What to do with newborn during church?

dana316 · June 2011

Parker will arrive at the end of September. It won't be the flu season yet, so I'm hoping I can be a little more relaxed than I was with Caroline, who was born at the height of the swine flu epidemic.

I am perfectly fine leaving Caro in the nursery during church, but I'm wondering what to do with Parker? I didn't take Caroline ANYWHERE (except the Dr's office) for 6 weeks, per my pedi's very strict orders. Swine flu was crazy here, and we weren't taking any chances.

I can't see leaving him in the nursery, but I'm wondering if I take him into church with me, will people be all over him?? I could wear him, but I get so hot, I'd really rather just hold him. I can BF him discreetly to keep him happy/content/quiet, but my big fear is that everybody will want to see him/breathe all over him/touch him.

I'm fine with it when he gets a bit older, but before 6 weeks, I don't want that...but I also can't stand the thought of not going to church for 6 weeks.

Thoughts?

Mouseygail · June 2011

could you and your hubby take turns going to different services so that you dont' have to bring him if you are that nervous? I just kind of brought DS out with me everywhere pretty quickly...I never had any problems with people wanting to touch him...but maybe I looked mean enough that they were afraid? Wink

CJ71903 · June 2011

My husband and i tag teamed for the first two to three months. That said, my Babies were born in late November so it was starting to be cold/flu season. My concern was also that people would be all over them, but for the most part, people were pretty respectful about not touching them.

dana316 · June 2011

Mouseygail:
could you and your hubby take turns going to different services so that you dont' have to bring him if you are that nervous? I just kind of brought DS out with me everywhere pretty quickly...I never had any problems with people wanting to touch him...but maybe I looked mean enough that they were afraid?

We could, but that would make for a super long day. The 1st service is at 8:30 and the second one is at 10:50. Caroline wouldn't tolerate church for that long, lol.

I guess old Southern ladies are just different...personal space is nonexistant. People are constantly touching my child. From tousling her hair, to stroking/pinching her cheek, to patting her arm, tickling her toes, etc. I am pretty laid back/think its cute now...but with a newborn? I'm nervous.

ladychicago · June 2011

DD was born in the summer, but we took her into church with us pretty much right away. She mostly slept but no one ever really got up in our face or hers. We mostly kept her in her carseat, though, so maybe that helped? I think parental body language does a lot to help, too!

TheSkimmy · June 2011

Get to church just as it starts- keep him in his car seat and leave right after.

cjsbdl · June 2011

At that age I took E into the sanctuary in her carseat and sat her on the pew where she slept quietly through the service. I still take her with me into church...I did the same with Henry until he reached the age when he wanted to "entertain" everyone around us, and then we started putting him in the nursery.

eta: in the very beginning I would also hang a blanket loosely over her carseat (using the handle to make a "tent") so that no one could even see inside, therefore hopefully not tempting them to touch. FWIW, the one place my pedi told me to avoid with my newborns was church, where everyone feels entitled to paw on the children.

MBandBud · June 2011

Car seat with one of those mesh mosquit nettie things that basically say stay away. I kept up the 'visor' in place as well when she was sleeping. I also liked this line "oh, she's not feeling well so please don't touch, I would hate for you to catch something from her"...

RoxBride · June 2011

From just a few days old, DD came with us to church into the sanctuary. No one minded one bit if she fussed, after all, they considered her their little miracle too. I didn't encounter anyone in her face or attempting to touch her. People seemed to all have kids or grandkids or know well enough to keep germs away.

Maybe you could pick a single trusted church friend to watch the baby elsewhere in the church?

jiffy-pop · June 2011

I am also from AL and I'm having my baby at the end of Oct or around the beginning of November. I am also worried about it being flu season. My plan is to keep her strapped in her carrier during the service so it isn't as easy to touch or get near her. I am definitely not letting people at church hold her for at least three weeks.

WhiteysWifey · June 2011

I would take him....if you keep him in his carseat and just really make him unavailable to people, they'll get the idea. OR depending on your relationship with your pastor....email them ahead of time, so that they can potentially say something about going into cold/flu season and giving him his space.

Dochas · June 2011

Car seat with the netting over her. And nurse her when you take her out. I didn't mind people near him but some people love to touch their hands which I didn't like.

queenbone · June 2011

I haven't had that problem, everyone seems to just look but not just touch, even my Altar Society friends.

DS2 does have a church stalker though. There is this little 4 yr old girl who literally will escape from her parents and come back to our pew and just stare at the baby. But it is a totally creepy, stalker stare. I'll ask her if she wants to come closer and she just stares. One day she even followed me into the next building to Sunday school when I went to get DS1. Freak-y!