My child and restaurants-ugh

[DevilDuckie]

. Pre-arrange a sign of some sort that means dinner has arrived.

I vote for chewing!

 

[julirina]

I vote for chewing!

LOL! About time the mood lightened up in here. jeez louise, it was getting uncomfortably toasty...!

To the OP -- I think you'll be fine. You're obviously attuned to your child's needs and are thinking ahead. I'm sure you'll do whatever it takes to keep your daughter from falling apart and ruining everyone's meals. I agree with the PP that said that in three months you could see a drastic change of behaviour and have absolutely no issues. And the magic of places like CM might be enough to distract her.

sending a dose of calm, quiet, relaxed pixie dust your way!

 

[mamaLori05]

Do I understand you correctly?- Since you paid for your vacation you now have the right to ruin a meal for strangers.

I'm sorry but it is rude to allow your child to disrupt others not to mention that a screaming child is clearly in distress and needs to leave the rest.

You forgot to highlight the part where the person making the rude comment to the PP also had a 7 year old that was screaming because they weren't getting their way.

To me the PP didn't ruin anyone's meal. She was just stating how rude a couple was that was also at the restaurant, and she thought it was funny that at that same moment her ds let out a scream. It didn't say she left her ds there screaming at the table. the people made a comment to her just as they were sitting down to eat that they were nuts for eating out with a baby, and that they hoped he was quiet. I found it quite funny and deserving that after their rude comment their own 7 yr old started throwing a fit.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well Okay then!!!! I did remove my child from the situation I guess I should have posted that, But feel free to ATTACK me for thinking something was funny. BY the WAY it ONLY took me about 5 secs to remove my child from the situation or any situation when he is acting that way. I will make sure I buy your book on parenting the next time I am at the store.

I will no longer post on this thread because I usually do no respond to Flames but in this case I felt it was needed. I am sorry to the OP that this got out of hand. I guess I ment to say go enjoy yourselves and let things happen. If you child needs to go out for a little break then take turns eating. Adults have bad days to and we can remove ourselves from the situation . I was just trying to say no one is perfect not even us adults.

Oh please. Sorry but you are wrong. You never stated that you took your child out. I am not the only poster who said it was rude of you. I think perhaps you are the one attacking me. What you meant to say and what you actually said was two different things. So yeah- if you did let your child scream and scream and think it was funny then imo you were rude. If you laughed because the people were nasty (which I agree they were) and you removed your child to give them (you child) a break (which you did not say) then good for you. No attack. Just responding to what you originally posted (like others) that did not have any other information.
If you buy my book I'll give you an autographed copy.
Truce?

 

[In a hurry]

OP, you're a two parent family right? While it isn't perfect, the best solution is that if the kid starts to scream one of you takes her outside. The other people around you have a right to a nice meal and often what the child wants is a change in environment. Until you can teach her "restaurant manners" you just have to be prepared to spend a lot of time out front wondering when sh'll grow up.

Isn't that the truth?! That is the polite thing to do. I hate having a dinner out ruined because someone thinks their rights to eat with a screaming child out weigh the rest of the patrons rights to eat in peace.

 

[hentob]

To me the PP didn't ruin anyone's meal.

The previous poster said this:

Well DS started screaming and we just laughed because it was like he knew what they were saying. I did speak up and say. I paid my addmission too We have the right to eat just as much as anyone else.

I think when a child starts to scream and a parent states "I paid my addmission too We have the right to eat just as much as anyone else" to the other patrons, something tells me the screaming child isn't being whisked away from the restaurant

And listening to a screaming child would certainly ruin my meal. There is no excuse for it. When a child starts to scream, pick said child up and remove him from the area.

 

[In a hurry]

I expect kids. But I've also noticed WDW is full of parents. And I do expect the parents to parent - which includes removing screaming kids from restaurants for the comfort of others where that is possible. Also, removing screaming kids from lines, removing overtired kids from the parks, keeping kids from running chocolate covered hands over strangers, keeping them from climbing on railings.

Said in a very nice way!

I have always taken my kids to restaurants, church, parks, movies, etc. They've always been removed if there was a problem, and they all learned at a young age to behave appropriately. You just have to tough out the hard times.

 

[Allison]

OP, you're a two parent family right? While it isn't perfect, the best solution is that if the kid starts to scream one of you takes her outside. The other people around you have a right to a nice meal and often what the child wants is a change in environment. Until you can teach her "restaurant manners" you just have to be prepared to spend a lot of time out front wondering when sh'll grow up.

This is what we did with our kids. I would never disrupt someone else's meal because my kids were in a bad mood. Luckily, that didn't happen much for us.

We did go out to eat if we wanted to and if we had a cranky pants, we removed them from the area.

Good luck, OP.

 

[mamaLori05]

The previous poster said this:






I think when a child starts to scream and a parent states "I paid my addmission too We have the right to eat just as much as anyone else" to the other patrons, something tells me the screaming child isn't being whisked away from the restaurant

And listening to a screaming child would certainly ruin my meal. There is no excuse for it. When a child starts to scream, pick said child up and remove him from the area.

Yes, but you missed the sentence before your quoted one that said as soon as the other couple sat down they told her they hoped her ds was quiet, and that people shouldn't bring babies out to eat. That comment had been made before her ds made a scream. She made that comment after her ds let out a scream and after the rude comment. I'm sorry, but if someone made such a rude comment to me before my kids even made a peep I too would have made a comment right back. The other dinners sitting by them were just rude.

Oh, and an FYI- I never let my kids sit there and scream in a restaurant. I stated that earlier in my post. My DH or I take them out when they do that. I just don't agree with how the people sitting near them in the restaurant acted, and in the end their 7 yr old was throwing a fit. I just thought it was funny how they were making comments about the pp baby when their own 7yr old was throwing a fit as well.

