After you have a baby, you might wonder if life will ever return to normal. If you can ever do adult things again like go out to eat or go to the movies.
Rest assured, taking a newborn to a restaurant is a possibility once they are around 4 weeks old. But be forewarned, they will be the most popular person in the room. Everyone will want to come over and coo at your baby, and you might get better service from the waitstaff.
However, going out in public with a baby requires some planning. Here are my best tips for how to take a baby to a restaurant.
Table of Contents
Prescreen the establishment
When choosing where to eat, I double check that the restaurant is child-friendly. Such as no dark lighting, loud noises, or adults-only rules like a dress code. The more casual the restaurant, the less everyone will mind if my baby shouts, cries, or drops things.
Often, chain restaurants are known to be family friendly. Think of the places where “kids eat free” and you should see plenty of other young families.
However, if we venture to a non-chain restaurant, then I call ahead to check for high chairs and changing tables. And I sometimes ask for a secluded table or booth when I feel self-conscious about breastfeeding.
Bring extra baby wipes
The first thing I do when we get to our table is wipe down my daughter’s area. I pull out her baby wipes and clean the high chair and table area where she will sit. Yes, the waiters clean the tables but babies are so apt to put things in their mouth.
Later, the baby wipes make another appearance before we leave. I wipe off my daughter and then her sitting area again, as a courtesy to the restaurant.
Running low on wipes? A great choice is these organic baby wipes, which are safe to use on your baby’s hands and face.
Plan entertainment
One element you may not remember is that a large portion of time at restaurants is spent sitting and waiting. Be prepared to keep your child happy and entertained within close quarters.
I often pack toys like teething rings that I can attach to my daughter’s car seat or high chair. But even if she does drop her toys, I simply wipe them off with baby wipes and hand them back. It may go without saying, but I leave the loud and musical toys at home.
Then for mature infants and toddlers, most restaurants provide free crayons and coloring pages. Just note that even the non-toxic crayons are not meant to be ingested.
The other activity that sometimes ends up happening when we go out is “pass the baby”. Our daughter gets passed from one lap to the next around the table, especially when the grandparents come.
And as a courtesy to the other dining patrons, I pack a few pacifiers or binkies to soothe a fussy baby.
Plan for baby to eat
You might think that eating at a restaurant is a fairly short endeavor. But no matter how long you are away from home, you should plan for your baby to eat while out.
When I was nursing, I would pack a suitable nursing cover and spit-up rag. Or later, a prepared bottle of formula and a thermos of hot water to heat the bottle.
Once our daughter was six months and older, my go-to was a container of baby food and a spoon. After our daughter grew a few teeth, we let her eat the free crackers.
And for babies and toddlers accustomed to table foods, do not feel obligated to order an entire kids’ meal. My husband and I order meals that we can cut up and share with our daughter. Or we get her a small side dish like mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese.
A few other things you might want to pack for an eating baby are disposable bibs and disposable placemats. We keep a few of these in the diaper bag so we always have them on hand.
Enjoy the experience
It may feel stressful at first, trying to care for an infant in a restaurant. But remember to sit back and enjoy being served. After all, this is one place you do not have to cook or do dishes.
And if it has been a while since you and your spouse last went out, consider splurging on the meal. Order whatever food and drinks suit your fancy.
Are you ready to venture out to restaurants again with your baby in tow? When taking an infant to a restaurant, first choose a child-friendly location. Then pack the diaper bag with toys, baby wipes, and feeding essentials, and you should be good to go!
