Is asking restaurant staff to warm up baby food overly demanding?

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By Jun Ji-hye

Do you think that parents who ask restaurant staff to warm up baby food they have brought ― either by microwave or hot water ― are overly demanding?

This question has been sparking heated debate in online communities in recent days.

Some say the request asks too much of restaurant staff as baby food is purchased or cooked outside a restaurant. Others say such requests are acceptable if a restaurant does not sell food for babies.

The debate started with a post uploaded on Feb. 17 on the local online community Nate Pann. In the posting, a user who claimed to be a single woman talked about her friend who brought her baby to a friend's gathering and asked restaurant workers to warm up baby food and bring a teaspoon for the baby.

The user asked other people whether or not they thought her friend's behavior was acceptable.

The post drew great attention and was followed by other related posts.

Another user, who claimed to be an owner of a restaurant, wrote that parents who ask for baby food to be warmed up are unwelcome guests.

“I think such parents are demanding even though they ask restaurant workers nicely,” the user wrote.

The user cited that the restaurant should take all responsibility for any accidents that occur within the place.

“For example, if the baby food is heated too much and the baby gets burned, I have to take responsibility for that according to laws,” the user wrote. “Plus, I cannot claim compensation to parents even if the tablecloth in my restaurant gets dirty because of the baby food.”

This was soon refuted by another user who also claimed to be a restaurant owner.

This user pointed out that the ongoing debate reflects a widespread hatred against parents and children.

“Those who eat baby food are usually babies between six and 12 months old. Many restaurants do not sell proper food for these young babies,” the user wrote. “I hope parents with babies are not hurt by these debates.”

Online commentators presented a variety of opinions about the issue. But the majority of people appeared to stand by parents with babies, citing that hatred against parents and babies has led to falling birthrates which are seen as one of the most serious problems facing the country.

“If people are more reluctant to give birth, there will be nobody to go to restaurants in the future,” one commentator wrote.

Hatred against parents and babies has been a long debated topic here with the emergence of “no-kids” zones banning customers accompanied by children.

Supporters for such child-free venues cited the right to not be disturbed, while objectors say such venues harmed the basic rights of those affected.

In contrast, an increasing number of establishments equipped with facilities for children have started to emerge.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has recently developed a policy to expand the so-called “okay zones” that welcome customers accompanied by children, offering financial support to restaurants that participate in the policy.