Family lunch with toddler and newborn - tips please!

[WindFlower92]

Kind of dreading today but want to make the best of it for my grandparents as I love them!
It's my grandad's birthday party, and we're out for a meal at a slightly fancy pub. Extended family going, not actually sure who or how many but quite a lot! 2 yo and breastfed 2 mo. Lunch will be over toddler's naptime, and I expect baby will want feeding constantly as it's hot. Yesterday she cried all day, not sure why! Will have DH there. How do we get through this with our sanity?! We haven't really had a chance to practice this sort of thing due to lockdown.

Your 2 month old will probably be fine. Just feed and hold as needed, car seat or sling for sleeping. Unfortunately, I wouldn't expect a 2 year old to sit very long at a nice meal over naptime. I would bring 2 year old in to start, but then dh will probably need to take outside, for a walk in the pushchair, to play if there is some green space nearby. Bring back in sleeping in pushchair or when food arrives.

@WindFlower92 does toddler nap in the pushchair? I used to purposely time lunches with friends with nap times because then she would be awake for a bit to see everyone then I (or a family member) would take her for a walk in the pushchair and she would drop off and we could eat/socialise in peace for a bit lol. I know it doesn't work for everyone, my sister's LO wakes the minute they stop walking so wouldn't work for her but might be worth a try x

She does sleep in the pushchair, good idea for DH to take her for a walk! I'm stressing as they'll be the only kids there and some members of my family can be very stuffy! And I just hate heat like this and want to stay in all day

Would your grandfather be offended if toddler and DH don't go?

My advice is to sit between breastfeeding sympathetic female relatives.

Take snacks for toddler. So if tired you can just give toddler a little sandwich or fruit and nap in pram whilst lunch is on. Or they can have fruit as starter if food takes a while