Appropriate age group:
Infants
Toddlers

Description:
There's nothing more frustrating than taking the time to plan an outing only to arrive at your destination with your little ones in tow and discover that your choice of restaurants is less than ideal for children. To avoid this scenario, it's always best to call ahead of time to determine whether a restaurant is child-friendly. Consider whether there are children's menus and highchairs available. If they don't have these basics, this may be your first clue that you may want to consider dining elsewhere. However, this is not to say that fast food joints are your only options. There are many restaurants that can be suitable for children so long as you are able to balance your child's needs with the needs of other people in the restaurant.

Other comments or suggestions:
When selecting a place to eat with your children, you may also want to consider the following: Will there be a long wait before you can be seated? Is the music too loud or are the lights too bright? Is it too formal for family dining? If a child's menu is unavailable, is there anything else on the menu that will be appealing? Knowing the answers to these questions before you arrive at a restaurant can help you avoid a potentially stressful situation.