 

[bzzymom]

This happend to us with DD. She was really good at restaurants, until about 14 months old, and then she started fussing and getting antsy. We started getting her sticker books, and she loved putting stickers on paper. She also had little character figures like Mickey and Minnie, the princesses, and she would carry them in a little purse and line them up and then put them away and then line them up again. By the time of our WDW trip when she was 19 months, she was better. I took a big ziplock baggie with the figures in it and kept it in our backpack. She played with them at the TS restaurants.

 

[Chipmunk89]

OP, you're a two parent family right? While it isn't perfect, the best solution is that if the kid starts to scream one of you takes her outside. The other people around you have a right to a nice meal and often what the child wants is a change in environment. Until you can teach her "restaurant manners" you just have to be prepared to spend a lot of time out front wondering when sh'll grow up.

ITA

its disney, most kids are crying so at least you wont be the only criers

But I thought it was the Happiest Place on Earth.

 

[SandrainNC]

My youngest son just turned 2 last week. We were at Disney in November (16 months then) and he was horrible! He was fine in restaurants right before we left. His daddy had to take him out of every single restaurant at WDW (except counter service). His problem was if he didn't get his way, he had a fit. So if we wouldn't give him the wine glass at Boma, he started. Or if he wanted to play with a steak knife and we wouldn't let him, he would cry and scream. It was crazy! I let him have his way in public as much as possible if it will keep him quiet, but I cannot give him glass and sharp objects! We were there last month and he was a little better, but he was still removed a few times. We try everything to get him to stop. It is so embarassing! But taking him outside for a few minutes usually helps him to calm down.

Sandra

 

[tlens]

Crying is one thing. Screaming is something completely different. If I can't hear the person next to me talking because someone else's child is screaming, then something needs to be done about that.

 

[everylastbreath]

Inloveindisney- I have to admit I did not read every post, so forgive me if I repeat, I would like to say don't worry, it will be fine. - we took my 2 year old GS to Disney last year, originally for the only idea that it was the most "kid friendly" place in the world. We were very worried about the meals, because at home he was barely able to sit at the table for 10 minutes, I really thought we would have to eat in shifts, and actaully planned on how we would break up our group if it was necessary. Well let me tell you- day one - first meal (Chef Mickeys) - you cannot go wrong with this place, there is so much noise and activity your little one will be totally captivated with it, there is no way they can disturb anyone, because every table has kids, some yelling, so crying, some happy, and my GS was so amazed with watching the characters (and making sure they didn't get to close to him, especially at the beginning of the trip) that we were all ready to leave and he was still sitting in his highchair.

He did fantastic at any character meal, so I would book as many as you can handle. As far as eating in other places, I have to admit, we did plan them around his naps / bedtime- we tried to get him to fall asleep before we went, and had many great meals, while he slept in the stoller by the table.

Don't stress it- as someone did say "It's Disney, expect kids" - well my theory is, if you don't want to see little ones, don't go to Disney. Have a good time, It wasn't nearly as bad as we expected.

 

[soontobewed07]

.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I deleted my post because I guess I should have worded it a bit differently

People should not be attacking others. We should only be kind to each other. I am sorry any of this has happened and I have asked to MOD's to lock this thread. I am VERY sorry to the OP.

I think you are being a little sensitive. Nobody was attacking you. We were responding to the information you provided. There is no need to lock this thread. We are being kind to each other, however we all have different opinions and you may not like everyone's opinion. That doesn't make someone mean or attacking.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

The poster asked for opinions and information -- I think she has gotten some good advice. Feel free to continue to offer advice, but if the thread moves any further into fighting and nastiness it will be locked.

 

[NMAmy]

Don't stress it- as someone did say "It's Disney, expect kids" - well my theory is, if you don't want to see little ones, don't go to Disney. Have a good time, It wasn't nearly as bad as we expected.

Well, I don't mind SEEING the kids, it's the screaming I can do without.

To the OP: Most parents have been there. If I see someone making an effort to calm a tantrum, I ignore it. But, like others have said, if no effort is made at all or the tantrum goes on for a long time, then I lose patience.

Believe me, I spent plenty of years sitting outside a restaurant waiting for my ex to bring me my to-go box or me bringing food to him. It's just something you have to live through when you have a kid. The good news is that most of those kids get past it and grow up to have very good restaurant manners! It'll be okay with your dd--just be ready to leave for a while if things get out of hand.

Oh, and my dd was fascinated with lemons at that age. If I gave her the lemon slice out of my iced tea, that would entertain her for a good half hour. The faces she'd make would entertain me, as well.

 

[coltfan]

Good luck with the character meals on your trip. It can be challenging actually getting to eat at the character buffets. You'll want to be at the table for pictures and then may need to leave with a fussy child. We found the table service character meals to be easier than the buffets with young children. Plan to conquer and divide your opportunities to eat and responsibility to entertain a fussy toddler. That way you'll both get to eat and hopefully have some cute pictures. Even without a fussy child, you'll want to stagger when you get food!

 

[frtchr]

I think one of the best things about Disney, as someone else mentioned, is how quickly you can get in and out of a TS restaurant. We took our DD at 11 months and again at 16 months. She fussed some, but she hardly had time because our food always arrived quickly. If she continued to fuss, DH or I would take her out and walk around. We didn't eat a lot of meals together, but it wasn't a big deal at all. It's such a small part of the experience. We also only ate TS for lunches and did dinners on the run because DD is much better around lunchtime. Overall, most people at Disney are sympathetic to toddlers' whims and moods or they probably shouldn't be at WDW in the first place.

Hope you have a wonderful time!