IT WAS HORRIBLE! -He fell!

we went out to eat mexican tonight and it was a horrible experience. The food was good and everything but Grant fell out of the highchair. HORRIBLE. when we got there and sat down, I went to strap him in and the belt was broken, so I couldn't strap him in. I didn't bring the "harnesses" we use b/c I have never had a problem with their high chairs. (we have severe climbers who will climb onto the table as soon as you sneeze or glance away) I was going to ask for another one, just in case, but didn't b/c they were busy and didn't want to bother them. THAT WAS STUPID OF ME

Well, i turned to put some chicken in front of garrett and MY DH said Grant is going to fall and I turned around and watched him fall. It was in slow motion. He fell out of it sideways and hit the wall, slid down and hit the floor head first. he screamed forever. I don't blame him -he has a bump and scratch on his forehead, his eye is busted open, and he has like a rug burn or a wall burn right under his eye. it looks so bad. I feel horrible. I mean they should have had high chairs that have the safety straps, but I should have asked for another one. I just cried and cried, because I did so good watching him and the second I turned he dove.

After Grant calmed down, FINALLY, I asked for the manager to tell him what happened. I just told him that they really need to get their highchairs fixed because someone might get upset and sue them or something. They gave our meal for free, gave us a $40 giftcard, and the manager asked me to leave my name and number so the owner could call me about it. I think they are afraid that we are going to sue them (which isn't my intentions -i just didn't want this to happen to someone else). I guess we will see if the owner actually calls.

sorry about my rant. I just feel so bad and frustrated at the same time, so i needed to rant. I am so sad about the situation. I am curious if I did the right thing. Our friends said we should have threaten to sue or acutally sue. I am not all about the suing the craze, but i do feel they should make sure their items are safe just for this reason. It is my responsibility to watch my child ( i promised, i only looked away for a second), but this would have enver happened had the seat belt worked. I know that from now, my children will not set in a highchair with a broken belt.

THank you for reading!

 

Wow! Dont beat yourself up about not asking for another chair. I probably wouldnt have either. Accidents can happen so fast! I am glad that nothing worse happened to your little guy.

I think thats pretty cool that they took care of you and seem to care by having the owner call. I have heard of managers treating parents like crap when stuff like that happens. Those are the ones that should be sued, but you seem to have gotten treated really nice.

 

I'm sorry that happened. I hope he recovers quickly.

about 50% of the time I grab a shopping cart or highchair, something is wrong w/ the strap. We always try to find another one. but many restaurants only have 2 highchairs. I've complained many times, but it's rarely fixed. sounds like this restaurant took the incident more seriously which is good.

 

I had Marcus fall once out of the chair onto a ceramic tile floor. Honestly, I don't remember if I had even tried to strap him in, because once they were pretty steady, we usually didn't since they were more likely to try and climb out when strapped then when they weren't. The restaurant did take our name and number, and did follow up the next day--Marc was fine. He told us to contact them if we had any medical bills, but that was the end of it.

Accidents happen. It looks like the restaurant is treating you well. I also don't believe in sueing.

 

It seems like they responded immediately and appropriately, so I would not sue, either.

I'm glad he's okay, and don't beat yourself up too much. Kids have accidents. It's so scary and makes you feel so guilty, but usually they're okay and if they're boys, they like to show off the bruise later...

 

Awww, poor little guy! And poor momma! It sounds to me like the restaurant handled it very well. I'm not much for suing either. Don't beat yourself up over not asking for another high chair. Accidents happen, it'll be okay!

 

I wouldn't dream of suing. No offense meant here, but you knew the belt was broken and chose to let him stay in the chair. To me it seems that the liability is now more on you than the restaurant. I know that you feel horrible about it and I would too (and actually have...that's why we always bring our own high chairs now, our little girl took a dive from one too), but the restaurant handled it very well and treated you fairly. I'm so sorry that your little one got hurt.

