London Restaurant Charges Moms A 'Baby Tax'

When 34-year-old mother Natasha Young got her check at Cosmo Restaurant in South London's Croydon, she noticed an extra £3 (around $5) on the bill. She asked about it, and was informed the fee was for bringing her 6-week-old son along, the London Evening Standard reported.

Even after Young explained that her son wasn't eating, Cosmo's staff refused to remove the charge. They told her she had to pay because her baby was taking up space in the 22,000 square foot restaurant. This left Young fuming. "I was really upset and angry -- I could not believe it," she told the London Evening Standard. "I have never come across something like this before. It's disgraceful."

And she wasn't the only new mom to face this policy. Ana Sheridan, 28, also got charged when she brought her 6-month-old daughter to Cosmo's. Her baby, Sheridan says, wasn't even taking up room in a highchair; she was sitting on her parents' laps and being breastfed. When Sheridan explained this to the restaurant's staff, they wouldn't budge. "They said it was their new policy. That was all," Sheridan explained to the London Evening Standard.

The subsequent uproar and media attention prompted a formal apology from Cosmo Restaurants (Croydon is only one of their 12 locations), which can be found on their website:

We pride ourselves on making children and parents feel valued -- which is why we serve thousands of families every single week. The Minimum Charge Policy is intended for toddlers who eat but not as much as a child. It was and never will be intended as a charge for Prams or for babies ...

COSMO would like to assure customers that this is an isolated incident and we will be retraining all employees at Croydon as a matter of urgency.

We will be in contact with Natasha Young and Anna Sheridan with a personal apology for their mistreatment by our staff.

Although many were outraged by the "baby tax" policy, The Stir's Adriana Velez (a mother herself) thinks that a policy that charges for babies isn't all that crazy:

Come on, parents. Haven't you seen the mess your babies leave in restaurants? If it's not the mess, it's the stroller people keep tripping over (which should be either left in the car or folded and stowed completely under the table), or it's the crying, or it's the restaurant food the baby actually is eating, or it's the way the baby distracts the parent who spills her own tea -- you get what I'm saying.

This isn't the first time that the issue of children in restaurants has come up -- and it likely won't be the last. A Chicago-area restaurant, Sprout, actively discourages kids from coming to an "adult-friendly" brunch . And McDain's in Pennsylvania has banned all children under the age of six since July.

What do you think? Should restaurants be allowed to charge for the "inconvenience" of hosting babies? Or are these sort of policies just plain insulting to parents?

Comments

[Lindsey Victoria]

10:43 PM on 01/19/2012

It is definitely true that this applies not only to restaurants, but to stores and other places. I work in a jewelry store and many of the women who come in with young children are the rudest people possible, not to mention that they don't control their kids. They often act like it is my job to watch their kids and they if they purchase something, I'm supposed to make their transaction as speedy as possible. I'm all for families having outings together, but people need to have respect for those serving them. I'm always so grateful when I see a husband and wife out with their children and the husband plays with the kids outside or takes them somewhere else giving the wife time to browse for jewelry by herself.

[Anne Flaherty]

07:40 PM on 01/18/2012

I am a restaurant manager, and I can tell you stories you would not believe about the things parents let their kids do in my restaurant. I have seen some parents give the sugar caddies or salt and pepper shakers to their kids, and the first thing a baby or toddler does is put it in their mouth. First of all, how many people's hands have been on those things, second, I have no choice but to throw all the contents out, because they are contaminated. They let them run around the restaurant unsupervised, cutting off my employees coming out of the kitchen with trays laden with hot food, and let them play with toy cars on the stairs where employees and guests can slip on them. Five dollars is a bargain, as far as I am concerned.

[beachgirl61]

03:46 PM on 01/18/2012

That is messed up! I say that restaurant needs to be boycotted.

[Teri Newman]

04:27 PM on 01/15/2012

It may help to offset the lost business that the restaurant suffers when people leave because people don't curb their noisy screaming brats. I don't go out to dinner so I can hear your kid screaming, crying or running around in the restaurant. My husband and I will get up and leave in the middle of a meal if there are out of control children disrupting our meal. Why should we suffer because these lousy parents won't control their kids or get a babysitter? More restaurants should do this. If you go to a nice restaurant, the atmosphere is part of it. Take your screaming messy brats to McDonalds where they belong. Here's another secret that comes from growing up in the restaurant biz and owning my own: All waitstaff DESPISE children no matter how much they coo over your baby. It's a show for a bigger tip because they know there's going to be a huge mess to clean up and people with bratty kids undertip badly for the amount of mess they make and the business they drive off. People won't sit in the same section or will ask to be moved when kids are seated close to them so it costs your server his or her other tables too. Leave them at home until they are old enough to behave!

