Baby Friendly L.A.

Be Treated Like a Celebrity!

Enjoy perks like a Hollywood star at this special dinner for L.A. Moms

Have you always wanted to schmooze with celebrities? How about those lavish gift bags they get also known as swag? Want one? If you have ever dreamed about being treated like the star you are, now is your chance! Why? All because you're a mom. How cool is that?

If you are a mom or soon-to-be-mom in the Los Angeles area looking for the newest and safest baby gear, toddler toys and other must-have items, this is a special dinner just for you. Hosted by Celebrity Nursery Designer & Baby Lifestyle Expert Jayneoni Moore and Celebrity Mommy & Actress Ali Landry, From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner will showcase everything from the perfect bottle, to strollers to car seats to toys to high chairs and everything in between.

Enjoy this amazing presentation over a yummy dinner at L.A.'s cutest restaurant, Giggles N Hugs. Every mommy attending will walk away with one of the showcased products PLUS an overflowing gift bag valued at over $200.

Tickets are only $45 for this amazing event, but because you are a BFLA reader you also have a special opportunity to WIN a free ticket plus a beautiful Aden & Anais blanket set! (I absolutely LOVE these blankets and used them all through Ava's infancy - we still use them!)

Contest Rules: Leave me a comment here telling me why you would like to be treated like the star and I'll choose one lucky winner to attend this incredible event.  Contest ends Monday night. The winner will be contacted by email and must reply within 24 hours.  GOOD LUCK!

From the Bump to the Tot Mommy Dinner details:
When: Wednesday, May 27th from 7:30 - 9:00 pm
Where: Giggles N Hugs Restaurant: www.gigglesnhugs.com

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets please visit:
www.breakfastclubmommies.com

Giggles N Hugs

A fun spot made for both kids and parents - Review by BizzieMommy.com

I've heard a lot of good things about the restaurant Giggles N Hugs and I am looking forward to taking Ava there soon – especially after reading the review on BizzieMommy.com.

BizzieMommy.com is an amazing blog created by another L.A. mom, Stephanie, who lives up to her Bizzie Mommy name. She is also the founder/owner of the very hip online baby shop, LalaBabyBoutique.com and the creator of ThinkOrganicBaby.com. Did I mention she has a full time job and two kids as well? Stephanie is an awesome mom, with an awesome blog, so I invite you to visit her site. Here's the beginning of her review:

Out in L.A. – Giggles N Hugs by BizzieMommy.com

After going through a spout of unproductive weekends the Hubs and I decided to take the kids to Giggles N’ Hugs for some play time and free Wi-Fi for us! I have been dreaming of a safe fun place for the kids to play so I can sneak in some blog writing or store maintenance and this place is almost perfect… Continue

94th Aero Squadron

A nostalgic restaurant for "air-pane" lovers

Ava has a new passion and it's one that I wasn't quite expecting. Airplanes. She loves watching for them, hearing their approaching sound and waving to them as they fly overhead. I never thought living near an airport would be anything more than a nuisance, but now it is a daily form of entertainment. She says, "Hi air-panes! Oooooh! Wow! Buh bye," as she waves her little hand backwards as they fly off and out of sight.  Air-panes are now fun for the whole family.

To fuel the excitement we took her to lunch at the 94th Aero Squadron – a restaurant that sits right on an airport runway. The cottage-y replica of a French farm house feels as if you have stepped back in time. As we walked up the wooden, spiral staircase we could hear Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters playing through the speakers. The rafters hang vintage aircraft memorabilia, while the cozy fireplace and wood paneling give this old fashioned steak house a sense of warmth and romance of a bygone era.  I could easily envision my grandfather sitting at the brass-rimmed bar enjoying a brandy or scotch on the rocks. So how can this place be baby friendly?

Once we told the hostess about our miniature aviation-enthusiast, she sat us right up against the window with a prime view of the runway.  They brought out a high chair, an airplane themed activity book for her to color on and the best part of all… a styrofoam airplane souvenir!  You remember the kind – you slide the wings through the slots, place the plastic tip on the nose and viola! You have yourself a 3-D, indoor glider (something similar to this). The hubby and I had tons of fun throwing this around our living room. Probably even more fun than Ava. 

