After the first few weeks your wife and you will be begging to escape the house and see real adults. The obvious choice is food because after eating home cooked meals for weeks you will drool over the idea of a meal you didn’t have to cook. Though it’s best to avoid crowds and enclosed place for 6-8 weeks with the baby. Here is a list of tips I have for your first few outings with a new baby.
Expect that you wont get to eat a full meal.
I’m not saying you won’t want to eat, just that the baby most likely wont sit chill the whole meal. Seems they know when you are feeling relaxed. Be prepared to leave without even getting a bite because the baby might not have the ability to sit there. I remember one time our daughter spiked a fever unexpectedly while we were having dinner and we left and immediately. I paid and she got the baby in the car and we went home to eat. Was it cold? Yes. Did we care? Not at all, Aaliyah was home, in bed, and comfortably sleeping.
Take turns eating
Sometimes you can save the evening by swapping who holds or walks around with the baby. We’ve done this many of times. I’ll keep Dominic entertained so she can eat and then swap so I can eat or vise versa.
Get something that will warm up good
Like I said earlier there may be times that you will leave suddenly and having something you can warm up later or eat in the car makes it a little more bearable. Stay away form fresh veggies mixed with anything that will have to warm up. At the very least make sure you can separate it so the veggies don’t get wilted or soggy.
Go during nap time
If you can go during nap time it’s best to do so. Many times where we were able to have a great meal after the baby fell asleep. On the flip side with older kids, go earlier in the day when they are less tired and likely to act up.
Choose your seating wisely
To go along with the one above is choosing your seat. We prefer, depending on the weather of course, is seating outside. With outside seating I can bring my stroller, the baby can cry, I don’t feel quite as bad about the crying, and there is usually a quick exit if the baby gets out of hand.
Forget what others think
You will get looks from people. Usually the perturbed glance or the stuck up lip curl. You might even get the complainer. You know the one who says something to the waitress like they actually planned on leaving a decent tip. Well, as you can probably guess, forget them. I as a parent know my kids will be unruly at times so I know to never expect perfection from other peoples kids. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t expect your kid to be doing laps around my table or wind sprint down the aisle. I do understand a crying baby or a fussy kids and I’ve been there so I do the right thing. I will either ignore the disturbance or give the parent the knowing smile like “Hey, I’ve been there I understand and it gets better.”
Go to a baby friendly restaurant
Your best here is to Yelp “Baby Friendly Restaurant” or “Kid Friendly Restaurant” either one should get you local places to help narrow it down. You can see a list of the ones we have gone to with both babies and toddlers with success. Side note: What’s great is their are even baby friendly theaters now (usually during the week but I would call before to see though).
Keep your expectations low
This one doesn’t need much explanation. Go into this like “If it goes good then great but if not hey, we tried.” Anytime we get to go out and actually sit the whole time without 15 bathroom trips, massive blowout, kids not liking what they ordered, tired, or tears (those last two are usually me), then we had a successful meal.
Forget the kids menus
Honestly these are a waste of money and usually bland as can be. I know they do it for a reason as kids have a tendency to not complain if there isn’t a lot of flavor because flavor brings tastes they might not like. That’s a why no matter where you go their kids pasta sauce sucks. With that said, your best bet is to order from the regular menu either something they like and split it with them or get something that you can have for a few meals.
Come fully prepared
Bottles, formula, binkies, teethers, diapers, wipes, digital distractions for the older kids, non restaurant snacks. (We’ve used Gerber Puffs, fruit snacks, ritz, Gerber Packets, and juice boxes). Running out to the car or just having a bad time because you forgot something that may have helped defuse the tantrum is a bummer.
Optimize your sit down time
One thing you can do if you want to optimize you time together sitting down is, if there is a wait, one of you go in and get your number for seating. The other walks around with the baby outside or around the mall or the parking lot. Once seating is ready go in, sit down, and hopefully the baby will be asleep or at least calm enough to let you eat. After, while you or your spouse is getting the check and paying the other is already taking the baby for a quick change, for another walk, or wrestling them in to the car. That has worked on numerous occasions for us.
Sit in booths
If you can request a booth as opposed to chairs trust me always get a booth. You can wrangle the kids on the inside so you don’t have to chase them around the restaurant. If you need a high chair you can get one and stick them at the end of the table.
Don’t do what our parents did growing up
“Oh you can’t behave? then we wont go out to restaurants ever!” Don’t do that, just keep trying and teaching them how to act. You’ll have much better outings sooner if you do. Take it from me, we go out and as long as we follow even some of the tips above then it’s a great outing together.
Kid friendly restaurants we’ve gone to consist of:
- Island restaurant- This one was our first restaurant we ever went to with our daughter.
- Red Robin- very under standing atmosphere. Great onion rings, and burgers.
- Cheesecake Factory- good for their outdoor seating.
- Buffalo Wild Wings- can’t go wrong with B-Dubs and their specials.
- Italian Restaurant- We have noticed that a lot of Italian restaurants, especially local non-chain ones, are super kids friendly since they are know as being family style restaurants.
- Mexican Restaurant- Same as the Italian restaurants very family orientated.
- Pancakes-R-Us- This and other breakfast places are great because kids are expected to be there. Plus kid love breakfast foods like French toast, pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
I know they’re not the most romantic of places to go with your wife but a meal out where you don’t have to clean, even with the kids can be a relief if planned right. Please let me know if the comments below any tips you have found have worked for you. I’d love to hear them. Oh and please share if you have found this helpful.
