Tell Me I Am Not the Only prude...burping Kids

Updated on December 12, 2012
G.W. asks from Denton, TX
28 answers

At the chance of offending anyone, I'm going to ask this anyway. Really wondering if I am a prude. I went to have lunch with my first grade twin boys today and at their school, you have to eat at tables set apart on the stage. Behind us is a dad watching his first grade son eat lunch and this child did very loud burps at least 3 times throughout the 30 minutes I was there. Each time, dad would laugh with the kid and role his eyes like "you silly boy". Honestly, it nearly drove me insane. I find that so repulsive when I am trying to eat, I have taught my boys that burping out loud for a laugh is rude and I will not put up with it (daddy agrees). They have been taught how to quietly handle that situation when they need to. Hopefully their future wives will appreciate that one day! LOL Anyway, please make me feel better and tell me that most parents do not find loud burps at the table "cute"???

I know, on the big scale of things, not a big issue. Just curious...

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Whew, glad to see I'm not the only one. Like I said, I know it's not a big deal but literally just the sound of it made the hair on my neck and arms stand up, it just doesn't sit well with me. Strangely enough, I grew up with a mother that burped whenever, wherever she darn well felt like it, still does and she will be 60 this year. Even as a kid, it bothered me and embarassed me so I've always had an adversion to it. And on another completely different note, my husband would be cracking up hysterically if he could read some of these responses. Why? Because in the almost 22 years we have been married, I have never said the f**t word that a couple of you typed. I can not stand that word and it is forbidden in our house. I kept my boys sweet innocent ears (LOL) protected from that vile word until some little boy at school happily filled them in on it last year in kindergarten. Guess it's another one of my prudish quirks :-)

Featured Answers

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I agree. I also don't want to hear it if it isn't "for a laugh". In those cases, you can take care of it quietly with a polite excuse me, not just let it rip and then acting proud.

Believe it or not, my DAUGHTER started doing this. I had to get on to her a lot about it. It was like some weird phase she went through about a year ago. She is 11 now, so in 5th grade or so. Maybe she picked it up from the boys at her table in the lunchroom? I never really thought of that. We certainly don't do it at home (not me, my husband, nor my son--who is 3 years older than daughter).

It's just gross. And I find no excuse for not using polite manners.

3 moms found this helpful

Q..

answers from Detroit on

The good thing about other children's behavior, is they arent mine. I really dont worry about it.
How do you know the child didnt have a talking to about it when he got home?

You never know. Like I said, not my kid so I wouldnt think twice about it.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I think most men do find it funny; women are more into the manners thing. I can see my hubby laughing as well, but I certainly wouldn't be.

More Answers

L.U.

answers from Seattle on

Oh man....I give big burps a nice big belly laugh.
SORRY!
I grew up with 4 younger brothers and I have two sons. Burping is funny!
It wouldn't have upset me at all, in fact I probably would have said, "OH nice one!"

13 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

I have different rules in a school cafeteria (aka nearly none) than

- family casual dining
- family party dining
- family form dining
- restaurant (casual, family, formal)
- formal dining (state events, etc.)

Things I don't allow in my home, I DO allow elsewhere.
Things I don't allow elsewhere, I DO allow in my home.

TO ME good manners are all about adapting to the situation at hand.

Dining with 3 surgeons... We talked about things that would NEVER be polit conversation in other situations. Using Formal Stare Function manners in the chow hall with enlisted military is AS rude as using cafeteria manners at a formal state function.

My son can use 20 piece dining set in a formal setting (ordering silently) AND can make armpit noises in a school cafeteria.

Its all about time & place.

To ME, the child burping was not being rude.

He was following local cultural dining standards.

13 moms found this helpful

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

While my kids are taught to say excuse me after a burp. I do find myself giggling with them on occasion...or giving a high five for a really good one...AT HOME!

Guess, I'd rather someone burp than fart!

8 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

If my kids were letting out raging burbs at the dinner table I would put an end to it quickly, not that it has ever happened. In the school cafeteria, I wouldn't have even noticed another child burping let alone the response it was getting. In an informal setting there is no reason other than being a snob to stand on ceremony. If I were at a restaurant(other than fast food) or a nice dinner and I heard a kid burp I would not be smiling because that is not an appropriate place to burp.

Would I appreciate it if my husband held in every burp, no, not really. The inability to judge a situation/circumstances and adapt is not something I value in anyone, especially my husband and kids.

5 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

1 accidently burp with an "excuse me" in public is understandable.. it happens. However, burping for the sole fact of getting laughs, burping just to see how well you burp, and most especially if a parent is encouraging this behavior in public............ CLASSLESS

I am also a teacher and when we have the occasional accident it is excused. I have also had a few children in my classes overtime to see it as very funny. When I see this trend and the burper is ruining my class time, the burper is excused from class to go do their work in the hallway in private until they can come back to class and act like a child should act in class. If that does not stop it, they sit out recess. If the parents can't teach manners, I sure will make an attempt to do so.

5 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.F.

answers from Dallas on

One is an oops. More than that at 6 is annoying. Any done for laughes at at 12 is immature. Any, older than that is RUDE. IMHO.