There is also plenty to look at in and outside of the 94th.  Airplane wings and military artifacts adorn the dining room, bar and banquet areas while vintage planes, jeeps and large scale replicas decorate the lawns. The highlight of the day for us was going outside to their patio and watching the planes take off and land.  Ava had a blast running around, oohing and aahing as the helicopters and airplanes soared away (this can be very loud and might be a bit scary for sensitive little ones, but Ava loved it).  For a little change of scenery, she would run over to visit the ducks swimming in their gated pond. "Ah! Cute!" she'd exclaim while blowing kisses at them. We also chose the perfect day to visit – the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. We practically had the place to ourselves.

The ambience, the tasty food (they serve large, reasonably priced portions at lunch time and pricier, classic American style dinners in the evenings), the activities and the time spent as a family made it a perfect day.

The 94th Aero Squadron has several locations throughout the U.S.: Van Nuys, CA; Miami, FL; Wheeling, IL; College Park, MD and one in San Diego (although I'm not sure if this one is affiliated even though it looks nearly identical).

www.the94thaerosquadron.com

The 94th Aero Squadron
16320 Raymer St.
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Phone: (818) 994-7437

SusieCakes Bakeshop

Cupcakes make everything better

Tonight was Babies R Us night which means we made a trek out to Calabasas to pick up the necessary supplies (oh how Saturday evenings have changed). We decided to grab a bite the area since the shopping center next to BRU is enjoyable.  We can't however, say as much for dinner.

Ava was in a mood. Maybe it's the time change, maybe it's being cooped up this week as we under went some remodeling or maybe she was just plain crabby. Generally Ava enjoys eating out. She knows how to say, "mo peeez" (more please) and, "tank eww" (thank you) and someone always comments on how cute she is.  Not tonight. Tonight she tossed noodles over her shoulder as if they were not good enough to grace her place mat and how dare they be in front of her.  Tonight she screamed for "keys!" and had a mini meltdown at the dinner table. Tonight was not fun.  Daddy whisked Ava away as I slurped down a few more spoonfuls of soup before I cleaned up, packed up and headed outside to join them.  Dinner was a bust. 

Outside I see baby and Daddy heading in my direction.  In one arm he carried a very happy Ava (who seemed to have a set of keys in her mitts) and in the other hand he had a brown bag.  Little did I know that bag held a secret treasure… cupcakes.  My husband rocks.

SusieCakes Bakeshop is located in the Babies R Us shopping center tucked away at the opposite end next to Coffee Bean.  Their tagline is "Celebrate the neighborhood bakeshop!" and they do not disappoint.  In addition to their cupcakes, they offer a wide range of desserty goodness including specialty and custom cakes, cookies, pies and puddings. If the rest of their desserts are anything like the decadent, frosting filled peanut butter cupcake we experienced tonight then folks, heaven is in Calabasas. Tomorrow we will be devouring the lemon and mocha goodies waiting for us (we already tasted the frosting and yum yum!).

Here is a quote from SusieCakes website:

"We specialize in an array of sentimental dessert favorites, which conjure up the sorely missed flavors and aromas of childhood."

"Our classic, all-American treats are sure to transport you back to a more carefree time and place. Everyday our in-house bakers use the freshest and finest ingredients to create luscious desserts entirely from scratch."

SusieCakes has two other locations, one in Brentwood and Newport Beach.  I have a feeling we may no longer buy our diapers in bulk since more trips to Calabasas just might be necessary.  ;) Oh and Ava, I never thought I'd say this, but your tantrum was actually worth it in the end (but don't make it a habit, ok?).

www.susiecakesla.com

A Little Bit O'Tiki

Islands Restaurant is pretty darn baby friendly

Islands is one of those places that I just seem to forget about when looking for a spot to eat. My husband and I seem to have the same conversation every time we venture out for a meal.  It goes something like this:

"Honey, where would you like to eat?"

"I don't know. What do you feel like?"

"Anywhere is fine with me. You pick."

"No, you pick..."   

Get the idea?  This goes on for a good 10 minutes and then we end driving around looking for something that is not only edible but will also accommodate our 15 month old.  Today we ended up at Islands Restaurant and not only had a tasty lunch, but a very pleasant, baby friendly experience as well.

Islands prides itself on their burger varieties such as the Kilauea – a jalepano and black pepper crusted burger or their Maui - a burger filled with guacamole and bacon.  But don't let the burgers fool you; they really have a lot more to choose from. Their Wiqui Wiqui BBQ Chicken Salad, their Cabo Loco pork tacos or their Shorebird chicken sandwich are some examples of the variety on their menu. And if your toddler is driving you to drink, Islands has a nice array of cocktails too. 

