2 year old is so sweet, polite and good UNTIL we get to a restaurant he is awful- chaos everywhere!?!?

Question

WHAT CAN I DO ?? HOW DO I DISAPLINE HIM- IN PUBLIC... LATELY WE HAVE BEEN JUST TAKING HIM OUTSIDE, BUT AS SOON AS HE SITS DOWN.. HE STARTS SCREAMING AND THROWING EVERYTHING LIKE A MONKEY... WEVE TRIED CRAYONS, TOYS, JUICE, APPETIZERS, WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE, ETC... BUT NOTHING WORKS!! WHAT CAN WE DO? BESIDES JUST NOT GO OUT ANYMORE---

Answer 1

Oh dear, I feel for you. My 15 month old does this sometimes, but usually going for a stroll outside helps. Are there many kid-friendly restaurants you can opt for instead? We did that last week and the difference was quite noticeable.

Also if you brought sweet snacks, grapes or fruit or something, to pop in bub's mouth to distract, might hold em off for a while. It's difficult disciplining at this age for something like that, because their reasons are legit - they're little and full of energy and dont want to be pinned down to a seat when there's so many exciting things to explore!

Alas, eventually, this too shall pass.

Answer 2

Hi,
Perhaps he is overexcited - the people and lights, all of it is stimulating to a two year-old. You may try bringing a DVD of his favorite movie and play it on a portable DVD player (they're not that expensive - and well worth it for those whose children get overwhelmed in restaurants). Does this happen in other crowded or public places? Perhaps he is frightened of something? When you take him outside kneel down to his level and tell him why it is important to be quiet in a restaurant. Bring a little game to play with him. Disciplining him may just turn him off of restaurants further. Perhaps you can promise him a reward if he is quiet and good - a chart of gold stars is hugely effective, each one representing a good deed, 10 gets a small gift. It will give him incentive.
All the best to you. Happy holidays!

Answer 3

I don't know, maybe going into a restaurant is too much stimulation for him right now. At the risk of sounding like you are letting him dictate your life, why not try holding off on restaurants for a while. I am sure there are people who would criticize me for this suggestion, but I would try that. We do have to make sacrifices for our children and this wouldn't be a big one and I think maybe you could just wait a couple, few months & then try again. As far as disciplining him in public, I think you are doing a good job. I worked in a restaurant that was kid-friendly and parents came in with their toddlers who were unruly & they would snatch them up and take them outside when they acted up, sometimes over and over again, mainly to show the child that they would have to go outside and wouldn't be able to eat their dinner as long as they were acting this way. It is hard trying to get things across to a 2-year-old. Doing this over and over usually does have some kind of impact & they eventually calm down, but not all of them. If you want to keep going to the restaurants, I would just keep doing what you are doing & one of these times it will occur to him that he is hungry & he will probably just sit down and eat.

Answer 4

there isn't much you can do besides not taking him anymore or taking him out of the situation. You can try bribery tell him if he is a good boy he can have ice cream but I don't even think that will work he's too young

Answer 5

How about a special toy that he gets only at the restaurants ? That way he can keep himself busy. It has to be something really special and you have to make sure not to give it any other times so taht it remains "precious" to him

Answer 6

good job for taking your 2 year old to a restaurant and expecting good behavior! if you don't teach your children when they are young how can you expect them to go out to dinner and behave when they are older?

have you tried taking him into the bathroom and having a talk with him? i don't know if you spank but a lite swat on the bottom might do the trick.

i would think about one parent, probably daddy, taking him out and strapping him in his carseat for a time out. when he is ready to behave you can go back in where mommy is still in eating.

do you make sure that he is hungry when he goes? if you let him snack before he probably won't be willing to sit long.

sitting at the table is a privledge. at 2 he is able to have consequences! let him know you both are not happy with his choices!

good luck! SD

Answer 7

Hes two... find a sitter until he turns 3 and can understand better. Then enjoy your meal and time with your husband.