“Inconsiderate and Unhygienic”: Woman Criticized for Letting Child Stand on FairPrice Checkout Counter

SINGAPORE – A FairPrice customer recently drew criticism after allowing her toddler to stand on a self-checkout platform at a FairPrice outlet. Captured in an eight-second video by TikTok user Tlbangela on September 25, the clip shows the woman scanning items while her child stands on the platform meant for grocery baskets.

According to Tlbangela, who witnessed the incident at the Block 476 Upper Serangoon View FairPrice outlet, a store employee politely asked the woman to remove her child from the platform. In response, the woman replied in Mandarin, “I will be careful,” but appeared displeased. The video, posted with a caption questioning the customer’s judgment, has since gone viral, amassing over 58,000 views and a flood of comments.

A FairPrice spokesperson responded to AsiaOne on September 26, acknowledging the challenges of shopping with young children but reminding customers to supervise them. “In this case, we are thankful the toddler did not get hurt,” the spokesperson added.

Netizens criticized the act as “inconsiderate and unhygienic,” with some commenters pointing out that the platform is intended for groceries, not children. Others speculated about parenting attitudes, with one user remarking that if an accident had occurred, blame might be shifted to others.

The incident has sparked a wider discussion about grocery store etiquette and child safety, highlighting the importance of maintaining cleanliness and consideration in shared spaces.