DH and I have decided that we need to start taking DD to restaurants more frequently now to get her used to being out and eating in public. We had resisted taking her for the past few months because she was sort of at the awkward stage of just starting to eat food and sitting in a high chair. But so I'm wondering who is taking their LO's out to eat more often and how do you find it? Is LO behaving well? Are they grabbing everything in sight? Any tips or anything that has worked well?
Ours is very busy and does ok on a high chair if I bring different toys and her own food with puffs! I usually will hold her for a little before our food comes then sit her down so she lasts longer. She loves people watching so that helps and the tv distracts her if they have one.
We don't take DS out to restaurants regularly...maybe once a month. He does grab for things and loves watching everything going on. But he's pretty good if he has something to nibble on. I usually bring purees and then he eats what we are eating if it's appropriate. No meltdowns yet!
I recently took DD to a restaurant, what I think worked for us is I had a ton of puffs for her, her own food, and her favorite toy. We also went on a weeknight to a place that wouldn't be busy and went a little early, before she would have been hungry. She did great, loved checking out the few people who were there and was able to entertain herself and was happy eating her puffs until it was time for her to eat. I don't think I'm ready to take her on a Friday or Saturday yet.
I wore DS in the Beco carrier for 6 months and then it just became too difficult. We tried the wooden highchairs but he can't sit in them very well (tips over, slides down) and was uncomfortable.. ended up fussing, so I'd have to hold him and couldn't really eat.
I ended up getting one of these -- which I shared in another thread. They only weigh 8 lbs, they fold up like an umbrella and have a carrying bag with a shoulder strap. They are comfy, have a waist belt that clips in the back of the chair and the tray has a drink holder and a washable plastic surface so no mess, no fuss. It is also the footprint of a regular chair, so it doesn't take up any extra room. Takes about 30 seconds to set it up. Also, with the tray, LOs can't grab anything off the table
Post by ksyknelvr73 on Feb 18, 2015 9:23:04 GMT -5
We take both boys out pretty often, usually at least once a week if not twice. We normally do Sunday lunch after church, and then maybe a weeknight out to dinner. DH and I don't really do weekend evenings with them just b/c there is no way they would be patient enough to wait for a while before even sitting at a table.
We took the same approach with DS1 when he was small and I feel it has really benefited us, he is super easy to take out to eat. I would say the hardest period we ever had taking him out was around the 1 year - 18 month range, but he still did really well in my opinion.
One thing that helps is not to sit the baby in the high chair right away - either you or someone else hold them for a bit to entertain them. Then when the food comes, you can give them some puffs (etc) and whatever food they can eat. If they have to sit in the high chair for a whole hour or so, that might be just too much. We bring a couple toys usually as well.
Early on, it was easy taking DS out to eat. But now, he gets fussy if he has to be in his high chair longer than he wants to. No amount of things to play with or grab helps. He loves being held and walked around. Because of this we stick to loud family places.
We take DD out on average once every two weeks - some weekends, it may be once on a Saturday and a Sunday. DD does great in the high chair. She loves sitting at the table with us - yes, she is grabbing things so I make sure to bring a few (non-obnoxious) toys. I try and order things that I know she'll eat - hummus and pita bread for a starter, baby carrots to gnaw on, and DH and I both give her portions of whatever we order. Last week she had fried chicken and mashed potatoes (I took off the fried skin). I also make sure to bring plenty of baby wipes, a plastic bib, puffs, and a sippy cup.
Post by SpinsOffResonance on Feb 18, 2015 10:52:57 GMT -5
We don't go out to eat anymore because of the two year old. But we went out at least twice a week when she was this age. Would usually hold the baby while waiting for the food. I had a toy that was only for eating out, so it was always exciting when she saw it again. I had some disposable place mats (from target) that stick to the table. This way I could put DD's food straight on the table without a plate and didn't have to worry if she started eating the table! I would Usually order something I could share with her and a side of steamed veggies. Don't forget a sippy cup, bibs and lots of wipes. DD always dropped a lot of food so I'd do my best to clean up the floor before leaving and tip well.
I take DD out often. It works well for us if we give her food. Like pp I bring a place mat so that I can put her food directly in front of her. I always have brought her out, since she was a week old. When she was smaller I would nurse her in a booth before food but obviously now it isn't that easy. She is grabby but if moved away from her reach she doesn't bother with it.
We also being placemats when we go out to eat. We go out every couple weeks and DS loves it. He has no problem sitting in the high chair through dinner. We bring some quiet toys for him to play with until food arrives. He generally eats pieces of our dinners and we are careful to clean up before we leave.
We've gone out to eat a few times. LO isn't that bad. He LOVES paper menus, so he is dead set on trying to get at them and will fuss if he can't. Usually he's content as long as he's got a toy (we try to bring a toy that can attach to him, like this giraffe with a ring for the car seat), and we'll feed him bits of whatever we're eating or order him mashed potatoes or a side of avocado. We try to go when it's not going to be super busy, too. But we go to Chipotle and Panda Express a lot, and we've made it to IHOP, Outback, and a few local restaurants. We've had good luck so far.
