Dining out with weaning baby

[Smerlin]

Just wanted a few tips from experienced mums really as we are lunching out more often now the baby is 7 months and we're getting the hang of weaning.

• what is the protocol re: cleaning highchairs? Every highchair we are presented with is filthy so I clean before and after with Milton wipes. Are restaurants not supposed to wipe them down when they clean the tables?

• what do you do about the mess under / around the highchair when your baby has dropped finger food everywhere. Do you leave it or get on your hands and knees to clear it up?

• how do you warm purées. Can you ask for the use of a microwave or is it always a cup of hot water? Doesn't seem safe if the puree contains meat...

Any other tips for dining out appreciated...

I am weaning DD2 now so it is all beginning to come back to me....slowly. I would say - don't eat anywhere too fancy - places like pizza express, ask, wagammas etc. are all very good with babies and small children. Highchairs - probably should be cleaned but nevermind, milton wipes are a good idea and I'd continue to do that - especially if you are using the highchair top.

Mess around the highchair - if it is very bad I pick it up but if it is only a few bits I leave it. If I am very stressed and in a hurry then I leave it and feel guilty about it (sorry!).

Heating up food - I've never asked anyone to heat it up and I personally don't think it is worth the hassle taking meat purees out that need to be thoroughly reheated. For the odd time that you really want to feed meat and you are out then I would buy a pouch which is safe.

This is a great time of year to be weaning as you can eat outside at restaurants.

i would clean up excessive mess but wouldn't be wiping highchairs clean, that's the waiter's job.

we never used purees so not sure of the etiquette for this.

I used to'reverse' meals if I knew we were going out so give chicken casserole or whatever for breakfast then weetabix or something when we were out. Easy to transport with a carton of formula.

I take my children out to eat with us all the time (9,3 and 8 months) if the chair is dirty I'll clean it with a baby wipe but to be honestly my 8 month old is crawling he's probably been exposed to far worse!
However I always clean any mess they make on the floor or on the table, I'm sorry but I find it incredibly rude not to, they are my children and I'm responsible for their mess. It takes two minutes to pick the bits up off the floor and if the staff see me they always thank me for doing it.
Although we were in quite an upmarket italian restaurant recently and when I returned from the toilet my dh had given Ds spaghetti with tom sauce to eat off the white table cloth! By the time we left it looked like someone had been murdered! I apologised to the staff who were fine about it :)

High chairs - I give them a wipe...some look a bit manky.

Mess - I clear up as much as possible (and like someone else said, don't eat anywhere fancy anymore).

Heating stuff up - I just ask for water or baby gets it at room temperature (no complaints yet). Pouches are great for travelling, out and about etc.

Take a pouch and either feed at room temp or have a Fisher Price bottle warmer. Ds1 used to like cold baked beans etc still does so I'm supposing ds2 will be the same.