Help to find toddler toys for restaurant

ClareEmily

Hi there

I have a 15 month old boy who has got to the age where he is entertained in a cafe/restaurant for about 5 min (after he has eaten) before he is throwing food, toys, menus etc on the floor.

Is there such a thing as quiet, waterproof toys that can be attached to those wooden highchairs (not stick on ones) for older children to keep them amused long enough for Mummy to have more than 2 mouthfuls of food???

Yours gratefully

Clare

BitterAndTwisted

Blimey, I bet you're not popular. Brits don't accept that sort of thing in restaurants, only Americans and the continentals welcome tinys when they're eating.

I suggest you make sure any food, menus and toys are out of reach if you don't want to keep picking them up. He doesn't really need them for five minutes when he can see you there in front of him. Or eat out only when you're either child-free or in Italian family restaurants.

Nicki

DS2 likes to look at photographs of himself and the rest of the family when we are out and about, and that keeps him quiet for the whole meal usually. OH and I have loads on our phones and we just give him one to look at when he gets fidgety. We add new ones all the time so he doesn't get bored and he chats away (in baby talk!) and shows them to other people at the table quite happily.

Redouble

A notepad and a pencil was always in my handbag, anything that looks like it belongs to a grow up and isn't a kids toy kept their attention. Especially if they thought they shouldn't be playing with it.
I always meant to keep an eye out for a broken remote control because that would have kept mine entertained for ages :rotfl:

ClareEmily

Sorry wasn't really very clear

My friend and I take our 15 months old boys regularly to mainly child friendly places to eat for example:
Tiny Tots @ Leisure Centre
Cafes @ our home town - via the playground and walks
Restaurant @ Fishers Farm (all very much for kiddies)
Restaurants @ Various garden centres (the ones with soft play, family events etc)

None really posh, but if out all day need to feed them and keep them entertained long enough to order and eat some food ourselves. So really by the time we have feed them and us can be a half an hour to an hour.

We also need to contain them both in highchairs at the moment, but obviously later on can do picnics etc.

ClareEmily

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Blimey, I bet you're not popular. Brits don't accept that sort of thing in restaurants, only Americans and the continentals welcome tinys when they're eating.

I suggest you make sure any food, menus and toys are out of reach if you don't want to keep picking them up. He doesn't really need them for five minutes when he can see you there in front of him. Or eat out only when you're either child-free or in Italian family restaurants.

LOL I am NEVER child-free

[Deleted User]

Have you tried facing both children opposite each other so they can attempt to "help" feed each other or share their food. Keys, old phones, new toys, new foods, books, things from my bag all kept my two happy whilst i ate. Otherwise when older i would allow them to get down, mostly my son, who would happily sit on the floor for ages playing with a car under the table, than sit in a highchair. Is your child showing a preference towards anything entertaining?

[Deleted User]

Please bear in mind that whilst helping to feed each other or interact socially with each other may not be possible right now, it might be soon, so every now and then i'd provide the opportunity. Hope that helps.

ClareEmily

Sitting them next to each other, they squeal in excitement then try to hit each other.

They are going through the phase of everything gets chucked on the floor, books, cars, keys, rubber ducks, have tried most things.

Might be brave and try the playing under the table.

ClareEmily

Deleted_User wrote: »

Please bear in mind that whilst helping to feed each other or interact socially with each other may not be possible right now, it might be soon, so every now and then i'd provide the opportunity. Hope that helps.

It does thanks

[Deleted User]

If it makes you feel any better I remember being 8 months pregnant with our youngest and our son was 14 months old. We were at a Cafe Rouge restaurant in memory of my nan who died a week or so before her 85th birthday. It was booked so we all turned up anyway. Anyway me and DH turned up and took our places at the table amongst family and friends before we realised the bag of "entertainment" had been left behind. Cue DH running over the road to the nearest charity shop to pick up a couple of cheap cars and new toys.

Have to say it was the easiest meal we had, son was sorted, we ate and he spent most of his post meal time on the floor playing and being passed from table, to foot, to table to foot. No one minded as he was quiet, amused and no bother. You could argue he shouldnt have to be but due to the nature of the meal it was a blessing and we were grateful.