Dinning Out with LO

candyreesecup · June 2013

We usually cook at home or order tak-eout food and eat at home, but we wanted to give it try and took LO to a BBQ restaurant for the first time! It was packed and the wait was 40 minutes. We found a section at the bar, so we put our LO's carseat on a high chair and just order food there. It was really really nice to be able to dine out. The place was pretty loud, so we had less pressure in case she screams.

Everyone loved seeing a baby at the bar except one biker chick. She was bitching how horrible parents we are to take a baby to a bar. In my head, I was thinking "Hello, B. Do you think an infant can wait peacefully for 40 minutes to get seated and another 30 minutes till the food come?"

Anyway, my REAL question here is have you dined out when LO is only a couple of months? What places are easy to take them to? I want to dine out more but I know a going to a quaint restaurant would be a sucide mission...

Ruthie04 · June 2013

A genuine bar and a bar at a restaurant are totally different things. Sorry for that!

We eat lunch out all the time, but never do dinner since they get their last bottle at 6:30. When they were that little, we'd leave them in the seats and put them next to us in the interior of the booth or use the flip side of the high chairs (the ones that are designed for car seats too). If they fussed, we'd just hold them and eat one handed. When they were tiny, we'd try to schedule our outings so they'd be asleep. Now, we do it when they are nice and awake so they'll be in good moods. We bring any of their favorite little toys and lots of paci wipes in the event they drop on the table. Now that they are bigger, we try to sit at tables so we can hold them far enough away from the table (they'll try to grab at things). They usually do really well.

We started at at restaurants that don't require a waiter like Panera and Potbelly's. Now, we can generally take them to places with a waiter, but we go at off times so the wait isn't an issue and the kitchen isn't backed up. I always order things that I can eat with one hand. Sandwiches and fries are great, but I wouldn't get a burger or something that would need some cutting. Pasta can also work.

DH and I love to eat out and I want to get the boys used to it. We always make sure to eat at somewhat kid friendly places that will also allow us to get carry out in the event we need to leave quickly. You can do it!!

AKB090609 · June 2013

We don't eat out very often, but we like going to bistro places because the wait seem to be shorter. We also took DD to places like Ruby Tuesday, Chilis, and panera. We don't go to 'nice restaurants' in general. I also love taking he to places with outdoor seating, I don't feel as bad when she drops food.

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick · June 2013

Honestly, I found it a lot easier to dine out when DS was that age. We would just leave him in his carseat while we ate and he would usually just sit there and hang out. If he got fussy or hungry then I would just nurse him. Now is when I think it?s a disaster to eat out with him and I just won?t do it. There was a sushi place by our old house that wasn?t terribly busy on week nights so we could always get in and out quickly. That was our favorite place to go, and we found it easy to take him there.

We have never tried to take him anywhere fancy, so anywhere we?ve taken him hasn?t been an issue. I would say that any place you can get in and out of quickly is going to be a good option because if your LO starts to throw a fit, you want to be able to leave quickly.

I?m glad you were able to enjoy a night out!

kmc84 · June 2013

Yay for getting out! We went to the Cheesecake Factory when A was 9 days old. We had newborn pics done and needed to waste time while they got our pictures ready. We have eaten there a few times since then.

My dad invited me out for dinner when A was almost three months to a very nice restaurant. Dh was working so it was just the three of us. I agreed because I love this restaurant. I wasn't even thinking about having a little baby at a nice place! As soon as we got there I started sweating with nerves! It was early so the dinner crowd was light. A was super fussy, not too noisy, but she didn't want to sit still. An older couple next to us were in love with A. The lady offered to walk with her so I could eat and I actually took her up on it! The owners of the restaurant are friends of my dads and they knew the couple, so I felt I could trust them, lol! A was so happy walking around with her! My dad treated them to an after dinner drink as a thank you. I think it stressed me out more than it bothered anyone else at the restaurant. That said, I don't think I'll be doing that again for a while!

