Eating out with little one

I usually take my own unless we’ve been out longer than we thought or I know I’m going somewhere with a appropriate kids menu… my thoughts are while they are still young enough to be in high chairs I’ll be the one who decides if they eat what’s on the menu or food I’ve brought from home!

Depends on the baby I think. If you’ve got a good, reliable eater then I would order something off the kids menu or sometimes just a side order. If you’ve not got a big eater I think it’s perfectly fine to take a pouch, some crackers etc. Kids portions are huge compared to what a one year old will eat so it’s such a waste ordering it sometimes!

Id usually give her some of mine/ours

My son’s a big eater so I usually share mine if it’s not spicy but even then I bring baby-safe snacks so he’s occupied feeding himself whilst I eat my meal first. I think the restaurant is out of order to tell you to order for him! Often kids menus are not very healthy too and there’s so much variance in how they eat including LOs current mood etc. Keep bringing your own food and ignore them ✌️

I always carry snacks but order a side of something as for a few months now my LO has eaten half my jacket potato and snacks. And I’m hungry still lol. So if we go out for breakfast I’ll either order a bigger breakfast and give her an egg, hash brown and beans rather than order a kids breakfast which has sausage on or something like that which she’s not keen on. Sides of mac and cheese are a good one with veggie sticks or cubes I’ve brought with me etc

I have 2 2 and under so usually they share if my 2 year old is asleep my youngest shares mine or I’ll get her a side x

I alwys take something as a snack/pouch/finger food that I know she'll eat just in case there isn't something she likes/appropriate on the menu. Cos she's very particular. I would definitely be making a complaint to management regardless of what size restaurant it is ie independent/chain because end of the day its your baby and only YOU dictate what they eat. How dare they!? I'd also make it known to the management I wouldn't be returning if they have that policy for babies - ridiculous and telling my friends & Family to avoid too! I know that may sound a wee bit extreme but situations like this make me so mad. You would have ordered for yourself so they're getting moneys worth end of the day. Complete inappropriate imo. Hope you told them what's what!!

I would of proberly walked out if they said that to me. My boys just turned one and not really interested in food so when he does eat he often gags and throws up… I don’t think they appreciate that so we take purées or foods that I know he’ll be ok with, yogurt, banana, orange, baby snacks. I will always offer him something’s off my plate but he’d never eat a whole meal! Maybe a bite or two. But that would be a waste in my eyes.

When we had our first he had some off mine and my husbands plates. Now we have 2 children (almost 3 and 12 months) we order 1 kids meal and an extra plate and they share 😊

My lo is a good eater, but to order a whole kids meal for them now is quite a lot. Kids meals tend to cater for anyone up to about 11, so wouldn't expect a 1 year old to eat a whole one. As long as you're ordering proper adult meals for yourself, I don't think it's unreasonable to bring in some bits for a 1 year old. I give mine bits of ours, plus some snacks from home. I may order an extra side or something.

I’ve always taken food but I do often think it’s only a matter of time before a restaurant says something about it. My LO is a big 11 month old and often people think she’s older than she is, especially as her communication skills are really good. I think I might start ordering for her especially in places that serve all day breakfast foods. She could easily eat scrambled egg or beans and toast now. I wouldn’t be ordering if chicken nuggets, chips and pizza were the only options.

It depends on what is on offer. If it's chips and beans, no. Also a restaurant can fudge off, as they are still young enough to not be able to eat EVERYTHING on offer independently. So we are within our right to bring our own items for an infant. I've never dined anywhere where what's not been okay for a baby. To be clear and fair to the restaurant though, I always purchase things for myself and buy coffees etc so they don't feel I'm taking the mick

I usually bring a little something, but also give a little something off our plates

I would always take food for my 1 year old still. He barely eats anything so it would be such a waste. He may have a tiny bit of ours and would then just have his crackers/ snacks. I think it’s really unreasonable of them to suggest a 1 year old needs to order off the menu. I would always order full meals and drinks for us though