We skipped the beverages today, but we did have some tasty sandwiches and sinful, brownie dessert.  We ordered Ava a grilled cheese sandwich that she proceeded to throw on the floor, but we did manage to get a few bites of steamed carrots in her.  She loved looking at the colorful, tiki inspired decorations and the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. At one point Ava gave a big, smiley hello to our server and then wiped her grimy little hand all over her shirt. It didn't seem to faze our waitress who was so sweet and playful and assured us it was all o.k. (we left her a big tip and we always clean up Ava's disaster).

Islands may not be gourmet, but we had an enjoyable, baby friendly meal.  They have a changing table in the bathroom, a full kids menu - and here's a nice perk... on Tuesday evenings (after 4) kid's eat for FREE.  Sweet! 

The Island chain can be found throughout California and also in Nevada, Hawaii, Colorado and Arizona. 
www.islandsrestaurants.com

When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Giovanni's Ristorante in Woodland Hills

Have you ever met one of those Italians who doesn't really like to eat at Italian restaurants? Nothing can compare to their family's cooking and you'll never catch them ordering a red sauce because marinara is far too sacred. To an Italian, places like the Olive Garden are considered blasphemous.  Have you ever met someone like that?

I happen to be one of those picky Italians that I'm talking about.

I've lived in Los Angeles and away from my family for almost 15 years now and I've lightened up a little bit when it comes to scrutinizing Italian eateries (or joints as my dad would say). I still tend to raise an eyebrow when someone insists they know of an "authentic" place that I must try. I'm usually disappointed, but I am too polite to let them know. Besides, they meant well. And they didn't grow up with my dad's sauce. This is why I am happy to share a little gem of a place that we discovered. An authentic, Italian restaurant that will not only make Italians happy, but is also BABY FRIENDLY. My father would be so proud.

Giovanni's Ristorante in Woodland Hills is family owned and operated specializing in cuisine from Southern Italy. The small, dimly lit restaurant with the Dean Martin animated singing doll at the entrance is cozy and their tables fill up quickly. It's best to make a reservation, but chances are they will find a way to make you feel at home even if you just walk in. We called about 20 minutes beforehand to see if they could accommodate four adults and a baby. They graciously accepted our last minute reservation and had our table ready and waiting for us when we arrived. Four adults and a… What's this?? Butcher paper underneath the high chair?? I’m in heaven (if you haven't read my other articles on dining out, I have a thing about messes in public).

There aren't very many restaurants around that make their guests feel as if they are a part of the family and welcomed into their home – babies and all. The owner stopped by our table to tell us the specials and chat as if we were old friends. He also made a point to pay a little extra attention to Ava. Giovanni's warm and friendly hospitality only adds to the incredible cuisine. I'm not going to get into how great their food is. I'm going to leave that to Dave and Bianca over at DiningInLA.com who accompanied us at dinner. All I'm going to say is this Italian was a happy girl. And a happy mom.

Giovanni's Ristorante - Menu
21926 Ventura Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(818) 884-0243

Recycling Noah's Ark

An amazing exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center

Everyone knows the story of Noah and his famous Ark. But I doubt the tale has ever been told quite like the exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center. The animals on display are magnificent. They are majestic and beautiful, powerful and awe-inspiring just as you would imagine they would be. However, these special animals and the retelling of this epic story are even more remarkable because each sculpture is made out of everyday, ordinary, recycled products. Each extremely detailed piece is a unique work of art. And each piece is meant to be explored by tiny hands (and big hands too). Noah's Ark at the Skirball is a breathtaking, interactive art exhibit for children of all ages.

Doug and I thought visiting the museum would make a fun afternoon for us as a family. Ava loves reading books about zoos and turning pages filled with colorful critters. She even has a mini Noah's Ark toy set with Noah at the helm and happy little animals filling the boat. She knows her animals and will gladly point them out or bring them to you upon request. She kisses the lion and elephant on each page of her favorite bedtime book, Good Night, Gorilla. We felt this exhibit could be a wonderful new way for her to experience the creatures she is learning about. And it was…

We arrived about an hour before our reservation time to have a bite to eat at Zeidler's Cafe. This was not your typical, stand-in-line-order-your-food, buffet style restaurant that you find at the zoo or amusement parks. It was an elegant, yet very baby friendly bistro with a delicious variety of menu-ordered food. The waitstaff was helpful and very attentive to us and to Ava. There were several other families with small children dining as well. We felt comfortable, relaxed and probably had one of the best meals out in a long time. After lunch we headed over to the Ark.

