Do you let your kids eat off the tables in restaurants?

[jbdreamer]

Not only is that gross, it's rude. What wrong with using a plate?

 

[Annette_VA]

No, they didn't eat directly off the table. Ick!

I always used the TableToppers.

 

[ElizaB39]

NO! I am a germaphobe and proud of it!

 

[lil mermaid]

I am sort of surprised to read how many people wonder why a parent wouldn't use a plate with a toddler. Umm...because it would end up on the floor??

We really like the Tiny Diner placemat. We used the disposable ones, too - until Maddie figured out how to rip them off the table. I don't let her eat regular food off of the table, but I have wiped the table with an antibacterial hand wipe and let her eat cheerios from it a few times.

I also use a highchair cover.

 

[oogieboogie]

I guess I'm one of those who can't understand why the parents can't use a plate.

My kids are now 7 & 5 so it's been a while since they were toddlers, but even back then they had these bowls & plates that had a suction cup underneath it. Stick that on the table and that plate/bowl isn't going anywhere. There's no way an infant/toddler would be able to pull it off to throw it. It's not that difficult to carry it around considering how much stuff we parents cart around anyway.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

We used to use the bowls that had the suction cups on the bottom. No way would I let my kids eat off of the table. Yuk!

 

[mommaU4]

That's gross. So, no surprise here....my answer is no. I always used the napkins, or plates, or Table Toppers (disposable placemats),.
Even now when we go to a fast food place and if they are having a burger I'll just use the wrapping as a plate and put their fries and ketchup right on that.

I'm not surprised to hear this though. Not after reading a post on the Planning board about things that shock you and this one post talked about a man who let his little girl drink from a puddle at one of the parks! Ewww!

 

[graygables]

Mine didn't eat off the table, but not b/c of germs. Manners matter, even with little ones. I carried the bowls with the little suction bottoms or plates or just a napkin if we had to, but food is NEVER eaten off the table, even at home.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Stick that on the table and that plate/bowl isn't going anywhere.

Are you kidding? - does this mean my kid is potentially indigo/gifted? Because I don't think they've made a suction cup yet that he can't pop off that table quicker than you can blink. Table manners are something that I'm really trying to work on with him right now, but we are not progressing very fast.

I carry anti-bacterial wipes and a placemat in the diaper bag but occassionaly I get caught without.

 

[Lyn5]

I clean the table myself with wipe and then they eat on a plate, etc. I used to work in a fast food joint I don't let them touch the toilet seat directly in a public bathroom either! Now, at home, most anything goes....

 

[katerkat]

Stick that on the table and that plate/bowl isn't going anywhere. There's no way an infant/toddler would be able to pull it off to throw it.

I'll trade you - we have a suction horsey to entertain Russ during meals, plus a couple suction bowls. He can get them all up. In fact, *I* can't get the dang horse off a table but he can!

 

[Christine]

Are you kidding? - does this mean my kid is potentially indigo/gifted? Because I don't think they've made a suction cup yet that he can't pop off that table quicker than you can blink.

I just had to laugh. I had "active" babies in restaurants also. I remember when my son was about 9 months old, I had him on my lap while we were waiting for the food and quickly unwrapped my silverware and grabbed the knife and slung it across the table. We were at The Outback and those knives are pretty hefty. When I relayed the story to my best friend she just looked at me like I had three heads because she had one of those kids that was very calm EVERYWHERE!

 

[GEM]

No eating directly off the table. Gross. Yucky. Nasty It would be better to eat off the floor. Seriously, it's probably got less germs on it.

As others have mentioned, we always used the Table Toppers disposable placemats. Those things are great!

There is no way we would have given him a regular plate at 12 months, 16 months, etc. That would have hit the ground and been broken in a heartbeat! Keeping him from tossing the plate would have made already stressful meals even more stressful. No thanks!

Napkins didn't work either. He just yanked them out from under all the food so he could wave them around in the air.

As for those suction cup bowls and plates, they never stick very well, from my experience - especially on wood or other funky surfaces. We had lots of different ones - and Paul learned very quickly how to get them off off. Plus, there was no way I was carrying around plates and bowls in my bag, I had too much stuff already. Plus, who wants to try and wash it out or carry around a dirtly bowl or plate in your bag?

Now, at 2 1/2 he's able to eat off a real plate like a regular human being - as long as we keep an eye on him.

 

[cats7494]

I am not a germophobe but the thought of eating off of a restaurant table really grosses me out!
I know they supposedly "wash" the tables...but do they ever wash the cloths that they use to wash the tables?