restaurant with baby??

[Blessed1]

My little one will be 4months old this week and we are craving to go out to eat a restaurant! lol We haven't been to a restaurant since she was born and we would love to try it but how in the heck does it work????
She doesn't sit up yet so we can't use the highchair...
We don't use a bucket car seat so that rules that out...
My family lives out of state so they can't watch her...
I carry her in our ergo but I don't see how it would be practical to sit in a booth and eat with her in it...right? I would be afraid I would spill hot food all over her or something...besides she doesn't enjoy being in it for too long when I am not moving around.
I suppose we can just take turns holding her in our laps but that isn't very practical (but I guess trying to take a 4month old out to eat at a restaurant isn't very practical..lol)
How do you ladies do it?

I guess it really isn't a big deal. I always cook at home and enjoy it, but it would be nice to visit our favorite steak house. I suppose we could wait a few more months until she can sit up.

But I would love to know how you ladies do it with little ones if you don't have a bucket car seat. ??

[sunwise]

Hi there! We are in the same boat as you because we also don't use a bucket car seat, which seems rare these days. I have taken my 7 week old DS to restaurants a few times, but only for lunch so far - dinner time tends to be a more unpredictable time for him (he has evening crying fits many nights). We have just gone to places where we can take our stroller inside, since DS will often nap in it if we take a walk first. We also found it easier to eat lunch quickly in case he gets upset. So far this has worked, but we still do it infrequently.

Another thing I did was buy a cheap bucket seat off craigslist just in case we can't use the stroller. We stow it in our car's trunk because I don'tneed it to replace the good convertible seat we use. However, we have only used it once so far. We usually walk places so we prefer the stroller.

[katelove]

Our LO will be 5 months next week. We mostly eat out at lunchtime as she tends to get a bit overstimulated if we go out at night and then doesn't sleep easily. But we have been out to dinner a few times as well.

We just wear her in the wrap. I have dropped food on her a couple of times but it's never been anything hot enough to burn her. I think if it was that hot it would be uncomfortable for me to eat as well, but that may be just me.

She does get a bit restless sitting in the wrap sometimes. If that happens DH will turn her around so she can look out which usually settles her. Mostly though she is so interested in what's going on that she's quite happy to sit. We haven't been out for a while but I'd probably take a toy with us now for extra amusement. I'd also maybe consider sitting at a table instead of in a booth so she could look around more.

All the best, I hope you all enjoy your first dinner out together

[St. Margaret]

I would try someplace cheap and family-friendly first. At 4mo my daughter screamed if we took her to a restaurant (or anywhere indoors like that, sitting and loud-- as soon as we went outside, she was fine!). We still went out from time to time and just took turns eating and caring for her. And sometimes we'd luck out if she fell asleep-- but yeah, I just wore her and ate around her! We just figured it was all part of parenting, everything works around the little one

[jenfl]

Four months is a tough time for eating out. Once we hit around 6 months, we were able to start using a high chair that clips onto the side of the table (more secure and supportive than a restaurant high chair).

But at 4 months, we wore him some, passed him back and forth a lot, but really -- we didn't go out much.

[akind1]

We go out way more than we probably should . . .before we had a bucket, I wore him in the moby wrap. Once we had a bucket (we needed a 2nd carseat, and it was on clearance!) we used that for restaurants, or just held him in our laps until he sat well enough for the highchair. If you have a stroller, you can use that, so long as it wouldn't take up too much aisle space in the restaurant. He has always loved being out with us.

If the weather in your area permits, sit outside, baby noise is noticed a lot less out there, and I think the fresh air helps too.

[chel]

no bucket here either and we eat out a lot.

i either use a ring sling or just hold my dd.

[newmamalizzy]

We've done dinner a few times starting when DD was around 4 months old. She's always surprised us by being on her best behavior in the restaurant. We take turns eating and holding and/or feeding the baby. Try to find a place with a nice lobby area, especially if it's cold out. You can just take her for a little walk if she gets fussy at the table. If she's teething, give her a spoon or cup to gnaw on and she'll be happy as a clam! Just try to pick a good time of day for your LO.

[mom2happy]

We eat out a lot. I hold her or wear her.
Believe me, this time will go by so fast. Before you know it the baby will be sitting up and just when you figure out what to do with her, she'll start walking- that's the next challenge to going out.

