The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading

One, if the parents were never taught manners, which are rarely taught now, their children won't have any manners. Also like many of the "Me" generation they come firs everyone else, including their children come second. And no that doesn't just apply to the latest generation.

Two, Parents aren't allowed to discipline their kids. In fact they're encouraged not to. Those that dare have the threat of CPS hanging over them. I don't like kicks screaming or kicking the back of my seat either but I remember getting a swat on the behind when I'd do that. Do that now and get arrested and labeled for life. And what's a single parent to do when the other kids are eating and only one is causing a problem? They can't take their kid out to the car. They'd be abandoning the ones inside. nor can they leave the kid in the car alone. All they can do is try to hurry the rest of the kids though their meal, so they won't be hungry, and leave to give everyone else peace.

Three, while I think businesses should be able to decide whom they want to serve, why are they allowed to discriminate but no one else is? Why is it okay to force people to go against their religion but others can ban an entire age group? If some can ban shouldn't all be able to?

The worst is crying babies in theaters, particularly for R-rated movies. UGH... and the stinking parents won't take the child out of the theater!

It's really simple, as in the days when there were smoking sections in restaurants, have "family" sections for those with children. That way those that want to relax and not hear screaching can enjoy their meals. As for grocery shopping, I tend to intentionally go late night so as not to have to deal with kids. Movies should have a curfew, no children under 10 after 8pm regardless. All easy to deal with, and really there's NO reason that there should be a child in a stroller at a movie that lets out after midnight.

Its every persons right when they own a business to set guidelines for who they will and wont serve. While I find it offensive for business' to ban people due to race, sexual orientation or disabilities, I really dont have a problem with them banning children under a certain age. Yes, we were all kids once, and yes we all got annoying sometimes and everyone around us had to put up with our obnoxious behavior but there are MILLIONS of places that dont have an age ban. You can take your kids to ANY restaurant you want, you dont have to get mad because ONE restaurant doesnt want your children to disrupt other peoples expierecne. If I had children and a place I liked banned kids under a certain age, I wouldnt go there with them and its really THAT simple.

a lot of "adults," people who are just taller than kids or who were born before kids, behave terribly also. on airplanes, some people vomit (i used to until a few years ago). husbands/wives scream at one another, people don't seem to have a problem hollering at the waitress when someone in the *kitchen* made a mistake, people in the workplace yell for other people or for this and that report a lot (i've been a temp at a ton of places) and teenagers? ...don't get me started.

cuz if you get me started, you're gonna call me racist, and no one here has ever seen my face or skin color.

anyway... when babies who can't speak, or who are just learning to speak/walk/etc, when those kids cry, they are often scared or in need of something. or lost. or tired. or just frustrated.

i agree 100% with the person who wrote about single parents/those who can't afford day care having kids at the grocery store.

our society is getting more crowded, people are become ever-more connected to technology, so one can be contacted- everyone anywhere at any time. we used to at least be safe on subways or in certain neighborhoods, in a basement, etc... but not anymore. if the boss needs you... there you are. it's annoying and it's obnoxious, but it'll take an effort from EVERYONE to turn back the clock. (will that really happen? i dont think so.)

and just how is it that you're supposed to TEACH your children to behave in public if you're never allowed to TAKE them anywhere in public. Also, anytime I have spoken harshly to my children in public or grabbed them up during a tantrum (which happen, by the way...even to the best parents) and taken them to the bathroom or to the car I always get disapproving looks. I actually had one nosey old woman follow me to the bathroom once to make sure I wasn't going to "strike the child." I enjoy my kid free time as much as anyone and I don't take my children to places that aren't family friendly but I think the standard is being set impossibly high considering the fact that if my kid tells his kindergarten teacher that mom or dad gave him a spanking I'm liable to have CPS knocking on my door. I am absolutely dreading the day that something happens that forces me to take my children onto a plane because even if they are incredibly well behaved every other passenger is going to hate me as soon as they see them and they will watch for any little thing to happen making the entire flight (which I paid as much as anyone else for) that much more stressful on my family.

some places are understandable for banning children but not all...the problem is the parents, they dont wanna disipline there children, or even tend to them at that....so its not the children thats the problem, its the parents....someone may see it from a different view, but this is what i see, parents who could care less if there child is running around like a chicken with there head cut off, or that they are throwing a fit because they didnt get what they want!! parents just dont know how to say NO to there children or how to disipline them, or even how to be a parent, come on people!!! this is insanely stupid!!! i have control over my children, and i do not tolerate my children acting that way, especially in public places....have control people...and if someone thinks otherwise, come see me and how my children behave, its not about harsh disipline, or some form of abuse, its called CONTROL!!!
Try it sometime....

I know there are a lot of kids out there that are old enough to know better but act like brats anyway. While it can be very annoying (I had one run into my chair at a restaurant and almost ran into my baby's high chair) I don't think banning all children under the age of 6 is really fair. I don't have family here that can watch my 9 month old and I don't trust a stranger with babysitting her, so if I want to go to a restaurant, I should be able to bring her along with us.

