Taking Baby to a Restaurant
While you might think you can't wait for your scooting baby to be a scampering toddler, there are some advantages to having a child that can't yet whirl through a crowded place like the Tasmanian Devil.
Dining out is one such benefit: your baby can't terrorize the place yet and is still easily distracted. So put away those cooking utensils for tonight and let someone else sweat it out in the kitchen.
Just remember to:
Dining out is one such benefit: your baby can't terrorize the place yet and is still easily distracted. So put away those cooking utensils for tonight and let someone else sweat it out in the kitchen.
Just remember to:
Bring baby snacks to stave off hunger.
Pack some soft rubber toys and fabric books (they're quieter) that you can attach to the high chair.
Grab a portable placemat (such as the Tiny Diner Portable Placemat) that suctions to the table. It'll protect baby from table germs and protect the table from baby! (Too bad you can't suction all his toys, food and utensils to the table, too!)
Aim for a restaurant in a kid-friendly neighborhood—they'll be used to the mess and you won't get nasty looks from other diners (okay, you might, but just ignore it—even if they don't have kids of their own, they were noisy and messy babies once, too!).
Plan dinner at a kid-friendly hour like 5 o'clock, also known as the geriatric supper hour. So if grandparents are dining with you, you'll satisfy both Nana's and Baby's need to eat... and still be home for bed by 7:30.
See? Your days of dining out aren't over... you just need to plan for a little more excitement than a bottle of chianti and a nice pasta puttanesca, now.
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