topic: Baby at Restaurant

Michael: One goes to a restaurant to enjoy a reprieve from prepping, cooking, and cleaning at mealtime. It's easy. It's relaxing. When you have a baby in the house, however, prepare for a paradigm shift.

Going to a restaurant with a baby requires prepping: Set aside 10 minutes to completely focus on packing up the baby and her paraphernalia. During this time period you hunt for just the right things--the right pacifier, her favorite book, and those emergency items you may need like the extra crackers or pouch of formula. You're a little tense especially when you notice your husband on the couch drinking a beer while the unattended baby wonders why mommy's scrambling.

Now the cooking: Sure, the restaurant folks are doing the cooking for you, but all the while you're completely focused on keeping the baby still and happy. "What did you say, Honey?" "Here--let's give her some crackers." "Ooo--do you want to change her or should I?" "Holy Mother of God! Look at the mess under our table!"

Once the food comes, you must multi-task: "Mmm. Great burg--no no! That's Mommy's." "How's your chicken?" "It's pretty goo--shh, shh, shh. Here's your ba-ba!" "You know, I'll be right back--I'm going to take her for a walk around. Maybe that will calm her down." "Holy Mother of God! Look at the mess under our table!"

At least the cleaning is something you don't have to worry about--just don't show your face at that restaurant again!

Anne: Yes, it's true that eating out becomes a little less of a treat because, with a baby, work is required before you can go out for a meal and there can be a little stress while you're trying to relax and enjoy your meal. However, I do think it's still a fun thing to do with the family now and then, and it's totally worth the preparation required as well as the other annoyances.

Something I recently discovered that makes things easier is those table topper things you can get in the grocery store. Whenever we'd go out to a restaurant, the thought of my baby eating off a suspect restaurant table kinda skeeved me. Babies don't exactly eat from plates! Table toppers are the greatest invention, especially for the "easily skeeved."

Table toppers are disposable plastic place mats that self-adhere to a table top. Sticking one to a restaurant table top in front of your baby's high chair allows the baby to eat germ free! No more thrown, flipped, or dropped plates! Just put the food on the plastic and baby eats, you eat, and all is well.

Now and again you are going to have a moment where things get hectic and you wonder if eating out is worth it with a bay, but YES, it is worth it. The change of scenery, the good food, and not having to do the dishes still outweigh the extra hassles of dining with a baby on board. Relax, smile, and find the humor--if something goes absurdly wrong, at least you'll have a great story to tell! Focus on enjoying the time with your family rather than the extra effort.

And BTW, I do clean up the floor afterward if my kid has made a mess--and Michael always leaves a bit extra in the tip. I feel badly for the wait staff, and I want to be welcomed back!