I think almost any chain restaurant is fair game for the baby bunch, especially if you dine a little early!

candyreesecup · June 2013

Thanx for suggestions of great places for dine out! Good tips on quick places and order certain type of food, too. I definately want to explore the restaurant choices you have mentioned. I didn't know that it will get harder to dine out as baby gets older, but it makes sense as I think about it.

I am sure it will still make me nervous to take LO out to dine, but I will try restaurant where there are tons of families, so they will understand if my DD screams here and there, ha!

jensahokie · June 2013

I am so bad about this! DH and I just don't think it's worth it. We just eat boring food and then drink wine once the girls are in bed

Our regular places are (sadly) Chick-fil-A and Costco (I know, this does not really count). We have had recent success at Cracker Barrel and IHOP because they move quickly and also because my girls are happy in the mornings.

It is not an easy thing (or not to me with 3 kids 3 and under) but it probably is good to start early to get them used to sitting and waiting.

ELF4321 · June 2013

The easiest for us were diners, which are usually pretty quick, and Panera. When DD was really little, we used the stroller and I would use my foot to gently push it back and forth a little to keep her asleep while we ate.

TJ1979 · June 2013

My favorite places are places where you order then sit down to eat since they are quicker, and anywhere with an outdoor patio. Early dinner on the patio is baby central in my neighborhood. And going before the rush is key.
E has done really well at restaurants since about 3 months. We have one of those high chair covers that has loops on it so we sit her in it and attach a few toys. But to be honest she is more interested in looking around at all the people. We did BLW, so starting at 6 months we brought out the tiny diner reusable placemat and give her food. As long as we keep a very slow but steady flow of food coming her way, she has lasted as long as an hour and a half at the dinner table. That kid loves to eat. I just wanted to let you know that it doesn't always get harder as they get older. Although I do believe that if we hadn't done BLW and she was just sitting there waiting on us to eat it she would probably not be quite so happy.
Happy dining!

mnj05 · June 2013

We've been dining out with H since he was 2 weeks. It was way easier then because he would sleep the entire time! Now we try to time it right after a feeding so he will fall asleep on the way, otherwise we ask for a booth and the car seat goes next to me so I can rock it and he does fine. If he gets fussy, one of us holds him while we eat and we switch off sometimes. I can't wait until he can sit up by himself so maybe that part will be a bit easier. I know he's going to get louder though.

Quick service yes but also loud places so if he cries its not a big deal. I think most people are a little more tolerant than I think they would be of a baby crying but I still don't want to be that lady with the crying baby.

fabulouspinkmady · June 2013

MIL and I took the boys to a Mexican restaurant this past weekend and they did great! We were seated at a table, so the car seats went on the floor on either side of my chair. We were near a window so I wasn't worried about heavy traffic. Also, Mexican restaurants are notoriously loud, so I wasn't too worried about them fussing. Colin only got a little fussy anyway. I also fed them there. I was so proud of them! They are 13 weeks today.

IBackBevo · June 2013

We've had pretty good luck at sit down restaurants. The only place that is a little harder is somewhere like Jason's Deli where you go to the salad bar because someone has to stay at the table with LO so you have to alternate getting your food. LO is usually pretty good. In fact, one time we had these old ladies come up to us going on-and-on about how good he was. I find my LO does better in public settings than at home. All of the people and the new environment seem to entertain him.

When he was younger, we could take him in a restaurant and he would most of the time sleep through diner in his car seat. Now he looks around. I really have not had a hard time with taking him anywhere other than extremely busy restaurants sometimes make me nervous because people will bump into him, carry trays over his head, etc. I've never taken him to some ultra fancy place, but usually when we go someplace like that, we want to get away anyway.

And I agree bar at a restaurant and a bar exclusively for drinking are two totally different things. I would side eye someone who took their baby to a smoky dive bar, but not a bar in a restaurant when you are waiting on your table. We've totally done that before. I would guess that the biker chick doesn't have kids or it has been so long since she has had a LO that she has forgotten what it is like.

