Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

This is our most recent hell with our 17 month old. he refuses to sit down for more than 15 minutes and throws the biggest tantrum ever until one of us gets up and walks around with him. we switch on and off so the other can eat. What do you do in this scenario other than the usual distraction of toys and games? She we just order take out until the phase passes?

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

I know it sounds odd but maybe going out more frequently to eat would get his more accustomed to it?

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

Not sure if I am much help, but what I do is I try to keep him entertained with crayons and such. He is usually pretty good while he is eating (unless of course you don't give him something he wants ) I will try to distract him.
I try to make sure I take him out when he is hungry, but not tired like after a nap. HTH

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

In the past, if we decided to go out I would bring crayons and toys for when DC has to wait for the food to come out.

To be completely honest, I know I won't enjoy my food while I'm out with my toddler and newborn right now, so it's takeout for us for a while.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

When we go out to eat......when the waitress comes to take drink orders.....I immediately order a bowl of cucumbers for ds or I bring an apple with us. He will sit nicely eating up his yummy cuc's while waiting for the food to arrive. I found this to be successful for us. Is there a go to food that you can order right away or bring with you to entertain him until your order is up?

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

we avoided going out for a good four months. DS was terrible and wouldn't last. Now he is 21 months and while he is better I only go to places that are fast services. Diners, Chilis', etc.

I always bring stickers. They are a life send. I let him put them all over the place mat. I get tons from the dollar tree.
Plus I always have trains. And I always order his food first so he can eat. And if we order an appetizer I ask them to bring everything at once. So there is no delay. It makes it rush but if we want to eat out thats what we have to do.

It is still difficult but I definitely see a difference.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

seriously, from like 15-19 months we just couldnt go out to dinner with DS.

He just grew out of it.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

I think it really depends on your child. My son was very difficult as a toddler and we learned it was just not worth it to try to take him out until he could understand how to sit quietly. DD was much more easy going so we were able to go out more frequently when she was a toddler.

Sometimes the frustration on tantrums is not worth the dinner at a restaurant.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

What is your dinner time routine at home? Do you all sit at the table and wait until everyone is finished before he's allowed to go an play? We found that by keeping a dinnertime routine at home, as often as possible, that Ben was much more understanding of the need to not run around, less tantrums, etc. At the table, we distract him with PP's suggestions of crayons and toys. HTH.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

We deal with the same thing. We try to find a space where the kids can be out of their chairs without bothering anyone until dinner comes. We kind of go out with the plan of dinner out being short and sweet. I think it's really just a normal phase. They are curious about everything. My son is such a people watcher. He loves to just walk around and look/talk to people so it's hard to make him understand that he can't.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

I feel your pain sometimes. We have to go out to eat at places that can serve us food relatively quickly. I make sure to travel with a sippy and some things to entertain him. Once we get into the restaurant, I have the sippy filled immediately and get some sort of light appetizer (crackers, bread) if I didn't bring anything. Then we try to play with DS until the food comes and we take turns feeding him. DH hates eating out with DS so we're doing more take out now.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

grrr feel your pain! we took my 18 month old to AC with us. he managed to ruin every meal that weekend I barely ate. then htis past sunday we went to lunch at cheesecake factory, our food was put down on table and we had to pack it up to go. we won't be taking him out for a while. it's so frustrating and not enjoyable to even go out to eat anymore.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

I would say maybe a phase? DD#1 we used to take out a lot and she would sit at holiday meals at my parents club for 2+ hours. Then last summer my parents starting taking her to their club's bbqs where the kids run around the greens. Well that was that. I think that combined with the fact she went through a stage when she didn't want to sit - she refused to sit for more than 5-10 mins. Since we starting taking her out - I always prepare a "bag" with toys, books, cards, just various things I can pull out one at a time to keep her busy. But even that stopped working. So we did take in for a while. Now she is getting much better again and we have started all going out again. I just make sure I bring quite things to occupy her and we are good to go.

A lot of these questions though I find really depend on the individual child. There are some children that are just good sitters and are quieter in nature and others who have more energy and go through stages where they have trouble sitting. It just makes each child unique.

Re: Toddler Tantrums when going out to dinner

We have never really had much of a problem with DS when out to dinner. But I always bring lots of snacks to keep him busy as well like m&ms, mini donuts, hey its not healthy but it keeps him quiet.

DS also loves to play with the sugar packets so we let him as much as possible. And we bring trains and make the little table advertisements into tunnels.

I went to breakfast with my playgroup once and one mom brought a portable DVD player for her kids.