_x000D_
Who’s hungry? If you’re looking_x000D_
forward to taking your baby out to a restaurant, you’re in good company. (And_x000D_
now that spring has sprung, those outdoor cafés look particularly inviting.)
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But before you decide to head out_x000D_
and break bread together, it helps to know how to handle yourself (and your_x000D_
child) when dining away from home.
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_x000D_
Chew on This
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Dining out with a little one can be_x000D_
a breeze, especially with an infant. “When your baby’s a newborn, going_x000D_
out to eat is surprisingly painless,” says Amber and Andy Ankowski,_x000D_
authors of Think Like a Baby: 33 Simple_x000D_
Research Experiments You Can Do at Home to Better Understand Your Baby’s_x000D_
Developing Mind (www.doctoranddad.com)._x000D_
That’s because at this point, your little one still sleeps a lot.” The husband-and-wife team_x000D_
recommends bringing your car seat and setting it up alongside you as you dine._x000D_
“Make sure to feed your baby shortly before you plan to be at the_x000D_
restaurant,” they advise. “Once your baby’s belly is full, it will be_x000D_
a whole lot easier to fill yours.”
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For those wide-eyed babies who are_x000D_
more curious than sleepy, be sure to pack some supplies. Christine Knight, who_x000D_
blogs about her adventures of traveling and eating out with her child (www.christineknight.me), suggests_x000D_
“a toy they haven’t seen before, or a spoon will work just as well, and a_x000D_
piece of bread to gnaw on.”
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Nursing Know-How
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When Knight was eating out and_x000D_
needed to breastfeed her baby, she brought along a nursing cover and nursed her_x000D_
daughter at the table. “I had my baby in New York City, and there was often nowhere_x000D_
else to go to feed her,” she recalls. “I did try and time the_x000D_
feedings around our dining out after she was a few months old and would nurse_x000D_
her before and after our outings.”
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Whether or not you breastfeed at the_x000D_
table or in private is ultimately a personal choice. “If covering up or_x000D_
going someplace private helps you and your baby feel more at ease, then we say_x000D_
go for it,” say the Ankowskis. “But don’t be surprised if your own_x000D_
personal comfort level with breastfeeding in public changes over time.”
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Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk
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Even if your baby arrives at a_x000D_
restaurant on a full stomach and with plenty of toys and snacks to keep her_x000D_
occupied, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of fussiness. If your baby_x000D_
becomes visibly (and audibly) upset at the table, simply excuse yourself for a_x000D_
few minutes and step outside. “My husband and I used to take turns…and_x000D_
walking around the street until our baby calmed down,” says Knight._x000D_
“With an older baby, putting them on your lap and distracting them_x000D_
helps.”
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And as your baby grows and turns_x000D_
into a toddler, eating out may become more challenging, but it doesn’t mean you_x000D_
have to stay home, either. Knight suggests packing a few toys they haven’t_x000D_
played with in a while and some crayons, while the Ankowskis suggest bringing_x000D_
along some foods you know your child will eat, like yogurt or a bagel.
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Ensuring a smooth dining experience_x000D_
means practicing good behavior at home. “If your child runs around_x000D_
yelling, screaming and climbing on the furniture during your normal family_x000D_
dinnertime, there’s a good chance he’ll do the exact same thing when you go_x000D_
out,” says the Ankowskis. By setting clear expectations about how to_x000D_
behave at mealtime, you’ll better be able to enforce rules outside of the home,_x000D_
too.
