15 Tips for Dining Out with a Child and Enjoying the Experience!
Taking a child to a restaurant can either be a nightmare or a delightful family experience. Believe it or not, this scenario largely depends on the planning of the little one accompanying you.
Becoming a parent doesn’t mean your life stops; it just changes how you enjoy it. How much it changes depends on your choices. You might decide to give up some of your old “little” pleasures, but your child doesn’t really need those sacrifices.
If dining out has been a good family tradition when it was just the two of you, nothing should stop you from enjoying it with your little one.
Admit it, a two-hour relaxing dinner in a fancy restaurant can feel impossible when your child is around (unless you hire a babysitter), but with a little careful planning, dining out can be a wonderful experience for all of you.
In this section ofSelMagzthere are several things to consider when dining out with your child.
Dining Out with Children
Tips for dining out with infants and children:
1.BeforeDining with a Childmake sure to book your table over the phone so that searching for an available table doesn’t frustrate your child from the very start.
2.Choose a restaurant that your child would love: Often, small family restaurants welcome families with kids and do everything to make the little customer happy, like offering a special kids’ menu.
3.Having high chairs is usually a positive sign. If you have a toddler or older child, a good play area is like an answer to your prayers.
4.Make sure that when you arrive at the restaurant, your child isn’t too hungry or too tired (and is awake). Choose a sensible time (late dinners are usually a bad idea) and have some snacks or milk ready.
When you have a newborn, nap times can be a great time to visit a restaurant, as long as your baby isn’t too sensitive to noise.
Children’s Behavior at Restaurants
5.Dining formally with a very young child is likely to be a disaster, but if your child is a bit older and can learn table manners, then this dinner can be a fun experience.
6.If you know your child won’t be able to stay calm and quiet, choose restaurants with a lot of noise (but not music that’s overly loud!).
7.Encourage them to speak quietly and avoid clattering with silverware. Bringing your child’s plastic utensils can be a good idea for kids who enjoy banging everything around them.
8.Buffets and cafeterias, apart from specialized restaurants, are reliably good options for children of all ages. Even for infants who don’t eat buffet food, child-themed restaurants likely have many young visitors and generally have very interesting things for kids.
A Lovely Restaurant to Engage Children’s Interest
9.If your child is still too small to sit in a high chair and just lies down, request a table where you can place your child’s carrier next to you.
10.If you need to breastfeed, ask if the restaurant has a special room where you can comfortably nurse your child, or if they can give you a table facing the wall so you can easily feed your child withoutstressfrom being disturbed by others.
11.Don’t forget to wear a suitable apron and top, and if necessary, remember to bring your child’s food; for babies over 8 months, some finger foods can be ideal and engaging. Make sure they aren’t too greasy and can keep your child entertained for a while.
12.For entertainment, don’t just rely on a few crayons: they can only keep them busy for a few minutes. Bring some of their favorite toys, or a couple of new ones (choose those that create less noise).
If your child enjoys books – it’s better to go for that choice, as drawing will engage them for a longer time. For older kids, an iPad can turn even a long dinner into fun.
Keeping Kids Entertained at Restaurants
13.Remember to bring wet wipes and a dry napkin for your child to clean up any mess. There’s no need to wait for the waiter to come and clean the table after a mishap.
14.Dining out with your child can be an exciting and educational experience: talk to them, explain what’s around, point out interesting things and name them, and teach them how to use a fork and knife.
If your child is able to choose their food, encourage them: they can place their order with phrases like “please” and “thank you.”
15.Before ordering dessert, settle the bill: if your child can no longer behave well for much longer, you may need to leave at any moment. Try to leave a good tip, especially if the waitstaff have been very helpful and your child has been overly noisy and disruptive.
A caring and understanding waiter can make a big difference in your dining experience.
