Restaurants and Babies

Please know that all kids are different and some of what I'm about to say may or may not apply, but it's certainly worth a try! Jeb and I are big resto eaters, two reasons, one, we just love trying out new places and their food, two, we don't always have time or want to cook. So, how do you deal with a toddler, an infant or a kid at restaurants? Here's my take on it:

- Plan!
Yes, just like everything else with kids, eating out also entails planning. Not all restaurants will accommodate young children especially out in the city. So make sure to either call ahead or read reviews on the restaurant to see what type of accommodations they can do for your certain situation. Do you need to bring a carseat with you? Can a stroller fit? Do they have a high chair? Not all places do, some only uses boosters and others don't have both.

- Prepare for battle!
If you're a first time parent, you maybe used to eating out as a time to chit chat with friends or just to relax and have a drink and with an infant/toddler, this may not be the case. Bring certain items to help you make this day the best for you and your party.
        1. For our toddler, we've purchased the over-sized bib protects baby's clothes top to bottom (Click here to see).
        2. We also have a reusable silicon mat as her plate (great because it can be folded and packed) (Click here to see).
        3. Pack small snacks, which is great since toddlers aren't really the most patient customers in the restaurant. This way, while they're waiting for their food, you can keep them occupied with their snack of choice, cherios are best, I also bring mumums for Quino, nothing too heavy that they wouldn't have room for their main course.
        4. Next, bring plenty and I mean plenty of wipes. They are always going to be messy, there's just no way out of it so just prepare yourself for that.
        5. Bring a toy or two. I try to limit my kids with use of phones but since they eat much faster and would most likely get bored while you finish your dish, phone is a great back up, temporary sitter. I also bring with me a mess free coloring book (crayola is great!).

- Train them early!

This is one battle that I actually won (lost with breastfeeding and sleep training), but so far, Isla has been a great company at restaurants. She loves to eat and knows how to sit and eat with us. Just like everything else, it all starts from home. Train your baby to eat with you at the table every meal. Do not encourage TV or electronics while eating as this is what they're going to look for when in a restaurant instead of them learning to enjoy meal time. We also trained her early with eating at restaurants and brought her out in plenty of resto trips that she's now gotten used to the resto environment and cooperates at least 90% of the time haha! You can't win 'em all!

- Share your Food

When we eat out at restaurants or even at home, Jeb and I would share the food on our plate with Isla and now with Quino. Until recently that Isla now can eat a good portion, we would feed her what we eat and this got her interested in trying out food that we have. This I think makes her feel like she's part of the dining experience and therefore doesn't think that she's just there for the ride.

- Don't be afraid of the mess
Let her make a mess, eating at restaurants should just be as comfortable as her eating at home. I've added some tip when Isla makes an extra mess but I do let her eat the way she is used to eating at home. My daughter is perfectly capable of using utensils but chooses to use her hands and I let her, if that's what would make her dining experience enjoyable.

- Be mindful of their time
As much as you want to have a 2hour dining experience, you do have to consider that your child may not last as long, sometimes they do most of the time they won't. 2hours has been our max at the restaurant with no meltdowns and but a minute over and it is a disaster so do finish your meal and when they start demanding to be off the chair, give them some freedom to do so. Ask your husband or a friend to take them for a quick walk to the bathroom or switch chairs, sit in a lap and then work your way back to the table or their chair.