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Original poster

Baby in restaurant etiquette.

305 replies

YicketyYackMamasBack · 06/02/2020 10:14

Me and DP would like to go out for a meal for Valentine’s Day, and we would like to take DD.
We haven’t been out for food with her yet as I had a c section and she is only 5 weeks old at the moment. But we have been for short walks, trips round shops and into costa for a coffee.

She’s very content, not very fussy at all.. although that could well change in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully she’s still like this for Valentine’s Day as it would be really nice to take her out but I wouldn’t want to burden anyone else’s meal with a screaming baby.

My main concern is how we actually take her? I’ll double check with wherever we book they allow children and explain we have a newborn.
But do we take the whole pram in, and just leave her in the pram to sleep, or do we just take the car seat in and put her on a chair in the car seat?

I’m a first time mum and I’m terrified of looking like an idiot, so any advice would be much appreciated 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
YicketyYackMamasBack · 06/02/2020 15:12

If you would be pissed off for being in the same room as a baby at a public place to eat then you really need to find someone that doesn’t allow children.

Also? For those who are bashing me for ‘asking for advice then not taking it’ .. please refer back to my OP. * My main concern is how we actually take her? I’ll double check with wherever we book they allow children and explain we have a newborn.
But do we take the whole pram in, and just leave her in the pram to sleep, or do we just take the car seat in and put her on a chair in the car seat?*

I specifically asked for how I should take her out for our meal.. not whether I should

If where we want to book allows children then all the other sour face diners like yourselves will just have to suck it up.

Thank you to those who have actually answered my question.

OP posts:
FuzzyAtmosphere · 06/02/2020 15:17

But do we take the whole pram in, and just leave her in the pram to sleep, or do we just take the car seat in and put her on a chair in the car seat?

Guidance is that babies should not be in a car seat for longer than two hours. You might find the larger tables are separated into smaller tables for couples and there is very little room for a car seat or pram. The answer you want completely depends upon the place to are going - ask them when you ring to book and see what they say. We cannot answer for them.

lasttimeIplaythetartforUJerry · 06/02/2020 15:26

Why would people assume there will be no children? Genuine question.. unless they’ve specifically asked if it’s a child-free venue then why assume there will be no children. That’s just setting yourself up for a fall surely?
and
I suppose I’ve never really seen it as a specific adult occasion.

It's Valentine's Day, an occasion for adult romance. I think you're being a bit disingenuous now.

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lasttimeIplaythetartforUJerry · 06/02/2020 15:27

If where we want to book allows children then all the other sour face diners like yourselves will just have to suck it up.

Wow.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 06/02/2020 15:29

Ah one of "those" parents

DesLynamsMoustache · 06/02/2020 15:31

Oh dear.

Sidge · 06/02/2020 15:31

If you would be pissed off for being in the same room as a baby at a public place to eat then you really need to find someone that doesn’t allow children

Only on Valentine’s Day evening 🙄 If I eat out at a pub or family friendly restaurant at any other time I wouldn’t give a hoot if there were babies and children there. But on the one evening of the year dedicated to couples celebrating romantic relationships I wouldn’t want a baby next to me. I mean I don’t even go out on Valentine’s Day as I think it’s commercialised opportunities for overpriced experiences, but it’s the principal.

You need to be a little less self absorbed and consider the other diners in your environment on this particular day. If you are going to eat out with your baby eat early and take the pram so you can at least eat your meal with two hands.

AudacityOfHope · 06/02/2020 15:31

Good luck in the restaurant with that shitty attitude.

Sidge · 06/02/2020 15:35

Oh and drop the insults, you’re just making yourself look stupid now.

LouisaJenny · 06/02/2020 15:37

😂 this thread.

Seriously OP, either just go out for Valentines Day lunch, or go the day before or after.

doodleygirl · 06/02/2020 15:39

OP Im with you on this, my DD is 25 and I still get her a heart shaped choc and a card (I also get a valentine treat for my dog Grin)

I would take your lovely baby in a pram, just mention it to the venue when you book.

