Bringing baby to church

[Anonymous]

Since my 5.5 month old was born, we just haven't been very good about going to church. I took her today and it was totally exhausting! I didn't even really pay attention because I was trying to entertain her and be sure she would stay quiet. How do you churchgoing moms do it? Any tips?

[Anonymous]

I started taking my baby when younger - it is much easier when they were in the car seat as they just sleep through mass. For the next few years, it is challenging. Right now I have a 4 YO, 2 YO and infant.

Based on what I know now, I would recommend that you by some really great CHURCH ONLY toys / books. These stay in a bag that is taken to church weekly and that is the only time they are played with.

We have done the food thing - fed them through mass - coloring - etc and this really is the best approach.

The 2 YO is in the process of being potty trained and 1/2 way through mass decides she needs to pee. (This occurs weekly)

[Anonymous]

I've got crazy boys, and truthfully I can't take them to mass when they're young. The 2yo makes a break for the altar every single time, and once he sees an opportunity to get chased, keeps that up for the full mass (with intermittent screaming when he's prevented from running.) At this stage my husband and elementary aged boy go together, and I try to catch a mass during the week at lunch. It's definitely not ideal, but I don't know what else to do. We actually switched parishes to join one with a children's mass held in the gym, but it really isn't any more viable for a nonstop active little boy. When they were infants, it was more hit or miss, so OP I'd go now while you still can but recognize that you'll have to be prepared to leave if it gets to crazy.

[Anonymous]

My 14 mos old goes to the curch provided nursery. If there's no child care that Sunday, service feels like a full contact sport.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what type of church you go to - but maybe find one with daycare and Sunday school. Many churches have daycare available for exactly the reasons you listed.

[Shopmom]

You are absolutely right about church with a little one being exhausting. I come from a church where babies and small children were in their own class, but my husband is Catholic and his church doesnt have that. Its so hard to focus on the service because I typically spend most of the time trying to keep my won reasonably quiet with snacks. Around 5 months, he typically did well as long as I had a bottle and he could sleep about halfway through church. At two years old now I will say that its much harder now that he's both mobile AND has decided that he wants to talk during Mass! Good Luck....and pack bottles, snacks, pacifiers and quiet toys!

[Anonymous]

find a church with a nursery.

in my church the nursery is a sound proof glass in the back of the sanctuary.

in DH's church they have daycare downstairs and we have buzzers. if kiddo is crying too much they'll buzz us.

[Anonymous]

I've been taking my kids since they were little and we have no church nursery. The way I figure it is that they are going to be a little disruptive because they're kids. The congregation is good about it because kids are a part of the church too. Until they all get older (we have a 9 year age span between oldest and youngest), I'm not going to get much out of the service. So, why do I go? I want my kids to grow up in the church.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP - I have a 4 y.o and twin 2 y.o. - I consider church an aerobic sport! AT 5 months I would not worry too much about noise except excessive crying - then go to the back/ cry area, wherever. This is my philosophy until nearly 3 years. You just can't keep them quiet for an hour+ each and every week. Thanskfully, our priest makes an announcement a few times a year reminding the congregation that this is a church for everyone - of all ages. In fact, they also make a point to welcome parents whose children may be more inclined to be disruptive (i.e. autism, etc) which I think is wonderful.
We also take advantage of the children's Mass at our school. Anything goes at that MAss without a blink of an eye.It is hard to concentrate on the Mass but I think it is important that they attend regularly.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

16:23: I guess behind my initial question was a question that you answered, which was "why bother going at all?". maybe more for my kids than for myself...

Thanks for the input, everyone. It's a Catholic church, so mass is only 1 hour, but there is no nursery. I figure that since the Church so clearly wants married people to have kids, they better be cool with them at mass, I was just wondering if there was any way to get more out of it myself. I appreciate the responses.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you have a partner who attends with you, I'd alternate being on baby duty. That way, every other Sunday you should be able to pay attention 75% instead of 25%. It's hard, but worth it, imo. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Catholic with a 10mo old baby and we go almost every week. Have one of you ready to head out to the vestibule if the kid gets squirmy and noisy. Bring quiet books and toys. Sit near friendly old people or elementary school-aged girls who will make funny faces and help entertain your baby. We sit in the back of our church and this little group of old ladies LOVES our DD and keep her entertained all through Mass. They end up paying less attention to the homily than I do, but it's sweet.

[Anonymous]

We have our 16 month son in a baby carrier whenever we go to church. He's just accepted that being in the carrier means that he's not free to go about exploring. We've never had any issues, and more often than not, he just sleeps through church. We don't even bother with toys, usually, but they wouldn't hurt.