Hello!

22 Comments

A QLD coffee shop owner was swamped with support after she challenged a mother who changed her baby’s nappy twice at a table near people eating.

A woman left a very negative review on Google about cafe in Bulimba (which was previously called Park Bench Espresso Bar and has since changed name to Indigo Bulimba & Park Bench Espresso at Indigo) following the reaction she received for changing her baby, on the table, in front of diners.

She says her baby is 12-weeks old and that she put a mat down before changing the nappy.

“I approached her (the manager) upon leaving and asked if she had a problem with my baby and I sitting there. She said in quite a critical tone, that she didn’t think it was appropriate to change my baby there,” the review states.

Stop Judging

“To this woman and the 2 other customers who made comments regarding this. Mothers don’t need your judgment or criticism. We have enough pressure and stress we deal with on a daily basis. We rarely get the opportunity to get out and have a coffee amidst the long list of things we are doing for our families every single day.

“I am sorry (not sorry) you are so terribly offended by a tiny baby’s tiny little dirty nappy that you think it necessary to criticise.”

 

articlecoffeenappychange1

articlebabynappy2

Critics Dumped On The Mum

The store’s Google reviews have since exploded from a handful to almost 40 with most responses dumping on the mum.

“5 stars for not backing down when you were challenged by the lady with the dirty nappy! I would be disgusted if someone changed a nappy while I ate,” wrote Alana Templeton.

Another customer wrote “I just wanted to support the owner against the selfish arrogant self entitled post”, while Sharna Allen posted “I am so ashamed of my self absorbed generation! show some respect for people around!”

Ms Ridgway told AAP, the lady was at the coffee shop for two hours last Friday.

“She was there that long the baby did two poos,” Ms Ridgway said.

“There were people next to her. We had complaints from a group of older women who did not think it was that great.”

“I know in my heart that that was not cool. It’s an etiquette thing. She won’t be back as a customer, that’s fine. I can’t afford to have customers like her anyway,” she said.

Do you think it is appropriate behaviour?

Share your comments below.

Shutterstock photo

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • When you have a baby you need to understand that its not going to be easy and you will no longer have the freedoms that you had before having children. Its not fair to have your child and then feel that the rest of the World has to make allowances for you because your life is hard because you have a baby. It is NOT acceptable to change a baby near people that are eatting in a location that is designed and set up for people to eat in. You remove yourself and the baby to an area that is more suitable. It takes effort and is a pain but its what you are a parent must do now.

    Reply

  • Yeah, not really acceptable while people are eating. Wet nappies would not be so bad, but poopy ones…..definitely not

    Reply

  • Do think this mother was very much in the wrong. Hope she doesn’t use her dining table as the place to change the baby while others are eating at it!

    Reply

  • Do hope this mother has seen that this is not acceptable and changed her ways.

    Reply

  • Provided that the cafe provides some sort of changing facility then I would agree with the owner. That said a 3m old cant do too much damage.. if the child was 18m then yes I would have an issue. Not for a newborn though, imo its virtually a non issue and the owner should have recognized that.

    Reply

  • Great reply by the owner. Change your baby in the loo if necessary. Plus what did she do with the nappies?

    Reply

  • not in the food service area it is as bad assmoking in my opinion

    Reply

  • A changing room is the place instead of where people are eating!

    Reply

  • It is inappropriate to change a baby’s nappy near food and other people that are dining. Toilet time should be private for so many reasons.

    Reply

  • I am Team Coffee Owner also.

    Reply

  • I commented (nicely) on the original post, sharing a similar experience I had witnessed at my local cafe (within the Shopping Centre). I do not think it is every okay. I was horrified at what I had seen and had to alert the cafe owner (he had not seen it) to wipe the table where a mum had just changed her baby’s dirty nappy. I think it’s about courtesy, respect for others, food & safety regulations, and just about what’s right and wrong.


    • There are regulations and a small business needs to be supported and respected. Most small business people will go out of their way to be helpful; but this is a step to far.

    Reply

  • If you own a deli which serves food you are…not… allowed to have your toddler or other child under a certain age in the shop with you at all. It is a Govt. law. The Mum in actual fact possibly breached the Health Laws. Did she disinfect the table afterwards. I very much doubt it. Others shouldn’t have to tolerate the smell of a diry nappy either. It actually makes some vomit.

    Reply

  • I agree with the coffee owner! I wouldn’t have been impressed if that woman had changed her baby while I was enjoying my food at the next table!

    Reply

  • I don’t think it’s appropriate to change your baby at a table where others are eating from or confront others who are eating with the sight of it. The owner is right in my opinion, although she might have brought her message a bit more gentle.
    Btw a 12 week old baby (so nearly 4 months old) is in my opinion not really a newborn anymore….

    Reply

  • Some mothers seem to go out of their way to be idiots. She wasn’t challenged on feeding her bub in public, but no-one I know thinks the idea of changing her baby on a table at the outside tables of the coffee shop was the right thing to do. Wouldn’t like to have a meal at her home if that’s what she does normally.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join