tools for eating out with a baby

i have to admit, we go out to eat a lot.  partly because i’m too busy/tired/lazy to cook when i get home from work, partly because i like to let brandon try new foods, and partly because we just like to.  anyway, there are a few things i won’t leave the house without when we’re going out to eat.

1. tiny diner placemat.   when i first saw someone with one of these at a restaurant, i thought to myself, “omg, is that necessary?”  the answer is yes.  especially when kids are learning how to eat with their hands and the food is all over the place, you want to make sure the surface is as clean as possible.  the little edge is cool because it catches food that falls (not all of it, of course).  reference picture above. 
   
2. high chair cover.  i got one by “floppy seat” that doubles as a shopping cart cover.  it’s machine washable, super plush, and squishes into a fairly small bag for portability.  you can also get some unique designs from sellers on etsy.
3. a bag full of small, non-noise-making toys.  new ones, preferably, because old ones are boring.
4. antibacterial wipes.  i prefer the smell of the lemon or the regular scent.  for some reason the sensitive skin one smells really horrible to me.  i use these before he eats, and then after.  sometimes you might need to wipe down the high chair or the table too.
   
5. snacks.  why do you need snacks when you’re going out to eat?  in the minutes between when you sit down and when the food actually comes, your baby is a ticking time bomb.  you need snacks to hold him/her over until the food arrives.
6. a sippy cup (optional these days).  i prefer the take and toss variety because i can’t count how many times we’ve left a cup somewhere.