Hellobee Boards Topic: Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:29:07 +0000 Tanjowen on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318468 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:25:53 +0000 Tanjowen 2318468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Meh, we give him my phone to watch a video the few times we eat out and he has finished eating and gets tired of sitting or reading his books. He's not at the age to color or read yet, and he generally is done eating by the time my food shows up. There's only so much to keep his attention before he wants to start running around, and I want to eat my food. As he gets older I hope to phase it out because an older child should be able to participate in the conversation, but for now I'll take a toddler sitting quietly over chasing a toddler around a restaurant. regberadaisy on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318420 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 20:00:29 +0000 regberadaisy 2318420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We very very rarely eat out m. But when we do if the food is taking long or if she's done and I want to finally eat my dinner then yes. Meh, I'm sure others judge, but I could care less. Applesandbananas on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318414 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:57:11 +0000 Applesandbananas 2318414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We don't eat out very frequently but when we do, he's generally okay, so if I were to answer this a few days ago, I'd be all "oh em gee never", buuuut we just met up with some OOT CBC friends who we never see and didn't have a heads up to arrange for childcare, so when LO got antsy towards the end of the meal, we whipped out the iPhone and let him go to town so we could spend more time with our friends. Zero regrets. matador84 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318407 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:49:58 +0000 matador84 2318407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Under no circumstances. Ours are 3 and 19m and we are shocked at the number of friends who do allow devices at meals. One even goes so far as to right when being seated asks if they have wi-fi! I think it's so sad when we go out to eat to see kids with their faces in a phone or iPad instead of talking to their family. We go eat with our nephew and he won't even talk because he's so distracted by apps or YouTube...he's 8 and has had an iphone out at meals since at least 2 or 3. travelgirl1 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318373 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:28:35 +0000 travelgirl1 2318373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If she gets bored of the crayons they bring out and food is taking ages, then we give her a phone to play with. Not at home though. Foodnerd81 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318360 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:19:52 +0000 Foodnerd81 2318360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have not and I would prefer not to ever get into that. I'm afraid that once she knew it was an option she would want it all the time and wouldn't be happy with the other activities that currently entertain her at restaurants. That said, she is generally pretty chill at restaurants, and is entertained by Us Drawing pictures for her and things like that, and she is a slow eater. So I usually pack something that I know takes her a long time to eat which usually lets dh and me finish our meals too. And we don't go out all that often. I make no promises for when we have two kids to entertain at a restaurant!! lovehoneybee on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318359 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:19:38 +0000 lovehoneybee 2318359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Usually only if food is taking a really really long time. blackbird on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318347 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 19:14:44 +0000 blackbird 2318347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We almost never eat out because it's such a hassle, but will do it in an emergency. Once, our food took an HOUR to arrive because they messed our order up, and I was grateful to have my phone to placate E. We're usually device free at dinner but the NLDS was on tonight, so it was a special occasion :) Anagram on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318282 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 18:25:55 +0000 Anagram 2318282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We only go out to eat about once a month, and I really limit tv/app time at home, so yes when we are out I love letting her use our phone to stay entertained while we have a leisurely meal. I'm totally comfortable with how much overall screen time my LO gets. misolee on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318241 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:53:30 +0000 misolee 2318241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Never at home. Yes at restaurants while waiting for food. She usually promises that she will put it away when the food arrives. californiadreams on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318236 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:50:39 +0000 californiadreams 2318236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ in general, i try to avoid., but there have been exceptions where we have allowed it in a restaurant - usually due to extremely slow service and/or being overtired (no nap at daycare that day) combined with my own lack of sleep. We also don't go out to restaurants a lot with him because i don't find it that relaxing or fun yet. It is better than it used it to be, but depends on several factors. We would never give the device while eating, just while waiting for the check or if the food is taking forever to come. The way I see it, I can't fault LO for being unable to sit still for that long. If we are at home, we would never make him sit in a chair with nothing to do for that long. And we do try to entertain in other ways first. Mrs Hedgehog on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you/page/2#post-2318233 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:43:23 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 2318233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. But she is 2. I don't personally like it for the future though either. Books, coloring, small toys, that's fine though. TiredmommaMD on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318224 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:32:51 +0000 TiredmommaMD 2318224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We do only at restaurants while we are waiting for the food. Once the food comes, its put away, and we never allow at home. At home though she can play or run around while dinner is being prepped rather than just sit and wait as you do at a restaurant. Mrs. Oatmeal on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318208 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:21:37 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2318208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We haven't had to use this yet, and I'd like to avoid it to keep it from becoming a pattern. But if for some reason she were really disruptive and we couldn't leave, I'd consider it. KT326 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318205 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:19:44 +0000 KT326 2318205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's