Hellobee Boards Topic: How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:00:24 +0000 hellobeeboston on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568756 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 09:25:46 +0000 hellobeeboston 2568756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If my 3.5 year old son started acting up I would probably just leave.... We'd have the ipad too as backup that I'll pull out if he's not doing a good job siting & behaving that will keep his attention. We don't eat out that often just because i don't think eating out and my preschooler mix that well... he's still impulsive and its not that fair to expect him to sit still and be quiet and wait patiently for his food for a long time.... that said, we do try to get out every once in a while and work on his patience and learning how to behave. looch on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568739 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 09:17:42 +0000 looch 2568739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If my kid isn't behaving, we wouldn't go. But to be clear, we wouldn't allow sword fighting with umbrellas or banging on the piano in our house, let alone outside of it. But in this case, it seems like this is just par for the course for the kids and they behave like this no matter where they are. caterw on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568728 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 09:11:10 +0000 caterw 2568728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If it's my kid, we pay and leave once it's clear that she isn't calming down. We have definitely had at least one full, uneaten meal boxed to go because our daughter has had a full blown tantrum at a sit down restaurant. She is two, but she is definitely old enough to sit in a booster or high chair until the meal is over, eat relatively politely, not throw food, and keep her voice at a reasonable level. The same manners apply in our house so she is just used to it. Anagram on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568711 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 09:01:10 +0000 Anagram 2568711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My kids---we don't go out to restaurants that often and we've always been lucky on planes. At a restaurant we would leave if we had to (we'e never had a problem), on an airplane I would be doing everything in my power to make sure my kids aren't being annoying to others. Anagram on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568709 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 09:00:27 +0000 Anagram 2568709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Other people's kids...I seethe silently. Maybe in extreme situations, shoot mean glares. I mean, I'm a parent so it has to be some extraordinarily bad parenting for me to shoot a glare. Same as on an airplane--crying baby where the parent is trying to calm them doesn't bother me at all. Antsy older child where the parent is trying to entertain them doesn't bother me at all. Extremely loud 5 year old who is kicking the seat back in front of him full force, shouting constantly while playing the world's loudest video game and throwing trash into the aisle while dad sits next to him watching a movie using headphones and completely ignoring his annoying son (this actually happened to me on a flight)--annoying as shit and that dad got the glares, several times. snowjewelz on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568656 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:28:51 +0000 snowjewelz 2568656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Remove them... Recently we took DD (18 mo) to breakfast at the local coffee shop after her 1st dentist appt. I guess she didn't like that and was grumpy so towards the end I just had DH take her outside for a walk while I finished up and paid. irene on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568622 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 07:36:54 +0000 irene 2568622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Carry them outside or into the bathroom for a time out ? That's what I would do... At our favorite tapas restaurant there is always a band playing in the evening on Sundays and DS and his friend will get up and dance. One time DS was kinda out of control, running all around the restaurant and wouldn't listen to get back regardless how many times I asked him. It is like he was intoxicated ! I carried him out and he was screaming and crying, and guess what, he peed his pants right there and pee went all the way to the ground and form a puddle. Kids act like really drunk sailors sometimes. Geesh. Thank God we were outside of the restaurant. I didn't even have spare pants and I forgot (repressed) how we handled it. Wasn't fun when I was in 3 inch stilettos. It was toward the end of the meal anyway so I think we paid and quickly left. I had a towel or something in the car and I put it on his carseat when he sat on his wet pants going home. Other times, if we are still in the middle of the meal, I would insist on sitting outside until he is calmed down before we go back into the restaurant. littlebug on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568615 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 07:31:10 +0000 littlebug 2568615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @brownepiano: Yup, same here. D was acting up (screaming and crying because he spilled his water) the other day, so I took him outside and helped him calm down. Usually (not always), just removing him from the table for a few minutes helps. If not, then we get our food to go. brownepiano on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568551 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 23:58:35 +0000 brownepiano 2568551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My DS was acting up once so I carried him to the bathroom and we had a talk. It seemed to do the trick. Mrs. Train on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568541 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 23:17:34 +0000 Mrs. Train 2568541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I usually take them to the car and my husband pays the checks and gets the food to go. If I am by myself I pay quickly and leave. Sometimes I am carrying screaming tantrum throwing kids. We do not stay if they are misbehaving. Canoli on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568478 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 20:57:54 +0000 Canoli 2568478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have 3 boys and this is why we don't go out to eat anywhere pretty much ever! It's way to stressful for my husband and I and not enjoyable when you have to police kids the whole time. SweetiePie on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568360 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 18:54:46 +0000 SweetiePie 2568360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If it's someone else's kids my husband and I just kinda roll our eyes at each other. I do get less annoyed now that I have one, but still annoyed. If it's our kid..."check please!" We don't let him roam, he has to sit in his chair or we go. Even when sitting if he's screaming and throwing we are out. It's just not enjoyable for us and I know it sucks for others. He's still only 21 months so it's not like he's old enough to wander anyway without one of us close by. So maybe when he's older it'll be different. No way to know until it happens! We have friends who let their kids run amok and it sucks going to dinner with them. We avoid at all costs. rachiecakes on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568352 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 18:43:23 +0000 rachiecakes 2568352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Leave as quickly as possible! I don't want to ruin anyone's meal. mrbee on "How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-handle-it-when-kids-are-out-of-control-at-a-restaurant#post-2568350 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 18:37:49 +0000 mrbee 2568350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was at a restaurant recently and 3 boys grabbed my family's umbrellas and started swordfighting with them. I gave the parents a chance to say or do something, but they just thought it was funny. So I broke out my "look of concern" and looked over at the kids, and the parents realized that it was my umbrellas and told them to stop. Good thing too, because I have a whole bag full of dirty looks that I save for special occasions! Then the kids were onto their next trick (banging on a piano). The parents didn't say or do anything, so I just left. I have to admit, it really bothers me when parents let their kids run out of control and ruin other people's restaurant experiences. I wish more restaurants would police that stuff, but I understand that their staff is busy just serving the food. How do you handle it when kids are out of control at a restaurant?