Anyone know if they have the "slings" for carseats at the sit down restaurants?

[Momof4girls]

We will be travelling with a very small baby and it just occurred to me that we typically would take a baby out to eat with us, but only if there is a place to set her down in her infant seat. Around here, this usually means a very wide booth (like at PF Chang's) where the seat fits next to us, a table in the corner where we can set her down on the floor without her being in the way, or a restaurant with the "slings" that have a net where you can set the carrier and buckle it in.

So, any ideas? We'll probably avoid buffets at all costs because they're too hard to manage with five kids.

 

[lbgraves]

If they have the wooden highchairs, you can simply flip them over & set the infant carrier inbetween the legs. We use to do that. Noone had the slings around here.

 

[Momof4girls]

You actually cannot do that at most restaurants anymore - because of the way the highchair back is designed, it will not lie flat against the floor. There is a major risk of tipping, especially in the hustle and bustle of a restaurant - and, I'd imagine, it would only be worse with the motion on a cruise.

 

[mommasita]

Have not done this, but have seen many many use an extra seat for the infant carrier..Seems to work out well, it just is wedged in...

 

[wdwdclfan]

We just left her in her stroller, right at the table. She was 6 mo at the time, now she is seven!!!!!

 

[Momof4girls]

oh I hadn't considered the stroller in a restaurant. We usually use a double, but I could bring a single for that purpose.

 

[Jennifer & Dave]

We had a problem with where to put Alexander's car seat on his first cruise at 4 months. Our table of eight had eight adults and no extra chair for Alexander. At Triton's the servers had space to bring an extra chair over for us, but at Artist's Palate there was no room and we had to put his car seat on the floor, wedged behind someone's seat. I was not at all happy about that and ended up holding him throughout dinner so he'd be safe.

I have brought Alexander's stroller to the restaurants many time since that cruise, but there isn't always room for it. Some of those tables are wedged in tightly. Now that he's old enough to have his own seat at the table all is well.

So if you're lucky, you'll have an extra seat at your table upon which you can place your baby's car seat. If there's no extra seat, try asking for one. If you can bring a stroller, do -- it comes in handy when you need to soothe a little one, too. I've strolled Alexander around the corridors of the Disney Wonder and Magic many times.

 

[Momof4girls]

Thanks so much!!! I'll be sure to tell them a table for SEVEN when we go eat To be sure there's somewhere to go with the baby.

DCL get on board!! Get the slings, buckaroos!

 

[castlegazer]

WOA!!!! At what age do they become elligible for their own seat???? My daughter will be 15 months and I hadn't even considered that she might not have a seat at the table?

That is inconceivable to me that your baby wouldn't have a place at the table reserved for her/him. They are booked along with you - go into your passenger list - why don't they have seats at the table?