The exhibit was separated into three main areas. The first area was the violent but beautiful storm that swept the Ark away. Children were encouraged to pull the handles and levers to make the water rise, the wind blow and lightening flash all contained in large, glass cylinders. Ava was mesmerized. On the opposite wall from the storm was the gigantic entrance to the Ark. Inside were dozens of animals of all sizes. Stuffed animals lined one wall, while another wall contained miniature Arks with pairs of various animals on display. All were there to be touched, examined and played with. The final room was designed as a physical participation area representing the living quarters inside of the Ark itself. Children were encouraged to play, climb, crawl through and explore every inch of this part of the exhibit.

   

If all of that wasn't enough, there was still even more to enjoy. Rooms dedicated to children's take-home art projects (around ages 3+), interactive musical performances on the weekends, and a unique, walk-through outside area that illuminates rainbows in the mist top off this extraordinary experience (word to the wise, wear contact lenses if you plan to see the rainbows – your glasses will just get wet!). Ava is too young for some of these activities, but over all she thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon. To finish our off visit, we stopped by the gift shop for a souvenir.  Ava chose a white, fluffy bunny puppet complete with pink eyes and floppy ears. She hugged and kissed her bunny the entire ride home.

The Noah's Ark display is designed for children, yet there is so much attention to unique details that it is easily an enjoyable experience for adults as well. Reservations are required in advance. They only allow a certain number of visitors in at a time which keeps the exhibit moving and avoids overcrowding. The exhibit is now permanently on display and tickets can be purchased in person, by phone or via the internet (I recommend reserving your space in advance). Adult tickets are $11.50 and children ages 2-12 are $6.50. Under 2 are free.

In addition to the Noah's Ark exhibit, the Skirball Cultural Center's main purpose is to celebrate Jewish heritage in America. The Skirball offers classes, group tours and many other incredible exhibitions commemorating Judaism.

Skirball Cultural Center
www.skirball.org
701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 440-4500

Drive-Through Coffee

A solution for the caffeine deprived

Once you have a baby, the term "running in" means nothing. It becomes a myth. A joke. There is no more "running to" or "swinging by" or "stopping in." In fact, these phrases will cause eyes to roll if said to a mom with a little one. Especially requests like, "Just swing by the post office." Or, "Just run to the bank." There is no swinging, stopping or running once you have a baby. And this is why I send praises and thanks to Starbucks for offering their drive-through locations. For without them I would be truly caffeine deprived. Without them sleepless nights (like last night) would bleed into seemingly endless days (like today). So thank you, Starbucks*.

I gave up drinking lattes and fancy drinks for the most part a while ago. But a good, plain ol' cup of strong coffee seems to taste better when it's served in that white cup with the green logo. Why is that? I think ordering a grande this or a venti that gives me a sense of pre-baby normalcy. I always had my coffee before Ava was born. I used to swing by and grab it. I pretty much gave up caffeine completely for 18 months while I was pregnant and nursing so now I appreciate it even more than before - especially after long nights of teething tantrums. But I would still be without that freshly brewed goodness if it meant running into a store just to stand in line with Ava in my arms.

The drive-through I go to has pleasant enough employees, however they are not the sharpest tools working in the shed. They somehow usually find a way to screw up my order – my simple, coffee-with-cream-only order. But I never complain. I don't want to take a chance on my trusty drive-through closing. I was sweating bullets during the whole "Starbucks is shutting down 600 stores" announcement. I'm very glad I just kept smiling with each wrong order because thankfully my drive-through was spared. Whew... So if you are in need of a coffee fix and swinging, running and stopping are words of the past like they are for me, finding the nearest Starbucks drive-through may be your java solution.

*There are 33 Starbucks drive-throughs in the Los Angeles area, but who's counting?

Cooking for the Culinarily Impaired

Dream Dinners is a dream

I'm not a very good cook. I can make a mean pasta sauce, but that runs in my family and is taught to us from birth. Other than that, I've never given cooking too much time and effort because well, it takes too much time and effort. Not to mention the monumental mess that seems to consume my poor kitchen. And shopping... Shoes are one thing, but shopping for ingredients requires about 4.5 calls to my mother for assistance and I still end up forgetting things. And if I do go out and buy all of the ingredients, destroy my tiny kitchen and create what I hope is a masterpiece of a meal, I get very nervous that all of my efforts will just wind up in one, big disaster of a dinner – which is usually the case even though my husband will say otherwise. He's so sweet. And smart.