I have had a few breaks where we would go somewhere that allows a small stroller in. We look for a corner table and park her in a reclining position. It works if she is asleep. If she wakes, I just nurse her and put her right back or hold her.

[SilverFish]

hahah, you missed prime going out time! eating dinner with a newborn is the easiest thing ever... they're only interested in nursing and sleeping, and they're small enough to fit neatly under your chin so you can eat comfortably. we avoided going out for a few weeks around 4 months because dd suddenly got so unpredictable. sometimes she didn't want to eat or sleep because it was so interesting in the restaurant, but she had to be held the whole time. then it got vastly easier around 6 months because we could use the highchairs or have her balance pretty well on our laps so we had a free hand or two.

now at 7 months, going out is really a lot of fun. she sits well in a highchair, is very entertained by the various restaurant accoutrement, the other patrons find her adorable (and so well behaved! ) and she only needs to nurse maybe once, and otherwise lets me enjoy my food.

one thing i found that worked with a not yet sitting babe was to get a booth, do a light swaddle and nurse her to sleep before the food came, then lay her down on the booth beside me with a pacifier when the food arrived. usually she stayed asleep for at least the 10-20 min i needed to get a good start on my meal, and then if needed we switched back and forth with holding her. on the booth bench, you can kind of block them rolling off with your body or a purse or something.

[justKate]

Put her in a wrap or sling (or hold her) and put a napkin on her head.

[fruitfulmomma]

hahah, you missed prime going out time! eating dinner with a newborn is the easiest thing ever.

I agree... My older kids that constantly seem to need to go to the bathroom and never give me time to eat is my problem.

[paxye]

We don't eat out a lot but having a baby of any age has never stopped us when we wanted to go out...

I just use a wrap/sling carrier and both DH and I will take turns holding the baby...

[mommariffic]

Oh man we love going out to eat!

We have a 3 month old, and normally we hold him during meals. I love going to try new foods, and if it's a place that's a bit more "fancy" we just go early before the dinner rush. No problems thus far!

[AFWife]

When DS was that age he HATED restaurants. Before that it was easy because he would nurse, fall asleep, and then slept in the booth next to me on a blanket.

Like others have said: Try a family friendly place first (like a Chili's or something...save the 4 star for another date)

Also, don't be afraid to ask for the check WITH the food and go ahead and pay. You can also ask for a To Go box with the food as well. That way if she does get really out of hand you can just pack up and go without having to wait for the server to come back with everything you need.

[MJB]

My new babe is almost 3 mos. and we've been out to eat a lot; I wear her in the sling and eat. For us, 4-5 months is the hardest time because my babies REALLY want food then and are trying to grab it off my plate or fork. We have this thing called "My Little Seat" that hooks onto a regular chair and is small enough to fit in your diaper bag. Edie's been able to sit in it for a few weeks now; it is very supportive. So far we have only used it at home but for the 4-5 mo. period it will definitely come in handy at restaurants.

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by AFWife

Also, don't be afraid to ask for the check WITH the food and go ahead and pay. You can also ask for a To Go box with the food as well. That way if she does get really out of hand you can just pack up and go without having to wait for the server to come back with everything you need.

This is good advice!

We would take turns holding Cecilia when we went out to eat at that age. We rarely eat out though.

[Nicole730]

We go out to eat all the time. We usually take turns holding and eating. Sometimes I wear her. She started sitting kind of early, so we started using the restaurant high chairs at 5 months, which was nice.

Tip though, once you get to the point she can sit in a high chair, hold her until your food comes. Otherwise her patience in the chair may run out before you get to eat!

[AFWife]

Oh, FWIW, DS is 18mo and there are times where we STILL ask for the check and boxes with the food. So, there's no shame in it!

[Abraisme]

I've always taken my kids out to eat from the very beginning. I rarely, if ever use the bucket seat. I put my dd facing out in the Moby while I ate. It held her in place and freed up my hands. Then when someone else was finished they'd hold the baby, or whatever worked. Sometimes I ended up standing by the table or waiting a bit to eat, but that's to be expected. Just go and don't over-think it. Also, I don't have an issue with eating over my baby's head. The only thing I won't eat is soup, it's too messy and hot.