Robin Frankel
Mom of Two and Founder of Crib Notes
To keep your family feasts fun, consider the following before you head out:
Tips for bringing baby:
Know The Space - Make sure the restaurant will have room for you to place your stroller or car seat carrier near the table. Many child-friendly restaurants are only equipped for you to put your child in a highchair but the high chairs at most restaurants don't offer enough support for an infant. And in space-squeezed Manhattan, many establishments don't have room for you to pull up your stroller . Tip: the standard wooden high chairs at most restaurants can be turned upside down to create a safe cradle for your car seat attachment.
Try Outdoor Seating - This is a great option for new babies during the warmer months or older babies who have already mastered the art of throwing their food. Sitting outside means your baby's cries will be less distracting to other patrons and a leaving a mess on the sidewalk is less embarrassing than leaving a mess on a cafe floor.
Preview The Bathrooms - Ideally your restaurant has a changing table or an extra large bathroom for changing your babies. Although a quick wet diaper change can be done anywhere, changing a messy diaper on a heavily trafficked bathroom floor is unclean and unappealing.
Nap time = Napkin time Take advantage of baby's frequent need to sleep and coordinate dining out with one of baby's snoozes. A meal without interruptions is a real treat when you're the parent of little ones.
Tips For Toddlers:
Keep It Action-Packed- A busy toddler is a happy toddler. Bring a few activities for your child to keep them occupied - Crayons and paper, dolls, small cars, whatever will keep their focus away from inappropriate behavior is worth giving them. Tip: If you have an iPhone, there's a myriad of toddler games that can keep them occupied while you enjoy your entree.
Happy Meals Toddlers are finicky. If you don't know that there will be options your child is guaranteed to like, make sure you have a back-up plan packed. The only thing that will ruin dining out faster than a bored toddler is a hungry one.
Get Tough On Grime Restaurant tables are usually wiped down in between patrons with the same cloth over and over again. Bring plenty of wipes to not only clean the eating area yourself but to wipe off little hands and faces before and after they dig in. Tip: Buy a package of stick-on disposable placemats. There are several on the market today made from eco-friendly biodegradable materials.
Acceptance Be aware that most toddlers just aren't developmentally ready to sit still for an extended period of time. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by expecting to have a leisurely meal. If you order food for your toddler right when you sit down, you might be able to keep her occupied with food and toys long enough to enjoy your own meal. Tip: Try switching parent patrol on and off with your partner so you each get a chance to savor your food.