I'm envious of women who can "whip things up." They talk about recipes and making meals as if they are tying their shoes. These are the same women who can turn a piece of bologna into a filet mignon. They make it seem so effortless and natural. I would like to be one of them, but who am I kidding? I'd be happy to be a mom who makes a home cooked meal for her family a few times a week. And I would really like Ava to grow up remembering fondly, "My mom used to make this great dinner..." But at the rate I’m going, the only memories she'll recollect are *Kung Pow Chicken from our local Chinese restaurant. At least that's what I thought until my friend, Lucia, introduced me to this really cool service, Dream Dinners.

If you are like me and find cooking to be a daunting process, Dream Dinners is a really neat solution to home cooking without the headache. There are plenty of places out there that will deliver fresh meals to your home for a price.  It's usually a fairly expensive price and you have no control over what ingredients go into your food. Dream Dinners takes a different approach. You go to their website and order your meals and portions from their online menu. Portion sizes are either 3 servings or 6 serving and you can order as many of each as you like. If you are having a family dinner or company over, you may want a 6 serving dinner. Or if you are like us – a family of two plus a little one - 3 serving portions are best.

They offer about 20 different dinner entrees to choose from. Garden Tarragon Chicken, Fisherman's Grilled Salmon or Bahama Burgers with Pineapple Salsa are just a few of the selections on their yummy looking menu. Some dishes are more heart healthy and all are made with fresh ingredients. Once you place your online order – usually around 10-15 dinners depending on your needs - you reserve your session. You choose your time and location and then here comes the really neat part... you go there and prepare the dinners yourself.

Lucia and I had a Dream Dinner session Thursday night. When we arrived we were given an apron, our online list of choices and corresponding dinner labels. Each label had cooking instructions for our pre-selected meals. We took our papers and a handful of gallon sized Ziploc bags and headed over to the first "cooking station." Each station contained ingredients for two or three of the menu items and large, laminated recipe cards. All of the ingredients listed on the cards were in front of us with measuring instruments. It's all ready to go. Everything is diced, chopped and easy to find in a very clean, friendly environment.

We followed each recipe and placed the components of the meals into the Ziploc bags. When we finished assembling a dinner, we attached the corresponding label with the cooking instructions onto the front of the bag and placed it into one of their locker-type refrigerators. Then we moved on to another meal at the next station and so on.There is no worrying about a mess or cleaning up because they do it for you. Sweet!

It takes about two hours to assemble all of the dinners. My only complaint is that my adorable 3-inch mules killed my poor feet by the end of the evening. Next time I'll be sure to wear more appropriate, long standing, comfortable shoes. Once you are finished you bring your dinners home and store them in the freezer until you are ready to serve them. It's that easy. The cost is very reasonable too. If you break down each serving and depending on what you order, the price range is about $4 a portion. That's much better than Chinese delivery even if you count leftovers.

I baked our first dish last night per the instructions on the label. We had Summertime Pasta with Chicken and we were very pleased. It was delicious. Prep time was minimal, there was no mess and it took about 35 minutes in the oven. Doug also commented that it was really nice to walk in the house and smell the aroma of all of the herbs and spices. He enjoyed the dinner and we are both looking forward to tomorrow night's meal – McCormick's Seasoned Sirloin.

For a busy mom and for someone like me who is challenged in the culinary department, Dream Dinners is a great solution.  There might be hope for me after all...

Dream Dinners is available nationwide.

www.dreamdinners.com

*Ava does not eat Kung Pow Chicken. In fact, this week she is completely boycotting chicken all together.  She will however, smush it in her little hand and throw it on the floor in protest.  Yet one more reason meal time is so much fun...

Dining Out with Baby

Tips and tricks for a happy dining experience

Dining out with a baby is dining out in a whole new way. Enjoying a lunch at an overcrowded hotspot will never be the same (if you even dare try it). And enjoying a long, leisurely meal sounds like a mission impossible. Enjoying a meal at all is the major task at hand once you have a baby. But it can be done! And if you think your life is now restricted to eating at places with life size animal mascots, think again. Believe it or not dining with a baby can actually be a fun, pleasant experience. Yes, I said pleasant.

