As he eats food gets all over his face! I find this really cute. Actually i don't mind the mess he makes when he eats. At home, he's eating a lot, He also makes so much mess, half his food just lands on floor. I think this is just ok and we cleanup right away.
But when we dine out, cleaning is all up to the restaurant crew and I'm shy about leaving behind crumbs of food on the floor or spills of drinks on the table.
I really get conscious when my kid gets rowdy and loud while waiting for the food. This behavior i tolerate at home, but this worries me when we're out. I know such situation improves as he gets older. But right now, i often prefer just to eat in the comforts of our own home. For now, our solution for these worries is just to keep dining out to the minimum. This is more healthy and more frugal too.
Here are some ways to make eating out with a child easy.
Choose a kid-friendly place.
A clear sign that a restaurant is kid-friendly is if it provides high chairs for their kid patrons. Otherwise you'll have to eat with a child on your lap if he can't sit on a regular seat yet. This already limits our options because most places we've been too don't have high chairs. A safe bet (for high chairs) are fast food places like Jollibee or McDonald's.
Get ready with a bib!
Make the bib your best friend. Always bring along a bib to put on during mealtime. This lessens chances of staining his clothes. Bring along wet wipes for easy cleaning after he's done.
Pack snacks.
Bring along finger foods your child can munch on. This is a good idea for when he's getting impatient waiting for the food. My child's favorite finger foods include sliced bananas and fried potatoes. Just make sure he does not get too full and hungry enough when the food gets to your table.
Ready your arsenal of distraction.
Dining out is supposed to be a social thing. You should interact with your child and let you companions bond with him. But when he gets bored with all the talking and playing, bring out some toys, books or your gadgets to distract him. My son's favorite thing to do right now is to watch Cars The Movie. We bring this video along so he can watch during his downtime.
Dining out is supposed to be fun for you and your child. Involve him in the whole ordering and eating process. Consider his diet preference and restrictions. We always have soup and some sort of finger foods like bread or fries because these are his favorites. This way, he also gets a feel of how to eat out.
Try not to be overwhelmed when your child misbehaves or messes up in public. I know some people think that an unruly and messy child is a reflection of bad parenting! But you know better, what really matters is you know you that strive hard to be good at parenting.
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