Have a lovely time

timeforawine · 06/02/2020 15:39

Hi OP, do you have a sling or carrier you could take her in so that the pram wasn't in the way? If not i'd do car seat but take her out at intervals.
Personally wouldn't mind seeing a baby in the slightest, but you'd probably end up with me looking over and smiling like a loon at the cute baby :-)
I think maybe a gastro pub, around 6ish would be totally fine, or a more lively restaurant rather than a quieter intimate place

PersephoneandHades · 06/02/2020 15:40

Your latest response is why people don't want parents bringing their babies to dinner on Valentine's Day lol

It's the one evening that's considered specifically for couples, we don't want to 'suck it up' for you, we want to enjoy it.

mrsplum2015 · 06/02/2020 15:40

I don't see why not
We always used to go out for dinner with our first baby
She was a great sleeper so we would just take her after bedtime in the pram and she would sleep
It was as if she wasn't there !

Mariagatzs12 · 06/02/2020 15:51

Hi OP my family also celebrates Valentine's as s day about love in general but I know 99% of the population doesn't see it that way.

I have a 15 week old and we're celebrating this weekend. Also you could drive, it's up to the insurance company. I drove 2 weeks post c section

UhKevin · 06/02/2020 15:55

Good for you, OP.

Sprout I’m going out on a limb and guessing the baby is not expected to scream with colic. So yes, reasonable. Not ridiculous here - just think the entitlement of some adults basically dictating that the OP should not take the baby - bc that’s exactly what’s going on - is just that. Too many on this thread are having more of a scream than the baby’s even capable of.

Audacity And yet you understood it Smile

Tippexy · 06/02/2020 15:55

I’ve always been included in my parents Valentine’s Day. We got a card and chocolates from my parents every year and celebrates together.

This is truly odd, surely you can see that

DesLynamsMoustache · 06/02/2020 15:58

I don't think it's odd to include kids, but including children by getting them a card and some chocs is quite different to taking them out for an evening meal on Valentine's Day, unless it's a family friendly pub or something.

Blackbirdblue30 · 06/02/2020 16:00

'Suck it up'- what an entitled attitude!
There just are places where it's inappropriate to take infants and small kids. Everyone adores their own baby but has every right to be annoyed having to listen to or smell someone else's on a romantic night out ffs!

AudacityOfHope · 06/02/2020 16:03

Understood what?

ceeveebee · 06/02/2020 16:04

Could you not go out for lunch instead?! We used to take our twins out for lunch a lot and they would usually sleep in car seats or pram when they were that age. But I wouldn’t have taken them out in the evening mainly because they were usually feeding all evening anyway and would be no fun at all for me or anyone else!!

Omashu · 06/02/2020 16:08

Oh just go for it! Enjoy your evening OP

Dandelion1993 · 06/02/2020 16:08

I'd say no for an evening meal, even in a pub.

It would be better at lunch especially as its a Friday and people will still be at work.

CheekyPearl · 06/02/2020 16:09

Last Valentine’s Day we went out for dinner with our then 5 month old. No one batted an eyelid. Since she is older we have gone for
Dinner without her and if there has been a baby there we coo over it and don’t mind. Maybe do a trial run having a lunch somewhere to practice going out. Of
Course there is always Pizza Express which is always child friendly. Good luck! X

Florin · 06/02/2020 16:10

When our son was little he was really easy to take out and we did it regularly from the day after he was born. However we went to eat earlier at about 6 so less people and then we just ordered a drink and see how he settled then we ordered starters and if they went went well we ordered mains. I really don’t think you can take a pram into crowded restaurant on Valentine’s Day and you would need to be ready to go outside/leave if they start making a noise rather than just trying to hush them at the table and obviously don’t even think about changing them in the restaurant (yes it does happen!)