Places NOT to Take Your Toddler
By Contributing Editor: Pamela Gifford 

Just because you have kids doesn't mean you have to give up your social life. But as any parent knows, you can't carry your toddler just anywhere with you. To do so will no doubt be chaotic, stressful, and earn you disapproving stares from those around you.

Doctor's Offices

If you have an appointment for yourself, leave your toddler with a family member or a babysitter. You need to be focused on your health during the appointment, not trying to deter your child from getting into the medical supply stash. It's kinda hard to hear what the doctor is telling you about your cholesterol levels when you are constantly saying, "Quit," to your little one. Even worse is trying to get blood drawn with toddler in tow.

Not only is the distraction factor a reason not to take your toddler to the doctor for your appointments, there are also potentially very ill people there who can spread something to your toddler that he can't easily recover from. Be safe about it. Leave him at home.

Hair or Nail Salon

Regardless of whether you believe that hair and nail time is considered "me" time, taking a toddler to such a place when it is you who is getting your hair streaked, is not a good idea. A toddler will run around and get into things. Under normal circumstances, you can deal with that by being mobile yourself. When you're sitting in a salon chair, it would be rude and time consuming for you to ask your stylist to let you get up to chase your toddler every two minutes. Likewise rude is letting your toddler run around freely. Schedule an appointment for when you can go alone. Not only will you enjoy the peace and quiet but you can actually have an adult conversation with the other salon goers that doesn't involve Cheerios and Mickey Mouse.

A Fancy Restaurant

Fancier restaurants are known for their quiet, soothing atmosphere. While you think your toddler might just be well behaved enough to go with you and your significant other to one, it is not plausible. They just aren't old enough yet. As much as you would relish the idea of a smooth glass of wine and silverware that is hand polished, you also know deep down that toddlers have mood changes from one moment to the next; she's your sweet little angel one minute, then the next minute she's having a tantrum because she can't pick a pea up from the plate with her fork. Save the fancier restaurants for date night.

To see if a restaurant is child friendly, ask your friends and family with children where they go to eat. Also, if you don't find high chairs or booster seats available in a restaurant, it's a safe bet that they aren't geared for children.

The Movie Theater

This would seem like a no-brainer but after my most recent trip to the movies, sans children, I was shocked to see a few people strolling in with toddlers for a PG-13 movie. What made it worse was that during much of the movie, I could hear one of the toddlers talking from across the isle. Then the child cried for a good ten minutes. Now I understand that you might really want to see a certain movie but it is rude and inconsiderate to bring a toddler to a movie geared towards adults. The toddler will talk. The toddler might cry. It disturbs other movie goers and is not socially acceptable. If you can't find a babysitter and still "must see" the movie, find a drive-in theater. If it is late, then likely your toddler will sleep, letting you and other movie goers to enjoy the movie.

Funerals

A funeral is no place for a toddler. If the toddler is immediate family to the deceased is another topic. However, if the deceased is a further relative or a friend, then leave your toddler with a babysitter. There is enough grief and stress during a funeral for the family. You don't want to add to that stress if your toddler decides to pitch a fit while a eulogy is being given.

If you cannot find a babysitter, simply call the family with your condolences or send a sympathy card. In all likely-hood, they will understand and be grateful that you didn't bring your toddler.

Toddlers are highly unpredictable and can change moods in the blink of an eye. Despite how well behaved your toddler normally is, it is still not acceptable to take your toddler to the above places. Don't worry. This phase of their lives won't hold forever, and you can soon resume living a normal life.