Do you let your DC eat off of restaurant tables?

Stellasmom · February 2010

I do. I've actually stopped bothering to even wipe them off. He's a largely healthy kid and I want him exposed to germs so he'll build antibodies. We've started introducing plates for etiquette purposes, but once he messes with the plate, back on the table it goes.

Of course, I wipe off the table when he's done bc the waiters shouldn't have to wait until we leave and then scrub off dried out food bits.

Mrs.McLovin · February 2010

ewwwww.

vanillacourage · February 2010

We have those sticky placemats that adhere temporarily to the table. Having worked as a waitress before, those aren't the kind of germs I want my kid exposed to. Plus it quickly corrals the mess when we're done.

laurenFaith · February 2010

DD doesn't eat off the table, she uses a plate or those plastic placemat things that tape to the table. That said, if something drops on the table I would still give it to her.

Mominator · February 2010

No. It's not even the germs, but there are tons of chemicals in the spray that they use to clean tables that I don't want my child consuming. My kids always eat off a plate, whether at home or out and about.

tarebear9891 · February 2010

I do but I am not a germaphobe at all and he is in a throwing stage so plates are a no go lol. I usually do wipe it off first but otherwise it doesn't bother me.

*sallymad* · February 2010

When the meal first starts I attempt to put her food on plate, but that goes out the window in about 2 minutes. Then she just eats from the table.

naturelle25 · February 2010

holy hell no. I work in a restaurant and the towels they "clean" the tables with are beyond disgusting.

punkfiction_v.3 · February 2010

those sticky mats work for about 5 seconds for dd2.

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

WiggleBaby · February 2010

tarebear9891:
I do but I am not a germaphobe at all and he is in a throwing stage so plates are a no go lol. I usually do wipe it off first but otherwise it doesn't bother me.

ditto

Mia Wallace · February 2010

No. DC eats off of a plate and before that, disposable placemats. It's a combo of the germs and whatever they spray the table with to clean it that bothers me. FWIW I don't eat food off of the table either.

Stellasmom · February 2010

punkfiction_v.3:

those sticky mats work for about 5 seconds for dd2.

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

Yeah, I've tried the mats at Chick Fil A and DS just considers them a challenge. lol

lovemytwoboys · February 2010

No, never. I would not think of letting him eat directly off the table, especially without wiping it off first. He used to use this, and now he just uses a plate and regular utensils.

kickenb · February 2010

AshKStffr:
Since I stopped carrying a diaper bag with us, I always forget to pack her disposable table covers. So lately yes.

Where do you get disposable table covers from? I need to get me some!

Mrs.McLovin · February 2010

kickenb:
AshKStffr:
Since I stopped carrying a diaper bag with us, I always forget to pack her disposable table covers. So lately yes.
Where do you get disposable table covers from? I need to get me some!

amazon.com. I hear that some Targets actually carry them.

Cec07 · February 2010

Ds eats off the table. If I gave him a plate it would be on the floor in 2 seconds. I usually don't wipe it either unless it looks particularly gross. I figure he's been doing it this long with no problem- what's the big deal?

mommyhd · February 2010

We give him a plate or even put stuff on a napkin, but if it gets on the table we still let him eat it. He's not dead from it yet

And honestly, he's rarely sick!

*sallymad* · February 2010

Now if only dd would actually let us go out to eat.... I can't remember the last time we went. She's horrid in restaurants.

vanillacourage · February 2010

punkfiction_v.3:

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

You don't have to be a "germaphobe" to not let your kid eat off a nasty public restaurant table. It's not even about germs - when I waited tables the same gunky towel was used all day. When it wasn't being used, it was hanging from the back of the busboy's belt. Yuck.

