Taking small children out to eat in a restaurant is like a small act of penance. What could parents have done wrong to deserve such self-punishment, right?
Admittedly, eating out with younger kids is no leisurely stroll. There’s even a Facebook meme that says, “You could take your kids to a restaurant or cut out the middleman and spill a drink, throw crayons under the table, and light $40 on fire.”
This is unfortunate, but also quite accurate. Toddlers can mortify you at a restaurant in a variety of ways. They can refuse to sit and just wander off. They can have a meltdown. They can be embarrassingly picky. They can have accidents, anything from breaking dinnerware to soiling their pants.
They can do all these and more in a bout of Murphy’s Law, so why insist on courting disaster? Just don’t do it, right?
Unfortunately, as a parent in a family with small children, it is quite inevitable that you’ll occasionally end up in a restaurant with a toddler or two despite your better judgment.
Tips and Tricks for Eating Out with Toddlers
Although it’s not the most relaxing proposition out there, eating out with small children doesn’t have to be so stressful. There are steps you can take to make it work better for your family.
1. Choose the right environment.
When you have the prerogative, pick a family-friendly establishment. A fancy French restaurant is probably not a good bet. Make sure that your choice has a children’s menu, high chairs, and other provisions for diners with small children.
2. Time your dinner out.
You never want to take a tired and cranky toddler out to eat. You’re just setting up all possible parties for failure and yourself for a thoroughly stressful situation. Pick your dining out moment. Ideally, it should be hours away from any sleepy time.
You might also want to go when restaurants aren’t so busy, so avoid weekends and the dinner rush. You can call ahead to find out if there’s a lineup.
3. Plan ahead in every way.
Winging it is typically not the best way to go with toddlers. You can avoid stress by planning down to the smallest detail.
It would be prudent to call not only to verify that children are welcome or that the place isn’t busy, but also to reserve a table and maybe even place orders ahead of your arrival. This way, waiting time would be minimal.
4. Always have supplies handy.
This means that you should have your own version of Mary Poppins’ carpet bag. It should contain a busy bag with a variety of items such as crayons and small toys to keep your little ones occupied. It should also hold safe little snacks in case your picky diners refuse to eat any of the things you ordered.
Remember to pack healthy snacks. Bring items that meet the nutritional needs of 3-year- olds or younger.
5. Stay on your toes.
While you shouldn’t be in a jumble of nerves, consistently anticipating the dinner to start falling apart, you shouldn’t get too comfortable either.
Your toddler wouldn’t be inclined to stay in a high chair for 30 minutes straight, so be prepared to do something about it when restlessness hits.
Watch out for curious little hands as well and get breakables out of their reach. Also, arm yourself with redirection techniques in case you sense a tantrum brewing.
6. Show respect to the other diners and the staff.
It may be a family restaurant, but it doesn’t mean that you should disregard other people’s desire for a peaceful and pleasant meal. In the event of a tantrum, bring your toddler out of the restaurant to calm down.
If your child gets loud and raucous, make your apologies as you leave. And if there are spills or any other huge mess, be sure to tip generously.
High Hopes, Low Expectations
Hope for the best and plan for the worst. Enjoy the meal as it progresses, confident that you are equipped to deflect trouble should it arise. Worst case scenario, you can just get your food to go, put your child down for a nap, and enjoy the meal at home.
