When did you start bringing DC to church?

sunandsand

I used to go about every other week before I had DS and I haven't gone since because I just don't feel comfortable dropping DS off in the baby room. Is that weird? They just ask for volunteers to staff that room. Am I being overly protective?

 

butterbeansmama

When he was an infant. I didn't have him stay in the nursery until he was approx. 6 months old though. Now he goes to Sunday school. Yes, they are all volunteers, but we were given names/addresses/e-mails and they had a set schedule. He loves the ladies in there.

AnnapolisLari

Both of my kids have gone since birth. But they stay in the sanctuary for the service with the rest of the congregation.

There's no such thing as a baby room at my church-- why would you bring a kid to church, just to drop them off to be in a daycare type thing? I don't get that.

sunandsand

Basically for daycare. Our church has a rock band and is loud, I'm not sure if he could go in the main room with me, but I might give it a try.

joseysbride

Since birth.  Our kids have always just sat with us during Mass.  We've really never had problems with R's behavior in church because she has been going since she was an infant.

hopefulmom

Our church has a "rock band" as well and once DS was about 6 months or so he went into the nursery.  He loves the "volunteer teachers).  They rotate so they are like the same ones everyone 3 weeks or so.  We have to present a card that has a number (and code) on it.  That is the only way to get back into the childcare areas.  You have to present it (and they scan it) when you leave as well.

The reason you don't continue to take your child into the sanctuary is so that the rest of the congregation can listen and enjoy the service.  If you take your child in service with you and you are entertaining them the whole time (whether that be with small toys, coloring books and crayons and such) then why bother going?  The people I see with their young kids in service with them have no clue what is being said by the pastor because they are focused on their child, talking to their child (whispering), playing with their child, etc.  Not only is that distracting to the couple but to all the other people who are sitting near them.

Kersbear

Carter first attended mass with us when he was only 10 days old.  We never put him in the nursery, so he was there every week with us since.  This past September (so a few months shy of 4) we enrolled him in Sunday school, but I teach a Sunday school class (not his) as well, so he still also attends mass as well. 

Rebekah1021

My church is pretty loud too. We kept her in the sanctuary during the music and she just got used to it. I took her to the nursery around 4 mos. old. Now, she goes to sunday school during the sermon.

PoundCake

Birth.  None of our churches have daycare or anything.

gracendantho26

AnnapolisLari:

Both of my kids have gone since birth. But they stay in the sanctuary for the service with the rest of the congregation.

There's no such thing as a baby room at my church-- why would you bring a kid to church, just to drop them off to be in a daycare type thing? I don't get that.

Some babies cry a lot and it migt be distracting. At our church they have a baby room so mom and dad can attend the service and then for the children my kids age they do Sunday School. They always give us a summary of the bible lesson they learned that morning.

#6

Since birth.  I have been a member there since I was an infant so I know everyone.  There is one lady who watches kids in the nursery that watched me when I was in the nursery.  I feel 100% comfortable with them watching my kids.  For Sunday school they have their own class.  Then they go in the nursery for service.  It is only for 4yrs and younger so now L sits with me except every other Sunday they have Mission Friends for the kids 4yrs+.  Its a small church so there arent tons of kids.  

If you really arent sure about it try volunteering a few Sundays to see how the nursery/baby room works and meet some of the other people.  

 

jessicaclare

AnnapolisLari:

why would you bring a kid to church, just to drop them off to be in a daycare type thing? I don't get that.

I'm with you. One of the things I love about our church is how they encourage us to bring young kids to the service. There are plenty of options if you'd prefer not to (daycare, cry room, Sunday school that starts at age 3), but I have NEVER had someone give me a dirty look or get annoyed if I have to quiet one of my kids. I get plenty out of the service too and I can tell you what the message of every sermon has been for the last month, so I certainly don't think its impossible to bring kids to church and get something out of it. 

jennieliz

Addie went to the nursery at 4 months, Carter 6 weeks.

AnnapolisLari

I just don't think you can say you're "bringing your kid to church" if they aren't actually AT the service.

I've never brought coloring books or toys or anything for mine. They know how they are expected to behave, and for the most part, they do.

There isn't a baby room at my church because they encourage people to have their kids in the service. If they cry a little, it's no biggie, but you can take your kid to the foyer if need be. Few people do, because the kids have been going to church since birth and know how to behave.

Sunday school starts with a 2-3 class, but it's after the service is over.

And our service is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours long, so it's not a quickie thing.

jennieliz

why would you bring a kid to church, just to drop them off to be in a daycare type thing? I don't get that.

 

Because it's fun and they are learning in their own style.  Addie's Sunday School does crafts, learns a Bible lesson, and sings songs.  Carter is so busy that he wouldn't sit in a service but enjoys the love he gets from the wonderful women in the nursery.  And, DH and I can listen to the service and get something out of it instead of corralling kids.  It's a win win for all involved in my opinion. 

gracendantho26

AnnapolisLari:

I just don't think you can say you're "bringing your kid to church" if they aren't actually AT the service.

