Is your toddler well behaved in stores and restaurants?

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Is your toddler well behaved in stores and restaurants?

By HLK208 Feb 9, 2014

E is 20 months and just this week, going out has gotten HARD. In a restaurant, she wants out of her seat, or she'll throw food. At the store, she'll sit in the shopping cart for maybe 5 minutes until she starts to cry or complain. She is always fed before we go into stores, we always have activities for her and books, she's always well rested and I don't go out during nap time. I'm not sure what else I can do.

By 20 months with DS, we were able to distract him enough if he fussed by talking him through it. E seems strong willed and along with that, her eye teeth are taking a long time to come in so I know her mouth is uncomfortable.

How do you handle outings with a toddler?

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14 comments

hilsy85
squash / 13764 posts

Feb 9, 2014

It is tough! meals out either go really well, if he is distracted and hungry enough to eat (but not too hungry so that waiting for food becomes a disaster). OUtings are usually rough--I just try to do them as quickly as possible, and let him run around out of the stroller if possible.
Mrs. Jump Rope
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts

Feb 9, 2014

We carefully time outlines with Chloe. If it's close to her nap time or bedtime, game over.

If we go at the right time, she's a lot of fun! She loves shopping (oops..) and thinking eating at a restaurant is cool. We try to go to family friendly places, or somewhere for a quick lunch (like panera), and even it out with something fun for her.

Last week I took her to the mall. She helped me pick out new pillows, then I let her play at the indoor play area for a bit. We grabbed lunch together, ran into macys, then back to the play area before going home. Really fun, easy morning out together!
brownie
grapefruit / 4110 posts

Feb 9, 2014

iPhone. Seriously if he starts fussing in line to pay I'll give him the phone as entertainment. We bought a ladybug handle and let him hold it and walk next to the cart. At meals we ask for his food first and again supplement who the phone as necessary.

Now we go at least two hours away if we are at a restaurant so there is no just going home. We have to eat so we do whatever we have to.
stargal
pomegranate / 3890 posts

Feb 9, 2014

For shopping he's pretty good. I put him in the cart first and then when he gets ansty I will take him out and let him walk around. We usually are by the toys so qw will go check them out and then he knows he has to go back on the cart for checkout.
Restaurants ate hit or miss. Sometimes he just does not want to sit in the chair.
What abput one of those bookbag leashes for jer to walk with.
yoursilverlining
eggplant / 11824 posts

Feb 9, 2014

Knock on wood, she is usually very good.
googly-eyes
GOLD / pomelo / 5737 posts

Feb 9, 2014

Dd started fussing about being in a stroller or cart or whatever at about nine months, when she was crawling! She is in one of her better times right now, but takes a lot of distracting. The thing that frustrates me is her hatred of being in the car!
HLK208
pineapple / 12234 posts

Feb 9, 2014

@Mrs. Jump Rope: I can't wait for a trip like that!

I'm hoping it's just a phase. We're at a point where she only uses words if she's in a good mood. If she's not, she relies on crying and yelling.

I remember when DS was 18 months and my mom and I took him to a mall where he walked around, holding our hands, played in the play area and then got back in the stroller for shopping. So easy. E would never let that fly. If she has to get back into the stroller or in a cart, she screams. She acts like she's just as independent as her big brother (who is nearly 5). Ugh, so hard. We tried the leash once and she screamed the whole time it was on.
CupQuakeWalk
coconut / 8475 posts

Feb 9, 2014

meh.....
Stores sometimes, restaurents usually not. I just quit taking him to restaurants unless 2 conditons are met:
-dh is with us
-it is a loud restaurant

He likes shopping malls and strolling in his comfy stroller but he hates grocery carts so I've mastered the art of making dinner with minimal recipes unfortunately.
JennyD
clementine / 990 posts

Feb 9, 2014

I found my daughter went through a similar phase around that age. I quit taking her together groceries, even if Daddy could come. She still doesn't like sitting in the cart at two. She likes to push the cart. Sigh. So I let her help push the cart, and it takes a MILLION YEARS to get groceries, but she's quiet. She's also really good about staying with me. Especially if it's just me (Daddy allows a LOT of shenanigans). Also, if she can help put things in the cart or hold things, that sometimes works.

At restaurants, oddly, if she's allowed to sit on a chair or in the booth (ie no booster or high chair) she's better behaved.

In both cases, I like to talk to her before and TELL her what we're going to do. Ie we're going to get groceries now and H is going to sit in the cart and help. Etc. no asking if that's "ok".
BananaPancakes
grapefruit / 4817 posts

Feb 9, 2014

DS is 22 months and isn't terrible, but he's also not exactly easy to take out. He isn't bad tempered, but just wants to run around like a lunatic. Which I wouldn't even mind if he wasn't actually trying to run away, which he's always trying to do. It's impossible to get him to sit still and I hardly even mess with the stroller, as he won't last long in it. I'm hoping this is just a phase that'll disappear by the time he's three or so.
immabeetoo
honeydew / 7687 posts

Feb 9, 2014

If you weren't expecting #3 I'd suggest wearing her! So far my LO is pretty content to play and then shop in the stroller, we did today actually. He, knock on wood, seems to like going to Target, the grocery store, etc. We're actually more prone to going out if he is wigging out!

Surely you have tried snacks? I love the snack trap because it distracts him two fold.
autumnlove
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts

Feb 9, 2014

It just depends on the day...toddlers are unpredictable!
HLK208
pineapple / 12234 posts

Feb 9, 2014

@scg00387: we have she throws her snacks...which is odd behavior from her since a) she loves food and b) she is very clearly trying to be defiant. I do miss wearing her since she was usually laid back in the carrier in stores.
chopsuey
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts

Feb 9, 2014

DD love shopping with me. I have to keep an eye on her though, cause she'll hide in clothes racks and scare the crap outta me.

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