Dining Out With Kids: What to Bring So You Can Actually Enjoy the Meal
Dining out with kids sounds fun in theory… until you’re five minutes into waiting for food and someone is already asking when it’s coming. As a mom of three, my kids and I have a lot of experience eating out — from quick weeknight dinners to longer, bougie sit-down meals. Over time (and plenty of trial and error), I’ve learned that eating out with kids isn’t about perfect behavior, it’s about preparation. These are the tips, tricks, and must-haves I rely on to make dining out with kids actually enjoyable — or at least way less stressful 😅.
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With kids ages 1, 4, and 6, our approach to dining out has had to evolve over time — and these tips reflect what actually works for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary kids.
What works for a one-year-old won’t always work for a six-year-old, so flexibility is key — and I’ll share what’s helped at each stage.
First: What I Pack in Our Restaurant Bag
After lots of trial and error, this is exactly what I pack to make dining out with kids smoother — and what I never leave the house without.
What I Pack in Our Restaurant Bag:
Quick screen note: We don’t regularly use tablets at home, but we do make exceptions for dining out and travel. Because screens aren’t an everyday thing for our kids, they’re especially effective in these situations and help keep everyone happy while we wait for food.
Remember to always monitor your child when they are eating to make sure they do not choke.
Silicone Suction Plate: We place this in front of our youngest (the toddler age 1 to 2). It suctions to the table so they can’t throw it on the floor and it allows for a clean spot to place all the food as you try to keep the tiny human happy! haha These place mats also work well: Suction place mat (linked here) you can simply place this in front of your child and feed them directly on it!
Wipes: So you’re ready for anything! And let’s be real, tiny humans make the biggest messes! My personal favorite wipes are Huggies or Kirkland
Coloring books(with your own markers or crayons): This is usually the activity the preschool/elementary age children love to start with! This usually holds their attention for the bulk of the meal. By having a coloring book, they are able to keep their creativity flowing as they color page after page. Linking our favorite coloring books and markers below:
No lid markers (easy for kids who struggle with putting lids on markers)
Crayons (I like to give my 4 year old and 6 year old each their own box of 24 crayons because they have plenty of colors to work with and it prevents fighting).
Busy boards: This works effectively for our busy one year old/toddler age! This particular busy board is our favorite.
Tablet + kid headphones – This is our last resort (and biggest lifesaver). When waiting for food gets long, this keeps all three kids happy so we can actually enjoy our meal. This works especially well for our 4- and 6-year-old. And often times our kids will put a movie on and continue to color! When we do use tablets, we use simple, kid-friendly options like these tablets that are easy to pack and hold their attention well.
My kids love the Amazon Fire tablets! I recommend getting at least the 32 GB size or bigger! I love these because they are sturdy and easy to clean. They also come in different sizes (We have a 7 inch and a 10 inch).
Spill-proof cups: It’s always handy to have one of these if you have a 1 to 2 year old. Maybe restaurants will bring cups with lids/straws for kids. But it’s smart to have this just in case. My favorite baby bottles(we use these ones).
Tip #1: When you arrive at the restaurant, immediately order your children’s meals when you first meet your server! This will keep your kids happy and busy!
Tip #2: Sit kids strategically. Place the youngest/usually the most challenging child between mom and dad so that they can each assist/take turns tending to the little human.
Tip #3: We usually start offering the older two kids their coloring books first. This usually buys us at least 20 minutes.
Tip #4: For the baby/toddler, we bounce back and forth between feeding him and then presenting various toys. Then we bust out the busy board.
Tip #5: We have the kids tell the server what they want so that they can learn how to communicate/use their manners.
Tip #6: We use dessert as a reward at the end of the night if their behavior has been good! This helps with behavior and we also promptly ask for the check when we order our dessert 👍🏻 That way we can leave before the sugar kicks in! 😆
In my opinion, the hardest age to eat out is definitely that 1–2 year old stage. They want to move, explore, and test every boundary — and sitting at a table just isn’t high on their priority list. It can feel exhausting. But I promise, it does get easier.
Now that my kids are 4 and 6, they actually love going out to eat. It feels like such a fun family treat, and they know what to expect. All those early outings — even the chaotic ones — helped teach them how to handle it.
And honestly? People love seeing families out with their young kids. So many parents avoid it because it feels stressful or overwhelming, but the more we do it, the more normal it becomes — for us and for them. You’re not bothering anyone by raising your kids in the real world. You’re teaching them how to be part of it. So if you’re in the thick of the toddler stage, hang in there. With a little preparation and consistency, those stressful dinners out really do turn into sweet family memories.
What’s your best tip for dining out with kids? I’d love to hear what works for your family!
Such great tips for making dining out with kids way less stressful! 😅 I love the idea of starting with the kids’ orders right away, saves so much time. And the tablet trick for when all else fails is a game-changer! It’s nice to hear that even the toughest stages get easier with time.
MomlifewithKelsey 
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