Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

merf99 Posted: Jan 26, 2004 09:40 AM

Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

I love my almost 2 yr old neice- she is great. However, whenever we go out to a restaurant with her, she does not sit. BIL and SIL have been taking her out to eat since she was very young but they started her off as letting her get up from the table whenever she wanted and since she's done this forever, she now refuses to sit.

We went to dinner last night and it's so hard to eat with her. So when you go out with your children or neices and nephews or friend's kids, do they sit and eat? Or are they running around?

Also, I suggested that they get a babysitter for the baby and let the adults go out to eat but they refuse to have anyone watch their baby except themselves or her mother (MIL). Again, the 'baby' is almost 2!

I'm not one of those people that gets mad when kids make noise or run around, it just seems pointless to take a 2 year old to a fancy restaurant.

2003OCT10 Posted: Jan 26, 2004 09:45 AM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

To a 'fancy' restaurant.. I suggest Babysitter... The Ground Round... probably not! I know what you mean though! My sisters one daughter is the SAME... Last weekend was my B-day and she must have been between my sister, her seat, and my mothers seat a zillion times... I personally didnt mind, because we went to the olive garden, and where we were eating was almost private...

If you go out to eat ofetn with them, I suggest going to 'family' restaurants like Ground Round.. they even have a cartoonist who travels to the tables and makes caricatures (sp??) of your children, free. (But you normally tip them!) Just a suggestion!! Good Luck!

2003OCT10 Posted: Jan 26, 2004 09:46 AM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

---Oh and my sister wont let anyone BESIDES family (our mom, her MIL, our cousins sit for her daughters at all!!)

Jan05Bride Posted: Jan 26, 2004 09:48 AM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

One of my friends bought a portable DVD player and takes that to resturants. The child knows the volume has to stay low and she sits and watches a video while the adults 'talk' .. it actually works really well for everyone.

Fran M Posted: Jan 26, 2004 11:47 AM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

Ny Niece (5) and Nephew (3) have been taught how to behave in a restaurant and I have to say they are very good. Im not saying they go out to 5 star restaurants but to your basic family and neighborhood places. My Niece even wants to be sure she is using the correct fork for her salad. They look at visits to a restaurant as a treat. We never hesitate to take them out with us.

ETA - I do have to say the my SIL says they behave better for us then for them, the good old best behavior for Aunt and Uncle because they do cool things with us act but I think thats great!

IrishTracy Posted: Jan 26, 2004 03:01 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

We stopped going out to eat w/ Patrick. He loves to run around & I don't want to run after him. He screams bloody murder if we put him in a high chair. So, I usually get a babysitter if we want to go out to eat.

kptoys Posted: Jan 26, 2004 03:06 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

19 month old Emma is 90% good in restruants. She sits and plays with things we bring for her. If she is getting restless I bring out crayons or something extra special. I can ususally get through dinner without having her go nutz. And if she does she walks around and says hi when we are done eatting or waiting for the check.

KathyKelly Posted: Jan 26, 2004 03:25 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

If we want to torture ourselves we bring them, if we want peace we leave them with a babysitter!!

If we are going to Applebees, etc. Amanda does come with us and we try to keep her occupied as much as possible with little toys or crayons that I bring with me. She is usually pretty good but you can't expect a child under 3 to sit still for 2 hrs - it just doesn't happen. Once she starts getting antsy, we usually wrap it up and out we go - I do not believe in letting them run around the restaurant - it just isn't fair to others.

I do have a SIL & BIL that are constantly letting their 2yr walk around the restaurant and they have to chase her all around and I dont know why they dont try to keep her busy in the highchair but they don't want to contain her curiosity to explore (yes, they actually said that to me) That's why we don't go out to eat with them too often

JennRenee Posted: Jan 26, 2004 03:33 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

Posted by KathyKelly

I do have a SIL & BIL that are constantly letting their 2yr walk around the restaurant and they have to chase her all around and I dont know why they dont try to keep her busy in the highchair but they don't want to contain her curiosity to explore (yes, they actually said that to me) That's why we don't go out to eat with them too often

Anyone I know???

KathyKelly Posted: Jan 26, 2004 03:34 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

Shhhh!!! I will never reveal - but what do you think??

JennRenee Posted: Jan 26, 2004 03:35 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

Posted by KathyKelly

Shhhh!!! I will never reveal - but what do you think??

Your secret is safe.

anna Posted: Jan 26, 2004 04:31 PM

Re: Opinions regarding going out to restaurants with children

This is getting more and more difficult as John Anthony gets older. A toddler cant be expected to sit still for over an hour

So far, we start with daddy holding him until our food comes. He entertains him with crayons, a sip of his water, the menu, etc.
Then when our food comes, we put him in the high chair (HELLO Terrible Twos! ) We try to calm him quickly with cheerios, bread, goldfish any little snack we may have. So while we eat, he's snacking and babbling to us.
Then we can feed him his meal as we eat ours.
For the most part, thats what we do. Sometimes, if its a LONGG dinner, I have to let him walk around or John will take him to a quieter, roomier place in the restaurant to let him stretch his legs, distract him etc.

It really IS hard. For fancier restaurants, we save the occassion for when we do have babysitting.
Its not always fair to them to be taken along under such constraints at their age.
My nieces and nephew (Ages 3, 4 1/2, 1 1/2) they sit for the most part, but the girls may get up for small amounts of time and stay right within our table. especially during that long wait for the food.. Many times my sister/BIL eat quickly as they feed the kids

Although I agree with teaching TAKING children out to eat (Even if its a diner or local place) just to teach them manners and social skills, I also agree that there are times where everyone involved is better off if the kids are left home with a babysitter.