https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 05:54:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928169 Sun, 16 Apr 2023 10:08:58 +0000 MoonMoon 2928169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lahela017: yes! Thank you for the advice to go at an earlier time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928168 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 21:14:47 +0000 Lahela017 2928168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: yay!! So glad you had a great experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928167 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 20:27:50 +0000 MoonMoon 2928167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a little update. We ended up eating more on the fly on the trip than I'd thought we would, lots of take out and snacking. But we did have one proper sit-down meal and LO did great! I took the advice in this thread and had some snacks ready for him, and a new magnet game that he could quietly play with at the table. He sat in the high chair well and the server really nicely brought him his own cup of water with a straw which was a hit. Toward the end I did let him play on my phone for a couple of minutes but overall it was a success! Also, going at a less crowded time was helpful: a late lunch/very early dinner. Both kids rocked. Thanks for all the advice and reassurance in this thread! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928134 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 18:38:53 +0000 MoonMoon 2928134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilary: I'm packing lots of snacks! The dollar tree is my best friend because of their large selection of freeze dried fruit, which my son loves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928119 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:41:31 +0000 hilary 2928119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One other thing I didn't see above is when my kids were younger, I always brought a light snack because my kids expected to be fed the moment they sat at a table because who makes their kids sit at a table at home for 30 minutes before food arrives. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928100 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:44:50 +0000 MoonMoon 2928100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you everybody! This puts my mind at ease somewhat. After the years it does feel intimidating dipping my toes back into public life. I love the ideas for bringing plenty of things to do. I also promise my kids are not allowed to play loud media in restaurants! Time to start teaching the toddler how to dine out :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928099 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:40:38 +0000 Lahela017 2928099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also want to second what PP said. We try to eat on the earlier side too, to avoid the people wanting a date atmosphere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928098 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:28:18 +0000 Corduroy 2928098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like you already have a good plan. As a diner I'm very forgiving of almost all kid behavior except for when the parents leave the volume on their kids devices. I don't want to be subjected to the repetitive background music of your kid's app or whatever YouTube video they're watching at any restaurant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928095 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 07:50:27 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2928095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreed with above, we try to not bring our now 5 year old out to dinner after 7 (her crankiness increases and I figure at that point that other diners might be wanting a more date like atmosphere). I always have at least a pen in my purse but otherwise I try for magnatiles, small toys, and other quiet things. If it has a kids menu it has to be ok for kids and around us breweries/beer gardens specifically say if they allow kids on their website. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928094 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 06:57:11 +0000 LadyDi 2928094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree regarding restaurants with kid menus. I also keep a "busy box" in the car for restaurants. It's a small zippered box and I put in crayons, a note pad, stickets, a couple fidgets, a couple race cars, some dinosaurs, etc. They are toys that just stay in the car so they get excited to play with them at restaurants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928093 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 21:28:57 +0000 Lahela017 2928093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just got back from our first post pandemic trip, and our first trip as a family of four- which included dinning out daily. My youngest is a chill baby, so I didn't worry too much about him, but I was worried about my almost 4 year old.</p> <p>We chose restaurants that had kids menus, so I knew they'd be family friendly. Other than that, I just made sure to pack some stuff for her to do- a new coloring book, magic marker activity pad, and wikki stix. It went so well! She was excited to the special restaurant activities and was so well behaved! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928092 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:02:10 +0000 erinbaderin 2928092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Kids are humans who get to be out in the world just like anybody else! I think a beer garden with outdoor seating is a great idea! You probably don’t want to be there after about 7pm but that’s mostly because I imagine it will get crowded. Honestly, unless your kids are, like, fully screaming I imagine the only person who will be stressed by your kids is you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/update-me-on-restaurant-etiquette#post-2928091 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:33:57 +0000 MoonMoon 2928091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't really dined in restaurants since pre-pandemic, so never with two kids. My older kid is fine wherever, but my 2 year-old is definitely rambunctious. That being said, what types of restaurants would taking two kids including a toddler be a bad idea? For example I'm searching for some restaurants with outdoor seating near our hotel for an upcoming trip. A few are beer gardens. Is that bad? Is it a matter of time of day? </p> <p>I know this all probably sounds really basic but I need to be reminded how to dine out and what to keep in mind for the two year-old! </p>