Taking baby to church tips *update we made it!*

Re: Taking baby to church tips *update we made it!*

• Stephy129 member

  October 2014

  In the beginning I put baby in the ring sling and he slept through most of the service. Our church has a cry room so when I needed to feed him (bottle not breastfeeding) I took him in there. At lot of churches pipe the sermon over a speaker in the cry room so you don't miss anything but mine doesn't

  

  
  

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• GreenMonkey1 member

  October 2014

  We definitely bring DS #2 in his bucket seat.  He sleeps through most of the service, but we'll hold him if he gets too fidgety in the bucket.  It's nice to have somewhere to put him down since the wooden pew is not really an option.  At our church there are a lot of infants and parents either bring them in the bucket or wear them (buckets being more common).  It is also not abnormal to see strollers parked in the vestibule since they would not fit in the pew.
  
  I ebf and just make sure to feed DS #2 before mass.  On the rare occasions where a feeding crossed over with mass I just fed him in the little sitting area near the bathrooms.  I probably could nurse him in the pew, but I think it would be too distracting so I pop out for 20-minutes.
  
  We definitely picked out church based on the prevalence of young children.  There is another church we like just as much that is closer to our house, but significantly less infants and toddlers.  Or all the infants and toddlers go to a cry room somewhere.  At our church it is pretty normal to hear noise from children and overall most congregants are totally cool as long as you move out if your child gets too loud.
  
  Have fun!  The first few rounds with an infant are usually challenging, but I bet you'll get into a church groove soon.
  

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• SLMckinnon member

  October 2014

  Our church has a room for mothers with small children and the service is live streamed on a tv in there which is where I take her to feed/change. We don't take the car seat in because we think it would get in the way, usually DH holds her during the service. We just make sure to sit on the end of the pew so I can grab her and sneak out quickly if she starts to fuss

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• Eena1242 member

  October 2014

  I wear him during mass because the car seat got in the way for me and I was worried about tripping over it when we got up for communion. He always needs to eat right in the middle of church and I just wear my cover. I have a nursing dress or a nursing shirt that I wear so I don't have to pull my shirt up and that makes it SO much easier and makes me less self-conscious.

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• jlynn62511 member

  October 2014

  I bring in the car seat and moby just in case. I have fed her before because it seems church falls during her feeding time. She is a loud eater but I don't care. The older ladies think it's cute and the old men glare! Haha
  
  We went to a special mass on a Monday and there were only about 30 people there. LO decided she was going to eat extra loud, let out a huge burp and then fill her diaper. All in the short 30 minute mass.
  
  After church, the priest said she was wonderful in church and behaved better then some adults. Haha
  
  I think it's best to find a church that you are comfortable in and accepts everyone.

  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  

  

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• mikescutie7 member

  October 2014

  My church has a cry room but I haven't used it yet. I keep her in her car seat until she starts to fuss, she's usually quiet in my arms

  
  

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• alisonc87 member

  October 2014

  I have brought baby since she was 1.5 weeks old, and I bring the bucket seat and my ergo carrier. I sit at the back so if she gets fussy I pop her in the carrier and pace at the back of the church. I also EBF and I pack a nursing cover or sometimes just wear an infinity scarf that opens up quite wide, and I have nursed in the back pew and have used the couch in the entryway as well. Our church doesn't have any other young families, so we had to just test the waters as we went. If I were choosing a new church, I would probably look for a church that is set up to accommodate young families with a space for cranky or hungry babies.

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• becominggold member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  Our church does not allow children in the service, but we have a really nice family room in the back with glass windows and tv's for a closer view. Another plus is that it has a bathroom with a changing table. We have been fine sitting there. I EBF but really dislike doing it in public so I generally bring a pumped bottle but there are other moms who feed in there. Our church has a great nursery, but it is very large. I doubt we will use it until LO is a year. ...or at the very least until flu season stops in spring!
  
  ETA : We put the car seat on the stroller and wheel the whole thing in. But our church is very big and we park in a back lot further away! He does not stay in it the whole service though. Our church has tons people wheeling strollers through the halls

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• gretamae23 member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  We bring LO in his car seat but he isn't in it more than a few minutes before MIL or my mom or one of my sisters is itching to hold him. It's pretty nice having so much family at church so I can enjoy the service while our family holds him.
  
  Our church has a cry room as well where people can nurse or take there fussy LO. My LO is bottle fed so I just mix a bottle and give it to him where we are sitting.
  

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• mikrinikki member

  October 2014

  I fed her right before we went so she wouldnt be hungry and would be sleepy. All about the timing. We brought her in the car seat and took her out towards the end to share with everyone.

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