|
|
 |
|
Check, Please! How to Eat Out with Toddlers
Supper Success: This won't happen if you stick to family-friendly restaurants: People expect children at these places. And there's less pressure on you -- and your child -- to behave perfectly because if your toddler does act up, he'll be surrounded by other families and probably won't be the only noisy child.
Take time to do a little research. Ask your friends and family for recommendations of places where they feel comfortable eating with kids. You can even call ahead or check out the place on your own to find out about the restaurant's atmosphere. Does it offer a kids' menu? Are there booths, or is the seating limited to tables close together? Sara Wutzke, a Massachusetts mom of two, uses her own high-chair test. "I ask if they have one available for my child before we sit down," she says. "If they don't, we leave. No high chairs is usually a sign that it's not a kid-friendly place."
What do you think of this story? Tell Us.
|
Related Links
|
Related Videos
|
Comments
Please confirm your comment by answering the question below and clicking "Submit Comment."
To those that left comments that you'll just stay home...yikes. I'm including myself in this...You are people too, just because you are a parent doesn't mean you don't deserve some adult time. I am one of the lucky ones and have an amazingly well behaved (one year old) daughter that loves to sit down and eat with the family. But still, don't give up things you enjoy, just raise your children to be well behaved when you go places!
1/11/2011 01:25:27 PM Report AbuseJennifer Roberts PLEASE! If you go out to eat & have to eat in shifts, it's not worth taking your child out with you. My daughter is 2 and very well behaved that's why we take her out & if not we don't go.
1/3/2010 09:26:48 PM Report AbuseI agree, there is nothing I despise more, than parents who do not clean up behind their children. I always make sure to leave the booth as clean as possible. My child is only 5 months, but I've been out with my nieces and nephews when they were very little, and we always left the place clean.
12/30/2009 03:19:31 PM Report AbuseWe've gotten into the habit of ordering our kids' food at the same time as the drink/appetizer order. This gets their food out early enough so it can cool down a little bit, and they're entertained with their food while we order and wait for our food. We found this trick out when we went to an 'upscale' restaurant, and our server asked us if we wanted to order our kids' food first so they can have it sooner. Awesome!
12/30/2009 02:51:06 PM Report AbuseSomething great we use is a plastic placemat that can easily be rolled onto the table. She is 11 1/2 months old and she does wonderful...for the most part. We either share with her by placing her food on her mat, or some places we frequent even make her a small portion just for her for either no charge or $1 (4 raviloi squares, spaghetti, etc.) But I agree...pick up after your child! Leaving food on the floor and all over the table is disgraceful!!
12/30/2009 01:30:04 PM Report AbuseI agree. I can't stand to leave a mess. They pick up on it too. My little one helps push the chair in and picks up litter.
12/30/2009 01:19:36 PM Report AbuseOh my, I will just stay home. :)
12/30/2009 11:18:42 AM Report AbuseI am shocked by the number of people who leave the restaurant with food all over the floor and table. Servers are not there to clean up after a messy child. I'm not saying that the parents have to go get a vaccum and a mop, but it's the minimum of courtesy to put the food into a little pile so it's easier for the wait staff to wipe up. I quickly wipe everything onto a plate before leaving with my fussy child.
10/7/2009 02:40:59 AM Report Abuse