VAannie · February 2010

Only after I've used a Clorox wipe on it first. Having worked at a restaurant, there is no way I'd let anything in my power touch a restaurant table, especially anything meant to go in anyone's mouth. Exposing your child to cold germs at a play group is one thing; exposing your child to coliform bacteria because the restaurant is using a rag that has been sitting in a bucket of cold water with a tablespoon of bleach mixed in all day, which doesn't exactly kill the bacteria spreading like crazy on the table after Joe Schmoe took a dump in the bathroom before his t-bone and didn't bother to wash his hands, is an entirely different thing.

naturelle25 · February 2010

vanillacourage:
punkfiction_v.3:

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

You don't have to be a "germaphobe" to not let your kid eat off a nasty public restaurant table. It's not even about germs - when I waited tables the same gunky towel was used all day. When it wasn't being used, it was hanging from the back of the busboy's belt. Yuck.

This! The responses in this post are making me want to vomit.

Stellasmom · February 2010

I worked in quite a few restaurants back in the day and am aware of the mystery rag soaked in the chemical cocktail that is replaced once a day.

Meh. The only thing I ever wipe our kitchen table down with is a wet rag (and the occasional Pledging) so I guess we make up on chemical exposure when we go out to eat.

julia0402 · February 2010

vanillacourage:
punkfiction_v.3:

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

You don't have to be a "germaphobe" to not let your kid eat off a nasty public restaurant table. It's not even about germs - when I waited tables the same gunky towel was used all day. When it wasn't being used, it was hanging from the back of the busboy's belt. Yuck.

Yeah, there is "germaphobe" and then there is just being hygienic. We use that kiddopotamus suction cup mat.

KeepingItLowKey · February 2010

We bring a placemat.

cops_wife · February 2010

Ew. No. We use her Tiny Diner placemat or the sticky disposable placemats or, if worse comes to worse, the paper placemats restaurants provide. If it touches the table, she doesn't eat it. Hell if it touches the table, I don't eat it. Yuck.

Stellasmom · February 2010

VAannie:
Only after I've used a Clorox wipe on it first. Having worked at a restaurant, there is no way I'd let anything in my power touch a restaurant table, especially anything meant to go in anyone's mouth. Exposing your child to cold germs at a play group is one thing; exposing your child to coliform bacteria because the restaurant is using a rag that has been sitting in a bucket of cold water with a tablespoon of bleach mixed in all day, which doesn't exactly kill the bacteria spreading like crazy on the table after Joe Schmoe took a dump in the bathroom before his t-bone and didn't bother to wash his hands, is an entirely different thing.

I'm sorry, but I'm lmao that you don't think your kid is getting exposed to fecal matter at a play group.

lanie30 · February 2010

She eats off a plate.

But i have no issue with her eating off the table.

IckyThump · February 2010

Well, I wipe his section of the table off when we arrive. DS is pretty good at eating from a plate, but if a piece of food falls on the table I don't scream "NOOOO!!!" while grabbing the food before he can put it in his mouth.

Honestly, it's not so much about germs as the tables being nasty - if we take DS out, it's usually to a diner or chain restaurant and there always seems to be a sheen of grease all over the tables. Blech.

punkfiction_v.3 · February 2010

julia0402:
vanillacourage:
punkfiction_v.3:

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

You don't have to be a "germaphobe" to not let your kid eat off a nasty public restaurant table. It's not even about germs - when I waited tables the same gunky towel was used all day. When it wasn't being used, it was hanging from the back of the busboy's belt. Yuck.
Yeah, there is "germaphobe" and then there is just being hygienic. We use that kiddopotamus suction cup mat.

annnnnnd what would you do if those place mats don't work? any of of them. its easy to say...

jenny&ben112506 · February 2010

We use the sticky placemats (which are cheaper at a wholesale store than Target or BRU) or he eats off of the table, after I wipe it down.

jenifairies · February 2010

W T F You clean the table for the waiter, but not your child???

That is nasty. DD eats off the table. She throws plates. But I'm up in there with my lysol wipes, then a baby wipe to clean up the lysol.

risysmama · February 2010

oh hell no. that is beyond disgusting! would you eat off of the table?

vanillacourage · February 2010

punkfiction_v.3:
julia0402:
vanillacourage:
punkfiction_v.3:

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

You don't have to be a "germaphobe" to not let your kid eat off a nasty public restaurant table. It's not even about germs - when I waited tables the same gunky towel was used all day. When it wasn't being used, it was hanging from the back of the busboy's belt. Yuck.
Yeah, there is "germaphobe" and then there is just being hygienic. We use that kiddopotamus suction cup mat.
annnnnnd what would you do if those place mats don't work? any of of them. its easy to say...

