Anonymous wrote:11:06 here -- Also, my children are fine being dropped off at new places.

Mine too...adventurous spirit, I guess... though I did feel a bit guilty when I read the post, bc I thought, wait, what's wrong with leaving your child in a nursery?

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't feel completely comfortable leaving your child alone in the company of total strangers (who wouldn't...??!), then I would have just not have attended service.

At his age, it would just be too risky to bring him into church setting where there is a sermon being given. Even if he made a sound, crying or not, it would disrupt the ambiance for the other parishioners.

Risky? Lol. Ok.



What denomination are you?! I think we can safely rule out Catholic, Orthodox, Primitive Baptist, probably Episcopalian. I'm very curious.

Anonymous wrote:If you didn't feel completely comfortable leaving your child alone in the company of total strangers (who wouldn't...??!), then I would have just not have attended service.

At his age, it would just be too risky to bring him into church setting where there is a sermon being given. Even if he made a sound, crying or not, it would disrupt the ambiance for the other parishioners.

Curious if you actually attend church with any regularity. I'm Protestant, so I have no idea what happens at a Catholic church, but I can think of exactly 0 churches I have ever visited where something like OP's experience would occur. People who want to are always welcome to bring their babies / kids into the service. Do you attend a church with a different practice?

OP, to answer your original question: No, I would not have left my young toddler. Probably not my 4 year old, either, but I would drop off my 8 year old if she wanted to go. I would definitely say something to the pastor, and depending on the response, I may or may not give the church another try (assuming you liked it otherwise).

Hell no. Especially if it were the child abusing Catholics

If you didn't feel completely comfortable leaving your child alone in the company of total strangers (who wouldn't...??!), then I would have just not have attended service.

At his age, it would just be too risky to bring him into church setting where there is a sermon being given. Even if he made a sound, crying or not, it would disrupt the ambiance for the other parishioners.

Those of you who say that children are not welcome during the service are the type of people who give Christianity a bad name.

Anonymous wrote:

Sometimes being on vacation with no childcare means that you can't do the things you do at home.

PP, what type of church do you attend?

I would not have left my toddler in the nursery not because I didn't feel safe but rather because our FAMILY goes to church. Every week. Even on vacation. What kind of church is not for families? My children are well behaved in mass because they go every week and know what is expected of them. So you can't bring your toddler to mass. At what age are you allowed to bring your children??? If children are not welcome in the church then is is very clear on why churches are losing parishioners!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a situation in which you get a babysitter. There are lots of activities that are really for adults and are not meant for toddlers. That doesn't mean that you have to leave your kid at the unfamiliar nursery; it means you make other plans in advance. I would never assume I could take a young toddler to a church service....

But you're obviously very comfortable assuming everyone who wants to go to church has the funds and resources to hire a babysitter. Every. Sunday.

That is an absurd and entitled assumption to make.

They were VISITING a NEW church. Presumably if they joined they would acclimate the kid to the nursery. When you go to a new place with a TODDLER, you should assume that it might not go that smoothly. My kids are older. You plan ahead--that is the key to happy kids and parents. Planning.

Not just a new church, a church while on vacation. One time deal. DS is adjusted to the nursery at our home church.

Sometimes being on vacation with no childcare means that you can't do the things you do at home.

No one gets a babysitter to go to church. No one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a situation in which you get a babysitter. There are lots of activities that are really for adults and are not meant for toddlers. That doesn't mean that you have to leave your kid at the unfamiliar nursery; it means you make other plans in advance. I would never assume I could take a young toddler to a church service....

But you're obviously very comfortable assuming everyone who wants to go to church has the funds and resources to hire a babysitter. Every. Sunday.

That is an absurd and entitled assumption to make.

They were VISITING a NEW church. Presumably if they joined they would acclimate the kid to the nursery. When you go to a new place with a TODDLER, you should assume that it might not go that smoothly. My kids are older. You plan ahead--that is the key to happy kids and parents. Planning.

Not just a new church, a church while on vacation. One time deal. DS is adjusted to the nursery at our home church.

Sometimes being on vacation with no childcare means that you can't do the things you do at home.

You don't get a babysitter so you can go to church!!!! NO ONE does that!!! Are you being purposefully obtuse?

I don't even leave my kids at the nursery in the church I grew up with (which my parents still attend and where they have very good safety protocols in place), since my kids aren't acclimated to it.

I'd mention it to the pastor if you feel comfortable doing so, and then think no further. The Church contains all types of people, some more gracious and attuned than others, and I would probably just assume this woman fell on the more obtuse end of things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a situation in which you get a babysitter. There are lots of activities that are really for adults and are not meant for toddlers. That doesn't mean that you have to leave your kid at the unfamiliar nursery; it means you make other plans in advance. I would never assume I could take a young toddler to a church service....

But you're obviously very comfortable assuming everyone who wants to go to church has the funds and resources to hire a babysitter. Every. Sunday.

That is an absurd and entitled assumption to make.

They were VISITING a NEW church. Presumably if they joined they would acclimate the kid to the nursery. When you go to a new place with a TODDLER, you should assume that it might not go that smoothly. My kids are older. You plan ahead--that is the key to happy kids and parents. Planning.

Not just a new church, a church while on vacation. One time deal. DS is adjusted to the nursery at our home church.

Sometimes being on vacation with no childcare means that you can't do the things you do at home.

Let the little children come to me (but only in the nursery), and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these...

Why were you followed out instead of advised on your way in? Were there signs on the doors? Could this lady have been a little too zealous? Was this a church in a popular vacation location, where the locals have enacted this rule due to a high number of non-locals coming? Does this church have a reputation for being unwelcoming?

Since you asked, I would never have left my kid in the nursery in your situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a situation in which you get a babysitter. There are lots of activities that are really for adults and are not meant for toddlers. That doesn't mean that you have to leave your kid at the unfamiliar nursery; it means you make other plans in advance. I would never assume I could take a young toddler to a church service....

But you're obviously very comfortable assuming everyone who wants to go to church has the funds and resources to hire a babysitter. Every. Sunday.

That is an absurd and entitled assumption to make.

They were VISITING a NEW church. Presumably if they joined they would acclimate the kid to the nursery. When you go to a new place with a TODDLER, you should assume that it might not go that smoothly. My kids are older. You plan ahead--that is the key to happy kids and parents. Planning.

Not just a new church, a church while on vacation. One time deal. DS is adjusted to the nursery at our home church.