Going out to eat with kids can be overwhelming – especially your first time. But here are a few tips that make eating out more enjoyable for everyone:
- Bring age appropriate toys to distract baby. Try to avoid tablets if you can. I like to keep water wow, play doh, and stickers in my bag at all times. For infants, this is always a favorite toy to keep in your diaper bag.
- These placemats are wonderful. We always keep a stack in our diaper bag. That way you don’t have to worry about your kids throwing the plate on the floor, or eating off tables that are never cleaned. We also keep these bibs in our diaper bag because they are small and good if we want to avoid a mess.
- Ask for a plastic fork/spoon for your little ones. Don’t lug kids utensils in your bag. Plastic utensils are usually smaller than the silverware they keep in the restaurant, and they can be thrown away.
- Consider bringing your own chair if your child is between 6-11 months. Or at least leave it in the car. I found that when Izzy and Maddy were young, the high chairs were big, dirty, and sometimes the straps were broken. It seemed like they were always slipping through the seat. By having a seat on hand, you will never stress about whether the restaurant has a high chair that will work for you. I love this one. I will say that now that my girls are older, we don’t bring our own chair, and just make do with whatever the restaurant has. That being said, we still use it for our art table at home, and have brought it with us on vacation many times.
- Ask for off menu items for little babies like avocado or banana that you can smash up. And just in case, always pack snacks like puffs, Cheerios, or pouches that you know your kids will eat in case of a meltdown. Sometimes I will offer I and M puffs or Cheerios in a snack catcher before the meal comes just to keep them calm. We call it their “appetizer”. I also keep these disposable cups for water or milk in my diaper bag.
Try to enjoy! Remember: children feed off your mood. If you are stressed, they will be too. If you are calm and relaxed they notice and will also stay calm. And let your kids get messy— it is how they learn! Best part about being out of the house—- you don’t have to clean! That being said be nice to your waiter. Don’t leave a war zone behind, and tip well if you leave a mess! Eating out can be fun with kids and a nice change of scenery. Use these 5 tips next time you go out for a more enjoyable meal!
Check out other Twinsie Tips articles!
Rachel is a mama to two beautiful identical twin girls, Izzy and Maddy, and lives in Atlanta with her husband, girls, and cute little pup. Rachel graduated with honors from New York University earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and the Founders’ Day Scholar Award. She also received her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from New York University. Rachel has spent the majority of her career as a pediatric nurse and currently works in pediatric oncology.
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