Toddler pack lunch in cafes

[Casheeeew]

I eat a about 3 cafes near me regularly, but only once per week, occasionally twice. I have always taken my son (18months) a full packed lunch, and I buy myself lunch and a coffee.

Its never occured to me to question this until today. Is he too old to be having home brought food?

They do have a kids menu but I prefer him to have a selection of things to pick at that I know he'll like.

Aibu - or if not, how long before he's too old?

Once they are old enough to eat standard food (not puréed baby food) it's time to stop bringing your own food. Certainly around the 18 month mark

Guess I'm in the minority. My son is 3 and we always take little pots of all sorts with us as he is so fussy he won't even eat chicken nuggets most of the time! I always buy a full meal for myself and don't see the point in spending up to £5 on a meal he won't even look at...

I see nothing wrong with it personally.

YABU. Until they needed a whole portion of their own, I just shared with ds - jacket potato, sandwich, whatever. Fair enough to take a breadstick to tide them over if getting hangry, but a full packed lunch esp if they sell anything in there is CF

Why did you think that was OK? He's old enough to eat something from the menu, especially if they have one for children.

Just curious but why did you right realise today? Did someone remark on it?

I always took food for my two at that sort of age. It's fine.

Yes that is odd. Tbh as long a child is at least 6 mths & sitting straight in a highchair you should be buying him age appropriate stuff from the cafe. I did blw & would give him a piece of my sandwich but seperated. DN ate purees and so dsis bought him soups / went to places that served pastas which could be mashed easily. But by 18 months they should be able to eat anything.

I'm also in the minority. I either take food or give my DD some of mine (14months) where I am the toddler lunch options are generally one of those lunchboxes with a half sandwich, fruit shoot, crisps and chocolate which is not what I'd choose to give her at all. I do sometimes buy a child's half sandwich on its own but it's often not an option. I don't really see the issue, a lot of people will just go for a coffee rather than lunch so may not be spending as much as you would on your own lunch. And those saying op is taking up a space for two, what if you were eating alone??

Yes he's too old and this is CF!

Little pots of snacks is one thing but a whole packed lunch makes you a CF!!

@OneGlamMama

Guess I'm in the minority. My son is 3 and we always take little pots of all sorts with us as he is so fussy he won't even eat chicken nuggets most of the time! I always buy a full meal for myself and don't see the point in spending up to £5 on a meal he won't even look at...

I see nothing wrong with it personally.

Because they are a business. They make their money from people coming in and buying food and drinks from them. If you're taking your own food and drinks and sitting at their tables it's sort of taking the piss

Okay, whilst I take on board that it's not acceptable to bring my own food:

I don't see how giving him food off my plate instead would be any better. That doesn't make the cafe any more money.

I don't see how me picking up his half eaten sandwich and putting it back in his empty box, makes more mess than picking up a half eaten cafe bought toastie.

I don't see how my son is taking up a table, if I'm sitting at it with a meal and a drink....

So let's not get silly.

Those of you saying I should buy him a crumpet or egg on toast etc, I accept this.

I think the issue is that most cafes don't allow you to eat food not purchased there.

Would you go sit in a cafe and eat your own pack lunch? Of course not.

My DC have a few allergies. We can rarely find them anything on cafe menus so we usually bring food for them but always talk to the staff about it. A few places have said no, so we've had to leave, which is their right. We've not recommended them to anyone though!

Is he too old to be having home brought food?

Yes. YABU.

Café owners have their livings to make.

@purplecorkheart

Just curious but why did you right realise today? Did someone remark on it?

A train of thought starting from "what age should I give him sausage.. because I miss sausage casserole".

@SGChome20

I'm also in the minority. I either take food or give my DD some of mine (14months) where I am the toddler lunch options are generally one of those lunchboxes with a half sandwich, fruit shoot, crisps and chocolate which is not what I'd choose to give her at all. I do sometimes buy a child's half sandwich on its own but it's often not an option. I don't really see the issue, a lot of people will just go for a coffee rather than lunch so may not be spending as much as you would on your own lunch. And those saying op is taking up a space for two, what if you were eating alone??

So nowhere sells a cheese sandwich or wheaten bread or anything like that? I don’t know anyone who would give a 14 month old crisps and chocolate did lunch but you don’t have to order that option. Lots of other things they can have.

Although I wouldn’t see any harm in bringing a small snack like one tub of fruit or veg or a rice cake to keep them occupied.

Of course you can’t take food in! Unless baby food ofc. But you can’t just bring him a ham sandwich instead of buying one

@casheeeew Yanbu I don't get some of these batshit comments.
It's not as if you are not buying any food, for all they know your toddler has specific dietary requirements or is fussy.
I wouldn't bat an eye if a parent brought food for their young child, so long as they actually purchased something.

I don't think it's a massive deal, personally. He's still pretty small to be eating a full child's portion of stuff. If you're eating and drinking then I don't see the problem - you're taking up the same table real estate either way as there aren't generally tables that only fit one person. I see it all the time in cafes here, so either everyone here is a CF or no one is bothered

@Casheeeew

Okay, whilst I take on board that it's not acceptable to bring my own food:

I don't see how giving him food off my plate instead would be any better. That doesn't make the cafe any more money.

I don't see how me picking up his half eaten sandwich and putting it back in his empty box, makes more mess than picking up a half eaten cafe bought toastie.

I don't see how my son is taking up a table, if I'm sitting at it with a meal and a drink....

So let's not get silly.

Those of you saying I should buy him a crumpet or egg on toast etc, I accept this.

I agree. I'm reading through the replies and can understand the cafe essentially losing money through you not ordering from the menu, but giving your children something from your plate or bringing your own sandwich from home is the same thing from the cafe's perspective🤷🏼‍♀️

And the comments about taking up a table for 2 are just bloody ridiculous. Most cafes don't have one seat tables. So one paying customer would have to sit at a two seater the majority of the time anyway.

@Casheeeew

Okay, whilst I take on board that it's not acceptable to bring my own food:

I don't see how giving him food off my plate instead would be any better. That doesn't make the cafe any more money.

I don't see how me picking up his half eaten sandwich and putting it back in his empty box, makes more mess than picking up a half eaten cafe bought toastie.

I don't see how my son is taking up a table, if I'm sitting at it with a meal and a drink....

So let's not get silly.

Those of you saying I should buy him a crumpet or egg on toast etc, I accept this.

The problem is if you allow that where does it stop. So someone else sees you doing that, which is quietly ignored. They then bring in their 3dc aged 8, 10 and 12yo and settle down with them each a packed lunch and they order a single drink for themselves and ask for tap water for the children, grab a bundle of napkins etc. When asked not to bring their own food, they point to you and say "but you haven't said anything about them. You're just picking on us..."

That is a similar scenario to what I've seen happen a few times.

So feeding off the side of your plate is fine
Bringing your own food isn't because they are a business?

Got ya.

You can give them anything except honey or whole nuts including sausage from 6 months as long as the salt content isn't too high and the food is cut developmentally appropriately.

Sausage is one of my DS favorite foods. Especially the Linda McCartney ones

I think its weird past first weaning type stages (so maybe up to max 18 months?). BIL and SIL did it until DN was 6 though which I thought was really unfair on both DN and the restaurant/pub quite frankly.