SO going out to dinner with LO...Who can do this successfully?

Chan4dra04 · April 2012

So a couple things have peaked my interest about this forbidden activity that we no longer partake in.

I spoke to my gf over the weekend and she said, "Well Sofie's 6mo now, 6mo are nothing but happy...you should be able to take her everywhere". Uh....what? This is news to me.

And then I saw the MMBF where Valerieann mentioned the un-fun time of having to bring DD out to dinner only to leave early because of said DD. Yeah...been there...always end up doing that.

Whose LO are constantly happy? No, I probably shouldn't ask this but I want to know who is able to everything with their LO tagging along without there being a problem? Is my baby in the minority where she really isn't too happy just sitting there, she needs entertained or refreshed with a new set of arms every few minutes? How content is your LO? I want to know if I am the only one, well, besides Valerieann (Sorry! Misery loves company, so I'm thankful to hear that I am not the only one that leaves the restaurant).

Tell me about your success stories....and your failure stories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gracefulruby33 · April 2012

It was so nice when DD was ~2 months and would fall asleep in her carseat among obnoxious children in a busy restaurant. Those days are over. She does pretty well going out if every need has been met. Not hungry, clean diaper, decent naps that day, etc. She can sit in her carseat basically until the food comes. Once the food is there, she's ready to be OUT. So... we're mildly successful in going out to dinner with her. We basically switch back and forth holding her, and I always make sure I have plenty of toys to entertain her with.

smilelari · April 2012

We take LO a lot of places but she never just sits there. At dinner she gets passed back and forth. Someone is usually holding her. I've definitely nursed her at the table almost every time we've gone out to eat. We take her grocery shopping every Sunday. That's timed so that everyone is napped and I wear her. She doesn't want to be in the car seat anymore because she can't see anything.

Michellemybelle28 · April 2012

My husband is a chef and as as result a huge foodie so we have been taking DS out to dinner since he was about three weeks old. He is usually really good, I think he enjoys having a change of scenery and he loves to be around noise. Recently I have been taking him out for longer shopping trips and I always make sure to pack enough toys and formula to be prepared for anything. If DS has ever been fussy I usually take him outside or feed him if he is hungry.

shabamwam · April 2012

My DS can be a big grump out in public. We've started taking the BUMBO with us when we go out to eat. He does soooooo much better! We always get a booth so I can sit it right next to me. Oh and toys too.

shabamwam · April 2012

My DS can be a big grump out in public. We've started taking the BUMBO with us when we go out to eat. He does soooooo much better! We always get a booth so I can sit it right next to me. Oh and toys too.

Katie996 · April 2012

Lilly very rarely cries or gets angry. Especially in public... i think it's mainly because she is SOOO interested in everything going on around her that she really enjoys being out. She usually just hangs out and watches people. lol.

The only failure story i can think of is when we took her out to eat at a nice restaurant with Dh's family........... she was SUPER gassy and ended up making the loudest grunts, farts and most obvious poop faces in middle of dinner.........lol. it's funny to think about now, but at the time it was quite embarrassing!

Katie996 · April 2012

shabamwam:
My DS can be a big grump out in public. We've started taking the BUMBO with us when we go out to eat. He does soooooo much better! We always get a booth so I can sit it right next to me. Oh and toys too.

What an awesome idea! I never thought of taking the bumbo!

valerieanne9015 · April 2012

shabamwam:
My DS can be a big grump out in public. We've started taking the BUMBO with us when we go out to eat. He does soooooo much better! We always get a booth so I can sit it right next to me. Oh and toys too.

Love the Bumbo idea!! I will have to try that tonight. Fingers crossed that dinner out with great-grandma will be more successful than last time!

allisonty11 · April 2012

Ava loves to get out and see the world. Just last week, we took her to a museum, I just made sure she had a clean diaper and a full belly before we went in and she was more than content to walk around for a few hours looking at stuff. I've taken her to a couple musicals, she loves to shop (as long as I'm wearing her!) she sits still and plays with her toys when we go to the coffee shop, and when we go out to eat, she usually just sits in her carseat. We've been blessed with such an easy-going baby, I'm a little scared for when we have another one!

Chan4dra04 · April 2012

PP - that's funny...I joke and say that I can't wait for our second baby. That one is going to be soooo good to us! LOL!

I'm SOO happy to hear everyone's stories. We seem to be in the same boat for the most part. DD is usually happy until the food comes and then hell breaks loose. We do pass her back and forth....multiple times. And it's usually in between a little whining. She is only good for so long and then she maxes out. The bumbo is a great idea. Although, she is only good with that for a few min, as well. lol. Maybe we will bring her booster seat. At least that is less bulky, and easy to carry.

I am still SOO scared of NIP. I don't have a good reason why. I am afraid of doing it and not knowing what to say in return that isn't just a plain and simple "Eff off". It would solve so many problems. Especially the freedom part as we would be able to do so much more since DD eats every 2 hours. Sometimes whipping out the boob solves a lot of problems. lol.

lkm2006 · April 2012

We go out to eat several times during the week and very rarely have I ever had a problem. I just try to time it where it isn't close to a nap because he won't go to sleep with so mug going on. Usually, he doesn't sit in the high chair very long so I hold him and try and keep him from grabbing everything off my plate. He loves looking around and "talking" very loudly. Even if he is tired he is usually so interested in everything he is happy and entertained. He will crash once we get in the car. I'm very thankful because I couldn't imagine not being able to go out!

knottie198f1ac43570b6c2 · April 2012

She used to be terrible when going out but now that we have a convertible car seat and put her in a high chair she is much more happy. I always bring a ton of toys to keep her entertained