5 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.P.

answers from Portland on

I agree, burps for a laugh at the table are rude.

5 moms found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

If it's on purpose, then that's just gross and rude. If it just accidentally comes out, then hey, it happens and you say excuse me.
My husband had an old friend from high school that we had dinner with at their house over the summer and while we were eating my 5 year old son let out a big loud burp. He didn't do it on purpose, but it just came out and my husbands friend seriously put her fork down and just glared at my son. He said excuse me and didn't do it again (he doesn't usually do it on purpose), but honestly, I was trying SO hard not to laugh at her reaction! I don't want to encourage my son, but really, her face was priceless, lol! I mean really, get over it, he is only 5 years old and he even said excuse me, lol!
Yes, some people are just way too uptight! I've noticed that more here back east than when I lived in CA. People are a lot more formal and uptight around here

4 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I absolutely HATE the sound of burping, lol! It's a real pet peeve of mine, and my youngest sometimes does it on purpose, just to annoy me. She may be a tiny, pretty little gymnast but she belches like a truck driver!
But having said that, we treat burping like farting, something you try not to do at the table, and if you must, at least cover your mouth and say excuse me.

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

When my DD burps or farts or whatever (not on purpose), we have taught her to say excuse me. I will say that my sks are grown and they both (SD, too) have their moments but they WERE taught to be polite. :P

Yes, their wives will appreciate it. Next time you know to sit farther from that particular child.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Extremely rude and not funny at all! I am with you!

3 moms found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

The rules about burps are pretty easy. Everybody burps, this is fine. What is not fine is going out of your way to make them as loud as you can or to force yourself to burp just for the sake of burping. My son burps very loudly naturally. I'm serious! He is not trying to make it that loud. He's the one we had to make the rule for because he was the one that would do it on purpose. Then it became difficult to tell if he really had a reason or if he did it on purpose. He's outgrown the doing it on purpose but the real ones can really echo. He says excuse me, doesn't make a big deal of them and we all move on.
I do find it annoying when it's made a big deal of at the dinner table, but I've learned to ignore it when others do it because it is just so common. Not worth the hassle. I just teach my kids that I don't like them being annoying. Best I can do.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I don't find them cute, but they don't make my head explode either. Burps and farts are part of the digestive process. - gas happens.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I have taught my son to say "excuse me" when he burps. That is the polite thing to do. But really it does not bother me much. I don't laugh along, but I dont really find it offensive either.
Sorry, gonna have to say IMO, it is mildly prudish ;0)

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

If my kids burp anywhere they say "excuse me" And they know not to interntionally burp to get a laugh.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Nah, we don't care. DD and DH definitely have had burp competitions at the dinner table. There are quite a few cultures in which burping after a good mean is expected and it would be considered rude not to!
We do teach her that this it is not polite when eating out and to cover your mouth and excuse yourself... but in general... no biggie.

PS my DH burps and I don't care!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I agree but, I am also kind of the "manner police". :) I do not tolerate talking with your mouth full of food, chewing with your mouth open, or any bodily sounds coming out ON PURPOSE. :) I also raise my children to say please and thank you. My husband is the same way.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.T.

answers from New York on

You think it's bad in kids? Try it in your husband... I was wondering how many women would be driven crazy by their husband burping a lot. He has a bad stomach so he's not doing it for laughs but I guess I'm not wrong to find it really irritating sometimes... I already posted about my MIL today. This is an area she likely could have done better. My BIL was visiting once and I finally had to tell him to stop burping! It's disgusting. If a dad and his son want to do it when they're alone in the car, that's fine. But in public or at the family dinner table, I find it very rude as well.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.M.

answers from Dallas on

That is a normal thing for boys to do. And to be honest I burp louder than my boys. I usually don't do it in a cafeteria full of people but my boys will. I make sure they say excuse me but I don't see anything wrong with it.

1 mom found this helpful

I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

After age 5 its not okay. There should be a bare minimum of excusing one's self in public . My husband burps loudly at the table (at home) so I don't have high hope for mine, but boy am I going to try.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I agree 100%. Burping is disgusting, period.

I drive a school carpool and one of the kids apparently feels comfortable enough with me to "let them rip". SHE IS 16 YEARS OLD and she thinks she's funny. Even her 12 year old brother gets grossed out. I suspect my daughter told her to cut it out because it hasn't happened in a while, thank goodness!

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i'm with you. little boys will always find burping and farting hysterically funny and there's no point in trying to change little boys' nature. that doesn't mean parents have to foster it by acting as if it's cute. when in private it should be ignored, and in public a quiet word or look of 'enough of that' is a much better response than laughter or encouragement.
khairete
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

i totally agree with you, but i'm going to say I'm glad the dad was there at least spending some time with his kid and hopefully mom has more control. yikers sexist, but ....

sounds like your hubs is awesome and could serve as a role model for some.

A.R.

answers from St. Louis on

No you are not the only one......To me, it is just not funny, good manners are to be used everywhere even if we are having fun.....

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

I'm with you, but my hubby couldn't care less, unless we're in the presence of non family members.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions