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Family Meals

Question

Any tips on how to make eating out with a baby less stressful?

Answer

Dining out with your baby can be a challenge, but advance planning will make your meal out more pleasant. Make a list of family-friendly restaurants and talk with other new moms to find out their experiences with these places. Before leaving the house, pack baby’s bag with formula, bottles, bibs, cups, spoons, baby wipes, and diapers. Include favorite toys and snacks for diversions.

Avoid dining during the busy hours. Crowds and excessive noise can upset your baby. Ask for an out-of-the-way table that provides plenty of room for your baby supplies and diaper bag. If your baby gets fussy, try to divert her with toys. If that doesn’t work, take a walk to calm her down. And do it quickly. There’s no reason to wait until all eyes are on your table before you try to remedy the problem.

And at all times, remain flexible. If the restaurant of your choice is crowded even at off-peak time, go elsewhere. If baby simply wants nothing to do with the experience on a particular day, ask for carryout. Perhaps this is the perfect time for an impromptu picnic in the park instead of dinner indoors.

MEET OUR EXPERTS

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Meet Our Experts

The START HEALTHY, STAY HEALTHY™ Resource Center panel of experts offers practical advice, answering many questions typically asked by parents and expecting parents.

Lillian M. Beard, M.D. Pediatric Health

Lillian M. Beard, M.D., is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and an associate clinical professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is a frequent guest expert and spokesperson on national TV programs, discussing issues related to children's health. Dr. Beard practices pediatrics in the Washington, D.C., area.

José M. Saavedra, M.D., FAAP Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

José M. Saavedra, M.D., a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is a pediatric gastroenterologist with long-term experience and expertise in nutrition. Medical and Scientific Director of Nestlé Nutrition North America, Dr. Saavedra is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, the Sub-board of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, and the American Board of Nutrition. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins-Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Roy M. Pitkin, M.D. Prenatal Health

Roy M. Pitkin, M.D. is professor of obstetrics and gynecology and is former chairperson of the ob/gyn department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor to national health agencies concerned with women's health issues and has received numerous international honors for this work.

Robert N. Hamburger, M.D. Food Intolerances

Robert N. Hamburger, M.D. is professor of pediatrics emeritus and former head of the pediatric immunology and allergy division at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in La Jolla, California. Professor Hamburger is a consultant and continues as an educator and clinician in the UCSD Free Clinics in San Diego and Tijuana, Baja California.

Easing the stress of dining out