ArcadianDreams · April 2012

We can get out to dinner...sometimes. I wouldn't trust it for a two hour feast at Olive Garden, but we've made it through meals at quicker places like IHOP or Panera. Sometimes if we time it right he will still nap through it, or if he does wake up will just chill out and look around. Sometimes he needs entertained. And sometimes he gets crabby and we end up having to walk him around and take turns eating. Like last night we went out and he had fallen asleep, but the little eyes popped open as soon as we sat down and he was like, screw napping. Then right after our entrees arrives he got crabby because he skipped the nap =P But if we time it right that he is just woken up and been fed he is usually content to chill out and watch everything.

kajordan09 · April 2012

Sometimes it's a success, sometimes it isn't. Like many of the PP said, we have to time it just right and have it planned well in advance...when DS is fed, diapered, and had some good naps. The one thing about going out to eat that is that we have to go SO early. We start getting DS ready for bedtime at 6-6:30 so we have to go eat super early and usually neither myself or my husband are ready for dinner at that point. DS has a complete meltdown if he isn't in bed by 7.

mbgreenwalt · April 2012

DD2 does awesome. She either seats in her carrier or gets passed around. She was so into Benihanas when the chef was cooking in front of us. We go out to breakfast every Sunday with my parents and she is always chill. Now DD1 on the other hand was like that until she turned 18 months, but now she is a toddler monster who doesn't like to sit still and is constantly wanting out of high chair. I miss her being easy at restaurants.

purpleXdandelion · April 2012

For the most part, DS is pretty good. Especially if he's in his infant carrier, cuz then he just dozes off. He sits assisted, and I got one of those covers that go in the seat part of the shopping cart so the baby doesn't chew on the germy cart, and it's more cushy for him. Usually he's pretty good in that, but today I didn't plan my trip to the grocery store right so he was so fussy cuz he was super tired (it was the last errand we ran on our list). And since I had him sitting in the cart rather than in his carrier he couldn't fall asleep so he kept thrashing side to side, so I had to hold him up with one hand and try to navigate/grab items/pay/bag my groceries all with the other hand. I learned my lesson.

JillianAshley6 · April 2012

Our success depends entirely on the TIME we go to eat. LO gets tired between 7-8. So we need to be home by then. So we go out to eat at 6 at the latest. I make sure I've just fed her or have a bottle ready. I bring little toys for her to play with and a paci.

When we get there I pull her out of her little seat and play with her/hold her till the food gets to the table. Then I usually put her back in her car seat and give her the toy so we can eat.

This works for us. But again- the key is the TIME of day we go eat. She needs to not be tired or everyone is miserable- us, her, other restauranteurs, waitstaff, etc.

authorofdreamz · April 2012

DD is great when we go out to dinner or really anywhere. She is actually better when we go out then at home. She is perfectly content to just sit in her carseat/stroller and play with her toys and then goes to sleep when she gets tired. She only cries when she gets hungry or when strangers get all up in her face.

jnealet · April 2012

We take both girls out and about all the time. They're never perfect and sometimes they're bad but most of the time we have fun. We just have low expectations, I guess.

alyss0nl · April 2012

shabamwam:
My DS can be a big grump out in public. We've started taking the BUMBO with us when we go out to eat. He does soooooo much better! We always get a booth so I can sit it right next to me. Oh and toys too.

I like the idea of the Bumbo seat. Typically, DS does so well whenever we go out in public, but since he's very interested in food, he always goes for my plate.

I love bringing him out in public, he always does so well, and will take naps in the stroller if we're out for a long time.

skipperkelly · May 2012

We haven't been out to dinner for a few weeks but he's pretty good when we are running errands. Like another PP mentioned, we don't expect much and as long as we go early to dinner (like around 4 or 5) we don't have any issues.

sap05e · May 2012

Ive never had any trouble taking her out in public to eat. She is content sitting in her carrier or being held. The only time she started to get mad was when I didnt bring a bottle with me (oops..).

brewcitybride · May 2012

My baby is super content, UNLESS he is hungry or tired. Then watch out world. That was how my DD was, too, when she was a baby.

We still go out to eat, but not quite as much, now that we have two kids. DD is three and is pretty good, she'll eat and then play with my iPhone. She is harder to entertain, though, when she's tired or bored. The baby will sit on my lap, drink a bottle, and I can plop him back in his infant carrier and he'll bat around a toy or just look at the people. If he's tired, though, he'll start wailing and we hightail it home!

Sarahcakes29 · May 2012

I think I have a higher-needs baby than a lot of other moms; going out to eat is something we try but have low-expectations for. Timing it right helps - can't be too late in the evening, DS has to have napped, been fed, etc. We keep him in his carseat until the food comes...right about then he gets totally bored and we start passing him back and forth. We bring toys and those things work for a time and then he's done and I either nurse him or we bail early if we have to. DS never took to a pacifier, so the last time this happened it was actually just because he was happily shrieking and screeching away, but we were in a pretty quiet cafe and it was pretty obviously starting to annoy people. We do best in busy, louder restaurants - the white noise drowns him out and sometimes puts him to sleep (though not much anymore...I think 2 months was the best time for eating out!)

I feel like the fun of going out is sometimes negated by the stress and work of bringing our baby, so I'd usually rather get take out and hang out at home. I used to be the type that always told myself I wouldn't change my life would make DS just a part of what we do - and I try to - but honestly life is just easier this way for now. But again, I'm pretty sure my baby is a lot more sensitive and "high-needs" than most. He is my baby though, love him to death and would rather eat fish sticks on my couch staring at his cute face than being at the new hip restaurant any night!

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