Ava and I dine out all of the time with our mommy friends and their babies. If you catch us on a day when we are all together you may see quite a site. Seven mommies and SEVEN babies. Sometimes SEVEN strollers. It’s quite a scene, but you know what? Our babies rock. We are often complimented on how good they are, how quiet they are and of course how cute they are. As scary as our group looks when we stroll through the door, we aren’t so bad. We have learned how to enjoy dining with our babies.

Doug and I also take Ava out to restaurants on a regular basis. We tend to have fun going out with our baby and we have learned the dos and don’ts of dining with a little one. Here are some general rules and tips that can help when eating out:

• Go at off peak times. If you plan your lunch a little bit early at 11:45 or a little bit later at say 1:45 or 2:00, you’ll miss the 12-1:00ish lunch rush. Your servers will be friendlier, you’ll be less cramped and I find it is a far less stressful experience when the restaurant is not as full. If you are planning a dinner out, the same rules apply. It’s much easier with a baby to enjoy your meal at 5:00 pm than at 6:30 or 7:00 when everyone else is hungry too. Plus babies tend to tire out the later it gets. And we all know how fun tired babies can be.

• Naps are a good thing. If you can manage to plan a meal out when your baby is napping, it’s a very good thing. Sometimes dining at the off peak times are also conveniently over nap times. Wink wink.

• Come prepared. If your baby is under 6 months old and is only on the bottle or breast, make sure you have enough food to feed your baby for a few feedings - just in case. Also bring distracting toys. A happy baby means a happier meal for you.

• Light colored food. If your baby is over 6 months and on solid food, feed your baby at lunch with you. If you make your baby part of the experience he or she will feel included. I like to bring light colored (baby) food with me when we eat out over the darker colored foods. If your baby does happen to fling a bite or two, the lighter colored foods are less obvious and easier to clean up. And that’s a good thing – especially if it lands on you.

• Snacks and nibbles. If your baby likes to try new foods, order something you can share with them. They will feel like they are participating and it’s also a good distraction. BABY PUFFS ARE YOUR FRIEND! I never leave home without them. I will feed Ava right in her stroller or in a high chair at the table with us. As long as she feels that she’s part of the team, she’s a happy camper.

• Newborns are new. If you are going out with your new little bundle, don’t be so hard on yourself. I had a really tough time with this one, but I desperately needed something “normal” like a real lunch in a real restaurant. Remember that babies cry. Newborns get a hall pass on crying since that is really all they do. And most people will give you the sympathy eyes if your little one starts up. If they are parents, they remember – generally fondly – of this special time. Give yourself a break and let your husband take the baby for a little walk. And just breathe.

• Clean up and tipping. I always clean up any messes that Ava may leave behind. Babies throw and drop things. It’s what they do. But you can clean it up and show a good example to everyone that babies can dine out too. And I also tip well. Even if Ava has been a perfect angel, I want the staff to know that I appreciate their extra kindness to me and my baby. Often times you’ll have to rearrange tables and chairs or change things around to accommodate your little one. They will probably remember you for your good (or bad) impression. Tipping a little bit extra shows them you are a respectful patron and they will remember that too if you return.

• Portable high chairs. I highly recommend investing in one of these. They are lightweight, easy to carry and a great way to make your baby part of group. I tend to use ours when Doug and I go out for meals. She’s part of our trio and this chair lets her join in. The tray contains and holds her food much better than using the the table. And it’s much cleaner too. I have the Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat and I love it. It’s one of the best $25 investments we’ve made.

• People generally like babies.  Babies are cute and you'll find that most people enjoy having them around.  I've found that if I indulge the neighbors at the next table with a little conversation about  babies (usually they will tell you about their kids or their grandkids) or let them ooh and ahh over her for a few moments,  I won't feel as bad if she lets out an ear piercing screech. A little kindness and a few smiles go along way.

• Crabby people suck. If you are doing everything you can to be respectful then there is no reason for people to be crabby at you in a restaurant. Some people are just grumpy by nature and there is no winning them over. Babies make noises and most people find them charming (the happy noises at least. If your baby starts screaming unhappy cries, you know to take them outside). Even if you are the primo parent with the angel child, there are still grouchy folks out there who will look at you sideways for dining out with your baby. These are the same people who dislike puppies and Disneyland. Ignore them. If you are a respectful patron then you have every right to be there with your baby. Luckily nice, happy people who smile at cute babies are more common than the cranky pants.

 Enjoy your baby and your meals out!