Car seat + restaurant

brie_and_almonds

I know I'm probably the last one schlepping the infant carrier into restaurants these days, but today for the first time I was offered an upside-down high chair to wedge the car seat into.  I declined and sat the car seat + Lindy on a chair wedged up against the table instead.  Normally I'd opt for a booth, but this was a small cafe with tables only and very limited floor space (and no changing-table in the bathroom, but that's a whole other thing).

What do/did you all do with the car seat in restaurants? 

zmoss

When I used the car seat/carrier I did the upside down high chair.

ssmb_clarinet

Usually we either put it on a chair, or if there is a booth we just sit it on the seat next to us. These days she gets fussy in it though, so we usually end up taking her out so she doesn't scream

Maebb

We still carry the infant carrier into restaurants, and we either use an upside down high chair, or some places have a "sling," which is something else to set the carrier in. We sometimes put the infant carrier in the booth beside us if it won't fit on the high chair.

Jenner37

I work in restaurant and we are not allowed to flip the high chairs, it's a liability issue and really not safe at all because the chairs are not even. Good job getting a regular chair instead.

We use a sling if the restaurant has it, although I don't love having the baby at the end of the table, I prefer just sliding her in a booth or putting the carseat on a chair 

puppy_love6969

I go to restaurants a lot. I do all 3. I have used the flipped high chair (only 1 restaurant does this here), ive wedge it on a chair between the chair and table, but I usually ask for a booth. Its the BEST for us! I can shove all my crap in there and make a mess and its not as obvious

kbl13

We typically slide his carseat carrier into a booth. If that's not an option, I will sometimes put the whole thing on the table. I don't like using an upside down highchair or sling, so I'd put it on a chair too.

fennyann

We have always put LO on a chair or in a booth with us. But this last week, we decided to try the high chair and he did great! He was also much more happier. He was able to interact better with everyone. Usually, when we take him and leave him in his car seat, he tends to get fussy midway through dinner. The high chair worked out much better for us.

SurpriseAt39

99% of the time we get a booth and put the infant carrier on the seat. 

Lately he's been fussy sitting there. (who am I kidding?  He's ALWAYS been fussy in it at restaurants)   I suspect in the near future, we won't take the seat in and we will just get a highchair for him to sit in. 

vettymama

When we still used the infant carrier we normally asked for a booth and just slid it in the corner with us. We have used a sling, a right side up high chair, and the upside down high chair. Now he is too big for the carrier buy doesn't sit up the best in the high chair alone so he sits on my lap.

laxkal23

A lot of restaurants we go to have car seat slings specifically designed for them. If CJ is awake he usually ends up on my lap or in a high hair but I always bring the carrier if he's sleeping or sleepy.

pamelamelanie924

We still lug the car seat in and use the upside down high chair and then some places have a sling especially for car seats.

gnomemom

We usually get a sling or put the carseat in the booth. Today, we used the highchair for the first time and it was okay.

R has just about outgrown his carseat. I ordered a convertible one yesterday, so we will probably keep using the restaurant highchair.

kieannb

We tried the upside down high chair but her car seat is too big so we just put her either on the table, or on the booth.

In that situation, I probably would have done the exact same thing, or have the car seat on the stroller since mine is a travel system

I still pack mine around too. That sucker was expensive, and I am getting my moneys worth. Plus, she still falls asleep in the car once in awhile, and I don't want to wake her up if I don't have to.

vnstacie

He sits on top of the table in the car seat, on a chair or on the booth seat. 

Hey, we've gone to a restaurant in town that literally stacks high chairs 3 high so that kids can sit at the tall tables. Every time I'm like wtf? No, my toddler is a wiggle worm, why on earth would I let her sit 3 high chairs high!! Can you say dangerous? Omg.

Am I alone in this?? 

auburnbride2be

We still bring the seat in b/c he isn't sitting up well enough to sit in a high chair for a whole meal. When we do, I usually set it on an upside down high chair. Othwerise, I am holding him the entire meal and sometimes I have to anyway b/c he will only stay in his seat if he's tired/asleep.

ExcitedMum2B

We still bring the car seat in and do the upside down high chair. I haven't seen the slings anywhere. If they don't have high chairs, then we try for a booth and put the car seat there. I don't like putting it on a regular chair, sometimes they are not deep enough and I worry about her falling.

techg0ddess

If they have a sling, I use that. If they have the high chairs that double as upside down carrier holders (they do not all do this), I will use that. IHOP actually has these and are pretty cool. They are a hard plastic and have the strap and everything. If no booth or one of those skinny booths, we just use a chair wedged up against the table. 

I refuse to do the upside down high chair thing. One restaurant actually did this while I was off in the restroom (Hubby was there with the baby) and the chair itself has a note on it that said not to do it. I told hubby that wasn't going to work and we told them it says not to use it this way and had them take it back and we just put him in a chair wedged up against the table. 

karencz

Maebb:

We still carry the infant carrier into restaurants, and we either use an upside down high chair, or some places have a "sling," which is something else to set the carrier in. We sometimes put the infant carrier in the booth beside us if it won't fit on the high chair.

All of this exactly!! I like places that have the sling thing.