How to Handle My 15 Month Old in a Restaurant.

My kids were this way at this age too, it is normal. When we went to restraunts, we brought coloring books, crackers or snacks, a small toy, just kept something in the diaper bag that we could distract them with that wasn't something they were used to getting or playing with, it was their special restraunt toy so they were excited to get to play with it. They are 5 and 2 1/2 now and usually act fine, although we do have occasional tantrums and fits in public.

C.
My little girl is 13 months and when we go to eat she doesnt like to sit still the whole time either like you said they are 1 they are not going to sit still like and adult and your mother shouldnt think he should sit still that long. Maybe next time you go to eat you could try this it really seems to work with my daughter. We take small toys that she can sit at the table and play with we also bring some of her favorite snacks that way even if she has ate before we got there she still loves to eat her favorite little goodies. Maybe that will help him stay still a little longer then he has been. But he is a baby and nothing is going to keep him still to long. I hope that helps a little.

My 15 month old daughter acts EXACTLY the same way! At this age I don't think they are quite able to understand that they can't do everything they want. We do our best to keep her in her seat (buckle her in if we have to) and keep her from throwing things or bothering people too much. She loves to turn around and "talk" to other people behind her or around her. I think we have to just be consistent with what our kids can & can't do at a restaurant, and as they get older they will learn.

My mom seems to be the opposite of your mom! She usually says "well why doesn't she just sit in my lap while I eat?" and then lets her eat off of her plate... haha

Sounds like the little guy is real active. First thing to remember about taking children into a restaurant...they are kids and everyone around knows this. Kids will be kids. As long as he's not hurting himself or others I wouldn't worry that much about it. My youngest is 16 and when I go into a restaurant that has an active child or children, I remember back to when mine were like that. It's not like you are taking him into a fancy restaurant...even if you do, you are doing right by taking him in when he's hungry. If it won't spoil his appetite let him munch on some crackers or a few small toys until your dinner arrives. Quit fretting. Not everybody thinks that Oh My Goodness that child won't mind his Mom. You're doing just fine. I thinks it bothers you more than it does anyone else. Good Luck

When our daughter was 15m old (soon to be 3) we would make sure we had some type of small toys with us...carry along doodle which works great because she would draw then can erase and start all over, books, anything to keep her busy while we ate...and we would put her in the highchair at the end of the table.
We still have a bag that we put things in that she only plays with.. when we go out to eat. She is happy to see them b/c she don't play with them everyday. Just a thought! But, we still make her sit ect...while we eat.

Hi C.-
I agree with you wholeheartedly. You cannot expect a one year old to do what your mom thinks he should do. It's simply unrealistic for most kids. A kid is inquisitive. Disruptive is another story, but your description sounds like a normal 15 month old.

An unrelated topic: I will give you a bit of advice my girlfriend gave me when I was pregnant with #2. She said to start trying to encourage the older one to be as independent as possible. I started that day and am so thankful she said that. She has 2 kids and knew what I was in for with a super dependent older kid. I was in blissful ignorance. As Dr. Phil says, we can't know what we don't know.

J.

After my daughter turned one, every time we took her out to eat I ended with the same response "never again until you are 5" However, it did get better. First, we ALWAYS went at an off hour, never during prime eating time, therfore I didn't worry about disturbing people. Activities and cheerios were the key to our success. And if she had already eaten- so what. She could snack if she wanted to and then play. If she lost it- then we left. You are right- your kiddo is 1 and should not be expected to act older.
Really though- his favorite small toys and books might help. In fact, my girlfriend made a book specifically for just when they ate out. It was an alphabet book with pics of her daughter- and she just laminated it and put it on a 3 ring binder. Her daughter- and mine- loved it!
Anyway Good luck!

Hi C.,

I have a 17 month old son and he acts just like your son does....totally normal! You definitely cannot expect a child this young to "behave." We do still venture out into kid friendly, loud, restaurants and sometimes he is an angel but sometimes he is a holy terror. What helps me sometimes is to bring some snacks along like raisins or crackers (even if he has already eaten a meal he will still snack on something) to keep him busy. Like I said, sometimes this helps..heheheh.

You can't really do much at this point other than not go out. They are old enough to know what they want to do but not old enough to know what's acceptable restaurant behavior. We couldn't really take my oldest out to a restaurant without fear of being thrown out until she was nearly 3 but my middle son has always been an angel. It all depends on the child.

As far as your mother goes, I would just parent your child as you see fit and ignore your mother's "advice."

Good luck!