I've never brought coloring books or toys or anything for mine. They know how they are expected to behave, and for the most part, they do.

There isn't a baby room at my church because they encourage people to have their kids in the service. If they cry a little, it's no biggie, but you can take your kid to the foyer if need be. Few people do, because the kids have been going to church since birth and know how to behave.

And our service is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours long, so it's not a quickie thing.

Really who cares? You'd think church would be free of this type of judgement. People can call it whatever they want..not every church is the same.

MirandaHobbes

gracendantho26:

AnnapolisLari:

I just don't think you can say you're "bringing your kid to church" if they aren't actually AT the service.

I've never brought coloring books or toys or anything for mine. They know how they are expected to behave, and for the most part, they do.

There isn't a baby room at my church because they encourage people to have their kids in the service. If they cry a little, it's no biggie, but you can take your kid to the foyer if need be. Few people do, because the kids have been going to church since birth and know how to behave.

And our service is 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours long, so it's not a quickie thing.

Really who cares? You'd think church would be free of this type of judgement. People can call it whatever they want..not every church is the same.

 

Ditto. I don't brag about bringing my kid to church or pretend he's getting some sort of spiritual experience in the nursery- I want to go to church, I want to pay attention and not be disrespectful to others, so he goes to the nursery to play. He's also getting used to the place he'll be attending Sunday school in a couple years.

If we had a crying room (we don't) I'm not sure I'd bring him there either. We tried bringing DS with us when he was younger and it was too stressful keeping him entertained and not fussing. I never paid attention to the sermon so I felt like it was wasted time. I think he was 6 months when we finally started bringing him to the nursery.

Muffins_Mom

Just because a kid is coloring or looking at books does NOT mean she's not getting something out of it. One evening in the tub, Muffin started talking about that week's "story" from church. She didn't get it all correct but she certainly hit the high points of the sermon. BTW, at my church the stay-at-home moms use the nursery as a way to get away from their kids. Seriously.

GrowingFamily

Our kids came to church with us right after they were born- around 2 mos or so.  They sit with us in the pew- there is no "baby room" or "crying room" at our current church.  When the kids grow up sitting with the rest of the congregation, they learn very quickly how to behave.  When they were little babies we just made sure we were prepared with what we needed to hopefully keep them quiet or we took them out.

AngelaSue

Since they were newborns. They sit through Mass with us.

AngelaSue

AnnapolisLari:

 

There isn't a baby room at my church because they encourage people to have their kids in the service. If they cry a little, it's no biggie, but you can take your kid to the foyer if need be. Few people do, because the kids have been going to church since birth and know how to behave.

Ditto.

We've always brought the kids to church since they were each a couple days old. We have found that if we sit closer to the front, especially the first pew, they do so much better, they need to be able to see what is going on and like to see what our Priest is doing.

AnnapolisLari

I don't care what you do. Stuff them under the pew for all I care. I was just expressing my opinion, and telling you what MY KIDS do.

Touchy, touchy.

 

praline

Muffins_Mom:

Just because a kid is coloring or looking at books does NOT mean she's not getting something out of it. One evening in the tub, Muffin started talking about that week's "story" from church. She didn't get it all correct but she certainly hit the high points of the sermon. BTW, at my church the stay-at-home moms use the nursery as a way to get away from their kids. Seriously.

lol.  I suppose people do lots worse than to drop their kids off at the church nursery for an hour to get a break.  Funny thing about this is that DH and I were just saying yesterday how we could drop the baby off at the nursery and DD #1 at sunday school and go have a date, lol.  We'd never do that, but it was a tempting thought.

How come even what you do with your kid during church becomes a way to one up other moms?  It all gets curioser and curiouser.

gracendantho26

I'm not touchy but it seems like with all of the judgement we all have in so many areas in our lives this would be saved from it. So yes my kids go to church where they learn about God just as I do sitting in a pew...because  it really doensn't matter where you sit. When they are mature enough to get the message they can come sit with us during the sermon..meanwhile they'll be in a class where they can understand the content and the message.

gracendantho26

praline:

Muffins_Mom:

Just because a kid is coloring or looking at books does NOT mean she's not getting something out of it. One evening in the tub, Muffin started talking about that week's "story" from church. She didn't get it all correct but she certainly hit the high points of the sermon. BTW, at my church the stay-at-home moms use the nursery as a way to get away from their kids. Seriously.

lol.  I suppose people do lots worse than to drop their kids off at the church nursery for an hour to get a break.  Funny thing about this is that DH and I were just saying yesterday how we could drop the baby off at the nursery and DD #1 at sunday school and go have a date, lol.  We'd never do that, but it was a tempting thought.

How come even what you do with your kid during church becomes a way to one up other moms?  It all gets curioser and curiouser.

 Hmmmmm

Muffins_Mom

I brought it up bc this one kid in particular is a raging devil child; she's just a mean little kid who is completely unpleasant to be around. Her mom gets all superior when she talks about being a SAHM then in the next sentence talks about "needing" time off and that's why she doesn't volunteer to keep the nursery.