Dining Out with Small Children: 8 Sanity Savers from Real Moms

It can be challenging to dine out with small children. As the mom of an active 7-month-old, I know this firsthand. Perhaps your little one isn't old enough to stay in her seat for very long, or maybe she tends to get cranky around mealtime. But that doesn't mean you have to avoid restaurants during the toddler years. With these tips from real moms you can teach your child the joys of dining out while loving every minute of the meal.

Pack snacks. "Sometimes food takes a while to be prepared," says Erin M., mom of one. "Bring a small snack for your little one so they don't get too hungry. A hungry baby is a cranky baby." The difference between a good experience and a meltdown can be a few goldfish crackers.

Order right away. "Ask the server to bring your child's food as soon as it's ready," says Tracy F., mom of three.

Use your technology. "Play games on your iPhone," says Michelle B., mom of two. Or load up a movie (with headphones, of course).

Location, location, location. "Choose a spot in the restaurant that you can get a high chair into, doesn't trip the waiters, and doesn't get your kid spilled on," says Michelle B.

Come creatively prepared. "I also always bring lots of paper, markers and stickers," says Jonna G., mom of two. "I have a Ziploc filled with these supplies just for restaurants."

Avoid peak hours. The dinner rush will be stressful for everybody, including the kids. "Take them at non-busy times," says Kelly R., mom of one. Not sure when it's busy? "You could always call ahead to make sure of a wait time," says Stephanie M., mom of seven.

Preview the restaurant online. What's the vibe and how long will the food take? "If you know your kids don't sit still or don't have patience, don't go to a restaurant that is going to take a while to bring out the food," says Erin B., mom of three. Many restaurants even offer a menu online. "We always have the kids order at home," says Stephanie M. "They look through the online menus. For the younger ones we give them the choices offered and we write down everyone's names and what they want to order."

Know your kid. "Know your child and what will keep them occupied," says Erin M. We've only dined out with our baby a handful of times, but we quickly learned that he does best if he plays in our laps until the food comes. Then we place him in the high chair with a favorite toy. The novelty of the new seat captures his attention for a few minutes and we can pass him toys while snatching a few bites to eat and even a bit of conversation as well.