[Anne Flaherty]

07:44 PM on 01/18/2012

You are right on, Teri. I am a Mother and a Grandmother, and I love kids, but I do not love permissive parents who do not regulate on their children.

[Ashleydvh]

01:32 PM on 01/13/2012

Baby-taxes seem reasonable. Babies often completely destroy the dining environment.

[Dr DDD]

03:15 PM on 01/12/2012

Alot of parents are completely thoughtless about leaving Cheerios all over the floor and allowing their children to run amok. I have 3 boys & I am a pediatrician and have always been VERY aware of their behavior in public and cleaning up after their mess. I make them do it! But so many parents think their little angels are so special that they should be allowed to do whatever they want. Most parents do need to discpline their children more by asking the child to use "inside voice" and cleaning up after themsleves. I was just on an airplane a few days ago, same thing- the 3 year old was literally yelling and making loud annoying sounds and the parents never said one thing. Thank God for Bose headphones! Dr. D.

[Jasmine Tokuda]

12:24 AM on 01/10/2012

We always had a plan when we took our toddlers to restaurants. We would pack crayons or books or other amusements for them. From a kid point of view, once they are done eating, they expect the rest of the party to be done as well. As a result, we learned to ask our server to bring all of the food out at once, and one of us would take the child to walk around outside until the food was actually served. If one of our kids was creating a disturbance, one of us would take said child out to the car so the other parent and child could eat in peace and pack up the rest of the meal. I consider a parents job is to teach their child good behavior, and the restaurant dining experience is something that children need to be taught to enjoy with "big kid" behavior. We also discussed what kind of restaurant we were going to and what kind of behavior we expected. We often ended up at Sizzlers for their salad bar, or the sushi boat place, as we could count on quick food service to match a young child's dining abilities. We also would tip extra, to compensate for any additional work our children created. If either of our children was approaching "meltdown" prior to going out, we would cancel, as once a child has started melting down, no one will have a good time. Good planning is essential.

[Tanya J D]

02:53 PM on 01/07/2012

There's nothing I hate more than trying to go to a nice, adult restaurant to have a nice meal with my partner, only to have it ruined by some ill-mannered, dirty, stinky brat in diapers running around and screaming like a banshee. The worst was when I was sitting in the lounge area of a restaurant, at a high table. I crossed and uncrossed my legs and oh? There was a child under my table, who was there playing hide and go seek. Who got kicked in the face. Said child's mother then yelled at me for not checking under my table for her kid. Um I was in the lounge, where children are not allowed, so I shouldn't have to check for stray children under my table! Plus, why the hell are you letting your children run around a restaurant and hide under tables? I avoid restaurants that cater to children on purpose. I also feel there should be adult only sections on airplanes. Also, Airplane bathrooms should have a change table, so that I don't have to smell a child's shit when his/her parents change the diaper on the seat right in front of me. And yes, this actually happened on a recent flight. The smell was so disgusting I almost threw up. The child also looked old enough that it should have been potty trained. Next time I go to Orlando I'm flying into Tampa and renting a car.

[Godthaab]

08:29 AM on 01/05/2012

I think this is a great idea. I am tired of having my dinner spoiled by brats. It will make parents think about the behaviour of their children and whether it is acceptable or not.

[Caxias]

10:09 AM on 01/02/2012

Just go a step further and don't let babies in restaurants period. Nothing like being surrounded by breast feeding mothers while you are trying to hang out. Not to mention crying and crapping their diapers (nice aroma). Your kid is six weeks old? Seriously. Stay at home.

[Springer Mom]

06:21 PM on 12/25/2011

This is outrageous!! Any mom's out there! Read my blog!
http://springercrazymommy.blogspot.com/

[Teri Newman]

04:55 PM on 01/15/2012

No it isn't. Why should other people suffer when you can't control your kids? Although you may think your child is the most precious adorable thing EVER, believe me, other people think it's just an annoying loud brat. Here's a clue, tear your eyes away from yourl precious and look around and notice the dirty looks you are getting from the other diners who want to kill you for not having the parenting skills to keep your offspring under control.

[townie1952]

11:35 AM on 12/24/2011

While my husband and I were having breakfast, a group of 4 Mom's with 4 very young children came and sat next to us. They each orderd coffee, and proceeded to give dry cereal they had brought with them to the children. When they left the entire area was littered with cereal which they stepped on getting up. I felt really bad for the staff that had to clean up such a big mess.

