https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Jul 2026 06:55:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466449 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:05:00 +0000 mrs. wagon 466449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used to eat out all the time, multiple times a week with Wagon Jr. because I love to eat out. We would bring: stick-on placemats or a suction place mat (the stick-on ones are nice because you can stick them around the edge of the table too just in case of table-sucking), puffs or other snacks (yogurt drops were good too), a superbib, and sometimes his own spoon or fork. Usually his own straw sippy cup too. As he got older we would ask for things like: water with a top and straw, oyster crackers for him to snack on, extra straws in wrappers or chopsticks (he loved to play with these), and sometimes even ice in a shallow bowl (another easy thing to play with). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466333 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:42:17 +0000 pinkcupcake 466333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We eat out a lot with L and we've been on vacation for the past month pretty much so we've definitely had more meals out than in. She only likes to be held (no high chair or stroller... sigh) so one of us is usually holding her during the entire meal. I used to worry about bringing her own food, but last month, I started feeding her whatever we were eating (within reason, of course) and it's been so much easier. One of us always orders something that she can eat, too. I always carry around a couple Earth's Best or Plum Organics fruit/veggie puree pouches - those work so well in a pinch, when there's nothing suitable for her to eat. I'll also give her puffs or crackers to entertain her. Spoons (especially the Asian soup spoons) do wonders to keep her entertained :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466326 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:38:40 +0000 yin 466326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bring a whole packed meal due to my LO's allergies. Rarely do we find anything that he can eat on a typical restaurant menu. It helps that my LO prefers his food cold and absolutely hates anything hot or even slightly warm. It can be time consuming to pack a meal every time we leave the house, but I feel better knowing exactly what's in his meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466293 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:23:34 +0000 brownie 466293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Food, we bring snack foods that he doesn't have anywhere else. We also bring some toys I got these great finger puppets from amazon for $5 and they can entertain for a while. We did the placemat thing for a while but it was too hard for us. There are disposable bibs you can get and wear. Another thing that really worked for us is I would nurse him (this could be replaced with a bottle as well) while waiting for the food to come. It entertained both of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466253 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 11:09:41 +0000 Sammyfab 466253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bring his food and a sippy cup. I often forget to bring wipes but when I remember I do wipe down the highchair and table. If not, it's no big deal. Germs are everywhere! I never bring toys because he'd rather play with napkins, crayons, coasters, etc.</p> <p>He's a big fan of sweet potatoes so I usually order a side of sweet potato fries when we are out to supplement his meal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466043 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 07:52:28 +0000 heffalump 466043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 17 months. Now we bring the reusable placemat, sippy of milk and/or water, and a bib, and her purse full of toys.</p> <p>But at that age it was a whole different ball game. I think when she was on purees we just fed her at home before we left because it was easier. I made her food and this way I didn't have to worry about heating it up, food going bad, etc. She wasn't ever very interested in purees so it wasn't a huge deal. Then I would always try to order something soft for her to try if I could at the restaurant, like mashed potatoes or applesauce. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466018 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 03:15:31 +0000 Sweet T 466018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bring puffs, yogurt melts, and graham crackers. Those usually keep LO occupied until our food comes. We also bring our own sippy cup of milk. I usually just wipe the table where he'll be sitting with a diaper wipe and we'll use a disposable mat. We don't go out to eat very often. The last few times, we've ordered a meal for him. Most places here have good options for kids and we can take the leftovers home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-466009 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 02:10:23 +0000 autumnlove 466009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Table toppers, toys, purée pouches, Zoli with water and puffs. She also eats what we eat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-465994 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:20:19 +0000 SAHM0811 465994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>what we bring: disposable table topper/placemat, bib, a toy or two, crayons and paper (in case the resto doesn't have them), a sippy/straw cup, kiddie utensils, and a few snacks if the food takes a while to come out (but usually we order the kids' meals as soon as we sit down!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-465991 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:12:41 +0000 lemondrop 465991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated: just remember, sometimes you have good meals and other times not-so-much. I can think of some doozies, but we just keep trying and most of the time he is just fine! We go out to eat about 3x per week, at 11.5 months we are still figuring out tricks to keep him happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-465987 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:06:59 +0000 Freckles 465987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: ahh, i didnt even think about wiping down the high chair! </p> <p>@lemondrop: We usually bring our fisher price booster, but forgot today. I will definitely look into those suction placemats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-465986 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:02:57 +0000 lemondrop 465986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have this down to a science, since I love to go out to eat :)</p> <p>*We get a highchair or booster, disposable placemats from Target or our rubber placemat from Babies R Us (suction cups, so it doesn't work on all tables). This prevents the table licking and I feel less guilty with the clean up since he can be quite messy.</p> <p>*I keep a little tub full of rice puffies- these are his appetizer while we order and wait for food. Keeps him busy for a while. </p> <p>*We also have a sippy cup or give him water with straws, this can buy us 5-10 minutes. </p> <p>*We have a couple plastic bath time toys that I just keep in the diaper bag all the time. These usually keep him busy until our food comes, then I chop if needed and scoop some of whatever we are eating onto his placemat and let him feed himself. </p> <p>*When all else fails, I keep a mesh baby feeder in the diaper bag and put ice cubes in it for him to suck on. I have never seen this one fail to keep him happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-465971 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:39:12 +0000 loveisstrange 465971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I go out, I generally just feed her whatever I can off of our plates instead of messing with baby food. That's way too much to deal with. At 8 months, C is very good at chewing and eating normal food on her own. </p> <p>We also have a couple toys that suction to the table, so she can't throw them in the floor. A set of those links to attach things to the high-chair is also helpful. </p> <p>Honestly... I normally wipe down the table and high chair with a baby wipe and give her a spoon to chew on. It keeps her pretty happy.</p> <p>ETA: A toy like this: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Sensation-Station-Suction-Toy/dp/B002J4U8KW" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Sensation-Station-Suction-Toy/dp/B002J4U8KW</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-bring-when-you-go-to-a-restaurant-with-lo#post-465958 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:13:36 +0000 Freckles 465958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rarely go out for dinner with LO because it stresses me out, but it was a special occasion so we decided to go out for an early dinner. </p> <p>I brought 2 cubes filled with soft tofu, 2 cubes filled with blueberries, and a small glass tupperware filled with chicken-spinach congee. I had to ask for hot water to warm up the items (in hindsight, i should've put the congee in a thermos) and was constantly trying to prevent LO from taking things off of the table since the high chair doesn't have a tray. Then she started licking the table...gross!!! </p> <p>Any tips on what to bring, or how to prepare for outings to a restaurant? What do you guys bring? I was obviously not completely prepared today. :( </p>