Babies in the Bar
So this baby walks into a bar, and …
Well, the baby didn’t actually walk into the bar—it was in a stroller, pushed by its mother, who was going to have a drink or two with some other moms who brought their kids, and…that’s why this is no joke.
There’s a bar fight brewing across the country. In Seattle, Austin, Philadelphia, Boston and beyond, bar patrons are getting lathered up on both sides of a polarizing parenting issue: is it responsible (or even acceptable) to belly up to the bar with young children in tow?
Those opposed to the mix of cocktails and sippy cups have posted their unequivocal sentiments on numerous online message boards and blogs, like this one in Philadelphia: “I do not want to be in a bar around children. Ever. Bars are for adults.”
Stroller grid-lock has been increasing in bars—often under signs that say “No One Under 21 Admitted”—along with the irritation of patrons who object to shoving crayons out of the way of their cosmos.
Those pushing for more kids in more bars are usually the same people pushing the strollers: mothers of the pre-school set, who say: “We want to do everything we always did, but with our babies.”
So when the owner of a bar in Brooklyn recently posted a “Please No Strollers” sign, he opened yet the latest front in the battle of the bottle. Moms seethed, while critics— like this one in Tucson —applauded: “Grow up, people,” she wrote. “Your lives are different now.”
Tell us what you think: Are we lowering the responsibility bar by allowing kids in the neighborhood bar?
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Bar bonding
Here’s the deal: you should all bring your children to the bar! Make it perfectly legal, with this one exception: choose a good bar or make a good bar. Parents, in general, are missing out on the lives of their children. Your children are losing your heritage. Why do you have kids if not to contribute to the evolution of humanity? In a good bar, you will find stories and music both of which are in rapid decline due to lack of cross generation mixers. So, please bring your child to a bar and please show them that you can have a good time without being drunk.
Thank you …Billy
P.S. I am against the TV generation. Be active; life is for living not watching “contrived reality”.
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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Mrs
If you can afford to drink, you can afford a baby sitter. If not, then you can’t afford to drink either.
You are not doing the child a favor at all by taking them.
Togetherness? Bonding with child? Stop for just one drink? Two? Three? Can’t drive a car, but you can push a stroller across streets? …..
It just doesn’t fit!
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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wow
Well, it’s clear that people are very passionate about this issue. As for me, I have a 2 year old who has been to a British pub, a karaoke restaurant/bar and an airport bar. I take my son with me everywhere I go because I am a very social person and my husband is always on-call and can rarely watch him. I can’t afford to get a babysitter all the time. Besides, my son has absolutely loved all of the activities I have dragged him to. I have never had more than one drink with him in tow and neither have I exposed him to foul language or smoking or anything else that I would deem unfit for a baby. Like many restaurants, bars can simply be places to socialize. Just because they serve alcohol does not make them dangerous per se. I refuse to stay at home by myself simply because I have a child. I think it is good for children to see that adults can go out and socialize in ways that are healthy and safe. There are certainly some ‘adult’ places I wouldn’t feel comfortable for my son to go, and I respect the need for adult only establishments, but I do feel that it is possible and important to have an active social life despite having a child. It is up to individual parents to decide how that plays out. That being said, if a bar chooses not to allow strollers that is the right of that business. Cheers!
mom | 1 year, 1 month ago
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What kind of "mom" would do that ...
I don’t know what type of mothers they asked for this article, but they missed the mark. I am a mother of a 1 year old, and I would never take her into a bar, nor would I expect her to be allowed in one! Have a cocktail at home or leave the baby with dad for girls’ night!
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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"No Strollers" is far different than "No Babies."
I’m actually writing from the New Hampshire Children’s Museum, which has a “no stroller” policy. Mamas carry their babies. Kids walk. And it’s not clogged with strollers in here.
I have three children and have never owned a stroller.
I think the issue of where kids are welcome is totally different than a “no stroller” rule.
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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Babies does not to be taken in a bar
I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and I would never even be tempted to take my child in to a bar. Anyone who would take their child in a bar needs to be put in jail and come to realize that you don’t do that. Anyone who is going to be taking their child in a bar doesn’t need their baby.
Tabitha | 1 year ago
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Think before you drink
I have 2 adult children who raised 3 children that are my sister in law’s. She has been drunk and addicted to drugs for about 20 years and has not raised any of her 6 children. We have been raising her middle 3 for 9. Years when she
shows up and gets Child Protective Services (CPS) involved. The CPS and judge are pro biologic mom’s rights. The kids are now in foster care and we have been told that we have no rights for visitation & if we want to be considered for placement If (when) she fails to follow their
rules.
SO HOW COULD THESE PARENTS RISK CPS COMING TO TAKE THEIR BELOVED CHILDREN THAT THEY WANT TO SHARE EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY WITH!!! As for the Bartenders and patrons: Don’t you feel that it is your responsibility to report these ALCOHOLIC
moms and protect that child?
Give CPS something legitimate to chase instead of the lies that cost these two girls a good home, and they will probably never came out of foster care. We didn’t endanger them the way these moms are endangering their children. We just loved them. Shame on everyone who fails to report this. It can be done annonymously, so why not put an end to it’s acceptability and send the message to the stroller moms that it will not be tolerated anymore and very tough love will be their lesson. Missing my kids in Mexico,NY
Cheryll | 11 months, 4 weeks ago
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Moms
Moms are crying for help.
janaya daniel | 11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Use your brain
Taking children in a bar when it could be dangerous place mmmmm NO!
If you want to hang with the girls have a few drinks, fine,go to Applebees, or some other restaurant that serves drinks not bar fights and smoke or try a party at home. No bar should ever allow a child to enter, this is a responsibility of a child’s life in the hands of a bar owner. Not wise! Where is CPS that is neglect of a child’s best interests?
S,L,H | 11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Resturant it!
If you wanted to have a couple of drinks go to a restaurant. Just don’t have too many! Don’t walk into a full throttle bar!!
Alexis Christy | 11 months, 1 week ago
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