So it's been many many moons since I actively have gone to church (i.e. early teens) It is cropping up more and more in conversations with DH that we would both like to start going again, plus I'm really feeling the need to, can't explain it, but that's probably a whole other thread!
Anyways, my question is (and I feel a bit stupid asking but I really have no clue) obviously it's okay to have DD with us, but what will happen if she babbles away during mass? She is really really vocal, top of her lungs vocal and squealy, just a happy chatty bub. I couldn't expect others to sit through it, but I feel like I'd be going in and out with her all the time to try and keep her quiet?
I realise every church is different, and I really should just contact them and ask, but I thought I'd ask here first. In general, what would the norm be? TIA
At our church we have a creche - usually a couple of people rostered on, and the kids under three can go in there and play and they get their own morning tea. Kids three and over have little kids church or kids church (sunday school) so they are catered for as well. Most places I imagine would have something like that, or they are used to having small children in church and can cope with the noise.
As for exactly what happens when we go to church - bit of a sore point with me at the moment. But that's a whole other thread!
at my church we have a "cry room" for the noisy ones. My problem with my DS is he can't sit still for too long often at church so we (DS and either DH or me) often head out to the cry room or the foyer for a bit of a walk around/play. The cry room has a nice collection of toys & books in it - parents/caregivers are expected to supervise own children. It also has the service played in there as well through some sort of amp although they've had a few issues with it lately. Most members at my church don't have an issue with kids of young ages making a bit of noise during the service.
There is no creche at the church we go to but all the little old ladies absolutely love the babies, and I've never been given any dirty looks either if they've become unsettled
At our church there is a creche for kids walking to prep, and before that if babies are unsettled there is a cry room where parents can still see and hear everything. However nobody would be worried by a baby making noise in church.
Our church welcomes babies and toddlers babbling or not! I agree give them a call as they may cater for family friendly services (which the other church in our area does) or they may just welcome you to the traditional service and perhaps just sit at the back so if you feel uncomfortable with the amount of noise you are generating you can pop out for a walk! I think its awesome you have the want to rejoin the church!!!
At our church babbly babies are very welcome We always wear DD in the baby bjorn because we find that she gets all excited looking at people in the beginning and babbles along to a couple of songs and then is out like a light. We also have a cry room with toys, books and a change table and parents are expected to supervise their own kids. My opinion is that church is for everyone - adults and kids, quiet and noisy
My local church has a little area sectioned off behind soundproof glass. Mums (or Dads) can sit in there with bubs if they are noisy. You can hear the service but the congregation can't hear bubs.
Yo yo, so pleased to hear you and your man are looking to return to church I hope there's a great one nearby to you!
But good question about babies - very considerate for you to be thinking about other people there!
The two churches I've mostly attended have been very kid friendly, with programs for kiddies 2 and over, and somewhere for parents to take their younger children, if they're crying or need feeding, or just to run around a little!
People understand that babies cry and wriggle and grizzle, and DH and I take turns taking our DS out to the parent's room (crying room, nursing room, whatever you want to call it) if he's being really noisy, but if he's just babbling away or grizzling to himself, we tend to stay put, if it's not too loud.
Our church has a nifty TV in the parents' room so we can still hear the worship and the sermon in there, so we don't have to keep popping in and out ... if we need to go out, we can just stay there, until he falls asleep
We also try to time his feeds so he's asleep during church (hopefully when he's a bit older, he'll be able to play with toys or colour or something ... but when he hits 2yrs, there's a program he can go to).
But I think it's pretty standard to either have a creche running, where a roster of mums and dads take care of the babies, so the other parents can stay in church, or to have somewhere soundproof where you can go to watch your bub play, but still hear the service.
I have been to a church where babies are not welcome, and I would not use a creche DS was not happy about. I now attennd a church where DS is allowed to stay in the service or go to Sunday School, but checked the rules first! I DS makes a fuss I do take him out, but he knows if he wants to stay with me he plays quietly at the side and doesn't disturb others - been a rule from day dot!
It's really important to me that babies and children in general be welcome to stay through mass regardless of the noise, running around, etc. I do find it helpful that there are places like crying rooms, etc. for the occasional times where it may be a bit unbearable. However, I personally wouldn't want to use one all the time - I think the community should celebrate mass together, so to be segregated all the time means that other church goers aren't connecting with me or my child. If babies are happily babbling away, I think this is really nice and shouldn't distract from the mass.
Where I go to church has a very, very large percentage of old people and not many families. DD was very keen on the happenings up at the altar and was a bit of a runner. I would normally let her go off within limits (ie. not up the steps at the front of the altar, but up and down the aisles was ok). This sometimes got me some looks or comments, although most were generally positive (some a little backhanded, LOL!). But I figured, these people hadn't really had much to do with kids for a while and it was a bit of an adjustment for them, more than me needing to be worried. Because we generally stayed within the normal part of the church for mass, DD is now very comfortable with the place and being a bit older will now join in with some of the songs and responses for the mass.
I also do some of the readings at some masses, and because DH doesn't come to mass, I would bring DD up to the microphone with me. I'm sure this was a little frowned upon, but there really wasn't much option. Now she is big enough to wait for me in our seats by herself. I now get so many comments about how well behaved she is (even though she probably was a bit of a terror earlier on). I think this is because she knows how it all works now.
I think I really wanted to make the point that DD is just as valid a member of the congregation as others.
Bubs in church....
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I think its awesome you have the want to rejoin the church!!!
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