Babies in restaurants?

[sher92]

We are leaving next week with our DD3 and DS 4mths and was just wondering what you typically do in restaurants with the little ones? He's not yet sitting on his own so won't be able to use a highchair and I've read that they discourage bringing the stroller into the restaurants. So, do you just basically hold them the whole time? We are not bringing the carseat, just our Phil and Ted stroller.

Thanks!

[brandylouwho]

At 4 months we wore our daughter (in a sling or a baby bjorn) while eating at WDW. We were allowed to bring the stroller in a few times, but unless you are seated a nice table in a corner or the retaurant isn't busy---I think the stroller is a bit of a pain. I felt like it was in the way and worried about people pushing past it (or worse yet...servers with trays near or over her).

[Shleedogg]

If you bring your infant seat you can either turn a traditional high chair upside down and put the seat on the legs or some restaurants at Disney had a special sling for DD's carseat. Le Cellier and CM come to mind.

[PA Princess]

We have traveled for years to WDW with 4 kids and many trips have included a young infant. We have always found disney facilities to be some of the best as far as making it easy to do things - including dine in a restaurant - with a baby.

We have never had issues bringing our stroller into a restaurant and have done it for several meals when infants were asleep. As well we used a front carrier and we just held the baby during meals...it always seemed to work out.

We traveled in the summer months, so we did not use the carseat/carriers that click into stroller - just too warm for baby.

[letsgoagainsoon]

I've always brought my stroller in the restaurants when the babies have been asleep. Never have I been told no. Last year it was even my double. They usually just seat us in an area where it won't be in the way. Maybe during peak times they won't let you, but last year was pretty busy during free dining and we had no issues.

[waltskids]

We always bring the stroller in for babies who are too little to sit in a high chair. We always mention we have an infant when making dining ressies, and when we arrive, we tell the hostess that we will need to keep the stroller at the table since we don't use the infant carrier while in WDW. It has never been a problem, and this last trip we had a double combi stroller. I am not comfortable using a sling or carrier while eating and holding her while we eat doesn't work for us either. Disney is great about it!

[waltskids]

Originally Posted by PA Princess

We have traveled for years to WDW with 4 kids and many trips have included a young infant. We have always found disney facilities to be some of the best as far as making it easy to do things - including dine in a restaurant - with a baby.

We have never had issues bringing our stroller into a restaurant and have done it for several meals when infants were asleep. As well we used a front carrier and we just held the baby during meals...it always seemed to work out.

We traveled in the summer months, so we did not use the carseat/carriers that click into stroller - just too warm for baby.

I agree! We also travel mostly in the summer months and can't imagine making the baby sit in an infant carseat while in the parks. Plus, we use the buses and it would be too cumbersome to carry.

[dis-happy]

I had no problems bringing a stroller in with an infant, even places that are tight like Le Cellier and Boma. Just talk to the hostess and explain you have an infant that can't sit up yet.

There are a few restaurants that don't allow strollers at all, such as Crystal Palace, however there they have special sling infant chairs for your baby to safely sit in. Again, tell the hostess when you check in.

[sher92]

Originally Posted by dis-happy

I had no problems bringing a stroller in with an infant, even places that are tight like Le Cellier and Boma. Just talk to the hostess and explain you have an infant that can't sit up yet.

There are a few restaurants that don't allow strollers at all, such as Crystal Palace, however there they have special sling infant chairs for your baby to safely sit in. Again, tell the hostess when you check in.

Thank you all so much! We are not taking our carseat, (way too hot for him and too much to carry!) just the Phil and Ted Stroller, but are eating at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Princess Storybook Dining, so it seems those are the busiest ones, so I'm even wondering if I'll be able to bring the stroller in.

At CP, what is the baby sling you mentioned that infants can sit in?

[Redheaded Sunshine]

When my DD was too small to sit up in a high chair, I took her car seat carrier into restaurants and they had stands to accomodate that. They wouldn't let us bring a stroller in, but as I had her carrier it wasn't an issue for us.

Sweet Disney moment for me...when Pooh took DD onto a little nook in his belly and held her and played with her. One of my favorite pictures to this day.

[dis-happy]

Originally Posted by sher92

Thank you all so much! We are not taking our carseat, (way too hot for him and too much to carry!) just the Phil and Ted Stroller, but are eating at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Princess Storybook Dining, so it seems those are the busiest ones, so I'm even wondering if I'll be able to bring the stroller in.

At CP, what is the baby sling you mentioned that infants can sit in?

The sling chair, wish I had a picture. I guess it's most like a bouncy seat, where the baby lays back at an angle, fully supported. There is a strap to hold baby in place. The nice thing is that it's the height of a regular high chair (at table level), so your baby can look around and see what's going on. It works great!

[sher92]

Originally Posted by dis-happy

The sling chair, wish I had a picture. I guess it's most like a bouncy seat, where the baby lays back at an angle, fully supported. There is a strap to hold baby in place. The nice thing is that it's the height of a regular high chair (at table level), so your baby can look around and see what's going on. It works great!

Oh, that sounds awesome!!! Just exactly what I was hoping for!! So, is Crystal Palace the only place that has it or do other and most restaurants have it as well. Do I just need to ask the host when we check in for it?
Thanks for the suggestion...that will work perfectly!!

[waltskids]

Originally Posted by sher92

Oh, that sounds awesome!!! Just exactly what I was hoping for!! So, is Crystal Palace the only place that has it or do other and most restaurants have it as well. Do I just need to ask the host when we check in for it?
Thanks for the suggestion...that will work perfectly!!

I wish I knew how to post a picture! Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's both have them. I know Hollywood and Vine does not since we just ate there in August. I am not sure about other buffets. They are on wheels too! Most restaurants don't have them, which is when you'll need the stroller. Have a great trip!

[AntePrincess]

Until my daughter was a year old, I wore her in a sling while I ate in restaurants, or held her if we felt like it. When she was very small, she laid down across my front with the lip of the sling blocking the light (and any stray food) from falling on her. She usually napped. As she got older, she'd sit upright in the sling, off to the side, so that she wasn't between my food and I. Under a year old is a great age for going out and continuing to do "adult" things like eating in nice restaurants. She didn't get fussy, everything was new and fun to stare at.

Slings are great for parks and outdoors. They breathe, light colors reflect the heat away (and are bleachable), and they kept my arms free. If we got tired of one position, we could just change our set up. It was simple to keep her from grabbing onto things or being touched by strangers (mostly other curious kids). The trade-off is that you're carrying the kid. I preferred that to wrestling with a stroller, but I have hated strollers since the "SUV strollers" came out around here and I found myself getting pushed off sidewalks, hit in grocery aisles, or otherwise crowded by them.

[AKADrea]

I held DS 3months when we were there a few weeks ago, sometimes I wore him (though I tended to drop food on him, LOL!) - I wish everyone had the infant seats like at chef mickey's!