 

God, how aweful!!!! I was picturing it all with my mouth covered through your description. I do have to say that I am glad you are not suing. I think people are too quick in this country to want to sue for EVERYTHING and cash in. Funny thing is so much of the money goes to the lawyer that you don't always see all that much. I think the most important thing here is that your son is ok and that you follow up with the restaurant and even write them a letter to remind them that they need to ALWAYS make sure that the highchairs are always in full working condition because one day some sue happy person will come along and make their lives (and business) a living h#ll or worse yet some child could get even more hurt than your son did.

 

QUOTE(bethanne @ Nov 15 2007, 01:36 PM) [snapback]496709[/snapback]
I wouldn't dream of suing. No offense meant here, but you knew the belt was broken and chose to let him stay in the chair. To me it seems that the liability is now more on you than the restaurant. I know that you feel horrible about it and I would too (and actually have...that's why we always bring our own high chairs now, our little girl took a dive from one too), but the restaurant handled it very well and treated you fairly. I'm so sorry that your little one got hurt.


I agree here. My babies will climb sometimes and sometimes not. We always buckle and it is our job to make sure it's done.
Hope he feels better.

 

I'm sorry he took a dive (I wonder if he'll remember that the next time he's climbing? that would be nice!)!!! I hope he heals quickly!

Hindsight is always 20/20, so don't beat yourself up. I wouldn't sue them. I think our society is way to litigious as it is! But I'm glad they took care of your meal and tried to ensure that they wouldn't lose a customer! Good for them. I'll be curious to see if the owner calls. Let us know!!!

 

QUOTE(bethanne @ Nov 15 2007, 08:36 AM) [snapback]496709[/snapback]
I wouldn't dream of suing. No offense meant here, but you knew the belt was broken and chose to let him stay in the chair. To me it seems that the liability is now more on you than the restaurant. I know that you feel horrible about it and I would too (and actually have...that's why we always bring our own high chairs now, our little girl took a dive from one too), but the restaurant handled it very well and treated you fairly. I'm so sorry that your little one got hurt.

I agree with this post 100%. Of course restaurants should do whatever they can to be sure that their highchairs are in proper working order, but I think since you realized the strap was broken and put him in the shair anyway, the liability shifted to you since you made the decision knowingly. Not saying that you were wrong or should beat yourself up over it -- accidents happen and we all make split-second decisions that come back to bite us in the butt later! -- just that I think it would be wrong to sue the restaurant when you knowingly put him in a faulty chair.

So sorry about the accident! I know you must feel terrible about it, but do try not to beat yourself up too much! He will be over it soon and hey, maybe now he'll realize climbing out of the high chair is a bad idea.

 

There are too many Highchairs w/o straps out there.. And i think resteraunts are just too lazy and dont want to spend money to fix or get new ones! DOes this have to happen for resteraunts to realize there need to be straps?

Im so sorry for your little boy.. that makes me sad.. and at least you got a free meal and a gift card.. But that nothing compared to your little baby getting hurt..

BTW.. I wouldnt sue either..

 

So sorry.

I hope he's feeling bettter today.

 

I hope he is feeling better today. I think the restaurant handled it appropriately. We have occasionally had high chairs with straps that are broken and we always asked for another one when they were about your kids' age. Now that they are older we aren't as careful mainly because they don't try to get out and our kids are huge so it's a tight squeeze to get them into a high chair so there is no way they can get out on their own.

Don't beat yourself up over it. Accidents happen all the time regardless of who is at fault. I promise you this will not be the last time he gets hurt!

 

I'm so sorry he fell -- that must have been scary for you. Don't beat yourself up too much, though -- kids will fall out of stuff, and they always do it the second you look away!

I think you and the restaurant both did the right thing. I'm glad they were apologetic and gave you your meal for free! And I hope they will fix that strap.

 

I am so sorry he fell! :hug99: I hope he is doing better today. Don't beat yourself up over this.

