Being a parent means that you have a lot of new adjustments to make. Most all of us fail to consider what truly goes into being a new mom or dad. All those little “stories” we hear from other parents do not really sink in because our child “will never stop us from doing that”. Then bam, you have a baby in your arms and realize that at least some of the stories are true. You end up unable to go back to a “normal life” and instead end up with new kind of normal. Throughout all the changes, one of biggest and most complicated may end up being bringing the baby with you to dinner.
A New Normal
After you go into the hospital to have a baby, nothing stays the same. You no longer sleep when you want to, go out on dates just because the mood strikes you, or eat a full meal without having to stop to nurse, bottle feed, or change your little one. This is one of the main reasons that new parents may skip out on going to dinner. It takes a lot of preparations just to spend an hour outside of the home. You have to decide whether to take the baby or leave it with a sitter, which may require you to pack up a baby bag for the sitter if you plan to take your little one to their house. If you take your bundle dinner, you must then pack a diaper bag to ensure that whatever comes up, can be handled without disturbing other diners.
Dinner with Baby
When you take a baby to dinner with you, you have to worry about whether they will start fussing or not. Baby car seats that can be carried in are helpful, because your baby may stay asleep while you enjoy dinner, but not always. If they wake up, you will be faced with the fact that they will want to eat, be changed, be held and cuddled, but uncomfortable because of the noise. They become overstimulated, and then you end up leaving the table before you are finished eating. It is a common scene that every parent knows well, but does it really have to be your story?
How to Survive Dinner
You should take extra clothes for an infant in case of spit ups and such. This will ensure that they are always comfortable. For a slightly older baby, you may consider bringing along a stuffed toy or something that is brightly colored for them to play with. This can help them focus on something beyond all the people around them. Another idea is to use an infant carrier that can constantly swaddle your baby while you eat. You can bottle feed, nurse, and comfort them by simply holding them in a carrier. They make it easier because the infant never feels as though it is in a scary place. It is constantly swaddled and relaxed. As a bonus, with as easy as it will be for you to venture out and enjoy dinner, you may even want to consider changing out your standard baby carrier for a plus size baby carrier shown on Baby Carrier Review Guide. These provide a more comfortable carry for many new mothers. Lastly, all restaurants should be more than accommodating for children even the youngsters. If not, there are plenty of other places to patronize!