C.,
Let your 1 yr old be one.
My children are 10 and 4 and I have a bag that I keep in my vehicle since my daughter was big enough to sit up. It has toys in it. Things they can play with while we are waiting. This is the only time these toys are played with and we don't have matching ones at home. I have always updated as they grew. We keep colors and things in it now. I have even been known to have some snacks in it if it is a place I know will take awhile. Try this next time you go out and see if you enjoy yourself more. My bag is my BEST friend!
Good luck

My little girl 17 months olivia is the same way. She eats and then she is ready to play. I just let her play at our table. I dont let her run around but she does play at our table. I do watch her and quite her when she gets loud but i dont freak out. I say if you dont want to hear a child at a family restaraunt then dont go to a family place. I do want her to understand she cant go crazy but she doesnt have to be a robot either. Kids are going to be kids. I wouldnt let what she said bother you cause if thats the only trouble he gets into then i say let him eat cake lol. Kids are wonderful and they are only small for a short time. Good luck and god bless

Good for you to try. I have 3 little ones and the harsh looks never stop! Just do your best and don't let the nasty looks bother you. Those people had kids once, too.

One thing- I think everyone was shaking their head going,"I know that"..We've learned to go to family friendly restaurants, louder restaurants like Applebees, somewhere not expensive and where people aren't eating $20 meals that are going to be offended over a child. Hate to say it, nice restaurants are made for getaways,children will be children, can't blame them, how exciting is sitting down for 20 minutes waiting for food, and eating, they proubly sit in one spot for an hour, not a lot of fun for a small child. We've ordered our childs meal sometimes as an appetizer, that way they get their food faster and are occupied, or an appetizer they can eat as well...something to break up the cooking our food waite..

Hi C.,

I can sympathize with you. My 18 month old started showing signs of the "terrible 2's" at 14 months. I think at that age everything is still new to them and they want to explore - which is how they learn. On the rare occasions we do go out to eat, I make sure we pick a loud place, bring something for him to snack on, and some toys he can play with at the table. Then there are those time when nothing seems to work and we get the food to go. :-)

You're right, girl! Children are naturally curious and active and you can't really discipline a 1 year old.

OH MY GOSH I AM SO NOT ALONE!
I have a 15 month old son and he is the same way. I also agree with the not discipline what are we suppost to do put them in time out for being curious of the world they don't know about?! They need to see and do thing we might not under stand. I mean come on after all we have been here, they haven't!
Besides they are only being kids whats wrng with that?
I am beginning to think there is a secret mothers book for when your daughters grow up and have their children and what you are suppost to say about how they parent.
No two people parent a like so just ask for suggestions and listen, use the ones that might be helpful and Thank her for her advice. I belive our mothers want us to feel like we need their advice to show we thought they did good with us. I wouldn't worry about it too much and explain to her if you were being hard on your child you would hear about that too you can't win you aren't her. Thats what I do and my mom just smiles and we carry on the day just fine.
My mom wants me to admit that I could use her advice and then she is happy go lucky and we don't have the stress the rest of the time we are together.
Maybe you could go out with out her and show your son some things to do when it is you two alone and things to do when someone is with you guys.
I wish you luck,T.

Hi,
Believe me, I know active boys! Ours is probably the same way...a climber and wanderer. He almost 4 now and much better than he used to be, ever since he got interested in coloring. But still, we can't overstay our visit or he starts to wander, play on the booth next to us if it's empty, etc. He dropped a little toy about a year ago in the booth behind ours at a restaurant, and the older man that was sitting there with his wife proceeded to lecture my husband and I on disciplining our child. We politely told him that he is a child and to lighten up (he wasn't bad, he was moving around and I think that old man had never had kids or he might have understood). Our son is not bad per se, but if he misbehaves or gets too out of countrol he gets a time out and things usually are better. I don't know how much this helps, but just to know about someone else with the same situation.
:) M.

Hey C.

I have an 18 month old son and I second what everyone else said, go when hungry, to a family restuarant, bring toys etc. But one thing you might try if you are not already doing it: We have dinner time at home, all 3 of us on a regular basis. During this time my husband and I eat and one of us feed Jackson. We talk to each other and occasionally talk to Jackson, but we don't really pay a lot of attention to him. We've been doing this for several months and consequently its 'trained' him to behave and entertain himself at the dinner table. The idea is to teach him that you don't act differently at home than you do in public - you are respectful all the time. I know now he is too young to get the concept of being respectful but the idea is, we are eating this is how you behave when you eat. We do have days when we backslide and he runs around the table at home while we gulp down food but for the most part it has worked and we rarely have problems in public.