Dragonfly1226 · June 2013

It is so much easier to eat out when LO is so small! When the weather is nice we love to sit outside to eat. Last summer we did it all the time with DS and have already done it a couple of times with K&A too. We usually pack DS's dinner then order food for ourselves and give DS bites from our plates too. It is easier for us to pack foods that we know DS will eat happily and independently then to try to order for him.

OceanBreeze1 · June 2013

We've gone to dinner since dd was little, a couple months old, and it helped to breed good eating out habits for toddlerhood.

Our faves were always Red Robin because it's kid friendly, and Big Boy once she started blw because I just ate the salad bar and could grab stuff for her right away.

Sure, you have to eat super quick but it's not too different than home...but we never went anywhere with a wait.

PennyLane26 · June 2013

Oh my goodness! Haley is beautiful! Love the siggy...

We usually take G to busy restaurants that serve food quickly (ditto Ducky's response, pretty much). We love going out to eat with her, I think it's actually pretty easy since she's not mobile yet- we just take turns holding her, or put her in the carseat under the table if she is sleeping. I always bring a bottle of BM because I just don't feel comfortable nursing while dining (just a personal preference- way to go if you feel comfortable!). We make sure to bring in minimal things: carseat and toy, binky, blanket, bottle. I leave the rest of the diaper bag in the car. GL!

candyreesecup · June 2013

IBackBevo:
We've had pretty good luck at sit down restaurants. The only place that is a little harder is somewhere like Jason's Deli where you go to the salad bar because someone has to stay at the table with LO so you have to alternate getting your food. LO is usually pretty good. In fact,nbsp;one time we had these old ladies come up to us going onandon about how good he was. I find my LO does better innbsp;public settings than at home. All of the people and the new environment seem tonbsp;entertainnbsp;him. nbsp; When he was younger, we could take him in a restaurant and he would most of the time sleep through diner in his car seat. Now he looks around.nbsp; I really have not had a hard time with taking him anywhere other than extremely busy restaurants sometimes make me nervous because people will bump into him, carry trays over his head, etc.nbsp; I've never taken him to some ultra fancy place, but usually when we go someplace like that, we want to get away anyway. And I agree bar at a restaurant and a bar exclusively for drinking are two totally different things.nbsp; I would side eye someone who took their baby to a smoky dive bar, but not a bar in a restaurant when you are waiting on your table. We've totally done that before. I would guess that the biker chick doesn't have kids or it has been so long since she has had a LO that she has forgotten what it is like. nbsp;

We think that she was drunk!! She was so rude, too. I started holding my LO bc she got little fussy and the chick came and took the seat where we put the carseat!!! WTF!?

candyreesecup · June 2013

PennyLane26:
Oh my goodness! Haley is beautiful! Love the siggy...We usually take G to busy restaurants that serve food quickly ditto Ducky's response, pretty much. We love going out to eat with her, I think it's actually pretty easy since she's not mobile yet we just take turns holding her, or put her in the carseat under the table if she is sleeping. I always bring a bottle of BM because I just don't feel comfortable nursing while dining just a personal preference way to go if you feel comfortable!. We make sure to bring in minimal things: carseat and toy, binky, blanket, bottle. I leave the rest of the diaper bag in the car. GL!

Thanks ; She did great and smiled a lot when we did a photo shoot so I had to share!

firewife9278 · June 2013

We've taken DD to restaurants ever since she was about 2 weeks old. In the early days (when she was in the infant carrier), she mostly just slept. Now she eats with us, so we have to go earlier (about 4:30/5pm rather than 6:30/7pm) which usually means there's little to no wait. We always order an appetizer so she has something to snack on while we wait for our food. That usually keeps her busy long enough for us to look at the menus and order. We also bring snacks for her as a back up, and some small toys too.

She's been to places like Panera and food courts at the mall, but also nicer restaurants. We haven't had any issues yet (knock on wood). She's a really laid back kid, and always has been. We are VERY lucky!

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