A mum was handed a dustpan and brush to clean up her baby's mess as she was leaving her local cafe. Taken aback by this response from the "family-friendly" venue, she asked Mumsnet users if she was being unreasonable by not wanting to clean up after her baby in a cafe.
She said: "I go with a group of friends and our babies to a cafe each week. Apparently, the week before last the cafe manager had a go at one of the mums because she said that her baby made a mess under his high chair and she didn't clean it up before she left.
"This week, as I was packing up to leave (with a screaming overtired baby who is refusing to nap because of teething!), she gave me a dustpan and brush and pointed at the few bits of food under her high chair and asked me to clean up after myself. It's advertised as a very family-friendly cafe." You can get more news likes this and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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She added: "To make it clear, if she had made an unreasonable mess I would of course have cleaned it up (or tried, it's a bit difficult when you don't have any cleaning materials). But it was a few bits on the floor. I've offered to clean up in other cafes and they've said "don't be silly, we'll do it! I guess I'm going to be way more conscious about allowing my baby to make a mess in the future (good luck!). But after I told my mum, she said I should leave a negative review about it on their cafe page and seemed to think it was unreasonable.
"Is it unreasonable to ask a parent to clean the floor after their baby? I'm torn because on the one side, I can see how it would be annoying for the staff. On the other hand, I don't bring cleaning materials with me and it's advertised as family-friendly... which I would think would mean they're aware that babies make mess!"
However, many users were in favour of the cafe. One commenter said: "I’d say food on the floor is beyond the realms of normal mess and I’d expect to be asked to clean it up. People are absolute rotters in cafes and restaurants." Another person said: "When ds [dear son] was at that stage of dropping things from a high chair (and note that I always bought all his food from the cafe or whatever) I would ask for a dustpan and brush or use wipes to tidy up. It's just polite to the staff.
Another mum added: "If they offer you the dustpan and brush and your baby made the mess with food I would clean it up before I left. Surely you sweep it up whilst baby still in highchair? It would take one minute to do it." While another commenter said she was shocked how people thought they did not have to tidy up after themselves, saying: "You should have cleared up after your babies. I'm shocked at how often I see people walking out and leaving a mess all over the floor. If an adult dropped food they'd pick it up. So you should do that for your baby too."
However, many users thought that this action by the cafe staff was "odd." One user said: "It sounds like they’ve got a bit of an attitude about it and I’d be taking my business elsewhere. Giving you a dustpan and brush?? Wtf!" While another commenter added: "It's very odd and certainly not something that's ever happened where I've been, but then I always tend to pick up the "big bits" and then the rest can just be hoovered around. It's super odd to be handed a dustpan and brush!!!! But then how much mess was there?!
Some users thought that this was a sign from the cafe workers that they were fed up with the mum and baby being there each week. A user said: "Well, they are clearly fed up with you and your mum friends making a mess for them to clear up. Why do you think it's beneath you to clean your own child's mess? While another said: "I think they are telling you that they don't want you in there each week!"
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