Acting up in Restaurant

I went through this with my son. (In fact, it was so bad that for a while we were almost afraid to go out!) What works best for us is to find family friendly places with fast service.I always ask for a booth and put him on the inside so it is harder for him to get up and wander. I also take a "kid pack" with us, (a suggestion I got from a friend who is a mother of 4.) I use a small lunch box size plastic bin. I put a few small toys, board books, stickers, paper & crayons, and play dough in it. This way he has a variety of things to keep him occupied while waiting. It isn't always a perfect experience, but it definitely helps.

Hi, E.! I know what you're going through. Although my 21 month son is a very well-behaved child, he frequently gets wild when we are out since he cannot get down and run around. I have tried many different things - so I thought I would give you a list. I have found that not everything works every time, but it is more about me being proactive, or reacting quickly anyway, when he is getting bored or dissatisfied with sitting down. I sometimes let him sit with me until the food comes (which works great in booths, since you can contain them a bit). I also always bring lots of toys with me. I sell Discovery Toys, and we have lots of smaller toys (that are also pretty inexpensive) that can be contained and are fun to play with in all sorts of different ways. I bring out one or two toys, then bring out more and put away the others as he gets "bored." I also always take advantage of the crayons and coloring placemats the restaurants have, and even though he doesn't understand colorin the pictures, he can scribble, and I talk about the picture, and what color I am coloring what thing, and the shapes. I count things, like the sugar packets at the table. I talk about the the people with are with, and how we spell their names. I name objects around me and spell them with the crayons. I think it is all about making sure you don't assume that they can sit all that time without some kind of interaction. I don't always do it right, but I always try to think ahead about it and not get frustrated, but just fund ways of "distraction" to help him have fun, learn, and be a part of the experience, while also having fun myself. Hope this helps!

Our son is and has been the same way. He is now 2, but last year I used to save in the back of the car a little back pack with toys he loved. I only brought it out at restaurants. It had crayons and a pad of paper, some touch and feel books, a play phone, and a little fishing game that he was too young for, but stilll loved playing with the fish. We also brought cheerios to help span out the meal. While we waited for the food one of us usually took him outside for a short walk. Not fun for my husband and I but it helped to keep him from screaming. We now do the same with my 15 month old daughter. The "restaurant backpack" really seems to help. It was either that or eat in the house for 4 years:) Good luck!

It's a little while since my son was 16 months (now 3). For really nice restaurants, hire a sitter and enjoy your meal. When you really just need to not cook and eat out try places that server you quickly, are super kid friendly. Or the semi-fast food.. like Q'Doba, Rubios etc where you get your food, sit down and eat. It sort of depends on your child but to keep your frustration levels down don't put your child in a situation where they won't be able to sit down. It will pass, I am sure but regardless even with my child at 3, I don't take him to a super fancy place where the service may take forever. We like mexican where he can have chips and salsa. I also used to take his food at that point, although the problem there is that while he may eat while you are waiting, he'll be ready to go when you want to eat.

I guess, I'd just recommend the quick dinners, take out and a sitter for special occasions.

Good luck.
L.

Hi. I take about 3 different kinds of snacks with us. When my 13 month old gets tired of one and gets squirmy, I give him something different. I carry something (choc. chip teddy grams) that he only gets in "emergency". Another thing you can do is walk her around to see different things at the restaurant. I know that ruins part of your visiting w/ whomever you're eating with but can distract until the food gets there. Hope this helps! Good luck!

We have an extremely active 2-year-old son. And one suggestion I have, is if you order a kids meal or even a side of potatoes or something else off the menu, have have the kitchen send it out right away so you can concentrate on feeding your toddler first, and then I usually share something from my dinner when it arrives. Good luck... for us it is still a challenge.

Make a bag of a few small special toys that she can play with at the table wihle waiting for the food. My son used to like to take a few Thomas the Trains with us. This will keep her busy while waiting for food. If she starts to get impatient get a few crackers for her to munch on while waiting.

E., ask the waiter/tress if they have crayons and coloring pages for her to play with. Sometimes what my husband and I had to do was after we ordered and while we're waiting just walk her around the restaurant. Look out the windows, say hi to the other diners, maybe there's artwork on the walls she could look at some. Take her to the bathroom, providing its clean, and let her run around in there some, let her wash her hands. Maybe take a toy along too that you know she'll play with. No one who knows kids should ever expect a 16 month old to sit still and be quiet so no one should really be bothered of you're trying to keep her entertained and once in a while she gets alittle loud. Just be curtious to the other people and you should be fine. Then when food arrives sit down and enjoy your meal, if you have a chance to eat after cutting up and serving your child's food! Oh and remember to take a sippy cup along, not all restaurants have kid friendly cups with lids same with forks and spoons her size, just don't leave them there!

Hi,
I understand this too, my daughter does the same thing until food arrives. We have found to ask for crayons , and that will keep her busy also toys . Hope this helps. Oh we also have took along animal crakers ect to feed her until food comes.