TS meals and children not old enough for high chairs. Question/advice needed

[ninafeliz]

My SIL just asked me a question that I am not completely sure of the answer to, so I thought I would see what others experiences have been. They have a 5 month old who is not sitting up yet, and she asked me if she could take the stroller into the restaurant for our ADRs or if she would have to hold him. I told her that I think she will have to hold him unless he is alseep and the restaurant chooses to let her take the stroller in so she doesn't have to wake him. However, it got me wondering if there might be anything else she could do? I guess our kids must have been sitting up enough for high chairs on their first trips, as I don't remember it ever being an issue. Are there any other choices I'm not thinking of? They won't have the carseat so a sling like we used a lot at our local restaurants wouldn't help them. I can see how she will be frustrated to always have a baby and not get to enjoy eating, but I guess we could all share the baby holding to give her a break.

 

[3Gsandme]

How close is he to sitting up? You could probably make it work by putting rolled up blankets around him in the chair to prop and support him. We never brought a stroller in, but we always used park strollers and there was just no way for them to come in. Frankly, most of the places we've eaten at in WDW haven't had room for strollers, to be honest.

 

[ninafeliz]

I know most places don't have room, and the only time we even asked to take strollers in were when the kids were asleep. In fact, I didn't ask the first time b/c I assumed we couldn't, the CM saw my son sleeping and asked if we wanted to take the stroller in. So after that we have asked just a few times, and I don't think they ever said no. We only do it if they really are asleep. my SIL doesn't care, she was just asking, so I wondered if there were any other oprions. Unless we take jackets for cold air conditioning I don't think we'll have anything to stuff around him in those wooder high chairs, but I'll mention it to her. Thanks.

 

[Momof3WDW]

At Chef Mickeys they have an infant seat (looks like a car seat on wheels) that you can use. I would just wipe it off with a baby wipe and maybe put a light blanket down if worried about germs. Most of the other restaurants didn't have that option though. So most just let us take our stroller in. Granted our baby was 4 weeks old and usually was sleeping. Never hurts to ask. I wouldn't risk putting a baby in a highchair if they weren't sitting steady. Hitting their face off the table or chair if someone isn't watching would be very upsetting.

 

[ninafeliz]

At Chef Mickeys they have an infant seat (looks like a car seat on wheels) that you can use. I would just wipe it off with a baby wipe and maybe put a light blanket down if worried about germs. Most of the other restaurants didn't have that option though. So most just let us take our stroller in. Granted our baby was 4 weeks old and usually was sleeping. Never hurts to ask. I wouldn't risk putting a baby in a highchair if they weren't sitting steady. Hitting their face off the table or chair if someone isn't watching would be very upsetting.

Thanks, we'll at least ask about that option. They won't be eating with us at Chef Mickey's. I kind of hate to ask about the stroller if the kids aren't sleeping since I read a thread on here somewhere all about people hating it when othersd take strollers into the restaurants. I had no idea how many things really annoy and irritate other people until reading threads on these boards!!

 

[Momof3WDW]

It might annoy other people, but this is my vacation too. So as long as the CM don't have an issue with it I am happy. Holding a baby throughout a meal is tiring and not fun. Especially if the meal takes an hour or more. You have to do what is best for your group and not worry about what others think. I also noticed that the CMs worked to give us a table where the stroller wouldn't interfere with them or other guests. So it is always worth it to ask.
And you never know, maybe the baby will be sitting better by the time your trip comes along.

 

[ninafeliz]

It might annoy other people, but this is my vacation too. So as long as the CM don't have an issue with it I am happy. Holding a baby throughout a meal is tiring and not fun. Especially if the meal takes an hour or more. You have to do what is best for your group and not worry about what others think. I also noticed that the CMs worked to give us a table where the stroller wouldn't interfere with them or other guests. So it is always worth it to ask.
And you never know, maybe the baby will be sitting better by the time your trip comes along.

Thanks for the advice. I guess I know that if the CM lets you do something then don't worry about what others think, but boy do people judge on these boards! I'll leave it up to my brother and SIL, but they will have a city mini so it's not like a tiny stroller. Having said that, i was allowed to take a double stroller to the table at Rose and Crown, so who knows. I do agree that a meal while holding a baby is less fun - my 25 month old won't sit in high chairs any more and I usually have to hold him - no fun! Out trip is in 9 days, so I don't think he will be sitting much differently by then!! (OK, I tried to insert a smiley here but could only get it to go at the very beginining above the quote for some reason, so I give up!)

 

[bloomjes]

Does she use a baby carrier? Something like an Ergo? Not perfect since the baby will still be infront of her but she'd have her hands free and the baby would likely just fall asleep

 

[dprincessmom]

At 5 months old, is she still using the infant carrier part of the car seat with her stroller? Even if she couldn't take the stroller in, she could leave the baby in the carrier and sit in the booth, chair or upside down wooden high chair.

