HOw much do you clean up after LO at a restaurant?

desabean · July 2010

Garrison emptied her entire snack cup of cheerios (one by one) at Panerra this morning and about 45 of them made it on the floor, along with a few rejected grapes, strawberries, etc. I picked up almost every cheerio off the floor (there were a few I just couldn't reach without looking ridiculous). Usually she does not make this *much* of a mess(it bought me some time to enjoy my coffee), but inevitably, the evidence is clear that a baby has sat at the table.

I think I did a good job and it wasn't too difficult so making the effort to do it again isn't a big deal, but just curious what other people do?

LVBlvd · July 2010

I always get down and pick up the big things off the floor. But I don't worry too much about it. At a place like Panera, I wipe off the table and the high chair and put it away also.

desabean · July 2010

LVBlvd:
I always get down and pick up the big things off the floor. But I don't worry too much about it. At a place like Panera, I wipe off the table and the high chair and put it away also.

Yes, I always wipe off the table, wipe down the high chair and put it away. Just wondering about the floor cleaning. Like I said, it was no problem to do (but I was alone so nobody waiting on us and no one waiting for the table) but wondering if this is the norm at all types of restaurants under all circumstances since I don't usually see it (but may just not notice it).

LVBlvd · July 2010

For the most part, I do pick up at restaurants. But only big things. I figure...we pay enough and they have a vacuum. Plus, I wouldn't take her somewhere so nice that it would be weird. On particularly messy outings, I tip closer to 30 or 35%...so I figure they appreciate that more than they would making it spotless : )

desabean · July 2010

LVBlvd:
For the most part, I do pick up at restaurants. But only big things. I figure...we pay enough and they have a vacuum. Plus, I wouldn't take her somewhere so nice that it would be weird. On particularly messy outings, I tip closer to 30 or 35%...so I figure they appreciate that more than they would making it spotless : )

Good point on the tipping ; )

ardilla · July 2010

We pick up all that we can off of the floor, and generally wipe down the worst of the table and highchairs. Inevitably there is mess left over between the two of them, but I figure we can make it not as bad. I've noticed other patrons laughing at our cleanup efforts, however!

crystalgirl · July 2010

We pick up off the floor within reason (big pieces, easy to reach). We only wipe down the table and chair if he has gotten it messy, which he usually doesn't. His mess is usually on HIM...lol. He still wears a bib for this reason! (But we wipe both the table and chair down before he sits, so they always look clean when we're done.)

I've seen other parents leave restaurants with a ton of food on the floor. They just bring out one of those little push broom things and sweep it all up. Still, I would feel bad about leaving all that mess.

pandabearlover · July 2010

We do what we can, but if it involves rice, I just leave a big tip. Betsy gets rice everywhere when we eat Indian or Chinese. And she loves rice!

tina623 · July 2010

I clean up what I can, apologize to the waiter and remind dh to leave a bigger tip. My girls can make a mess when eating corn or rice.

groovygrl · July 2010

Good point about tip..

we use those sticky biodegradable mats so the table doesnt get messy. I do try to pick up the floor as best I can. I wish they made those mats for the floor like the table so I could just wrap them up and leave, honestly...

ela81 · July 2010

groovygrl:

Good point about tip..

we use those sticky biodegradable mats so the table doesnt get messy. I do try to pick up the floor as best I can. I wish they made those mats for the floor like the table so I could just wrap them up and leave, honestly...

Ditto this! I love our table mats! DD does not oftern get stuff on the floor but I do pick up when she does. I always hated cleaning up after messy @ss kids (and I mean messy!) when I worked at a restaurant (longhorn), I swore I would never be that person but yes, for a good enough tip I would get over it:)

somethingchangd · July 2010

I always pick up the majority of the stuff off the floor. I don't wipe down the table or the high chair, though. The table gets wiped by the staff regardless and I just never think about it when it comes to the high chair.

9 times out of 10 the waiter will tell me not to worry about the floor, but I just feel too terrible leaving a big mess. My mom thinks I'm nuts.

skoorbnibor · July 2010

I rarely if ever clean up. Perhaps it is growing up in the restaurant business, but they expect children to make a mess. Now, if he throws silverware, or entire plates of food, sure! But not the few things he drops

However, we are HUGE tippers.

Temp159135562506975 · August 2010

if there is a meltdown going on - we tip more, say we are sorry, and leave. that is RARE. Otherwise we get down and sweep up all we can with some napkins - we don't like to leave crap on the floor - think it's rude.

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