We take him to eat often and will continue to. I think if they get used to it and know what to expect, it goes a lot smoother. But we also make him sit at the table at home in the highchair for at least 30 minutes.
Also, if you're ordering food for your lo, ask for it to be brought first.
You can also ask for and pay the bill when you order so that you don't have to wait for it if there is a meltdown.
My DD is a wild one and climbs out of high chairs and if I put her on my lap, she'll grab everything in sight. Fun times we were grocery shopping the other day and I had her sitting in the grocery cart and I looked away for not even a minute and she was standing up in the seat part trying to climb into the back.
Post by BurritosAtEveryMeal on Feb 18, 2015 12:00:35 GMT -5
We go out a lot for lunch on weekends. We bring all the puffs and mum mums and about four or five small toys since they inevitably get gross by hitting the floor. DS has enough of an attention span to grab at his food while we wait, then eat. We don't do dinner much, unless it's the early bird special; nobody messes with bed time around here!
We go out probably every 2 weeks sometimes every week. Most times I try to hit up the buffet and I can get her some things for herself. Otherwise I bring puffs and mums to occupy her. At some point we have to take her out of the high chair, but it's usually when we are done eating so it's not a big deal. I do think taking them out more often helps them. Even my 2.5 year old is great.
We take him to eat often and will continue to. I think if they get used to it and know what to expect, it goes a lot smoother. But we also make him sit at the table at home in the highchair for at least 30 minutes.
Also, if you're ordering food for your lo, ask for it to be brought first.
You can also ask for and pay the bill when you order so that you don't have to wait for it if there is a meltdown.
This! We take DS out to eat all the time. I have a string of toys I attach to the high chair so he can't throw them around. I usually feed him while we're waiting for our food and then he's pretty good with his toys while we eat. We also make DS sit in the high chair at home while we eat even if he's already eaten or not into his food.
Go out! It's not bad or difficult. My advice: go with the flow. You can't expect it to be the same every time or that your LO isn't going to make a scene at some point.
Post by jennyinheaven on Feb 18, 2015 12:27:43 GMT -5
We go out often for weekend lunch and once in awhile weekday dinner. DD does great, I have a tiny diner which is a rubber roll out place mat with a catcher pocket that suctions to the table. Like pp have said we bring her some food then if it is appropriate she has some of what we are eating. She likes sitting at our level, loves servers etc coming over so she is in her element.
We don't go out very often. DS grabs at everything in sight! The one thing I've found that helps is to load the diaper bag with LOTS of little toys, which I switch out every few minutes to keep his attention. Seems like as long as he has something new, he is fine.
I just took DS out lunch one-on-one.. I can't say having a toy helped, it was just interacting with him. We played with each other's hands and fingers until the food came, then I'd alternate giving him a bite of his food and me a bite of mine, and then went he was done I had the waiter get a box for the rest of his food and we were out of there.
I worried about having to wait for our food but didn't seem to be a problem. This was how it went at breakfast a couple weekends ago too.. play with him before food, then just keep his food coming while we eat at the same time and everyone was able to enjoy and finish up around the same time.
This travel high chair has been a lifesaver.. esp because it is so comfortable for him to sit in that it makes it easier for the above to happen.
We brought DD out a few times so far and she loved it! She was so excited to be sitting with us! We gave her a toy but she was more interested in looking around and banging on the table (with her hand so it wasn't that disturbing to everyone around us)! Then she started a "conversation" with a guy at the table behind us! I think you should just keep her entertained by toys and talk to her too! That's what we did and worked great!
Fantastic tips, thanks Ladies! I'm definitely going to find some disposable placemats because DD was gnawing on the table when we took her out last weekend. We also did the puffs, nice to see others do the same. I also like the idea of getting the cheque early to avoid a meltdown.
My guy does pretty well in the high chair. He loves people watching. Our challenge recently is that he's back in a phase of practicing his high voice in the form of screeching. He is doing it with a big smile on his face, so it's not a "melt-down", but it's still got to be annoying as hell to the fellow diners.
Post by crystalmir91385 on Feb 19, 2015 11:16:58 GMT -5
We go out 1-2 times a month and usually take DD. She does great. She loves people watching from the high chair. I usually bring puffs, and a small toy to keep her occupied until the food comes. She eats off of my plate or, sometimes I get her something off the children's menu. On V-day we went to Applebees and I ordered her the chicken grillers with yogurt and strawberries off of the children's menu. She almost ate the entire thing!
We go out probably every 2 weeks sometimes every week. Most times I try to hit up the buffet and I can get her some things for herself. Otherwise I bring puffs and mums to occupy her. At some point we have to take her out of the high chair, but it's usually when we are done eating so it's not a big deal. I do think taking them out more often helps them. Even my 2.5 year old is great.
I'm jealous. The only place other than fast food we dare take the 2yo these days is chili's. DD1 loves the video games they have at the table there.
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