Eating out with LO(s) [long]

pb_bride · June 2013

I posted a more simplified and generalized post in my BMB, but I'd like your opinions as well, esp many of you are much more experienced in this.

We haven't gone out to eat w/M much, and not since he started sitting unassisted and eating solids. Currently at home, he can stay happy during dinner time for maybe 30 mins max in his high chair, though he LOVES to squeal and bang on the tray. Depends on what I'm cooking, we sometimes do BLW-type food for him to self-feed (which obviously is very messy).

This weekend we are going out for lunch w/ILs and DH's uncle & aunt, to celebrate ILs wedding anniversary. The lunch place is an hour away, and the reservation time is right when M normally takes his second nap. I am hoping that he will be able to take an earlier nap in the car while we're driving out.

The restaurant, though not super fancy, is a historic New England Inn (it also hosts weddings). I'm starting to have anxiety about what's gonna happen. I'm planning to bring all sorts of food w/me - cuz sometimes M only wants to self-feed, while other times he'll allow be spoon-fed.

If you do BLW, do you just feed your LO whatever you order at the restaurant? Do you leave the food on the plate and let LO pick it up, or do you have one of those "roll-up" placemats? I'm worried that if I have to put M close enough to the table to pick food up from the plate, he'll end up banging on everything on the table.

Any tips on keeping your LO entertained while at a restaurant? I can't imagine bringing his favorite toys du jour (plastic stacking cups, which he'll for sure bang around and fling them all over the place).

I am prepared to miss part or most of my meal - and prepared to take him outside of the restaurant (I think the inn has nice outdoor area). Though that will mean my ILs and DH's aunt/uncle won't be able to see him.

I know I should just relax and go with the flow, but w/my Type A personality, I tend to worry too much...

OceanBreeze1 · June 2013

We often went out to eat with dd, and it was fun. We used those disposable placemats that stick to the table, they are awesome!

We would cut up some of our food onto that, but I always had a stash of food for dd with me. Fruit, especially melon or bananas, applesauce, cheese, bread, graham crackers, yogurt. I carried a lunch cooler thing with an ice pack for her food.

I always tried to order something she'd eat, like spaghetti or broccoli, if not for myself then for her as she got older and ate more.

For entertainment we had crayons when she was older, or just pipe cleaners or pompoms or ribbons she could put into and out of a makeup bag. And finger puppets. She loved those.

Plus having others there is a good distraction. We always tried to teach dd to sit and have r patience until everyone was done, but if it was a particularly lengthy dinner we would go outside for a walk.

Good luck! And have fun!

ccam · June 2013

I get pretty anxious bringing DS out to eat, too, but it has gotten easier. We pass him back and forth between the two of us until our food comes out because sometimes he won't last the entire time in his highchair. Once we're ready to eat, we'll give him some puffs or pieces of our food. I usually order him a side of plain veggies - he loves broccoli and most places have that. I also bring purees or a yogurt just in case. We just wipe down the table and put his food on there, but we also have those disposable place mats. We don't bring many toys either, for the same reason. Honestly, once he's in the highchair, we just continuously feed him...slowly giving him stuff to pick up. Or he'll bang around his rubber tip spoon.

Good luck and hopefully you enjoy yourself! Maybe it will be easier because there will be more people to pass your LO around to.

ccam · June 2013

OceanBreeze1:
We often went out to eat with dd, and it was fun. We used those disposable placemats that stick to the table, they are awesome! We would cut up some of our food onto that, but I always had a stash of food for dd with me. Fruit, especially melon or bananas, applesauce, cheese, bread, graham crackers, yogurt. I carried a lunch cooler thing with an ice pack for her food. I always tried to order something she'd eat, like spaghetti or broccoli, if not for myself then for her as she got older and ate more. For entertainment we had crayons when she was older, or just pipe cleaners or pompoms or ribbons she could put into and out of a makeup bag. And finger puppets. She loved those. Plus having others there is a good distraction. We always tried to teach dd to sit and have r patience until everyone was done, but if it was a particularly lengthy dinner we would go outside for a walk. Good luck! And have fun!

Great idea! I'll be stealing that.

Saraevh · June 2013

Okay, first of all you are worrying way too much about this! It doesn't sound like you guys are eating at a 5 Star restaurant where bringing kids would be frowned upon, so RELAX! Restaurants are used to kids throwing food all over the floor, banging on tables and screeching so even if he does all of those things, it's totally no big deal. More than likely it will be loud so no one else at the tables around you will even notice either.

Whenever we go out we just order food for the kids and let them eat it off of plates. One of us monitors the baby's plate though because he likes to throw things but we just break apart the food for him and let him go to town. My daughter obviously just eats like a normal person so she is really easy to deal with.

Totally bring his favorite toys! Totally bring emergency snacks! Totally know in the back of your mind that if for some reason he is horrible during the meal you can always box yours up and/or leave. No matter what, it's going to be fine Have fun!

