I always figured I could actually talk to the child as if they're another human being, reason with them as much as I can and with that, end not only the cry but also the underlying reason - there's always one; nobody does anything for no reason, that's just superstition talk from people who don't understand how people work. But... why would I want my child at a restaurant or in a movie theater when they're so young they'd be eager to cry? This doesn't make sense to me. You know your child is going to cry about something - that's what they are at the age, from what I can tell - so why drag them out of their comfort zone without their permission? It is as if you want them to cry and others - to listen. There are many ways to spend your time with a child that will take as much time as a restaurant walk or a movie watching that will take as much time of your life and may be more exciting than that. But then, I suppose, if you were to visit restaurants often, you would rarely see people who don't.
Try to think about this from the parents' perspective. They have a small child so they probably don't get out much. They're dying to just have a nice night out for once and they decide to go out to dinner or to a movie. Maybe it's been weeks since they've been out together. Are you really going to tell them to deal with it and just stay at home yet another night, just in case their child disturbs someone for a couple minutes during the outing? I do agree with you in the movie theater situation though - that's something that a really ruins the situation for the people watching the movie.But... why would I want my child at a restaurant or in a movie theater when they're so young they'd be eager to cry? This doesn't make sense to me.
I'd take those couple of minutes if I were to visit a restaurant with such a family - no big deal; if it makes the family happy, they're welcome - but more than that, and it quickly becomes annoying only because the parents don't have the stern hand to tell their child of the expectations they're under when the family is going out. If your child listens to you as you tell them that - or better yet, if the child is excited to take part in such an activity - then they'll be most welcome where I'm a guest as well. I'm not responsible for people who failed to establish authority over their child.Are you really going to tell them to deal with it and just stay at home yet another night, just in case their child disturbs someone for a couple minutes during the outing?