I appreciate any efforts that restaurants make for my kids to feel comfortable since most of the time, they’d rather just eat at home. At least at our dining room table, they know what to expect. We always bring a “restaurant bag” with art supplies like paper, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, and of course plenty of wet wipes. We have no expectations that restaurants will be kid-friendly and make our lives easier, but sometimes they surprise us, and it makes an impression.

My wife and I both work in the restaurant world, so going out to eat is inevitable, whether our kids are excited about it or not. After hundreds of meals, I’ve identified four factors for how restaurants can become more kid-friendly. These initiatives could benefit restaurants with pretty much any service model, though people have higher expectations for full-service restaurants than fast food or fast casual restaurants, where customers accept a more DIY approach.

Of course, I understand some restaurateurs aren’t parents yet, and might not be able to anticipate what kids want or need. Before having kids, I sure didn’t think about these things. I also know that some restaurants don’t have the budget or storage to enhance the dining experience just for kids. Do what you can if it makes sense.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Automatically providing plastic cups and straws to kids may seem like good hospitality, but it’s not. Most parents packed a sippy cup, since babies and toddlers spill water so easily from regular cups and knock them over. Older kids can just drink from regular cups. What a waste of plastic (and money).

Wall-mount a baby changing station in at least one bathroom. If airlines can do it above toilets on 747s, so can you. Baby changing “stations” like Koala Kare and Foundations are made using polypropylene, polyethylene or stainless steel, so they’re easy to clean. [Parents should clean these.] Baby changing stations generally cost $275 – $450. This isn’t cheap for some family-run restaurants, but your guests will be grateful. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than making parents run to their car or lay their wriggling baby or toddler on the cold, dirty concrete floor to change a diaper. Some parents carry a foldable mat to provide a buffer between their kids and floors that can look like Superfund sites, but not always. The only understandable exception is if you’re a 21+ restaurant, which explicitly does not cater to kids.

High chairs can be helpful for babies and toddlers. Most parents will just carry younger babies in an Ergobaby or wrap, but high chairs can help to provide some relief, making it easier for parents to eat. My wife and I used to bring a chair that would latch on to the table, but that table better be sturdy. Of course, high chairs aren’t cheap and take up space, so if you’ve got a small restaurant that doesn’t draw many families, don’t bother.

Kids eat first. Nothing soothes savage beasts – hangry kids – faster than food. Take kids’ orders first and make sure the food arrives fast. A quick pizza, pasta, grilled cheese or burger & fries will keep kids in their seats, buying parents some time from bickering siblings or endless calls to leave from fidgeting sons and daughters.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

It’s nice to have kids menus with easily identifiable, kid-friendly dishes. Just build in some balance. Pasta with butter or tomato sauce? Great. Grilled cheese? Sure. French fries? Fine, but not WITH pasta and grilled cheese. I pack lunch for my girls every day and they typically eat every bento box compartment, whether it’s a “protein,” “grain,” “dairy,” “fruit” or “vegetable.” At least toss in some fruit or vegetables. This isn’t my elementary school cafeteria in the ‘80s.

Bonus if restaurants have their own art supplies or build something playful into their kids menus. Providing printed coloring sheets, word searches or mazes with a small pack of crayons always gets my daughters to smile. Are kids down with O.P.C.? Other People’s Crayons. You know it!