How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

We haven't really taken DD out to eat much but I figured at 19 months we probably should start.

We took her out for an early dinner on Sunday and it was miserable. She didn't want to sit for more than 2 minutes. She kept saying, "bye bye" which means "I am so done with this place!" Then she started a winy cry after a few minutes. We choked down a few bites of our entrees but then had the rest packed to go.

I brought coloring books, crayons & toys. I let her play with the sugar packets & spoons. She didn't eat much...some crackers and a little matzo ball soup. Disappointing!

So how do you all do it? Where are we going wrong?

Message edited 5/27/2008 9:13:16 PM.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

We have taken Cailen out to dinner since he was 2 weeks old, and we thought we would have such a well behaved toddler because of it...

NOT!

Our happy little guy who sat in the high chair all this time banging spoons together has become a MONSTER in restaraunts (he is only 13 mts!!!)

All he wants to do is run around. He refuses to eat anything and wants to drink our water from water glasses.... We are determined to tecah him he needs to stay in his high chair, but then he becomes one of those kids everyone hates....

Ummm - you wanted advice though. Sorry....

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Posted by lipglossjunky73

We have taken Cailen out to dinner since he was 2 weeks old, and we thought we would have such a well behaved toddler because of it...

NOT!

Our happy little guy who sat in the high chair all this time banging spoons together has become a MONSTER in restaraunts (he is only 13 mts!!!)

All he wants to do is run around. He refuses to eat anything and wants to drink our water from water glasses.... We are determined to tecah him he needs to stay in his high chair, but then he becomes one of those kids everyone hates....

Ummm - you wanted advice though. Sorry....

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Well, DS is 11 months so not quite a toddler just yet.

We bring him when it's HIS meal time (I feed him after we ordered our food) or at nap time. We bring the stroller in. We drive around.... he falls asleep. We transfer VERY carefully to stroller. We showel food fast. But that's usually at the local pizza place or Panera Bread. No really restaurant!

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

I wish I knew the answer. We have always taken our DS out to dinner since he was so young and he was always soooo good. Now at 26 months, he has his moments and it's hit or miss. I find that its less stressful if he had a nice long nap that day and now that he is so into Thomas, he brings his choo choos with him and plays with them. He maybe sitting on the restaurant floor with them but at least it keeps him busy !!

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

I wish I had the answer but my 18 month old does the same thing. All I can say is that he does best at Chuck E cheese because he can run around before and after his meal, but the food is . My best advice is to find a family friendly place.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

There are two keys to having a fairly enjoyable dining-out experience with a toddler:

(1) TIMING.

What kind of mood is your DD in? Cranky? Whiny? Tired? DON'T even dare to take her out.

Good mood? Self-entertaining? Nice, long, well rested nap? You can probably take the chance.

I never venture out unless I know Alex is well rested and in a good mood. I don't dare take her out within an hour of naptime or bedtime - that's just asking for trouble!

(2) GO AT DD'S MEALTIME

If Alex has already eaten, she has absolutely no interest in what we're doing at the restaurant, and immediately wants to start wandering. If, however, I take her right when it's lunchtime or dinnertime (don't wait TOO long otherwise she'll get cranky!), she's very engaged in the experience, wants to try everything and is fairly jovial

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

We take DS out all the time (have since he was a little baby). We tend to go out a little earlier than we used to and make sure he has had a good nap. I bring whatever toy he is into that day and even snacks if I have to. I also make sure we have a stroller (at least in the car) and I'm not afraid to use if to walk him around if we need to DS is a very good eater (knock wood) so as long as he has food, he is typically very good.
I really try not to let him run around at all since it is dangerous for him and other people at the restaurant (especially the waiters!) so if he is really restless, it will warrant a walk outside with me or with daddy (or with another family member if needed).

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Alcohol, lots of alchol!!!

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Funny that everyone says go at their dinnertime. We feed Sabrina before we go and give her stuff to pick on in the restaurant.

If we waited to feed her there, she would be too distracted and wouldn't eat. If I know she has a full belly, then she is happy and willing to play with little bits of our food.

Usually she is okay in restaurants because she likes to flirt with everybody.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

get a portable dvd player, and bring it to dinner. my son never sat for meals. we got the dvd player and we were able to go out to eat again. an hour worth of videos, and he would eat while he watched, and we could eat in peace. once he got older, and was able to talk more and do more, we stopped the dvd, and went with crayons and other small toys. he does fine now, and he is 5. but the dvd player saved us from about 15 months until he was 3.5

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

I agree about timing being everything.

The other day we went out, 4 adults, and 7 children ages 9 and under.
(9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 2, 22months.)
for some reason they were GREAT
we had just come from the playground and they were a bit tired, so they each had something going on, one was coloring, my son was making origami stuff... my 22month old was munching on bread and babbling to us.

