"Bad parenting" fee at restaurant sparks major debate

TOP OF MIND

That'll be $50 for the side of rambunctious tots
A small-town eatery in Georgia sparked a major debate online this week after charging a mom and dad $50 because their kids were too loud inside the establishment.

When Lyndsey Landmann and her husband Kyle first entered Toccoa Riverside Restaurant and looked at their menus, they noticed at the bottom it said, "Adult surcharge: For parents unable to parent."

They laughed, believing it was a joke, but even if it weren’t, surely their kids wouldn't be a problem, right? Wrong. When Lyndsey and Kyle got their check, they noticed a $50 added charge for bad parenting. And get this, they were sharing a table with four other families with kids, and every single one of their bills had the $50 fee added.

The important bits
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It features waterfront views and freshly caught rainbow trout. It looks welcoming from the outside, but Lyndsey and Kyle are warning other parents not to get caught up in the ambience.

As stated above, they (along with four other families) were charged $50 for their alleged bad parenting while dining inside. When they asked for an explanation, the owner Tim Richter simply said the kids were "too loud" and pointed out the warning at the bottom of the menu. He also expressed anger that the kids were running around outside, even though they were being watched by an adult the entire time.

Yikes! I think we all can agree NO ONE belongs at Burger King.

Unsurprisingly, the owner did not respond to an email asking for a comment on the matter, but TODAY was able to get an employee on the phone, and they said, "We’re not going to comment on a policy we’ve had for years. We just want to live in the woods and cook."

After the Landmann's shared their story on Reddit, other people commented, detailing their bad experiences with the restaurant.

And while most were appalled by the restaurant's policy, some seemed to support it, writing, "Good, more places need something like this. Parents who bring their kids into a restaurant ... letting them do whatever they want is annoying as hell."

What's it all mean?
If you find yourself in the Blue Ridge Mountains with your kids, you might want to stack them on top of one another before entering Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. Perhaps they'll be tricked into thinking it's just one very tall, baby-faced adult.

But on a serious note, let's hope we don't start seeing fees like this at restaurants. It seems impossible to accurately enforce, because who has final say on what qualifies as bad parenting? If you're a restaurant owner, and you're that worried about kids, then maybe don't allow them inside your establishment.

DID YOU HEAR

Probiotics can be deadly for preterm infants
According to a new report from the FDA, probiotics can be extremely dangerous for preterm infants, and they've already been directly linked to at least one infant death earlier this year.

The report noted that the preterm infant, who was still inside the hospital, was given a probiotic product called Evivo with MCT Oil, made by a company named Infinant Health.

But some doctors argue that in extreme circumstances, giving preterm infants probiotics can actually be beneficial. 

The WORST drinks for your health
Whether you're worried about your kids' health or your own, experts say you should avoid these drinks.

Among the worst of the worst are energy drinks like Monster and Red Bull, sweet alcoholic cocktails, soda, iced tea, and Frappuccinos.

What do they all have in common? Sugar. Lots of sugar.

Curling irons are very dangerous
According to a new study, which examined ER visits involving hair-styling tools from 2013 to 2022, products like curling irons have contributed to 31,000 burns in kids. And at least 1,000 of those kids had to take a trip to the emergency room.

And even though the study looked at all hair-styling products, hair curlers and curling irons were by far the most dangerous, accounting for nearly 98% of all injuries.

A math formula to predict when your kids will have a tantrum on an airplane
The holidays are coming up, which means you're likely trying to mentally prepare yourself for air travel with your kids. Well, at least one math whiz believes he can predict when your kid will have their first meltdown on the plane.

Find out when you should expect the tantrum.

This man won a $22 million lottery
And didn't tell his kids. 

A DOSE OF GOOD

JUST FOR YOU

Tricks & Treats: It's Halloween. Did you forget? If you did, don't panic. Here are 70 last minute costume ideas for yourself, and 47 more for your kids. Plus, if you still haven't purchased candy for your trick-or-treaters tonight, this article claims you may have accidentally walked yourself into a deal. And finally, now's a good time to freshen up on Halloween safety.

Bites: November 6 is National Nacho Day, so grab your tortilla chips and get ready to guac out. Use these nacho bar ideas as a starter. While we often opt for the “zap chips and cheese in the microwave” version, oven-baked nachos really are superior. You could get more adventurous and make them with sweet potatoes and green chili or jump right in and have nachos for breakfast.

Pods: Looking for more podcasts to add to your rotation? We have you covered. Here are 19 of the best parenting podcasts. Two of our favorites are The Mom Hour, which boasts over 400 episodes (perfect for binging!), and Good Inside, hosted by clinical psychologist and mom of three, Becky Kennedy. Once a week, she dishes out some truly insightful tips to parents in need. It's good stuff.

Betterments: Hard on yourself for not sticking to a workout routine? Well, according to The Washington Post, you're getting more exercise than you think! They say parents with toddlers are doing "hidden" workouts every single day of the week. These workouts include "gentle-parenting" squats, sunscreen sparring, parking lot sprints, and car seat calisthenics. Congrats, you're an athlete!

PARENTING WIN/FAIL

This week, we have a lesson in negotiation from loyal reader, Tony V. 

Halloween has been saved! Thanks for sharing, Tony! If you have a parenting win/fail you'd like to share, email us at [email protected] and your story might be featured in a future edition!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked if you’d have a baby shower for your second child, and nearly 60% of you said, "No, it's time to reuse those baby items,” while 15% answered, "Always a yes! Let's celebrate!"

RECALLS

WanaBana Pureed Fruit Pouches.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is urging parents who have fed their children WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree to get blood tests after the company determined the product may contain elevated levels of lead.

WanaBana issued a voluntary recall on their pouches, which were sold at several retailers, including Amazon and Sam's Club. The recall affects all lot codes and expiration dates, so if you have WanaBana in your household, throw it out.

Children who are exposed to lead might not have any immediate symptoms, which is why getting their blood tested is so important. Long-term symptoms include trouble focusing, tremors, weight loss, fatigue, constipation and much more.

You can contact WanaBana by calling them at 888-272-7184 or by visiting their contact page here.