Joanna Fortune: My toddler always has a meltdown when we eat out

We’re going abroad for holidays in two weeks, and I’m dreading the tantrums — what can I do?

Restaurants are designed for adults and not with children in mind

My three-year-old son has a meltdown almost every time we visit a restaurant. He hates the noise and the different foods. My husband said it was the same as a child, but he grew out of it. We’re going abroad for holidays in two weeks, and I’m dreading the tantrums whenever we eat out. What can I do?

A ‘meltdown’ suggests a level of sensory overwhelm rather than a tantrum, a behavioural response to a boundary or situation your child finds difficult or frustrating. By highlighting the sensory experiences of noise and food, you seem to have good insight into what your son finds so difficult.