a last resort and usually just while we are waiting for the check. He has one game on my phone and that is all he is allowed to do. But he is pretty good about not needing it. We did go through a period where we just didn't eat out with him because it was ton much work! But now at 3.5 we love going out to eat. He keeps us entertained! sarac on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318203 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:17:12 +0000 sarac 2318203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope, never. I didn't want to raise a child who couldn't sit still through a meal. Certainly not at home while we're having a family meal. We required her to act in proper, age appropriate ways - meaning that when she was too little to sit still we walked around with her for a portion of the time, and slowly decreased the time we spent doing that. Now we might do it for a few minutes before we get our food, but at four she's plenty old enough to sit and color. We're so militant about it that the few rare times when it might have been justified (dinner with a very old friend, etc) we didn't even think of it, and had a hard time. Now on the weekends we'll often eat breakfast while watching cartoons. But dinner is always family meal time, and that is sacred. I reserve the games on my phone for really special things - like when my favorite band played a free afternoon all ages concert, and I took her. mrsrain on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318200 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:15:19 +0000 mrsrain 2318200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Early in our marriage I asked for meals to be device-free. We are continuing this with our child(ren). I was expected to be present, polite, and engaged during meal-times as a child and it seems reasonable to expect the same from my kids. Corduroy on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318197 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:08:38 +0000 Corduroy 2318197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Not yet. LO loves food and is fascinated by restaurants. We've only gone out to eat as a small group though at non busy times. ScarletBegonia on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318195 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:06:45 +0000 ScarletBegonia 2318195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ All the time! I appreciate having a dinner or breakfast where I can talk to my husband rather than spend all my time entertaining my son. He can't converse yet, so if he gets antsy we let him watch YouTube videos with no sound. it works for all of us...I'm a high school teacher and I see how tech addicted my students are, I really just have no hope that people of my kids generation won't be as well, so I roll with it. At this point he watches alphabet videos, animal videos, counting videos - all stuff that I think is pretty educational. pinkcupcake on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318186 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:00:48 +0000 pinkcupcake 2318186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yup. She does well for the first 20 minutes or so (we color, play games, etc) but once she starts to get antsy, we let her watch a show so we can finish eating. Freckles on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318179 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:54:27 +0000 Freckles 2318179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @looch: such a dangerous thing. My DD has tried to pack her magnatiles, kitchen food toys and huge board books in her backpack...weighing almost 5 lbs! Freckles on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318177 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:52:58 +0000 Freckles 2318177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ She is good at restaurants and we usually choose ones where we don't have to wait very long. Sometimes when we are desperate we will let her look at pics. She doesn't watch anything at home. I don't know how other kids are able to watch and eat at the same time. Mine would just watch and not eat anything. Smurfette on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318173 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:47:27 +0000 Smurfette 2318173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ She can use our phones if we get desperate when at a restaurant. Some times she watches TV while eating at home. serenity207 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318157 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:33:41 +0000 serenity207 2318157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It depends on the situation. If it's just our family going out to eat, or it's a quick outing, we keep each other entertained. When we're going out with a larger group or other people and dinner takes a while, we'll use media as a last resort. The same way I don't expect kids to be able to sit still at school for extended periods of time without getting the wiggles, I also don't expect them to be able to do so (I'm talking about longer than 1-1.5 hours) without getting the wiggles, especially for my toddler son. So I guess it depends on what I realistically think they should be able to handle. And, what I think is okay for my friends/dinner guests to deal with (since it's their meal out too). birdofafeather on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318147 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:24:21 +0000 birdofafeather 2318147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's our last resort and it's more likely when we're out with other people than just our family because if she's being crazy, we would more likely wrap up dinner. But it's also not a hill I'm going to die on at 2.5. When she's older, I will expect that she can sit there without having to stare into a device. looch on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318142 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:17:17 +0000 looch 2318142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, but I let my son pack a bag of stuff to entertain himself. hilsy85 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318141 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:17:01 +0000 hilsy85 2318141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Sometimes when we are out, and we're desperate. Depends how much patience/energy we have! Never at home though. Rockies11 on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318140 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:16:45 +0000 Rockies11 2318140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ we don't have electronics at the table, despite the fact that we're generally lax with electronics. I think dinner time is the time that we have to connect the most, so I want us to be able to do that. autumnlove on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318137 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:12:46 +0000 autumnlove 2318137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, we don't offer devices during restaurant mealtimes. I always have Crayons, paper and pens in my bag. Andrea on "Does your lo use a device when out to dinner with you?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-your-lo-use-a-device-when-out-to-dinner-with-you#post-2318134 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:08:00 +0000 Andrea 2318134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Rarely, I have to be pretty desperate. I always bring books, coloring stuff, and small snacks to kill time at restaurants. They don't need anything at home.