Meal for baby?

Do your kids meals cost $80? Ours were a very discounted price so I’d double check that with your venue. I don’t know how past his birthday he is, but I can tell you that my 19 month old (who’s only in the 1% for size) can eat almost a full kids meal when we go out and she’s been able to do so for at least the last few months.

Are you having a plated meal or buffet? If a buffet, I don’t see why the child couldn’t eat off the parent’s plate. If plated, ask your venue if they can provide a small child’s meal at a reasonable cost.

Ask your venue. Ours did kids meals for $25 (I think - something like that) and they got chicken nuggets and chips, and an ice cream sundae. It seems like your FBIL isn’t expecting you to provide an adult meal for the child - indicating a kid’s meal on the RSVP says to me that something smaller and more kid friendly is totally fine.

View Quoted Comment He just turned one on July 15th. I called our venue to confirm the cost of children’s plates (which consist of chicken tenders and fries) so I just feel like that’s a bit much.

Your venue/caterer should have kids meals that are likely cheaper. My venue is doing a fruit cup and chicken fingers for $20.

Normally the venues should have a kids meal discounted price. But even that in my opinion is to expensive for a 1 year old who isn’t going to eat a lot. I would suggest why can’t he eat off his parents plate? That is what I’m having my 2 yr old nephew do at my wedding

I should also add that the reason the child’s meal price is so expensive is because we won’t be meeting our minimum of 100 people. If we were to do that then they’d be half price.

I would check with your venue/catering vendor. Ours is no charge for children under 2, kids 2-10 get a very discounted children's meal, and individuals between the ages of 11-20 have a cheaper per plate price than 21+ because they won't be drinking alcohol. I would think that your food vendor would be able to make accommodations for a one year old.

I mean, I’m of the opinion that when you invite guests, even children, if they’re of an age where they can eat real food, they should be allowed a meal. It isn’t his fault that you aren’t meeting your minimum or that your venue charges that amount for kids. My kids would both (5 and 1) wipe my plate clean if they were eating off mine so while I wouldn’t say anything, I’d be annoyed if they weren’t allowed to have their own meal. We went to a wedding at the beginning of June so my 1 year old was 17 months and she ate 2 chicken tenders (out of 4) and more than half her fries. That’s more than some of the adults at our table ate off their plates.

View Quoted Comment Good point!! I think I’m focusing on money rather than the bigger picture.. he’s family.

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Oh just saw this. Okay yeah I agree that $80 is completely outrageous for a kid's meal for a one year old. Could you talk with your FBIL and explain the cost and see if you could work something out with him maybe sharing some food with his son (I don't know how the venue would feel about this, probably wouldn't like it and could possibly charge you after the fact for the kids meal) and then maybe packing some snacks for him? I don't have kids so I have no idea what they're eating at that point in their little lives. Seems like you're in a kind of sticky spot since they've already RSVP'd you might just have to bite the bullet and pay the $80.

Wow, I feel really bad for you OP. No way should a child’s plate cost $80! Being that the child wasn’t invited in the first place, maybe your FH can speak to his brother about bringing their own meal? I would think they could easily bring a sandwich and cut up veggies or something that would keep in a small cooler bag. I would never expect someone to pay that much for my child’s meal.

Our son will be three by the time of our wedding, but even well before he was one he was eating "table food." However, I would check with your venue/vendor regarding children meals. Some do not charge for those under the age of 2 and after two, the plates are usually half of an adult meal, maybe even less.

If you’re not meeting your minimum then why does it matter? Most venues will make you pay the cost for the minimum even if you don’t meet it. So you’d be paying for it regardless. Our venue told us that if we don’t meet our minimum of 175, we still have to pay for 175 people

My kid started eating table food at 6 months by 1 we ordered her own plate when going out. She’s now 2 id feed her off my plate if absolutely necessary but it’s not ideal. I’d say the best option is to just provide the meal.

At that age babies barely few. And many kid meals take the route of nuggets, hot dogs, burger bites. Super choking hazards for a baby unless parents mince everything. Most kids around 15 months who are capable of chewing bits at home, spend their time at a big party looking around,, not paying attention, so choking risk goes up. I never worked for catering service that would not do a chicken pot pie, or cut up a single slice or deli or roasted meat, and plate it with mac and cheese, or scalloped potatoes. Thin strips of meat 1/2" wide by an inch long, are a shape that will not lodge in and fill the throat. So ask for a baby plate suitable for an under 18 month old. And suggest a couple foods. I've never known even the fanciest restaurant to charge more than $5 at that age. And we have 5 kids, youngest twins almost 3.5. Just think, soft foods and strips of meat, no chunks, no circular cuts of hotdog. Even they can easily be cut lengthwise. . It is the child and parents both being distracted that makes babies need to go a step lower than their best capability at parties.

I wouldn't want kids at the ceremony...and you don't sound very enthusiastic about it.
As for the meal, there's a chance that kid won't even touch the food. $80???!?

View Quoted Comment Very true! I guess I just needed to talk it out/vent haha thanks!

I would actually think because the baby is only 1 year old the parents would bring a meal/snack for him?

I would check with venue again, mines isn't charging for food for those 2 and under. But I'm not having a plated dinner though and they are making enough of the entrees so that everyone can have some of both