Etiquette for feeding weaned baby at restaurant

[Beachwaves127]

Hello! We are going for lunch tomorrow to a reasonably nice place in London. They accept babies etc so there will be a high chair. What’s the etiquette around feeding a baby there please? She can’t really have any of the food there (it’s a buffet and meat / high in salt) but if she sees us eating she will want to eat too or she’ll scream the place down. If she has something to eat with us she’ll be perfectly happy. Is it normal for me to bring baby food from home for baby and feed her this in high chair? Sorry if it’s a silly question I’m obviously a ftm. She is eight months.

It's absolutely fine to bring a babies own food to a restaurant!

I'd take something that doesn't need any fuss or assistance. Id be surprised if there was absolutely nothing she could have though.

I usually take a little packed lunch for my dd. I usually put it out when we start eating as she would be too upset if she wasn’t eating with us. Sometimes if I have some chips, potatoes or veg then I cut up and give her a little to try.

Fine to take your own stuff when they're that little. If they were eating the restaurant food then they'd just be eating a bit off your plate rather than having their own meal so the restaurant isn't losing out on any money - that's the logic I tend to apply.

Will there be sides she can have? I’d usually pack a sandwich and then order a side of vegetables.

Bring something mess free like a pouch and feed bits off your plate.

Thanks all. It’s a Chinese meat buffet so not very baby friendly in terms of eating! Plus Dc is on a diet of veg and the P fruit this week after speaking to the gp about constipation. 🙈 I will take something self contained for her to keep mess down and hopefully now I don’t need to worry / feel uncertain during lunch on the right etiquette now that I’ve spoken to you guys. Thank you.

I remember taking my 1 year old to a Chinese buffet and she pretty much ate her body weight in the fruit they provide for dessert, the mandarins especially!

🤣🤣🤣 haha okay I will keep my eyes peeled for any little bits Dc may be able to have then

And if she does that you have the bonus of not having to worry about the constipation

I’ve eaten out loads with my baby from 6months and now nearly 13 months and in everything from a local cafe to a high end restaurant. I always just bring my own food. Usually something in a sachet or like a yoghurt then some veggie crisps or fruit for afterward. I’ve never had any issues or comments made.

Thank you

Just bring something relatively tidy, and give her a bit of something if she fabcies it and youdeem it suitable.

Clean up a bit before you go....

If you really can't give baby any of your food (are they really not serving any veg, salad, bread, fruit?) then take a banana.

From 6 months my baby always ate something from our meals. At around mayb 10 months we'd take some snacks like cheese, ham, fruit that she could have whilst waiting for our meals to arrive. At 19 months still take pre meal snacks but she now gets own meal or, more commonly, we order extra sides and share

No-one did that for me either op.