Your little one is an angel when it comes to eating at home. But if it’s outside at a café and a restaurant, it’s all hands on deck! Suddenly they’re throwing food and trying to run away from the table. What a stress! Is there anything you can do to change their behaviour when eating in public?

Although this seems like a nightmare problem, there’s actually something sweet underlying it. Your toddler is just really excited by the outside world! They’re distracted by all the wonderful things that are happening around them. At home, they’ve got used to a routine and everything’s familiar, but this is new! They’re basically having a brand-new experience every time, so of course they’re going to behave differently.

That being said, there are a few things we can do to help them adjust to new settings.

What can I do to get my toddler to eat nicely?

Here are our top 6 tips for helping your child adjust:

Make sure you’re eating at your little one’s established mealtime. This helps their internal body clock, so that’s one less thing to worry about!

Let them know beforehand who’s going to be there, and what place you're eating at. Repeat that they need to be on their best behaviour and try to eat everything on their plate. With time, this repetition will stick, and you might not even have to say anything beforehand at all!

If you’re meeting up with other parents, it’s best to plan out the schedule before and after mealtime. Maybe you’re all going to play beforehand or afterwards, or you’re only going to spend a set amount of time at the restaurant. After that’s sorted out, tell the children.

It’s always good to sit next to your child. That way, you’re not reaching across the table, and you can encourage them to eat.

It’s good to be realistic with restaurant portions. A toddler can’t realistically eat a main course for an adult, so consider ordering a starter for them. Ideally, the restaurant will have a kid's menu, designed specifically to appeal to little ones.

At home, your little one is probably used to food being immediately served when they get to the table. This might make them restless when it comes to restaurants, so try to order food as quickly as possible. It’s helpful if you can look up the menu online beforehand.

Remember, if your toddler is being hyperactive and restless in a restaurant, that’s not necessarily bad behaviour. See the lighter side of this, and recognise that your child is just excited to be in a new setting with new opportunities!

How can I get my toddler to eat nicely in public?

Getting a toddler to eat nicely in public can be challenging, but it’s most important that they’re exploring and enjoying food.