How long will we 'get away with ' sharing meals with DD when out?

[AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps]

DD is 3y4m and I still share meals when out. So if I order sausage, mash and veg. It's usually 3 sausages, like if mash and veggies.

She'll have ½-1 sausage,and some of the veggies and mash.
Or say, McDonald's, she'll have around 10 of my chips and maybe one chicken select.

What age did you stop sharing?

Don't think we've ever shared but she certainly had her own kids meals around 18 months. At 3 there is no way she would have been satisfied with sharing not only would it not have been enough for the both of us but she would definitely been very vocal in telling me what she wanted to eat.

Wow. Over 3

Have restaurants never mentioned it

It's why they have little eaters etx

Give them their own Mac Donald's as well. Then get a toy with a happy meal

No, they are just all different. DS used to go to school with a vegemite sandwich and an apple when he was little, he just wouldn't eat more than that. Now at 16 he eats me out of house and home.

I don't think I've ever shared a meal when out.
In fact sometime so kicked myself when I ordered the little one something and I had a huge bowl of soup and then realised he could've shared mine.

But, yeh, I'd just always buy them something of their own.

Our 16 month old has been getting his own meals for the last month. The harvester is great as they get a free dessert which is huge so I mostly eat it instead of ordering one myself!

I'd say 18 months latest too.
A chicken select and 10 fries is nowhere near enough food for a 3 year old.

This is such a weird question OP, considering the only person able to let you know, is your DD herself

When her appetite increases you'll know, so it doesn't really matter what we say.

About 3, depending on location and appetite. It's not acceptable to give food from home past around 2 but if they genuinely don't eat much I think it's fine however around 3 they will need a meal themselves. I have 2 fairly close in age and I often ordered a third adult meal and split it up until around 10, neither liked "kids" food aka fish fingers and beans

Is your child a borrower?

You are doing this sharing the wrong way round. Many places do great kids meals for a fiver. Mine used to love Bella Italia.
They get three courses and then you get to polish off the garlic bread starter or ice cream!

But getting them their own meal often makes it nicer as they are good at bringing the kids starters pretty much immediately so they are occupied eating while waiting for mains
I did always like the places that do small kids options as a 3 year old doesn't eat the same as a 12 year old.

Is for mine...

Why should i when she eats so little?

Literally what's the point of buying her a 2 sausages, peas and chips, when she'll only eat ½-1 sausage, maybe a teaspoon of peas and 3 spoons of mash? She'd leave at least ½ of the meal...

About 16? 🤣🤣🤣 but seriously I don't ever remember doing this apart from when mine were tiny tiny. We've always taken them for meals out in various places and bought them a child's version of whatever. It's all part of the experience and now they are great with manners and sit nicely and try different things (mostly)

Saying that, even now I will offer them a bit of mine to try if its new and I remember

At our local eat in chippy an adults meal would always be plenty enough for my dc and I, and I would just ask for a side plate for them. I think it depends on what sort of eater your dc is, some are still grazers at that age and eat little and often. Play it by ear, they'll let you know when it's not enough. Don't worry about what other say, you know your dc the best.

I’m confused! You say she eats very little so what’s the point of buying her a meal and yet you’re asking at what age you should start buying her food!?!
Perhaps, buy her a meal when you think she might eat it. Otherwise, let her eat some of yours. Not rocket science!

Why should I when she won't eat it all? she'd eat ⅓-½ a burger, maybe 10 chips? She's happy with a smaller portion.

So why are you asking?

Sorrrrry. Was just wondering when others stopped....

Probably at about 3yrs as I am quite small as was my DD so small appetites and by this age I had DD2 so we probably ordered a kids meal between the 2 of them.
If sharing still works for you then it's fine.

My DD was and still is similar at 10, she will let you know when she wants her own plate, my DD stopped sharing at 6ish, she eats a but more than what is shareable unless we get a side but quite often doesn't finish a full childs plate of food.

I was just idly curious....... didn't know it wasn't allowed and there were rules about what we're allowed to ask on a forum.......

I don't tend to buy 'kid' food like sausage and mash for myself when I go to a restaurant (I eat it at home occasionally but wouldn't pick it at a restaurant). Is that what you would normally choose? I wouldn't want to always choose meals that appeal to a 3yo palate personally!

Order your kid a meal you weirdo!

Is she eating 1/2 a sausage because that's what you give her and she's too polite to ask for more, or because that's all she needs to be full? Thinking honestly...

I'm in the 18mo camp too. We have a 2yr age gap between our DCs and at 3 & 5yo we would sometimes order one adult portion for them to share if it was something they both really like (it was often healthier than the dull beige offerings on the kids' menu). It worked out well portion-wise. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to share with the 3yo, I'd be left still hungry!

Why should you? Erm perhaps because you should consider the cafe or restaurant you’re eating in. We provide children’s meals for a reason. A three year old should certainly have her own lunch ordered and paid for.