Tips for Eating Out With Baby (Adapted from Healthy Steps)

Things to remember:

• You can still enjoy eating out on occasion if you take a little extra time to plan it.
• When your child is young you may be able to plan this outing around a usual nap time.
• As your child gets older, trying eating out at her usual mealtime.
• Choose a restaurant that can accommodate children: has high chairs available, has a kid's menu, has little wait, is tolerant of a little extra noise and mess.
• Hang on to your highchair habit. Don't let your child discover freedom in a restaurant.
• Let your child know what is expected before you get to the restaurant, for example, "We may have to wait for our food to come."
• If you prefer to be away from the main dining area, ask for a booth or a table in a less busy section. You may feel less self-conscious when your child is messy or needs help learning to eat in a public place.
• You may want to ask for your child's food to be brought as soon as it's ready rather than waiting until everyone can be served together. Children have less patience and tolerance for hunger pangs than we do.
• It's important to have reasonable expectations. Your child may only be able to sit for a short time before becoming restless (depending on your child's age and temperament this may be anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes). So, you may not be able to stay as long as you used to. You may not even be able to finish your meal. Be flexible!
• If you are eating out with a partner, relative, or friend, you may need to eat in shifts: while one adult eats, the other entertains your child with books or other special toys saved for restaurants.
• There may still be times when eating out is overwhelming for everyone. Don't worry: you can try again!

Rules for restaurants:

• "No screaming" or "Please use a quiet voice."
• "No wandering" or "You need to stay in a chair (or on a lap)."

Things to bring:

• A few snacks you know your child will eat while waiting for food to arrive.
• A few toys that will be quietly entertaining such as picture books, puzzles, or crayons and paper.
• A well-stocked diaper bag and a bib.

Adapted from Healthy Steps. Edited and Compiled by the Center for Promotion of Child Development Through Primary Care 2011