To think hotels and restaurant meals are not suitable for DC?

[FirstTimeLucky]

Me, DH and our two DC, aged 5 and 3, are being forced to stay in a hotel for two nights with MIL, FIL and SIL for FIL’s milestone birthday. We are staying in a family room which MIL has booked. I have no desire to take all the chaos of Home and put us all in one room. On top of this, they have booked a 6.30pm meal for us all in the hotel restaurant. AIBU to think this is totally unsuitable for a 5 and 3 year old?? And then what will we do? Sit in the dark in our family room while they go to sleep? We’ve never stayed in a hotel with DC before. Added to this, neither DC are great sleepers and so will inevitably be difficult to get to sleep and up early. AIBU to really not want to go, or should we just suck it up for FIL’s bday?

My DC (5&7) had their first hotel experience in the summer for one night and had been asking to stay in a hotel again ever since! So we’re just back from a night away. They love it! I think it’s getting to stay up a bit later watching tv in bed, and the breakfast. Me and DH just read books/mumsnetted once they’d fallen asleep. Although admittedly that’s not much fun if the rest of your group are still together elsewhere.

A 6.30 dinner is fine. We'don't give ours a snack about 4pm to keep them going. And encourage the little one to nap in the afternoon or fall asleep in the car.

Then we would take a bottle of wine to the room, put a film on and let them watch / doze with us.

We regularly stay in hotels with our dc and have done since they were babies. Sometimes in a suite and others in a family room. My dc adore staying in hotels. Who doesn’t? I would bring colouring or various small new toys to keep them entertained at dinner. Put tv on for them in bed for a short while when they get back to the room to wind down. Then dh and I would have some

Staying in hotels at that age for my dc was pretty much their favourite thing to do. So much fun. Yabu.

The very fact that they have a family room should let you know that other families stay there and therefore the hotel and it's restaurant are suitable for children.

YABU

But sounds like you just don't want to go.

My 3 year old DCs would be fine with that and love staying in hotels. You might be pleasantly surprised.

At that time its fine. Unless the waiters are topless i cant see how it be unsuitable for children. Your dc are a great age. They not a toddler. My dd aged 17 months is getting better in a restaurant! Compared to her aged 13 months its alot easier. A 3 and 5 year old is simple. Its good experience for them

What happens if you feed your children restaurant or hotel food?!

Spent 18 days in a family hotel room with 5yr old DS this summer.

We are flexible about bedtime, and DS is used to spending weekends at festivals/at gigs/ in random places, so this might colour my opinion!

He learnt early on to fall asleep anywhere....at gigs, in tents at festivals etc etc

So in a hotel family room, we get in anything we need from outside the hotel beforehand...snacks, drinks etc.

Get DC properly tired...lots of running around outside etc.
Dinner out as late as possible (DS will happily eat quite late though!)

Stick on a friendly film...back at hotel...if DC tired enough....I've always found DS will drop off quickly with all the excitement.

Then we crack the wine/ snacks and stick the telly/laptop on...
We avoid shreiky horror films but most things are fine because DS won't wake up.

Yours might be different!

We have to travel hours to see both of our families so stay in hotels regularly. Plus holidays etc. DD loves a hotel stay. What on Earth do you think happens in a hotel restaurant that isn’t suitable for children?

I think you'll need to tell us exactly what your issue is op.
Most people, of all ages, would consider a hotel and restaurant meal a treat.

Why not suitable? The hotel will have a kids menu and if there isn't something suitable on it ask for something off the starter or a small portion off the adult menu. As for family room why can't they either stay up late as it's a one off treat (especially spending time with pils as it's their idea)? Or just you and DH watch tv on a low volume once they are asleep?

My dd has stayed in hotels all of her life do she could see her half sisters.

I think you are being unreasonable. If you don’t want to go that is one thing.

I actually find it easier to all one in one room. I dont her ‘ Mum’ every 30 seconds.

Here not her

What do you want then? A family suite? Then change the booking and pay the difference. We did this with 1 DC and it was worth every penny.

6:30 should be fine for a meal. Just give the kids snacks mid afternoon.

It sounds a lovely family occasion. There arent always too many of those so make the most of them.

It sounds quite thoughtful; a family room for all of you and a very early dinner.
It's obviously a one off and supposed to be a treat. Don't rain on their parade by being difficult.

Sounds very glass half empty to me. Is it just one night?

We did this for 4 nights over nye.

We brought iPads and games, colouring stuff
Went back to the room quite late, 10 ish
Put the kids down and then slept ourselves

They are 4 and 3, not particuarly well behaved

It was fine.

You need to find a better excuse to not go - sounds like a lovely adventure for 3 and 5 yos!

Goodness my children spend half their weekend in restaurants. It’s not a big deal!

We are staying in a family room which MIL has booked.... On top of this, they have booked a 6.30pm meal for us all in the hotel restaurant.

Bloody in laws, eh?

I honestly can't see any problem. And I have similar age DC!

I didn't get the memo 11years ago that children shouldn't go to hotels.

Oh well, we accept they won't go to sleep too early and we may end up bed hopping. As for stuff, you really don't need that much. We take a small rucksack which is packed with little games, toys, coloring etc. I'm not sure what you are imagining you will need to take.

It sounds like you are dreading it but hopefully it will be fine. Hotels and restaurants are generally very nice to children IME and will happily go off menu to accommodate them and keep them quiet. So plain pasta or soup and veg or chips and garlic bread or whatever. If you ask nicely I am sure they will acccomodate you. Bring crayons or a quiet toy or whatever will occupy them (DCs liked Polly Pockets under the table, which probably dates me).

And the night in the room will be an adventure, for them if not for you. I totally second bringing in a bottle of wine, all snuggling up in a big bed and bribing with sweets if necessary. One night of rule breaking won't hurt them and could make this an exciting memory.

I hope it goes well.

Can you order a high tea for your dc earlier, so they can just pick at dinner? Is a family room all in one or with separate sleeping areas? Do they offer interconnecting rooms instead? Or can you book a babysitter and put the los to bed at usual time.