sticky placemats for restaurants

We usually bring in our FP booster seats w/ tray when we eat at restaurants, but sometimes that's a big pain and it's nice to just use the restaurant's high chairs. But the boys just throw plates on the ground, so when there's no tray, they end up just having to eat straight off the table. We wipe it down first, but still it just 'feels' wrong.

I know I've seen posts mentioning those sticky placemats that you just put right on the table and then throw away after, but I can't remember what the verdict was. I don't remember if people posted that they were a waste--or that they were wonderful! So, who has tried those, and what do you think? Or, do you have any other strategies for our situation? Thanks!

 

I used them for a long time. I thought they were decent. They have reusable one's that might be better, but I liked the disposability of them!!

 

We loved them - we would lay the food out right there on the mat and then when they were finished we would pull it up with the left over food still on it and wad it up. Easy clean-up!

 

I think that they are great. I always forget to bring them, though! I have used them quite a bit with all 3 kids. I like that you can just throw them away.

 

I found them very helpful (and can't imagine trucking in my boosters every time at a restaurant, btw). I kept a ziploc bag in each of our cars with a 'restaurant kit' that included a small package of wipes, disposable bibs (Huggies Bibsters), disposable placemats, plastic utensils, and cheap-o sippies. It was great since I am not a diaper bag person. We could go out on a whim without having to wonder if we had everything with us, and it didn't have to take up space in the small sling diaper bag I kept in my car with minimal essentials.

I think they are great for 12-24m. However, our boys did pull at them, but only until the food arrived and they had a better distraction, so we quickly learned not to stick them down to the table until it was time to eat. Also, we put the lower sticky UNDER the table so they couldn't pull it up....as an added bonus, this protected them from potential funk on the side of the table.

 

They sell disposable ones, I've gotten them at Target and BRU. I recommend the ones that have all 4 sides sticky, because mine would pull off the ones with just 2 sticky sides. We also used the plastic, reusable ones, but mainly at home before plates were safe.

 

We use them all the time and have for over a year. They're great. We, like SweetpeaG, have a "restaurant kit" that we bring whenever we eat out.

 

[SIZE=10pt]I had never seen them before. We went to Claim Jumpers the other day and they had them. They worked great. I didn't know you could buy them. Where do you get them?

April [/SIZE]

 

QUOTE(Aprilisdisney @ Jul 17 2008, 02:15 PM) [snapback]882104[/snapback]
[SIZE=10pt]I had never seen them before. We went to Claim Jumpers the other day and they had them. They worked great. I didn't know you could buy them. Where do you get them?

April [/SIZE]

For sure they have them at BRU. I've seen them there before and thought about buying them, but like I said originally, we usually bring in their booster seats because the restaurant high chairs gross me out, and the boys aren't as comfy in them. But there are definitely times where it's a pain to bring in our chairs, so I think I'm going to give these mats a try. Thanks everyone.

 

We LOVE them. We go out to eat quite often and always bring our little flip top container of disposable placemats that you can buy at target. Kiddopattomaus (sp?) also sells some that can be reused but they stick with suction cups to the table and they do not always stick well. We went back to using the disposable ones and like them much better. We also have high chair covers (the kind that double as shopping cart covers) and we bring those to. Dh and I are like a well-oiled machine with our routine when we get to the restaurant, putting the covers on the chairs and the placemats on the tables...I think we look kind of funny to everyone else because we are so focused on "setting up" our eating area!

 

We love them! Make sure you get the Sesame Street ones, not the Dora ones. for some reason the Dora ones only have 2 sticky sides, and the S.S. ones have 4. Mine can easily pull up the 2 sided ones. They help with entertaining them as well, such as picking out shapes/characters/colors etc... Mine love them! Oh, and I always find them at Target, in the travel section, not the food section of the baby section.

 

A must have! We've gotten them from walmart and toys r us...we never leave home without them!!

 

They are called "Table Toppers" http://www.tabletopper.com/

Loved them!!!