What do you do with infants and toddlers at holiday dinners outside the home?

[Anonymous]

If it was just the infant and he/she slept well in a wrap or a pack and play in an unfamiliar house, I’d take them. But the 3yo makes it more challenging - at least my kids would! I’d get a sitter. If you care about seeing these people and want the kids to see them, ask about going earlier and leaving before Seder starts.

[Anonymous]

My Catholic teen would definitely babysit on Good Friday!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We get a babysitter. My kids sleep schedules are finally set but precarious and if God himself was attending the event, I wouldn’t change them.

This. I can push them by about a half hour. Mayyyyyybe 45 minutes, but anything else will be a disaster.

+2. Once I got my two kids on a schedule I absolutely would not change that schedule for anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Either get a babysitter or ask if you can put the kids to bed in the guest room after dinner and then transfer them to the car when it's time to go home.

That would be my plan and explain to any relatives who have forgotten about cranky toddlers that yes you actually do have to follow a schedule or you will have hell to pay

[Anonymous]

Starting a Seder at 7:30 is brutal! We start our Seder at 4 to be kid friendly. I would feel very weird going to a Seder and leaving my kids with a babysitter. Having kids involved is a big part of the Seder tradition. In your position, I would ask to come early and leave before the Seder begins. No way I would keep my 3 year old up past 7:30 just out of consideration for others present.

[Anonymous]

Not advice, but this reminded me of our first Seder with a baby (one month old). My husband reminded me that infants have been passed around/breastfeeding/sleeping at the table for many, many generations before us. The infant was easy! Toddler is tougher!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just let the baby sleep on me and stay for as long as the toddler can keep it together.

+1.