Hellobee Boards

Only if she's being an absolute beast. I don't care if people judge me, I know they will judge me more when my kid throws an epic tantrum because she's hungry and the food is not here yet.

No, we never do. It's definitely a lot more work to engage DS at the table the whole time, but we feel strongly about this for our family, so we make it a priority.

I never did and always said I wouldn't.

Then a few weeks ago we went out to eat after a 12 hour, three flight travel day. She was exhausted, we were exhausted, everyone was hungry, and you can bet I whipped my phone out after my usual bag of tricks wasn't working. And I'm sure everyone in the restaurant was much happier for it.

So while I still don't want to make a habit out of it, I'll never say never anymore.

I don't make it a habit or let the phone become a crutch, but like any tool in the ole parenting toolbox, it gets utilized when needed.

I generally have a selection of small toys in my bag, which entertain LO, but I've also definitely given her the phone before.

It's rare that I get a moment to catch up with a friend over dinner. Once he's finished his meal, he can absolutely play all the games he wants on my iPhone until we leave.
I don't expect a 4 year old to sit through a lengthy adult conversation. It's a treat for him and a treat for me.

Yep. We try to start with toys or coloring (or food!) but the iPad almost always comes out eventually when we go to dinner and I feel zero shame.

@Beehive: My best friends live an hour away and I'm almost always solo-parenting (DH works nights and weekends). In the rare event that I get to have dinner with them to catch up, I totally allow J to use my phone.

@daniellemybelle: my son HATES coloring, lol.. cannot stand crayons for whatever reason..

Usually no, when it's just my kids, DH and I try to engage them and chat and put away our own phones. We also sometimes bring along little sticker books or the water wow thing (if we remember).

But we do sometimes go out with friends who regularly let their LO's have screen time when eating out. If they bring theirs out, we let our LOs watch/play alongside them. If we remember to bring our own mini iPads, we let them have it. I don't love it but in those situations, I let it go.

Definitely. I mean, I try to distract her with coloring, stickers, books or small toys first, but she usually asks for my phone and I definitely let her use it (with the sound on low or with headphones). I don't feel really judged either-- in NYC it's pretty ubiquitous, almost every table with kids has phones out! When she was younger (she's 2 now) I wouldn't bring it out, but we eat out at least once a week (usually weekend brunch) and I think it'd be too much to expect her to sit still that long without distractions. When I was a kid, my parents let me bring books to restaurants and I think this is really just a new version of that.

No, he doesn't even know phones have games. This is one thing we really stuck to. It is hard sometimes though and we opt to get takeout more or get a babysitter and go out alone if it's somewhere nicer. No judgement for people who do. But I am not ready to head down that slippery slope. ETA: he's 3

It's not my default but I'll do it if it's the very end of the meal and I still need to eat. I'd say 1 out of 5 times he gets the iPhone. Usually he's entertained enough by everything around him, his food and the toys we bring. They are special "diaper bag only" toys so he only sees them when we are out to eat, which makes them more exciting.

I agree @catomd00:, we will only go when there's a much lower chance of meltdown. ie he's well rested, it's well before bedtime, has a small snack to occupy him while we wait, try not to pick a slow place, etc. I don't think he's super well behaved, I think we are just terrified to push the envelope so we make sure it's the right combination of factors before we go.

We haven't yet. We don't have any kids apps on our phones and don't let him use them.. and we don't have tablets.

I do let him watch a YouTube video on my phone if we are waiting somewhere (like at a store and he is bored).

DH is pretty good at entertaining him when we go out to eat, but we order in more often these days.

Only as a last resort, but it's never really worked anyway. We eat out fairly often, at least at coffee shops around the neighborhood, so I don't want to get into any bad habits.

I usually bring a toy car and a sticker book, but mainly I just try to go to places that I know will work well, like places that have little play areas or toys available, or that have good street views where he can watch all the cars go by.

Big no for us, but eating out isn't part of our lifestyle any more.

We almost never eat out because it's really hard to get my LOs (2 yrs) to sit still for an entire meal out. We have given DD a phone to watch a show once or twice when it was sort of emergency status. Since then we've really discovered that the problem she tends to have eating out is overstimulation from all the noise, people, excitement, etc. and watching a show doesn't help her - it sort of makes her more overstimulated and anxious. The last couple times we've gone out to eat with the ILs (because they insist on going out for special occasions), one of us ends up taking one or both of the kids outside to get some time away from the stimulation of the restaurant. Not ideal, but it's all we can do right now.

Ha! I was judgey too with the first kid. First one spoiled us cause he didn't need screen time but when 2 and 3 came along...i could give a sh$t. But then again..with 2 and 3, we barely eat out as a whole family...everything is take out. Only place suitable for all three together is dim sum because it's LOUD.

Oh yes, all the time. We eat out a few times a week and I'd like to actually eat my food, not be walking him around or leaving because he has had a tantrum. I've never felt judged, we've actually gotten a few compliments on how well behaved he is. And so what if someone disagrees or judges? Dinner with a 2 year old is hard enough, I don't have the time or energy to give a crap what other people think .

Almost never, but mostly because if I let her do it once she would ask for it every time. It's not that I see any issue with it once in a while, but she is usually pretty good at restaurants and I don't want to ruin it with her asking for my phone all the time.

This is the same reason I don't give her a phone in the car, btw- fine in moderation but I don't want to fight the battle every time.

Occasionally. We eat out often and our LO is very good at it, but sometimes we end up in a situation where service is taking a very long time and she gets antsy so I pull it out. I have no problem doing this and I don't judge others either. We always take it away once food arrives so it's really only a last resort to get her through waiting (especially if she is hungry and cranky).

We tend to use it more if we are out with other adults and no kids (family members or childless couples), especially if we end up ordering multiple courses or something. I don't expect a 2 year old to stay engaged in adult conversation.