TJ1979 · June 2013

I guess this is our trade off. E is awesome at restaurants! We have one of those high chair covers that has loops for toys, so we bring a few quiet toys and loop them on the cover. We do BLW, but we cheat at restaurants to keep her busy. We hand her one bite at a time. If we put the food on her placemat thing we have, she will shovel it all in her mouth and be done too quickly. So we place one bite of food in our palm and hold it out for her to grab. She puts one bite in her mouth and chews on it. When she starts grabbing for more, we hand her one more bite. It helps to put her between the two of us so we can switch off handing her food so we both still get to eat. She just loves looking around at all the people and decorations and this usually keeps her happy for an hour. Also, the grandparents can join in the fun this way and that makes them super happy! GL and have fun with your family!

ELF4321 · June 2013

Definitely pick up some of the disposable placemats that stick to the table (I also have disposable bibs that I keep in the diaper bag). I usually bring a few snack foods that I know DD will eat, like Cheerios or puffs, and then offer her whatever DH and I are eating that I think she might eat.

She is actually MUCH better in restaurants than eating at home, because she loves looking around at all the people and activity. She has never had a meltdown, even when it's her nap time. Your LO might surprise you!

Try not to be too anxious. The worst case scenario is you have to leave early if your LO acts out. Sure, it's not great, but oh well. People understand.

Good luck!

Mrs.AmyDylan · June 2013

Since J is younger and still exclusively on the boob (or pumped milk), I can't offer the same ideas. J likes to sit on my lap and snuggle while she watches everything. If she gets bored I tip her on her back (across my lap) and she watches the ceiling and the world upside down.

I watched a friend roll out a placemat and what seemed like a dozen little cups of baby-sized food pieces (all real food, no jars/cereal). Her DD was good for almost an hour.

I also was gifted this https://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Developmental-Wonder-Wheel-Suction/dp/B004AHMCKA/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1370446114&sr=1-1&keywords=suction+cup+toys

(sorry, can't make it clicky) and the lady who gave it to me said the suction cup is perfect for restaurants as it keep the toy from being flung on the floor.

Good luck! I think you are overly stressing. Try to have fun too!

mdiblasi10 · June 2013

We take G out to restaurants a lot, or at least we did before we cut way down on eating out. We hold him on our laps until our food comes and then he goes into his high chair. I wipe the table down and he eats right off of it or my plate. He prefers to pick up his own food and if I tried to use a place mat or anything he would spend every ounce of energy trying to get it off the table and play with it! Try not to worry too much. I'm sure it will go great Smile

cbubbles2 · June 2013

I totally get being nervous. Gavin is so hit or miss in restaurants. Sometimes he's a perfect angel and other times he doesn't want to sit in the high chair for more than 10 minutes. I also have the disposable place mats that stick to the table they have them at target and Walmart so I put his food on that. Another thing that works for us is playing with him while we wait for our food and all eating at the same time. I find it's easier to entertain him if need be before we have our food so his food keeps him busy while we eat. I know some people order for kids first. Hopefully it'll be a lovely meal. If he's fussy don't feel bad taking him for a little walk and leaving the table. Good luck!

imoverit · June 2013

I bet it will turn out better than you think. I was so worried the first time we took M to a restaraunt and he did so good. Hoping its that way for you too.

laura1 · June 2013

I agree with all above tips. I used to put toys on to a chain of link-a-doos and attach them to something - part of high chair, just hold it, etc. Also bring tons of food, books, etc.

As for the restaurant - it sounds like kind of a nice place that would have table cloths. My suggestion for this, since if your LO is like mine he will be grabbing at it the whole time, is bringing a bunch of binder clips with you and clamping them on the edge of the table to keep the table cloth away from him.

It might be a challenge if it is going to be a long meal - DH and I have learned to look at the menu before we go, get to the restaurant early (like 515-530 so there is no wait) and we order right when we get there. While waiting for our food, we bring out little snacks (cheerios, puffs, goldfish, etc) and activities (books, toys, and crayons as they got older). My big ones are getting better, but when they were little we knew we had about 45-60 minutes to be there before things started going downhill!

So I say be prepared to need to walk around for a while. Hopefully with lots of people there, you will be able to take shifts. And will your DS nap in a car seat or stroller? My DS never would, but DD #1 did. We could bring her anywhere and when she got fussy we just put her in her seat to sleep.

Good luck! You can do it, just be prepared for anything!

pb_bride · June 2013

Great advice, thank you! I like the idea of having him in our laps and/or passing him around until the food arrives. That will help keeping the high chair time to a minimum.

When you mention disposable placemats, do you mean these?

https://www.target.com/p/neat-solutions-sesame-street-disposable-placemats-20-pk/-/A-10977727

https://www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/KidCo-Baby-Steps-Disposable-Placemats?skuId=692187

Are they just a thin piece of plastic that sticks to the table? TJ, you mentioned you have a reusable placemat (am I correct?), do you like yours and do you have a link (or just a brand name)?

TJ1979 · June 2013

It's tiny diner. It's great bc it has a little cup at the bottom that catches stuff that falls between her and the mat. The suction cups wear out over time but for now we love it.

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Eating out with LO(s) [long]

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