Steakhouse and an almost 2yo

[TravelerMK]

This has been a most informative thread.

 

I have learned that

 

1. Toddlers can sit still and quiet and have conversations in 2+ hour adult style eating establishments

 

and

 

2. Traveling with infants and toddlers is easy and no big deal

 

Unfortunately my kids are from 3 to 22 (sort of been there done that and now back doing it again) I regret not knowing this stuff when they were infants. Oh well now I know.

 

LOL, cute ;)

 

My 2.5 year old can be extremely difficult during car rides sometimes, wouldn't want to take him on a road trip either! We pray for sleep when we drive 1.5 hours into the mountains (CO)! We've also taken him to lots of restaurants and traveled a ton, including to Europe business class. Yikes, it was so hard that it really wasn't a vacation for us, hence, the cruise without the child :D

 

Some toddlers might be perfectly fine in all of these scenarios, just not mine or most of my friend's kids!

 

If I were bringing him, I would either find a babysitter on board (beg the Camp Carnival people to let me pay someone for 3 hours?) or skip the steak house. And, that's MY child...

 

Working on a South Pacific cruise for next year that will include him and my parents - built in babysitters! We'll see how that goes :rolleyes:

 

Mindy

[spleenstomper]

I had 3 kids in 2 years. We were brave at the very beginning trying to take two infants and a 2 year old out to a Mexican restaurant for my birthday. They never went anywhere again. (but, hey the two year old got a piece of cake from another party because he kept staring at them and licking his lips)

[cruzinlisa]

This made me laugh. I remember the no restaurant phase very well. We were thrown into it when my son threw a french fry at an elderly guy's head. Awesome aim on my son's part but not proper dining behavior.

 

Glad to know its not just me. DD has been out to eat with us many times and usually behaves OK, but yesterday we were traveling and stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant and she threw an all out FIT. I think its the age. She was fine before she started walking but since then all she wants to do is go. Now she is 18 months old. Yesterday I was literally crying that I have raised a spoiled brat. But I digress.

 

OP, you know your child best. Until you are sure that he/she can sit quietly, not want to get up and roam, and will be patient for a meal that can take hours, I wouldn't attempt it. Plus, if you want to have any kind of conversation at dinner, it will be impeded by constantly watching your youngest and wondering if they are going to act up. Sleep schedules are all messed up, there are lots of different people and experiences and that makes a perfect setting for a melt down.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

This has been a most informative thread.

 

I have learned that

 

1. Toddlers can sit still and quiet and have conversations in 2+ hour adult style eating establishments

 

and

 

2. Traveling with infants and toddlers is easy and no big deal

 

Unfortunately my kids are from 3 to 22 (sort of been there done that and now back doing it again) I regret not knowing this stuff when they were infants. Oh well now I know.

 

 

This is as much a generalization as those saying a disruption is a certainty or that traveling with kids is just too big a hassle. Neither is correct for all children. Some two-year-olds can and some can't do #1 and some parents find #2 very difficult and some don't--it's a continuum. :)

[Cabana Girl]

OP, you know your child best. Until you are sure that he/she can sit quietly, not want to get up and roam, and will be patient for a meal that can take hours, I wouldn't attempt it. Plus, if you want to have any kind of conversation at dinner, it will be impeded by constantly watching your youngest and wondering if they are going to act up. Sleep schedules are all messed up, there are lots of different people and experiences and that makes a perfect setting for a melt down.

 

Such an elegant reply. A stressful dinner is hard to enjoy.

[legion3]

I just don't feel the Steakhouse is a place for children period. I think the age should be over 13.;)

 

Some of the younger ones have to be fed. Te last thing I want it to see food spewing out of their mouths all over everything:D:D.

Not a romantic $70.00 dinner if you ask me.....

 

Even Disney has age limits on some of its establishments. Both on land and at sea. Carnival would not lose that much money in establishing such guidelines but then it wouldn't be carnival.

 

You have two choices join mr. Pete's circle or accept that parents will bring children to venues that they shouldn't even if they can.

 

Not much of a choice I admit.

[golfadj]

I had 3 kids in 2 years. We were brave at the very beginning trying to take two infants and a 2 year old out to a Mexican restaurant for my birthday. They never went anywhere again. (but, hey the two year old got a piece of cake from another party because he kept staring at them and licking his lips)

 

Very funny about the cake.

[ib4cruzn]

Be my guest. Go ahead and try to not pay for an eaten meal because something was happening at another table to your dislike.

 

And "ruin" to me would be something like the food was dropped on the floor, a roach visited your plate, broken glass was found in your seabass, a tablecloth pulled your plates off the table, or someone got sick in your general direction.

 

I have to take exception to this. Many upset children can reach high C at 600,000 decibels.

 

Definitely not conducive to a relaxing $70 dinner.

 

Honestly I would (and HAVE) refused payment for such a display. One visits a "fine dining" establishment with the reasonable expectation that "ambiance" is included in the cost. If not, they would only offer drive-up service.

 

YMMV

[MrPete]

Even Disney has age limits on some of its establishments. Both on land and at sea. Carnival would not lose that much money in establishing such guidelines but then it wouldn't be carnival.

 

.

 

Yes they do. They shout about all the adult venues they have on board to attract clientele who don't have kids. And those people are quite happy that we talk to.

 

We have never visited Palo's, as they do have that age limit. So does RCCL. CCL does not.