 

Thats so scary. Mitchell has fallen out of a couple highchairs (I know that sounds horrible...even with the straps, our little Houdini can get out of almost everything). But now, busy or not, we demand a highchair with a strap or deny it all together. Mine are climbers too so denying it pretty much says we are leaving. We haven't to do that yet. I think the restaurant handled it appropriately. If you did have medical bills and had to take them to the ER...then I would have wanted further action from the restaurant.
On a similar note...when I was in a mom/pop consignment shop, Mitchell fell and scratched his eye pretty good and it was bleeding. The owner came RUNNING over with ice and kept apologzing over and over and I told her that I was not concerned and no need for her to apologize, it was my fault completely (they have a kids play area and I walked away). I should have been watching them. She told me she freaks out when someone falls bc one time a child fell in her store and the child had no marks on them or anything and the mom said "well, what are you going to give me for free, since my dd fell in your store". I was soo appalled that someone would say something like that!! I wasn't saying that you did anything like that but I too just think too many people are looking for money in situations like that. I think you did the right thing..

 

:hug99: :hug99: :hug99:

 

Oh how horrible! I'm so sorry that happened. Every restaurant we go to, 9 times out of 10 we get a broken chair. I wish restaurants would wisen up!

 

thanks for all the replies!

i just was curious what other's felt. in some ways i felt like maybe I didn't "care" about my baby enough since I didn't get MAD at the restaurant. I immediately blaimed myself for the whole thing and I still do. Ever since the twins were born -that is just want i do -beat myself up over everything. must be the lack of sleep and the exhaustion.

it is so nice to hear that i am no the only one who had a child climb out of his high chair. oh and TODAY I caught Grant trying to climb out of his high chair at home AGAIN. fortunately i had him strapped in tight! I guess he will never learn. he is doing good though -just a ittle cranky.

THANKS EVERYONE!

 

There are too many Highchairs w/o straps out there.. And i think resteraunts are just too lazy and dont want to spend money to fix or get new ones! DOes this have to happen for resteraunts to realize there need to be straps?

~~~~

I have to agree that there are many highchairs that are w/o straps either broken or don't have one at many of the popular restaurants. When they carry out the high chairs to our table -- I tell the waitress I can't have a broken strap! Please get me another one. Sometimes I get stared at a lot of tables around me. But that goes showing that I am protecting my twins for safety reason.

At this age of game, my twins especially my son is learning how to move his body around, or try to push himself up out of it, and often tried to rock it too! My daughter like to slide down on her high chair.

We don't take them out that often to restaurants because the biggest problem right now is my son like to playful scream on and off. We tried to tell him to ssshhhh but he is going to be 14 months soon. I distracted him with toys or corn puffs at times but he get bored easily. We tried to play peek and boo with our menu book.

You know what's so weird? Why would anyone give crayons to our kiddies if they can't take one good look at them that they are too young to have them. I know it is part of their job but they could have ask before putting on the table for us. I often have to tell them please don't give us crayons. The crayons are always rolling off the table. Ugh!

Anyone out there like myself?

 

QUOTE(Sullyirishtwins @ Nov 16 2007, 07:33 AM) [snapback]498339[/snapback]
You know what's so weird? Why would anyone give crayons to our kiddies if they can't take one good look at them that they are too young to have them. I know it is part of their job but they could have ask before putting on the table for us. I often have to tell them please don't give us crayons. The crayons are always rolling off the table. Ugh!

Anyone out there like myself?


A lot of waitresses are young and don't really know what's appropriate for what age. I remember waiting tables as a teenager and asking a couple with an infant if they needed a kid's menu. I feel like an idiot now, but I had no clue. Mine are at crayon-age now, but when they were in the stick crayons in the mouth age, I would just say when I saw them with the crayons "no crayons please".

 

I do that too before they give it to us with crayons. I missed going out to restaurants but now they do a lot of carry-out which we should be thankful for that one! <wink>

 

I an imagine your horror. I hope your son is now fine. Forgive yourself, you are young and not experienced. My friend did even a more stupid thing. He took his son for a motorbike ride and they got into an accident. Although his son is 19 it doesn't really change much. A culprit driver was stupid and reckless.

 

I guess there are threats that sometimes can be not less serious or threatening to wellbeing as that. Many young people drive motorcycles and some of them act a bit recklessly to our mutual regret. So maybe the administration could keep the contacts of miami motorcycle accident lawyer always at hand, so that any medical costs would properly addressed. I wish that injuries or accidents never happen. But if they do, it is always be prepared to consequences, rather than not.