When we take our DD out to a restaurant, we wipe the table off well and then let her eat off of the table. We take Cheerios and Gerber puffs with us to snack on. Then we give her something more substantial when our meals arrive. I've noticed the plastic disposable sheets you can buy in the stores that stick to the table. They are a bit expensive. What do use? Also, before we leave, we clean up the mess she makes on the floor. Sometimes the waiter will say, don't worry about it and other times they let you clean it up. My sister just recently read an article where waiters/waitresses were ranting about having to clean up after "rugrats." Just wanted some opinions. Thanks.

We buy the disposable mats that stick to the table. We have loved them from day 1.

i use antibacterial wipes and wipe the table down really good and let my baby eat off the table. i've seen the table covers, but that would just be another thing to cram into my already overflowing diaper bag. if i don't have wipes with me, then i just dump some antibacterial handgel (i ALWAYS have handgel!!!) on the table and use a napkin to clean it. i don't get too anal about it because you can't keep them from every single little germ.... and my baby is at the age where if she can grab it she eats it.... so she's exposed to way more germs than i care to think about anyway....

also, i never clean up the floor. it's not like it's hard to clean up a handful of cheerios, goldfish, and puffs, but it completely defeats the purpose of me eating out. i eat out so that i don't have to worry about cooking, doing dishes, or cleaning up the floor! it is the job of the employees to clean up the floor.... it's what they get paid for. that's not to say i let my baby make it messier on purpose or anything. i do attempt to keep the mess to a minimum.... but i also don't stress over it either. just my opinion on the subject.

we also wipe down the table and let our girls eat, we don't clean up the floor but usually tip more if its really messy.

We used to wipe down the table with antibacterial wipes and then let her eat her puffs from a napkin, while we waited on our meals.

Around 13 months or so, we just started putting a regular plate in front of her and ordering her a kids meal or putting some of our meal on her plate and she has done great!!! Every time we go out, the waiter comments on how well she behaves at the table. I think its just because she LOVES to eat though. LOL

We don't clean the floor either. To be honest, I haven't even really thought about it before--by the time we're done and leaving, I'm usually too pre-occupied with remembering everything we brought, getting on coats, etc. do that. But it is a nice gesture... And if ds drops anything significant, I pick it up when it happens anyway.
As far as the table goes, if we can see it's clean--we usually don't bother wiping it down at all. When he was smaller and wouldn't eat off a plate (without throwing it), we just handed him pieces of whatever we were eating and when he was done that, we'd hand him more. Now he eats off a plate in front of him, and stuff will fall off the plate onto the table, and he'll eat it, but it doesn't really bother me. It's weird too, because I used to be a total germ-a-phobe, but germs are everywhere and it builds his immune system to be exposed sometimes. He rarely ever gets sick too, so I'm not too concerned about the table situation (although if I can see it's not as clean as I'd like, then I ask them to clean it first).

Whiskers

Thanks for all of the replies. One reason that I'm such a germ freak is because the three of us (DH, DD and myself) have been sick soooo many times over the fall and winter that I just don't want to chance it. I wipe the highchair down and the table. I also clean the shopping cart before putting her in that (If I don't have the cart cover with me). I just know that other kids have had their mouths on the highchair and the handle of the shopping cart. I know, cuz mine does it! So I just feel a little better when I catch my DD biting the table! The shopping carts don't get washed unless they are left in the rain, and the restaurant workers only wipe the leftover food out of the high chair seat before stacking them away. So I feel that I HAVE to clean it. My DD is getting a little better about not putting EVERYTHING into her mouth and she's doing a little better with a plate. I did buy the disposable sticky placemats with Elmo on them. She loved it. It kept her entertained for a *few* minutes. Too bad they don't have a variety pack.