[nanakj]

06:06 AM on 12/24/2011

Honestly, while I Love (most!) Kids & have been & remain an advocate for them & against their abuse, (FB "Causes" Shatter the Silence) Parents too often take their children to resturants, stores, movies & seem to expect the staff to be completely delighted to be their Babysitter & deal with their messes as well as other customers complaints & the possible loss of business they may suffer if your child is exceptionally mean &/or destructive.(You do get the difference between just being a kid or accidents & mean/destructive don't you?)
Perhaps it would be better to have a "Families" only &/or "Kids" only area so that others aren't disturbed & the mess & chaos is confined.
But no one has the right to impose on others & possibly ruin an important/special evening, day, event, etc.simply by using the "baby/child/kid" card. We all know that there are certain places where a child is, more likely than not, going to cause disruption, damage or potential injury! The proverbial Bull (Kid) in a China Shop. We all complain about the Younger generations attatude of entitlement! We are entitled to be Honest, caring, Responsible, Thoughtful, Kind, Decent Human Beings! Beyond that, it's a Gift or You're Stealing!
Try aksing yourself, "If it were someone elses kid, what would I think? How would I feel?,etc.". "would I think it acceptable/hilarious that he/she pulled the drapes down/ruined that ladies dress/got the waitress fired, etc.?".

[marthavalley]

07:11 PM on 12/23/2011

There are increasingly anti family people out there. It's part of nature to have little ones around, and when people try to remove that from eating -- not a friggin movie -- it's ridiculous and just really against having all the generations around.

It's also quite a sexist, anti new mother thing to do.

If you let this happen, then you have to start telling old folks to pay for their annoying space hogging walkers and wheel chairs too.

[mzrenae]

12:31 PM on 12/25/2011

Martha, I have agree totally with that. Children are going to make noise, it is natural.Also, If I go to a place to eat and I am going to charged extra for any thing, I want to know in advance. You should have the option to leave or stay!

[Tell it like it is too]

11:47 AM on 01/13/2012

Personally I hope you and your kid(s) leave rather than stay. Take them to McDonalds where people expect to have to put up messy un-trained kids and inconsiderate parents. I wouldn't take my dog out unless it was trained, so why should parents take their un-trained children out. Un-trained children make the parents look lazy and unfit to be parents. It is your responsibility as a parent to prepare your children to be adults in the real world. Their survival depends on it unless you want your spoiled brats living with you until you are gone from this earth. At that point you have to wonder if they will make it on their own since you didn't prepare them for a world that only cares about themselves

[letmetellya]

06:50 PM on 12/28/2011

God help you if you live long enough to need a walker or a wheel chair. By then your anti-elder feelings may have spread and you can reap what you sowed!
As for kids, I pay hard earned money to enjoy a night out and nobody's little rug rat has a right to infringe on that. When I was a child I seldom went out to eat with the adults, but when I did, if I wasn't quiet, neat and well behaved i was taken home immediately! Too much to ask todays "let's spoil them rotten and let someone else deal with it" parents to do the same. And don't whine about new mothers or their rights. You gave up a lot of freedoms when you decided to add to the population. It's like anything else, your "rights" end when they impose on someone else's.

[partgypsy]

10:24 AM on 01/10/2012

Actually my father was a restaurantuer and as a child I went out quite often to all kinds of restaurants, even high end restaurants (Italian, French). I was never made to feel unwelcome, on the contrary. How do you expect children to lean how to behave in nice places if you never expose them to those kind of experiences? They are not going to learn good manners shut in a box. In the same way I knew how to behave in a grocery store, in a library, etc because I was taken to those places. Ironic how the 70's were more accepting of children and older people in restaurants than present day, going to a nice meal was often a family event. I do agree that manners seem to have gone downhill, but I have noticed that not just with children, but with lots of (entitled) adults.

[Labmom]

06:38 PM on 12/22/2011

I have to say that at 9:00 PM your kid should be home in bed, instead of grumpy in an adult restaurant ! My kids were always praised by us and other patrons for wonderful behanvior and it was encouraged and rewarded by us. Bad behavior was not tolerated and it didn't exist with my kids or their cousins. All it took to accomplish this was GOOD parenting where the kids knew the rules and followed them. It is not easy to be a parent to good kids, it takes time and effort and consistency, and not putting your parenting on AUTO PILOT. I also have wonderfully behaved dogs !!!

[Ted Zak]

07:11 PM on 12/24/2011

So what is your response, or did you just want to talk about how wonderful you are?

[pas504]

02:13 PM on 01/17/2012

No, I think he was actually trying to say no one objects to children who are taught to stay in their seat, talk at a reasonable volume and not throw food all over the floor. Parents who do not teach their children manners find their children unwelcome. Pretty simple.

[Ted Zak]

08:29 PM on 01/18/2012

Are you related?