Has going out to dinner become a nightmare? Here is how to make a restaurant busy bag to tame your toddler while they wait for food.
I remember when our oldest son was around one. Something changed. Going out to dinner started to get difficult. He knew being at a table meant yummy food was coming. By the time he was 18 months he was really getting cranky at restaurants. So, I came up with something that ended up being a life saver! A restaurant busy bag!
Its a bag filled with the necessary things like bibs, utensils, placemats, etc. Plus it had things to keep my little boys busy while we wait for food. I even kept a couple of snacks in there so in case they were inconsolable, I had something to keep their hunger at bay. Hey, mamas gotta do what mamas gotta do!
The Bag
All you need is carry style bag that has some compartments. A hanging cosmetic bag actually works really well for this purpose. See my examples below.
Items to Add
Here is a list of some of the things I put in our busy bag. You certainly don’t have to copy me. These are just ideas for you.
- Mini slinky
- Crayons
- Coloring book
- Card Game
- Little People / Toy Figures
- Hot Wheels
- Small dinosaurs
- Board book
- Mess Free Color Kits
- Travel games
- Bib
- Disposable Placemats
- Clorox Wipes / Wet Ones
- Hand sanitizer
- Kid Utensils
- Stain treatment
- Snacks
I always keep some disposable placemats and bibs in the busy bag. I never understood why some restaurants bought hot plates to the kids. Also if you are like me and you don’t trust the rags they wipe down tables with…then this is for you! I also kept some kids utensils since my little ones struggled with adult sized ones. In addition, I kept some Clorox wipes or Wet Ones to wipe their hands or surfaces. I even kept a couple of stain remover wipes because accidents happen!
The rest is for them to keep their little hands busy. Really as long as it fits, you can bring it with you in the bag.
I always kept this in our car so it was ready to go. It was so nice when my boys no longer whined and fussed at restaurants. Now they have a distraction. Over time, kids will learn how to sit still and patiently wait at a restaurant. But until then, I hope this idea helps you like it helped us.
Thanks for Reading
Don’t forget to PIN this post for later and please subscribe to my blog before you leave! Looking for other things to do with your kids? Take a look at Usborne Magic Painting Christmas Cards and Fun Holidays to Celebrate With Your Kids.