[golfadj]

This is as much a generalization as those saying a disruption is a certainty or that traveling with kids is just too big a hassle. Neither is correct for all children. Some two-year-olds can and some can't do #1 and some parents find #2 very difficult and some don't--it's a continuum. :)

 

Would imagine the vast majority of little ones could not do it and should not be put into that position if they cant unless a parent is willing to take them for a walk so as not to disturb everyone else.

[MrPete]

I have to take exception to this. Many upset children can reach high C at 600,000 decibels.

 

Definitely not conducive to a relaxing $70 dinner.

 

Honestly I would (and HAVE) refused payment for such a display. One visits a "fine dining" establishment with the reasonable expectation that "ambiance" is included in the cost. If not, they would only offer drive-up service.

 

YMMV

 

Actually, a good restaurant would back up the offending parties meal and send them on their way. I still remember the first time I saw someone do this at a restaurant called Capt. Bills out on Long Island.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Would imagine the vast majority of little ones could not do it and should not be put into that position if they cant unless a parent is willing to take them for a walk so as not to disturb everyone else.

 

 

I agree. Was just commenting on the generalizations. I was blessed with my fourth child being an easy traveler and calm child from birth. :D She would have been able to go to the steakhouse at an early age, but we didn't take her until she was 8.

[MrPete]

I believe you misunderstood Mr Pete, I think he meant the common courtesy of any disruptive child or adult would be to immediately remedy the problem or remove them.

Cheers, Carole

 

Yes, he did.

[ib4cruzn]

And the rule is, kids are allowed, so it's not even an issue!

 

Everybody, mange!

 

That was a generalization.

 

I suppose this comes with the "me-me-ME" society. Sadly, most are from the middle part of North America. :-(

[dave_k63]

This will cause a few flames tossed in my direction, but it's my opinion nonetheless:

 

I often wonder why anyone would want to do a vacation like a cruise or all-inclusive with a toddler. The hassle alone in getting to the destination if you're flying is insane. I know I certainly would not want to do it, nor do I wish to experience listening to a toddler crying on a 3+ hour long flight. I've had to deal with little ones kicking the back of my chair one too many times, and I have little patience for it.

 

Be that as it may, I'm sure by now people would know what my reaction to seeing a 2-year old in the steakhouse. I wouldn't walk out and cancel the reservation, but I would ask the Maitre'D when they're leaving and to inform me when they're gone so I can come back to a peaceful meal. With very rare exception, there is no such thing as a quiet 2-hour dining experience with a child under the age of two. The only way they can be quiet that long is when they're asleep.

You most certainly won't get flamed by me.

[stevenr597]

Unless you are absolutely, totally, positively sure that you children will behave I would suggest that you not bring them.

[BeagleOne]

That was a generalization.

 

I suppose this comes with the "me-me-ME" society. Sadly, most are from the middle part of North America. :-(

 

Wow, talk about a generalization!

[K.T.B.]

You most certainly won't get flamed by me.

 

Thanks! It's hot enough in Chicago already, I don't need flames.

 

 

 

:p

[K.T.B.]

Wow, talk about a generalization!

 

They were saying the US, not the midwest. ;)

[Indianaseadog]

I must be a whole lot more patient and understanding than many here. I'm sure that a noisey child is bothering their parents a whole lot more than they are me. If I were in a high end restaraunt, what I would expect the management to do at MOST, is ask the parents to just take the child for a walk outside until they calm down. I surely wouldn't ever expect any compensation to me because my experience was "ruined" by a child being a child. If I was that big of a bore or snobbish I would be sure to go to a place with age restrictions. I dont think the steak house is THAT much of a high end restaurant to have age limitations on it.

[bplazo]

Have you tried cruising, leaving your child home, your heart aching to see her while you can't?

 

And I'd like to see ANY table quiet for 2 hours. With or without children. I guess some confuse the steakhouse with a library.

 

I did not leave my child while I went on vacation, I stayed home with her. Toddlers do not need to go on vacation.

[BeagleOne]

They were saying the US, not the midwest. ;)

 

I realize that. It was still an inappropriate generalization.

[maggieworkman]

Except the Serenity deck,the casino, the spa and fitness center (no one under 12, and 12-16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult).

 

So, no, they cannot go into any public space.

 

No. I think the point was that anyone (child or adult) who is causing a disruption in any public venue should leave if it was disturbing others in the area.

 

We weren't (at least I wasn't) saying that children should be allowed in any public venue.

 

Go back and read that part of the thread again.

 

Maggie

[pafam4]

I did not leave my child while I went on vacation, I stayed home with her. Toddlers do not need to go on vacation.

 

I guess toddlers don't NEED to go on a vacation; however, I'm very glad my parents felt that toddlers could enjoy vacations. I was taken on family vacations from infancy. We did the same with our kids. Believe it or not, my sister and I learned very early how to behave in nice restaurants and hotels, because we were exposed to it frequently. Family vacations, be they on a cruise ship, at a beach house or just a weekend away, provide some of the best memories for all family members. Vacations are also great learning experiences for kids too, whether they are toddlers or pre-teens or teens.

[maggieworkman]

OP, I hope you get to enjoy the Steakhouse somehow. Is there anyone in your roll call you'd trust enough to watch the baby for this time and pay for babysitting? I think you can get a babysitter on board some ships.

 

 

We brought Grandma along on our first cruise to help watch the kids. And the kids were 10 and 13! She helped them get ready for dinner and took the youngest to camp carnival during our early dinner so DH & I could finish dinner in peace. It was a trade off - we paid for her cruise and she helped with the kids.

 

I know not everyone has that option. But I recommend it if you do. (The only problem is that Grandma still insists on coming on the cruises with us and the kids are now 20 and 17! We've set up an expectation!)

 

Maggie