 

[puffkin]

This is one of my biggest pet peeves about Disney having traveled twice with 3 month olds who in no way, shape or form could sit yet. Why all the restaurants do not have infant seats is mind boggling to me in a place like WDW. For the places that did not have one, I absolutely insisted on taking the stroller in. Be polite but firm and ask for a manager if need be. No way am I paying almost $200/meal for my family and can't enjoy it by holding the baby. I was NEVER turned down in any restaurant and most of them I didn't even have to press the issue, they asked if I wanted to take the stroller in. The few that did originally say no, with a little push back they allowed it.

My stance on this issue would be COMPLETELY different at restaurants in my hometown. But for a place like Disney who sell the "family" experience, this really irritated me. It all worked out fine in the end, but I am also not one to not ask for what I want, especially in these circumstances.

 

[NJlauren]

I agree that bringing the stroller for a child that isn't sitting up should be allowed. I also thin the ergo or similar carrier may help.

So this may be more of a pain this it's worth but do they use a bumbo seat or something similar at home? We have the ingenuity version which straps on to the seat and have brought that to local restaurants..... But if the don't already own one I wouldn't suggest buying one for this reason. Stick to he stroller.

 

[00zero00]

I suggest this, unless you are eating in the parks, then it might be a little cumbersome to carry with you. We have the Fisher Price healthy care booster seat. We took it into every restaurant with us until my boys were about 1.5/2 years old. They are great. My kids would always slide out of regular restaurant high chairs. With this seat, starting around 4 months they were able to sit by themselves at restaurants and I didn't have to worry about them making a mess. I just put any food or snack on the clip on tray and used a wipe when I was done. The carry straps made it easy to transport.

It might be a PITA to fly with though, if you are going that route.

 

[NorthernGrl]

My youngest was 12 weeks on our first trip. We always had sweaters for the kids and a few lightweight blankets in the stroller for the little ones. We'd just take them into the restaurant and wedge her into the highchair. She was too little to try and sit up, so just kind of leaned on the lump of blankets.

By 5 mos, I'd think your nephew'd be ok to be wedged in with a few sweaters.

 

[BethanyLynnFit]

Does she use a baby carrier? Something like an Ergo? Not perfect since the baby will still be infront of her but she'd have her hands free and the baby would likely just fall asleep

This is what I'd also recommend. And Ergo or even a ring sling would be perfect for meal times. That's my plan for October when we will be taking our infant.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if you do get to bring a stroller in make sure that the handles and back wheels are out of the walkway so people in wheelchairs and people walking by do not trip and fall into stroller or knock over stroller. that could put your baby under the table even in the stroller

 

[Lemurone]

Food tastes the same holding a baby or not
My 23 month old stopped using a highchair a few months ago--so she eats in my lap. As an infant she wouldn't stand to be put down. Glad the high chair was a gift since we don't get much use!
The only con is that she is old enough to steal my food too and I don't like to share

 

[ninafeliz]

Food tastes the same holding a baby or not
My 23 month old stopped using a highchair a few months ago--so she eats in my lap. As an infant she wouldn't stand to be put down. Glad the high chair was a gift since we don't get much use!
The only con is that she is old enough to steal my food too and I don't like to share

Food may taste the same, but I sure don't get to eat much while holding a 25 month old who absolutely won't sit still no matter what I do, and tries to run around the restaurant at all times Plus my child has a gluten allergy and I don't so either I have to avoid gluten or fend off him eating my non gluten free food from my plate. So while it does work, it certainly isn't ideal. I'm glad it works better for you. Having said that, i still love the character meals and some of the restaurants at Disney, and maybe I'm a glutton for punishment but we're pressing ahead with our favorite TS meals and we'll deal with him ! In My SIL's case her son is 5 months, so he is much easier to hold and eat as he doesn't do much wiggling and can't struggle to get down, so she said it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[ninafeliz]

Does she use a baby carrier? Something like an Ergo? Not perfect since the baby will still be infront of her but she'd have her hands free and the baby would likely just fall asleep

She does, and I think she is going to carry him in this from the hotel for our morning ADR and see how that goes. I just remember trying to eat while avoiding my son's head - it could be challenging. Plus getting food from the buffets would be difficult. At least I don't think he is yet grabbing everything he can, i remember dealing with that also. Doing a big twist to reach what I wanted but keeping his hands out of reach . Ahh, the good times. I miss those months, but there are plusses to the youngest now being 2... On the bright side, eating with a child in a front carrier was a good deterrent to overeating!

 

[ninafeliz]

At 5 months old, is she still using the infant carrier part of the car seat with her stroller? Even if she couldn't take the stroller in, she could leave the baby in the carrier and sit in the booth, chair or upside down wooden high chair.

That is what we always did locally, but they live in Manhattan and don't have a car, so no car carrier. I think I would find that cumbersome to take around Disney, but it would be a nice solution for the restaurants.

 

[ninafeliz]

I will mention the various things you can buy that either strap to the chair or table, I never looked into them. But thanks for the advice. I don't think she's too concerned, she was just asking me and I honestly wan't sure what other people do. I'm so glad I know of a place where I can ask and get advice from lots of people who have had the same situation!! it turns out there are options, but I suspect most people just hold the baby! I will mention to her that she could ask about the stroller as well if she wants - it doesn't hurt and we would definitely try not to be a bother to others.