could change tables to the other side of the restaurant. The waiter asked if there was a problem and I said it was our first time out after having a baby and we didn’t feel like spending our evening next to someone else’s crying baby.

He was super nice and quickly asked another waiter to help him set up the new table for us. Another couple that was in the same area also asked to be seated elsewhere.

The couple with the baby overheard what we said to the waiter and specially the mom got upset and called me an AH. She went on and on saying that I probably don’t have kids (mm.. I have 2), and that babies are also people and we should just accept that babies can be loud and cry and there’s nothing she could do about it.

I didn’t want to start a fight or anything but I got really annoyed by her attitude, so I told her that she could actually do something about the crying.. she could take her baby home so it can properly sleep and then let everyone else there enjoy their meals.

She kept saying stuff but I just ignored her, went to our new table and tried to have a nice dinner (although we could still hear the crying baby but at least it was not right next to us).

This morning I told my sister what happened and she said she agrees that I might have been an AH. She said I shouldn’t have said to the waiter that we wanted to move because of the baby and I shouldn’t have said what I said to the mom. So now I am not sure?? AITA (Am I the a-hole)?

What do you think? Did OP go too far in her request, or perhaps in the way she spoke to the other mother? Or was she being perfectly reasonable in a sticky situation?

Reddit rules a majority NTA (not the a-hole).

corgwin says:

NTA. You have kids and got a babysitter. In what universe do you want to go to a fancy restaurant ANY time and listen to somebody else's crying baby. No way.

TheDudette840 agrees:

It's the fancy restaurant part that got me. It's one thing at an Applebees level place, but when at a nicer place there is an expectation to have a certain atmosphere, and that doesn't include crying babies.

Signed, a former applebees server and mother of 2 who accepted never taking my young children to restaurants cause they were heathens.

EvilFinch writes:

And this 'You don't have children'. Well, OP got a babysitter for her children and doesn't let them ruin the evening of all tge other guests. And especially parents that finally get away from their screaming children doesn't want to hear the children of some strangers. NTA

deviantskater shares:

Parents who think everybody should tolerate a crying baby because crying is natural are true as*holes. This post is so similar that the one where that OP made a couple with a newborn leave the cinema, because the little one kept freaking out during the movie.

We can argue what species babies are, but most of the cases where dogs are not allowed, babies shouldn't be either. Like poor thing frightened by the people, the noises, the lights... etc. A baby needs peace and quiet, and a well-controlled environment. Who thinks a baby would enjoy these activities??

caryn1477 says:

NTA. I'm a mother and would totally move if I was out on a date night and we were seated next to a crying baby. It's your prerogative to move if you feel like it.

Kaelyn_Angelfoot writes:

NTA. If you had asked the waiter to have the other couple leave, then yes YWBTA (you would be the a-hole). Instead, you inconvienenced yourself, moved to a different table to enjoy your meal.

Also I'd like to point out as a parent that there are places I will not take my small child to, as they do not yet have the social awareness and self control to behave. Yes they need to learn and they can learn at less fancy places. I have turned down invites to activities because they were not at a child friendly location and I did not have childcare.