Is it ok to bring a baby to a bar?

Question

Ok so my wife and I have a 4 month old baby boy. She wants to meet her sister at a happy hour at an outdoor resteraunt tonight at 5pm for two hours. She argues that she will not be drinking although her friends will be along with most everyone else. Since it is outdoors smoking and temperature becomes a factor also-- it should be warm tonight however. I feel this is not appropriate to bring my son. What do you guys think? am I being over protective? Or do I have a does my justifcations hold- The baby has no place at a function designed to get people drunk!

Just for the record this is an upscale restaurant not just an average bar and they will be on the patio- however i still dont think its ok even for a few hours- ps i cant babysit or go as im in the navy and across the country for two weeks.

Answer 1

If it's an outdoor patio to a restuarant with a happy hour that's fine. If it is actually a bar and doesn't not serve food(and no appetizers don't count as food in this case) then NO your son shouldn't be taken there.

Maybe you and the baby can have a boys night. And let the new mom have some time to her self...She probably needs it.

Answer 2

If it is a restaurant and not a bar, I do not see anything wrong with it, also since she will not be drinking. I don't know about smoking as smoking in restaurants and outside patios is illegal here but I am sure if it is a restaurant it will be fine, as long as someone next to him is not smoking. Let your wife get out of the house, it is hard being home all day taking care of a baby.

Answer 3

If its a "bar" then NO the baby should not be in that environment. You never know if a person who has had too much to drink will wander over. If its a restaurant bar type situation, then an outdoor patio should be fine (like a mexican restaurant). You might see if your wife would suggest to her friend to meet her in a restuarant type setting instead of a seedy bar. But I noticed in your question it says outdoor restaurant....I think your little one will be fine. We took out new baby out at 2 weeks to a restaurant and he just slept the whole time. Trust your baby momma, let her have a good time and show off her pride and joy. (Besides you of course)

Answer 4

Drinking around the kid isn't as big a deal as taking him to a place that's going to have a lot of smoking, outdoors or no. If you allow your child to be around cigarette smoke, then you must not care about the poor tyke's health. As long as it's outdoors and he's kept upwind from the smokers, and there're no rowdy drunks, then there's really nothing wrong with it

Edit: After reading the response of litecandles, it does seem obvious to me that you are trying to sway opinion with your choice of word for the question. A restaurant that serves drinks is not a bar (like Bennigans or TGI Fridays), even though it might have a bar in it. It does seem like you have control issues. Try having some respect for your wife.

Answer 5

It is a RESTAURANT it should be OK.

It sounds more like you want the wife to stay home and not enjoy herself. By WORDING THE MISLEADING title like you did.

There is a difference between a RESTAURANT that serves liquor and a bar.

I see not a thing wrong with the wife taking the baby to a RESTAURANT. Sitting on the patio and visiting her sister.

I honestly think you have control issues.

For all that didn't read the OP in full, notice the poster snuck in the correct place to which his wife really wants to go. It is a RESTAURANT, not just a boozing it up bar.

Answer 6

Outdoors, in a well-ventilated area, for a casual drink (not drunkeness), in a mellow bar without public drunkeness....

Sure. No biggy. We've done it. In Wisconsin, no one would think twice.

Now, if the kid were older (like a toddler), I would change my answer to NO.

Another point:
If your wife is home, and doesn't get out much, then it is pretty important that she go out. Can you keep the baby at home so she can go?

Answer 7

NO! A bar is no place for a baby, and it only shows that you are trying to be a good parent and that you care. Just stay home with your son or try to find a babysitter if you must go.

You have as much say as she does, that's your son too! Exposing a baby to people getting drunk has no place in your child's life. Anyone and every kind of person goes to the bar, most to get drunk. Sooner or later, you'll have to bring him inside to change him or if the weather changes. No way, no how would I bring my child into a filthy bar, around Lord's only knows what, outdoors or not. As a Mother of two, I would say you are TOTALLY justified!

Answer 8

In some cases I might agree with you, but this sounds pretty tame. Since your wife will NOT be drinking, I don't see a problem... just so long as no one is blowing cigarette smoke in the baby's face. I wouldn't agree with a baby going to a bar all night long with someone who was drinking... but in this case, I think you are being a tad over protective. Trust your wife to take good care of your son - if you can't do that, there's going to be trouble down the road as he gets older.

Answer 9

I'm sure it'll be ok. It's probably not going to be a wild west saloon or anything. Maybe you can go there, check out the situation, then make a decision.

Well... is it more a bar, or a restaurant with a bar? If it's primary business is selling liquor... keep the baby home.

Answer 10

it's not like the baby is going to be in some smokey, fist-fighting, honky tonk dive bar! an upscale restaurant where liquor is served outdoors sounds fine! what is the big deal??? i'm sure everyone there is house-broken and well behaved! i doubt people are going to this place to get trashed...more likely to eat, drink within reason and socialize. as long as your wife doesn't drink and drive with baby i see no big deal here.
why is everyone whining about second hand smoke? second hand smoke has been and always will be around forever. if people are that worried, maybe they should all live in plastic bubbles.