Oh, DS will try to peel them off. But usually if he does, it's a sign that he's lost interest in his food and is "all done" eating, at which point we just take the placemat up and he's done. We don't put it down until his food arrives - before then we keep him amused with toys or crackers in a snack-trap thingie. It's not that difficult.

lovemytwoboys · February 2010

Stellasmom:
I worked in quite a few restaurants back in the day and am aware of the mystery rag soaked in the chemical cocktail that is replaced once a day.

Meh. The only thing I ever wipe our kitchen table down with is a wet rag (and the occasional Pledging) so I guess we make up on chemical exposure when we go out to eat.

Indifferent

AngieandTony · February 2010

I use the sticky mats from bru. He doesn't try to rip them off. Tony used to work in restaurants so He is always telling me how nasty and dirty they are. I don't think it makes me OCD or a germaphobe.

FinallyMrsBMW · February 2010

lovemytwoboys:
No, never. I would not think of letting him eat directly off the table, especially without wiping it off first. He used to use this, and now he just uses a plate and regular utensils.

We use one of these mats with suction cups on the bottom, too. I worked in a restaurant as well and the cloths are nothing close to clean enough and are filled with chemicals...yuck! DD is still throwing things on the floor so she doesn't get a plate yet. We also use a high chair cover because the high chairs in restaurants are nasty too! I'm not even a total germaphob but these gross me out!

VAannie · February 2010

Stellasmom:
VAannie:
Only after I've used a Clorox wipe on it first. Having worked at a restaurant, there is no way I'd let anything in my power touch a restaurant table, especially anything meant to go in anyone's mouth. Exposing your child to cold germs at a play group is one thing; exposing your child to coliform bacteria because the restaurant is using a rag that has been sitting in a bucket of cold water with a tablespoon of bleach mixed in all day, which doesn't exactly kill the bacteria spreading like crazy on the table after Joe Schmoe took a dump in the bathroom before his t-bone and didn't bother to wash his hands, is an entirely different thing.
I'm sorry, but I'm lmao that you don't think your kid is getting exposed to fecal matter at a play group.

I never said that. But the chances of contracting a food-borne bacteria (such as coliform) are a lot higher when you're eating, no? I would never let my DS share a snack with his buds out of the same container at play group, either.

punkfiction_v.3 · February 2010

vanillacourage:
punkfiction_v.3:
julia0402:
vanillacourage:
punkfiction_v.3:

and yes i do. bc im not a germaphobe.

You don't have to be a "germaphobe" to not let your kid eat off a nasty public restaurant table. It's not even about germs - when I waited tables the same gunky towel was used all day. When it wasn't being used, it was hanging from the back of the busboy's belt. Yuck.
Yeah, there is "germaphobe" and then there is just being hygienic. We use that kiddopotamus suction cup mat.
annnnnnd what would you do if those place mats don't work? any of of them. its easy to say...

Oh, DS will try to peel them off. But usually if he does, it's a sign that he's lost interest in his food and is "all done" eating, at which point we just take the placemat up and he's done. We don't put it down until his food arrives - before then we keep him amused with toys or crackers in a snack-trap thingie. It's not that difficult.

LOLOL yes. i had a kid like that. then i had a kid like dd2. who tears it off the second you put food on it. but is starving so your only option is the table bc a plate, mat, napkin, sticky thing doesn't work all the time

sweetfrogy · February 2010

Yes, because giving DD a plate is an invitation to practice her frisbie skills.

skoorbnibor · February 2010

have you ever noticed they use that towel and to wipe off like 30 tables. Ick I am hardly a germophobe, but gross!

that said, my kid eats goldfish off the kitchen floor, sharing with the dog (who sometimes takes it right from E's mouth) so clearly not a germophobe!

WifeofaMarine · February 2010

I either use a disposable placement or a plate. If for some reason I forgot one, I always have Clorex wipes in his diaper bag and wipe the table really good first.

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