Baby-Unfriendly McDonalds

[Angry Parent]

McDonalds apparently has a policy that disallows babies and toddlers from eating baby food inside their restaurants. We were having breakfast as a family at McDonalds at the Singapore Science Centre.  Having our 18-month old with us, we had to feed him his easily-digestible baby food.  However, to our dismay, we were asked to leave the restaurant and dine outside.  We had to carry our big breakfast meals outside, while dragging the McDonalds red baby chair with our son on it our through the glass door, and dine under the hot sun at 11am.  I agree that we should not be allowed to bring our chicken rice or laksa and eat inside the restaurant, but here we are talking about baby food.  Does this mean McDonalds is not a family-friendly restaurant?  If McDonalds sells baby food, I would have been wrong for bringing my own baby food.  But they don't.  So what am I supposed to feed my son if we want to dine inside the McDonalds restaurant?

Any similar McDonalds experiences to share?

[perhaps]

 ... the anal policy is because in the past, some parents have abused this freedom.

all it takes in SG is a few rotten apples to spoil the entire cart re: rules and new regulations. or an anal supervisor.

this is not in SG -  but I have seen high chairs and tables left in an absolute mess by parents so doting and liberal they let their toddlers handle everything themselves .... but yet are irresponsible enough not to do anything about the chaos they leave behind.

[Why oh why]

I would hazard a guess it's because they are surprised that an 18 month old is still eating baby food!!!     

Not that I'm advocating putting your child on a McDonalds diet, but I would think if you were feeding him carrot sticks and cheese or somesuch, they were maybe offended!

[Just say no]

The best thing to do is write to them and voice your thoughts about this.  And next time they ask you to eat outside when you've purchased food from their establishment, just say no we won't.  What are they going to do..........get the 80 year old auntie who works cleaning tables to forcibly evict you?  By the time they've huffed and puffed about it you will have finished and left 

But yes, it is people who take the p!$$ who've made them bring in rules like this, however, they should be sensible enough to be able to tell who's bought food and who hasn't and if you're all eating their food apart from the baby, then they should have the common sense to let it pass I think.  It's jobsworthiness at its best.

[intime0]

I would have been fuming.  But I wouldn't have moved. I probably would have bought a yogurt.  I'm a push over.   

[verysurprised]

Im surprised they would do this esp McD. McD's is always overrun with 8 students sharing a small drink but occupying 5 tables for 12 hours. I think this is a wind up. I wouldn't have moved esp after ordering a meal.

[yuckie]

Off topic but anyways.....

McD's is disgusting and in calling it's produce food is clearly misrepresenting themselves. Why not show your toddler a good example by eating in a decent place and somewhere where they don't get stroppy because you are not allowing them to poison your baby too.

Seriously, I was in Europe recently and I can tell you that there are hardly any McD's or KFC's aside from where you find tourists in most southern European countries because they all know decent food and wouldn't touch the stuff.

[Yuckie2]

What a load of bull Yuckie. I'm in Europe 2 a month, in almost every country and FF is simply everywhere. We can not eat it but you can't stop it.

[yucki3]

i agree with yucki no matter in which country you find mc donalds and who is eating it. mc donalds is not the best place to eat and everybody who is not allowed to eat there should yell out in joy as it is only good to leave that "restaurant"....
...
on the other hand: i am surprised that this happened in singapore as I find restaurants very extremely open towards children in general. maybe this was just a trainee or someone who was vey new who misinterpreted the rules of the restaurant.I suppose that person was very young? sometimes they exaggerate just to follow their given rules....

[not much choice]

Off topic but anyways.....

McD's is disgusting and in calling it's produce food is clearly misrepresenting themselves. Why not show your toddler a good example by eating in a decent place and somewhere where they don't get stroppy because you are not allowing them to poison your baby too.

Seriously, I was in Europe recently and I can tell you that there are hardly any McD's or KFC's aside from where you find tourists in most southern European countries because they all know decent food and wouldn't touch the stuff.

There are loads of them in Europe, mainly in bigger cities and towns but they're there.  However, like anywhere, you're not forced to eat in them and I know I'd rather have the local cuisine in most places than Maccy-Ds.............oh, except perhaps here where it's bland or as unhealthy as a big mac, or costs a small fortune (ie any place serving a western breakfast that's not a fast food place)..........which, when you think about it, is probably why the OP was in Maccy-D's in the first place.