My daughter (our first) is 8 months and has started eating finger foods. Unfortunately more ends up on her than in her. At home the high chair and tray catch most of it. But at restaurants most of it ends up on the floor. Am I supposed to clean it up myself (I can only do so much without borrowing a broom, mop, or vacuum from the establishment)? Let the staff do it but tip them extra – and how much extra? Or something else?
Comments are closed.
Pick the food up off the floor and off the table. If you can’t clean EVERYTHING up, leave a big tip and apologize.
Tip extra and scoot her up towards the table a bit more so that it can act a bit more like the tray at home.
In my own personal opinion (and you what follows that, right?) infants and children under the age of three or so, don’t belong in resturants. When the child does reach an age where they are capable of feeding themselves properly, then they must be obedient enough to do as they are told and act in a civil way, otherwise keep them home!
add about 2 extra bucks to the tip as most places have bussers who are hired just to clean and get a set dollar amt and also they usually sit all kid tables in the same area. I use to wait tables and know its part of the job. If she were to tip her food over and throw her plate on the floor on purpose that is something to clean up, pick up the plate and big items, but realize that somtimes trying to clean up only breaks food apart and makes it worse. get what you can that is big, like half a pineapple or something but even adults can be messy eaters so they make messes too. The good thing is shes a cute baby so its more accepted. Most waitresses know that kids mean messes and when I waited tables they would ask who doesnt mind the kids section. It’s totally okay to be a little sloppy
I get up what I can with napkins and leave the part I can’t. I do tip extra when there’s stuff on the floor I can’t get.
I think the majority of the cleanup should be the responsibility of the parents or caretakers when they are eating out at a restaurant. It’s not fair to expect the waiter to clean up a huge mess no matter how old the person was that caused the mess.
If you do leave a mess be prepared to tip very generously. The time spent cleaning up an excessive amount of food on the ground could have been used to seat another customer.
I think the best way to avoid a mess in a restaurant is to feed toddlers and babies only a few bite sized pieces at a time. That way they don’t get bored and start throwing it and can concentrate on each piece making it to their mouth.