It was really just luck.

when we take out our 3, its hit or miss also. I like to bring my 22month old's stroller so that he can lay down if he likes (yes it limits WHERE we go to eat, and where we sit and how long we wait for a table) but it's worth it to me, because when he gets tired or cranky, he leans over/back any which way and makes it dangerous so the stroller is my best friend...esp if its an iffy time and last minute dinner (not planned).
and bring some NEW treats/snacks that theyve never seen before...

youre not alone !

Message edited 5/27/2008 10:18:21 PM.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Christopher is 13 months, but he LOOVVEES going to restaurants. He loves food, he loves people.

I do find that bringing out booster the healthy chair thinger from FP, is a lot better than an high chair, he is used to it and he has his own tray.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Posted by Bxgell2

There are two keys to having a fairly enjoyable dining-out experience with a toddler:

(1) TIMING.

What kind of mood is your DD in? Cranky? Whiny? Tired? DON'T even dare to take her out.

Good mood? Self-entertaining? Nice, long, well rested nap? You can probably take the chance.

I never venture out unless I know Alex is well rested and in a good mood. I don't dare take her out within an hour of naptime or bedtime - that's just asking for trouble!

(2) GO AT DD'S MEALTIME

If Alex has already eaten, she has absolutely no interest in what we're doing at the restaurant, and immediately wants to start wandering. If, however, I take her right when it's lunchtime or dinnertime (don't wait TOO long otherwise she'll get cranky!), she's very engaged in the experience, wants to try everything and is fairly jovial

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Posted by Bxgell2

There are two keys to having a fairly enjoyable dining-out experience with a toddler:

(1) TIMING.

What kind of mood is your DD in? Cranky? Whiny? Tired? DON'T even dare to take her out.

Good mood? Self-entertaining? Nice, long, well rested nap? You can probably take the chance.

I never venture out unless I know Alex is well rested and in a good mood. I don't dare take her out within an hour of naptime or bedtime - that's just asking for trouble!

(2) GO AT DD'S MEALTIME

If Alex has already eaten, she has absolutely no interest in what we're doing at the restaurant, and immediately wants to start wandering. If, however, I take her right when it's lunchtime or dinnertime (don't wait TOO long otherwise she'll get cranky!), she's very engaged in the experience, wants to try everything and is fairly jovial

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

We have been taking DS out to eat since he was a week old. He is very good. I always bring toys, books, etc. He sits in the highchair and eats his meal. We usually order his first with the appetizer so that he does not have to wait to long to eat. Also, we always try to go to kid friendly restaurants.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

I can only go out for Mexican. He LOVES Mexican and will sit nice at eat.

Pizza sometimes if the place is busy and a lot is going on.

Monday morning we rode our bikes to an outdoor brunch...NIGHTMARE. I thought he would like eating outside, nope...it was torture. He wanted to play in the fountains.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

It really is timing and a DVD player I learned the DVD player thing from being on the cruise. Works perfect. But also making sure that we go before his cranky time is best for us.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

Thanks for all of your responses! I am relieved to see that it's not just our family that is facing these going out to eat issues. To those of you who have an easier time, thanks for your recommendations. I'll try some of those things!

We're going to try lunch out over the next weekend or 2 and see if that is any better. I just want to have some flexibility to eat on the run if we are out & I don't feel like we have any options right now.

Message edited 5/28/2008 9:36:56 AM.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

my DD is 19 months too and it is a rough age- they are just very independent.
We still do take DD to restaurants but she has to be STARVING HUNGRY.... and she will not sit in the high chair anymore (not at home either)- so she sits in the booth with us or in a booster (although sometimes she doesn't want the booster either)- what normally happens is I have one hand on her at all times so she doesn't take a dive.
Normally a little bread & butter will keep her quite. I ask the server to bring out her food ASAP and put our food on rush.
Sometimes she is really great and sometimes not so great.
I find that she only is great for one meal a day. And typically she's better eating lunch out then dinner out.. so maybe try that?
Also- I typically stick to places like dine-in pizza places, Fridays, Diners, and other "loud" places where I don't feel bad 'cause there's a gazillion kids.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

I have a solution, take friends with kids out with you, or go to a restaurant that is super child friendly. Or, take grandma and grandpa.

We don't go out much because neither of us enjoy it, Noah is all over the shop! We do go to a Thai restaurant that does a Sunday buffet and they love children, they run all over the place, the other diners mostly have kids and they don't mind.

I don't think its realistic to expect a toddler to sit in a chair and enjoy a lovely meal for an hour or more

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

we went out a ton before Bella was a year old and then it came to a screeching halt because of all the screeching.

Now, we pick family friendly restaurants and bring coloring books and toys...plus, I have an incredibly nosy child.
It also totally depends on her mood too...but the last few times have been OK.

Re: How do I take a Toddler out to dinner and actually enjoy it?

My DS has eaten at a restaurant at least once a week practically since he was born... and it's still hit or miss. Sometimes he's fantastic, I've had brunch with my girlfriends for 2 hours, and sometimes he's a beast, DH and I have had our food packed to go. We just keep on going out and he does seem to be better more often than a beast.