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Toddlers: 24 Months+
Bride2bMO
member
Would you take 2 y.o. to nice restaurant?
Bride2bMO
member
(sorry, iPhone, no paragraphs) I think it's a terrible idea. The ILs want us all to go to a nice (it's 4 or 5 star, white tablecloth) restaurant for Mothers Day brunch. It's also a 1.5 hr drive for us each way (ILs live close to the restaurant). They asked for the same thing on Easter and we said no, and DH was supposed to say the true reason--DS would probably make a scene. Sometimes he screams and throws food. No problem at a casual family restaurant, I just smile, apologize, and whisk him away while DH gets the food packed up. But at a fancier place, it just seems rude to take a child with a 50% chance of meltdowns. Not to mention the fact that it won't be fun or relaxing for ME on mothers day to be on guard the whole time. But I always seem to have excuses for not going along with their plans. Though given our concerns last time, why ask us again? He is STILL a typical toddler, hasn't learned table manners overnight. WWYD?
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Re: Would you take 2 y.o. to nice restaurant?
I probably would not. But DS is pretty good at resturants, so it might depend on the actual resturant.
If you can't get out of it, can you make MIL in charge of LO?
and LO sit by her? So that she can see that it isn't easy. (or is that too much?) 
You could also call the resturant and ask them to honestly tell you if it is an OK atmosphere for a 2 yo. Or ask MIL if you can make the reservation and then request a table out of the main area, or in a little noiser spot.
ILs took us to a fancy place but it was when DS was still on finger foods. He behaved fine (the resturant was pretty dead though) but he left a pretty big mess. DH slipped the waiter an extra tip for it.
I would have taken my oldest at 2 but my youngest? NO WAYY!!!
You know him best.
Stick to your guns!
Total score: 6 pregnancies, 5 losses, 2 amazing blessings that I'm thankful for every single day.
In our case, yes and we have. In your case, based on what you described, no.
DH and I know that our 2 y.o. will behave and almost always does when we go out to eat. For this reason we have taken both our kids to many fancy restaurants. We even have had crappy service because our idiot waiter assumed that he was stuck with a table with a brat. When our 2 y.o. was so well behaved that a gentleman from another table came over and commented on how well behaved our children were I felt vindicated and wanted to tell our waiter to suck it. Anyway, sorry for the rant.
If you know that your child has a history of misbehaving at a restaurant then I would say it is not a good idea to go to a fancy restaurant with them. Better to avoid unnecessary headaches.
Joseph goes everyplace with us. He's eaten in some of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh and Philly. We've never really had a problem.
I think a kid has to have opportunities to know how to behave in a situation, or he's never going to be prepared. And Mother's Day? That's going to be a kid-heavy environment.
On a normal night at dinner time - no. For Mother's day brunch, yes. Or if at night but early - like 5pm. I just go prepared with books, crayons, and my iphone if necessary. We are going to a nice brunch with my family including two toddlers and a child. I expect us not to be the only one, no big deal, imo. As long as if when he gets out of hand, you know when to stand up and remove him from the situation.