I think that's part of the problem though. A lot of parents, when their kids are small, are so used to noise and clatter at meal times that they take it for granted and fail to notice that their children are annoying other diners in restaurants. The unfortunate restaurant manager then has to deal with annoyed customers complaining about other people's children and indignant parents who cannot understand why the manager is asking them to keep their children under contol or take their baby outside to calm down. You can't honestly blame restaurants for just making a blanket rule that no children are allowed after a certain time. Simpler than trying to act as referees.