For two food lovers it has been more than an interesting couple of years. Almost two years ago we welcomed Sydney into the world, and the lead up involved a lot of research about what you could eat when pregnant, plus what you could eat with gestational diabetes. COVID didn’t make things easier, although we did have plenty of excuses to not go out (ie, we were forced!)

Deep thought about both important, and far less important, aspects of life, is one of the reasons I write this blog. Like most with their first child, I am not an expert in anything to do with the little one, and Sydney is unique, just as everyone’s kids are. They all have different personalities, temperaments, interests, dislikes, and experiences. So I thought I would write about some things that help us dine with Syd.

Before we leave the house there is two things that are critical. The first is packing everything! It would be unusual for us not to have a selection of snacks, toys, his water bottle, everything spare for what could go wrong, and five other things that Catherine remembered that I always forget! The second is research. If we are not sure about any aspect of where we are going we either look it up, or call (or both).

There are things that we need to know or our dining experience could be awkward. We’ve been to enough restaurants that don’t have highchairs to know that we need to verbally confirm if we are not 100% sure. We often book for Syd but leave a note, or make a call, to let them know he is a toddler. Restaurants are doing it tough and we do understand if bringing a toddler (or two or more on some catch ups) means a seat is not available for someone else who could be eating and drinking a lot more. We also figure if a restaurant knows a toddler is coming, they can hardly be displeased once we arrive given their prior knowledge. For outdoor dining we also need to be sure that there will be a spot for Syd that is shady enough if it is hot (which hasn’t been an issue in Melbourne recently!)

Syd has been a difficult combination of a small eater, and a fussy one, which is actually a bit like his parents. We’ve found some cafe and restaurant staples that allow him to join in when he is not in the mood to try anything unusual. Fried rice, cheesy pasta (thanks Tipo 00!), and fruit toast, are normally winners, with other plain toasts and avocado growing in popularity. When I’m at a pub, chips are often eaten liberally, but please don’t tell anyone. Normally whatever is on offer is the follow up from snacks, or the snacks are in the back of Syd’s mind as he eats.

We take him to a lot of places, both together and separately too. There is often a small window to enjoy the meal, but very rarely would I say it is relaxing. We do love it though. Whether it is a family dinner at home, which we try to do most nights, or showing Syd one of our favourite cafes or restaurants, it is a great experience for all of us. Between the thousands of wet-wipes, picking up food from the floor for the fifteenth time, and warnings about how close that toy was to knocking down my beer, there is the love of eating with someone who is learning how to eat. He gets to hear about our thoughts in conversation, and we get to talk to him while he is captive in his highchair.

Although I am very finicky and fastidious, I have learned with Catherine’s help, to let Syd get used to eating at his own pace and preference. He has a hilarious habit of eating with the spoon facing down like the way I eat ice cream, and although he can use a fork, he rarely finds it more appealing than his hands. I can’t help but stress a bit, but I’ve learned to relax a touch in the knowledge that his habits will change a lot in coming years, and he will get there. I’m glad to say it has never stopped us going out, and that goes with the occasional episode, and general noise level of being a toddler.

It can however dictate the time we eat, and our preference for certain venues that are a bit more atmospheric. Time wise we’ve chosen to eat very early lunches and dinners when going to quieter and/or fancy places, like Supernormal for example. Breweries are a favourite, as are large noisy places like busy cafes. Outdoor dining is a favourite because of the mess factor, and that goes for home dining too. Hand me the hose!

Catherine’s tip is to look at the menu before you arrive at the restaurant. That helped earlier today when she already knew what she wanted at Red Door Corner Store, and what Sydney might go for. It’s especially helpful with catch ups too, because so many times we just want to chat when we get to the venue, and not have to stop the conversation to read the menu.

The harder you work; the luckier you get. While there is effort in taking a toddler to a lot of dining experiences, there is a lot of joy. When Syd gets to an age where he is expected to start dining to certain standards, he should be well placed, comfortable in the knowledge that he has done this before, and enjoys the experience. We are really proud of him.