I can’t believe this is the second to last week of part two of the One Year and Beyond Series.
I’m a little late to posting today. We have officially arrived in Florida and are busy getting adjusted at Nana and Papa’s.
The topic today is tricks for eating out with your toddler.
I honestly probably need more advice on this topic than I can give.
When AG was younger it was easy peasy. All I need with me was food and a toy.
These days, it’s difficult.
We went to breakfast for Father’s Day at a local pancake house.
AG was so misbehaved, we hadn’t eaten out again until this past week.
At the pancake house, she refused a highchair (screamed and cried if we put her in it.)
Tried a booster seat and she kept getting up and walking around the booth.
She was pulling everything off the table, reaching for the silverware left and right.
She wanted no part of any of the “activities” I packed for her.
It was so bad, we got out food to go and left.
When we took her out to eat for her birthday, just over a week ago it went better.
I still wouldn’t call it enjoyable. But it was better.
I brought two busy bags, her iPad and some books.
I also had some favorite snacks for her to eat while we waited for food.
She did sit in her highchair the entire time and didn’t try to get up.
She played with the busy bags for a good 10 minutes and read one book.
We were also at the Rainforest Cafe, so I think the animals around helped our situation.
Location is key! Pick a place where a loud toddler isn’t out of the norm.
On this evening we went to dinner at 4:30.
We didn’t have to wait long and she wasn’t starving.
That night, our food came out really fast. We were out within an hour.
Not sure how much longer she could have hung in there.
I guess my few pieces of advice for eating out with a toddler are as follows…
*Bring activities, books and things to quietly keep them busy, like the busy bags.
*Have extra snacks incase the food takes a long time.
*Go at the right time for your child. Getting somewhere at dinner time could be more problem some than getting there a bit early.
*Don’t have any expectations. If you have to get your food to go because of a toddler that isn’t behaving, that is okay. You can only do the best with what you have.
I’m excited to read the rest of the posts on this topic!
What is your secret trick to eating out with your little one? Check out the other mama’s blogs for even more tips! And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this.
July 10: Keeping your marriage alive with a toddler
July 17: Favorite summer toddler activities
July 24: Helping Your Toddler to Communicate (Words, emotions, etc.)
July 31: Dealing with Separation Anxiety
Aug 7: Car Trip Necessities
Aug 14: Deciding when the time is right for baby #2 (and/or how to handle these questions)
Aug 21: Tricks for eating out with your toddler
Aug 28: Feeling confident as a mom (How to feel this way, Your struggle with, etc.)
Yeah Noah doesn't like to sit for long. We go to casual places and go early! 11:30 for lunch and 5 pm for dinner… We eat with the senior citizens ;). We opt for takeout a lot instead since it usually isn't fun for anyone.
We go places where he can run around and not disturb anyone. Outdoor seating or some sort of outside area. Someone always ends up taking him outside for play time while we wait for food. He then runs around until food comes and I actually go out of my way to NOT give him snacks so he's really hungry when food arrives =) He will then sit happily in his high chair for all of 10 minutes and at least eat SOME of his meal!
My biggest "trick" for that age was ordering her food first. Like when you order drinks. She would eat and then by the time our food came, she would want something off of our plate. It is not easy. I have put my daughter in time out on several occasions. The crayons and things like that helped too. When desperate or it's one of those times it's taking forever, I pull out my phone.
Great advice! I order Connor's meal when we order our drinks so he can get served as quickly as possible. It helps sometimes. And then again there are times when nothing seems to work so he just hangs out and snacks when he is ready.