And with that being said, all the times I have got upset in public has NEVER been due to a child's behavior, it's always been due to a rude adult.

Guess this means I'll never be able to take my little cousins out again. I always loved taking them out with me when my aunts and uncles asked me to do errands or when I was babysitting them for a day. Oh, well. I'll just save up money from my part-time job and buy a bunch of games.

I think being intolerant to children is just paving a road to intolerance in the home. Expecting children to act like an adult is absurd. And to force parents to stay home and be isolated because of selfish, child-less customers are upset is pretty sad. Hmm... didn't we all use to be children?

I also didn't like how this article tried to make Whole Foods look bad, what was up with twisting their words when they are trying to help parents?

hmmm . . . I think it should more be parents with ill-behaved children should be banned. Children are a product of their environment and upbringing . . . shouldn't punish children. They already worry about too many things. Feel insecure enough. Now we're finding new ways to make them feel insecure

In all fairness there aren't many in this country that know how to behave at any age.

As to the ban on children in restaurants, theaters, flights, etc., i think that some places its understandable. who wants to pay lots of money for a nice evening out only to have it get ruined by a screaming, rude child that the parents ignore? instead of banning, why not charge the parents for having ill-behaved children that they don't even try to control or allow to misbehave?
when i was a kid, my parents had no problems snatching me up if i was being bad in a grocery store, restaurant, movie theater, whatever. one time, i was at a burger joint with my father when this family of three came in. the child ran all over the place, poking the other diners food, knocking over the other diners drinks, and even touching people with his grubby, dirty fingers. AND THE PARENTS DID NOTHING ABOUT IT!!! In the end, there was a couple in their late teens having a date, the boyfriend looked at the child and told him point blank to go sit down with his parents. The parents in return acted offended that someone else would discipline their child for them and walked out of the restaurant without even apologising for their childs behavior.
So obviously, if the parents don't or won't even try to teach their children some manners, then the entire restaurant experience is ruined.
I say blame the parents not the kids.

How about the parents who pay a babysitter their hard-earned money to have a "grownups' restaurant night" and end up being subjected to someone else's misbehaving, uncontrolled, screeching kids?

Well 1st let me say I have 5 children. All w/in 5 yrs and we get compliments everytime we go out to dinner, from other patrons and staff. WE clean up our childrens excessive mess and we make them behave. If they don't, one of us sits in the car or we pack it up and go home. If more parents would discipline their children we'd be much better off. I don't know how many times I've been out somewhere usually w/my children and seen others who just let their kids get away with anything or they say stop but don't enforce it. I have taken carts to customer service on more than one occassion and politely explained (as my child/children are throwing their temper tantrum) that I must leave and that I'm sorry but here are my groceries, I'll HAVE to come back later. I've been in the bathroom many times when my child has thrown a fit, and I try to wait til he/she calms down and then we'll finish my shopping, again if this doesn't work in a few minutes the I LEAVE the store. If people were taught "manners" this wouldn't be a problem, no one has any respect for others anymore. I actually got a compliment from an elderly lady who came in the bathroom while I was awaiting the finale for a temper tantrum. We were able to leave the bathroom get 20 feet back out into the store before the fit began again and straight back to the bathroom we went. I popped him on the bottom and told him when he was finished, I'd finish my shopping or we could leave and he could take a nap. The lady overheard all of this and when she came out of the stall she said, "I'd like to thank you." I looked at her kinda funny and said excuse me, to which she replied, yes for bringing him in here." I was totally taken aback, that someone would "thank me" for doing what I considered my job/responsibility. If more parents would take their responisbility as a parent more seriously and take control of the "child" our country would be in much better shape. If more people would get involved we'd be much better off. I truely believe that it takes a village to raise a child. I know the kids parents my kids spend time with and we tell each other what our children are doing. My philosophy is simple......please tell me if my child/children are doing something wrong or inappropriate, IF I don't know then I can address it and fix it.

i am sorry, but how are childless adults responsible for the rotten behaviour of someone else's kids? since when did someone's kids become everyone's responsibility except the parents??? If kids are not welcome in some locations, it's because parents are so lazy, irresponsible and rude that they don't even bother trying to teach their kids to behave decently.

Hostess:"Will that be 'screaming kid' or 'non-screaming kid'?"

This all stems from the fact that parents do not parent anymore. Teach your children how to behave in public and in social gatherings. Only once did I ever have an issue with my children misbehaving in public. The child learned the repercussions of their behavior and never acted that way again. Teach your children well.

I was having lunch when I noticed a woman and little boy at the next table. The kid ordered fries and a burger. After the meal was delivered he put ketchup on his fries and then he licked around the top of the ketchup bottle and put the top back on the bottle. His mom watched him do this and said nothing. I told the waitress the bottle needed to be replaced. I wonder how often something like this happens. Parents, please teach your kids better etiquette.