Well that was fun....

We took our 2 year old to dinner last night (just Panda Express), but her new thing is to scream at the top of her lungs. Not crying. Just screaming to scream. I wasnt done eating, but I ran her out and put her back in the car and hung out until DH was done, but smurf.

How do I discourage the screaming? We whisper "we talk quietly", use the finger in front of our lips, try to ignore it at home, etc. But in public? ugh

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" We took our 2 year old to dinner last night (just Panda Express), but her new thing is to scream at the ... [snip!] ... screaming? We whisper "we talk quietly", use the finger in front of our lips, try to ignore it at home, etc. But in public? ugh"

I don't have advice for you but I just want to say you are awesome for doing that. I get that people with kids like to go out too but kudos to you for taking your screaming child outside so as not to disturb the other patrons and the staff. Nothing more annoying than a screaming and/or out of control child. You rock for that one!

I try to distract at all cost and when/if needed, I tuck tail and run.

So pretty much what you did. I just waited until they grew out of it and went to kid-friendly joints that not as many people would care until they did.

Usually my phone will calm her down and keep her busy. Not yesterday. She swiped it onto the floor, sending it halfway across the restaurant, Back popped off, battery came out, and screen cracked. Woo hoo

Quoting I declare a Time War:" I don't have advice for you but I just want to say you are awesome for doing that. I get that people ... [snip!] ... the other patrons and the staff. Nothing more annoying than a screaming and/or out of control child. You rock for that one!"

I agree. Places like Walmart or something, people are generally more accepting, but in a tight space like a restaurant where people are TRYING to relax, can be annoying. ha ha

I would have handled it just the way you did. The first time I would have attempted to explain we use our inside voice now. If it happened again, I would have removed them from the establishment. I have never dealt with this, but hopefully it is just a phase and she will outgrow it or realize when she screams that she has to sit in the car.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" We took our 2 year old to dinner last night (just Panda Express), but her new thing is to scream at the ... [snip!] ... screaming? We whisper "we talk quietly", use the finger in front of our lips, try to ignore it at home, etc. But in public? ugh"

Off topic but did they have baby changing stations in their bathroom??

When my DD was around 4 months BD and I took her in with us and I had to change her diaper on the floor in their bathroom and an employee came in and yelled at me saying that I was right in the way of the door. The stalls were to small to use, they had no handicapped one either!....well, it's either in the bathroom or on the booth seat. or in my car I guess, but changing pad (luckily had it with) on the bathroom floor seemed like the best option. I wanted to complain to the company that they should be baby friendly and install changing stations! Or at least a handicapped stall and stick the changing station in there like some places do.

I've found that I had to give my daughter a summary of what is going to happen before we get to the restaurant and the kind of behavior we expect. The first few times I also offered a bribe. "If we get through dinner and you don't scream and yell, you can get a prize." It took a few times for her to be able to sit through a complete meal but it did happen.