Table Manners

Going to a restaurant with the three year and under crowd can be challenging to say the least. We decided before Savvy had even started on solid food that we were going to introduce eating out right away, in hopes of making it something familiar and easy to navigate. For all of us. 

After a few years of trial and error I have a arsenal of tricks to make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. 

First, decide on a restaurant that serves food your babes will eat. Be sure to consider time of day as well. In these photos we went to one of our favorite breakfast spots, Kimmie's Coffee Cup. You also want to make sure you have all the essentials, so you aren't relying on an available high chair or kids cup for a smooth experience. Once you have all the items you need to allow for easy dining, focus on keeping them busy and happy. 

It's unrealistic to expect toddlers to sit quietly for too long, especially with nothing to keep them occupied before and after the meal is served. Bringing a busy bag changes everything. A busy bag is exactly what it sounds like, a bag full of goodies and magic that keeps little ones engaged just long enough so you can eat your meal and maybe have some dessert too. But let's not push it.

Here are my busy bag essentials:
1. Wipe Clean, First Words: A dry erase book for tracing letters. Clean up is an activity of it's own.
2. Playdoh: A classic with endless creative possibilities, easy clean up.

3. Melissa and Doug Snap and Sort Color Match: Puzzles are quiet and time consuming.
4. Endless Alphabet: A great age appropriate game for toddlers on an iPhone or iPad.
5. Stamps & Stickers: An inexpensive way to add variety by supplying new ones every few trips.

Do you bring a busy bag out to eat? I'd love to hear what's inside your bag!

Xo,
T.