10 consejos para salir a restaurantes con bebés
Ready to take baby to a restaurant? Get practical tips on timing, seating, what to order, and how to handle food allergies so the whole family can enjoy a meal out.
Puntos clave
You can take a baby to a restaurant at any age
Many families find the newborn stage is actually ideal for restaurant meals, since young babies often sleep right through them. As baby grows and stays awake longer, restaurants become a great opportunity for social and developmental experiences at the table.
No need for special baby food–you can share your meal
Once baby has started solids, there's almost always something on a regular restaurant menu that can work for them. Don't stress about an occasional meal that’s higher in sodium–a taste of your food is just fine.
A few simple steps can making dining out with baby less stressful
Timing your outing around naps, checking out the menu in advance, and having an exit strategy can make the difference between a relaxed meal and a stressful one.
Algunos consejos para ayudar a que esta experiencia que puede ser muy estresante con tu pequeña máquina de comer fluya mejor:
Trae un mantel individual desechable que se adhiera a la mesa. Hay millones de estos en Amazon, así que hazte un favor y pide uno. Cualquier mantel individual que te den en el restaurante terminará tirado en el piso, junto con todo lo que esté encima.
Trae un tapete desechable para el piso e insiste en que el restaurante lo use. Incluso si te dicen que están dispuestos a ponerse de rodillas para limpiar la comida caída debajo de la mesa, insiste. Te sentirás mucho mejor cuando puedas enrollar el desastre debajo de la mesa en un pequeño paquete desechable apretado.
Trae un babero con bolsa para capturar la comida. Menos comida en el suelo o en la silla alta del restaurante.
Lleva una bolsa con cierre hermético de galón para alimentos caídos, toallitas húmedas sucias, el tapete desechable, el mantel individual desechable, etc. Al final de la comida, puedes guardarlo todo allí y ¡el restaurante hasta podría estar feliz de que regreses algún día!
Trae un vaso con popote para tu bebé. Es probable que cualquier otro vaso que te den en el restaurante se caiga, sea usado como juguete, o termine siendo lanzado.
Lleva un par de juguetes nuevos que no hagan mucho ruido cuando golpeen el suelo. La novedad del juguete nuevo ayudará a mantener feliz a tu bebé y si está hecho de un material que no haga demasiado ruido cuando golpea el suelo, ayudará a mantener felices a tus vecinos en el restaurante.
Trae un par de alimentos en caso de que tu comida tome mucho tiempo o salga demasiado picante, etc. Los alimentos que viajan bien y no hacen mucho desastre incluyen las uvas en cuartos, los fideos de huevo, el queso mozzarella, el queso suizo, los arándanos azules, el tofu cocido, el huevo duro, el edamame y la mazorca de maíz.
Si tienes un bebé que pone los pies sobre la mesa, pon sus pies hacia un lado. Los bebés tienen una habilidad asombrosa para volcar mesas enteras justo cuando estas a punto de tomar el primer bocado.
Pídele a tu mesero que mantenga la comida lejos de la mesa hasta que se enfríe un poco. De esta manera, si tienes un bebé o un niño pequeño demasiado hambriento, no tendrás que torturarle poniéndole comida al frente que esté demasiado caliente para comer y no pueda comer inmediatamente.
Y si todo lo demás falla, ¡dale a tu bebé un pedazo de pan y deja una propina generosa!
Preguntas frecuentes
Yes, most restaurants won't mind, especially for a young baby. It's worth calling ahead if you're unsure about a particular restaurant's policy, but in general, restaurant staff won’t mind if you bring a small container of food from home for baby if you aren’t sure the menu will have suitable options. But once you and baby are feeling more confident about solids, you'll likely find something shareable on just about any menu.
That’s completely fine–baby can still safely join the meal. Baby can sit fully supported in an adult’s lap, with their back up against the adult’s stomach, to explore their food. Some families find that a travel high chair is worth keeping on hand: some clip directly to the table, others buckle onto a regular chair, and most fold down to be quite small.
Absolutely, and offering a breast or bottle feed at the restaurant can help keep baby happy for longer while the rest of the family is enjoying their meal. Do whatever feels comfortable to you: nurse at the table, use a cover if you prefer privacy, or step somewhere quieter if that works better. For bottle feeding, bringing a prepared bottle from home means you're not dependent on the restaurant to help with anything. If you do need a bottle warmed up, ask your server for help or ask for a large mug with hot water, like what you would ask for tea, and hold the bottle in the water until it reaches the desired temperature.
You're not obligated to clean up, but doing a basic tidy—picking up food that fell, folding up your splat mat, stacking used wipes—is a nice thing to do. As for tipping, there's no hard rule, but many parents choose to tip a little more generously if baby has made a significant mess, since it does mean extra work for the table's server. Bringing your own disposable splat mat and bib with a catch basin can minimize the mess and make clean-up easier for you and restaurant staff.
Most restaurants are happy to help with this. Keep in mind that methods vary: some will use a microwave (which can create hot spots, so stir and test the temperature carefully before offering it to baby), while others will bring a cup of hot water to warm the bottle in. When in doubt, bringing your own thermos of hot water or a small portable bottle warmer that works with a car adapter is a reliable backup.
Start solids with confidence
- Guided Introduction to 100+ Foods
- Smart Tools to Simplify Mealtime
- Food Allergen 101
- 300+ Meal Ideas
- First Foods® Database
Start solids with confidence
- Guided Introduction to 100+ Foods
- Smart Tools to Simplify Mealtime
- Food Allergen 101
- 300+ Meal Ideas
- First Foods® Database
