Dining Out With Young Children

Dining out with children is rarely an adult centered activity. Realistic expectations can help you avoid stressful situations.

1. Consider a restaurant that caters to families -- a place where young children's noise, activity level and yes, sometimes mess, will be accepted.
2. Bring a "restaurant bag," including distractions such as washable crayons, paper, a small toy or a book. Games such as "I Spy" or "20 Questions" might serve to occupy older children until food arrives.
3. Stress and the number of spills are closely related. Giving children a tippy cup, or a shortened or bendable straw, can greatly reduce spills.
4. When possible, allow children to participate in ordering. Few children are able to finish a restaurant portion. Keep orders small and share items among children. A soda served before the meal seldom lasts until the meal and frequently diminishes a child's appetite.
5. Hungry children are not known for their pateince and don't see the time before the meal as a time for conversation and relaxation. Order soon after you arrive, or in some cases, call ahead and order in advance. Sometimes fast food or a buffet style restaurant may fit the bill for your family.
6. At restaurant prices, it may work better to introduce new foods to children by offering samples from your plate rather than insisting they try something new.
7. If you bring a baby bottle, note that many restaurants will not heat bottles. Holding the bottle under hot running water will usually work in a pinch.
8. A few extra wet wipes come in handy for sticky hands/faces.
9. More and more restaurants are providing changing tables, but it pays to come prepared with a changing pad.
10. If your child's behavior becomes inappropriate and is annoying others, remove your child to a private, quiet area and let the child calm down. Offer a choice, try again, or go home.
11. Restaurants are new and stimulating places for young children. Take them for a walk while waiting for your meal. Don't allow them to wander alone. When carrying trays of food, restaurant staff have a hard time seeing small children.
12. Tired children rarely make it through a meal without incident. If possible, plan your activity for a time when your child is rested.