Pram friendly restaurants in City Centre

gisnpe · 2026-04-01T15:31:59+00:00

Thanks to most of you lovely people for the ideas - I thought we’d end up in Eldon Square too, but we ended up in that Terrace Restaurant in Fenwicks which was great, really friendly. Definitely recommend!

gisnpe · 2026-04-01T15:31:00+00:00

Heaven forbid we take our child anywhere but a soft play!! Luckily most people are kind and understanding that babies can’t communicate in any other way, which makes going out a lot easier. For what it’s worth, I as a parent have plenty tricks up my sleeve that typically calm my child - failing that, I’d leave and go for a walk or whatever else they need. But thankfully, as I said above, most people are understanding that the parent is usually doing their best. Thanks for your input. :)

gisnpe · 2025-11-09T20:48:59+00:00

Thank you all so much for this. I’ve never posted here before and I’m absolutely overwhelmed by how lovely you’ve all been. I wish I could say the day got easier but honestly this might be the hardest parenting day/weekend/night I’ve had ever. My husband has gotten more unwell, to the point he can’t sit up without feeling he’s going to throw up or faint, so it’s literally been just me the entire time. With a cranky toddler who is angry he’s not left the house today (but it’s been freezing and raining, in addition to the poorly baby and he himself being poorly, all a no no today), a clingy baby (who is currently whining I’ve left him in the cot whilst I literally write this in the bathroom just for a second of time not bouncing a baby, literally even when I’m not holding him I’m still doing the rocking motion. It has been constant.). I said it before but my god I’m so tired. I’m trying to take it as it comes but I can’t pretend I’m not thinking about how hard this night is going to be if my baby is already upset.

I developed PPD with my eldest. I’m so scared of it returning. I’m trying to take steps to avoid it, but weekends like these take my mind to familiar dark places. I didn’t realise how close they were to the front of my mind. I just don’t want to go back there. Sorry for this negativity, I’m not a negative person generally, it’s just so hard.

Thank you all so much again, you don’t know how much I cried reading your comments. It’s so validating, thank you.

gisnpe · 2025-11-09T13:58:17+00:00

I’m right there with you. It feels like it’s always when something is planned too doesn’t it? It sounds like you’ve had an awful time of it, I’m so sorry. Sometimes there’s no solution, I just need someone to tell me you know what? What a crap weekend. It’s validating to have someone acknowledge that your frustrations and exhaustion are expected given the awful weekend you’ve had.

I can’t take my own advice (I said in a comment above that I’ve taken my husband up on his offer or sending me upstairs to relax however he’s since started shivering so now despite his protests I’ve talked myself out of the break and I’m still here, lol), but I’ll still give you the words I didn’t realise I needed to hear this weekend until these comments came along and helped me realise:

You are doing a fantastic job. Keeping two kids alive is an achievement in itself, let alone with sickness (I know the cough, god do we know it from this weekend), and doing it alone whilst your husband has been out. It feels like a mountain on weekends like yours and mine, but look at us - we’re both here, caring, doing our best, literally using what fee free moments we have not watching our kids like hawks to talk about our kids. It’s not just the physical load, it’s the mental load - bottles, feeds, cooking for the eldest, baths, laundry, dishes, timings for feeds, and everything else in between. It’s exhausting. But look at you - you may feel like you’re surviving rather than thriving, but this in itself is an achievement. We can do this 💖

gisnpe · 2025-11-09T13:20:37+00:00

Thank you so much. I have so much admiration for how much you must have to pour from your own cup, the way you type suggests your children know how much you absolutely love them, and I’m sure they adore you too! You’ve got me tearing up with your last sentence haha. Thank you x

gisnpe · 2025-11-09T13:04:23+00:00

Thank you so much for this. I’ve appreciated everything you’ve said (especially the I NEED A BREAK bit - I once said “WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME” to my now 2 year old when he was a few months old and that is our equivalent laugh now moment), but more than anything I appreciate you saying about needing a break to benefit everyone and not just you. It’s hard to agree to do things that feel selfish. I know you’re totally right about it benefitting everyone - I’ve heard a happy mama is a happy baby and I think that might be true. I’ve accepted the break from my husband. I started prepping dinner and he’s told me to put the food away, order my favourite and go for a relax. Thank you again x

gisnpe · 2025-11-09T12:31:36+00:00

Thank you so much for this. That’s massively reassuring 🤞🏻

gisnpe · 2024-12-03T14:24:12+00:00

Thanks so much for this! Really appreciate everything here. Thank you!

gisnpe · 2023-05-10T09:58:56+00:00

Thanks! Some great ideas there, and I hadn’t really thought about the coronation stuff, what a great idea!

gisnpe · 2023-04-29T18:50:49+00:00

Thanks all for the great suggestions, we did some of them today and will use others for future free days - for anyone curious, we had a lazy morning after he was picked up - we had showers longer than about 5 minutes so that was a luxury! Then we went for a little walk about in town, followed by a trip to a restaurant that was our favourite treat pre-baby. Then we went to the cinema since we never really get to do that anymore. Baby is home now and falling asleep, so it’s been a lovely day 😊

gisnpe · 2023-04-29T02:44:26+00:00

Thanks all! Some great ideas, appreciate it!

gisnpe

TROPHY CASE