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First Time Newborn
If you are thinking of taking your newborn to church for the first time do so when you are ready. If you feel you need more time to heal or are simply not ready that is ok.
There are many reasons to wait a little while. You could need more time for your body to heal. You could be waiting until your baby has the number of vaccinations that deems it safe. Maybe you are still a bit anxious about getting to know your baby and learning how to comfort them.
If you can’t get them to stop crying at home imagine how you will feel at church.
If you go to a church where everyone knows everyone you may also have the stress of worrying about people asking to hold your baby. I could probably write an entire post about how to deal with this issue. My quick tips though are either leave your baby in the infant carrier or put them in a baby wrap. Both situations are inconvenient for people to hold your baby.
First Time Toddler
If you are introducing a toddler to church I recommend you and your partner get on the same page before going. We will touch on that a bit more soon.
We have found with a toddler it helps to sit in the back row. This does not mean we allow our child to act crazy, but it does allow us to feel less stressed as parents.
Distracting and entertaining a toddler can mean reading books, playing with toys, and general chaos at times. The circus can be distracting for people sitting behind you. Take the back row if possible.
We also recommend sitting away from other families with children. Every family has different rules and being near another family could cause more headaches for you.
For example, if a family near you allows their children to eat food, but you do not it is difficult to explain this to your child.
Be on the Same Page
We took a break from church during COVID then when we were ready to return to church our daughter was about 15 months old.
My husband and I talked about our expectations for the future in taking our child to church. We were each raised in different churches with different families. We likely have very different ideas of what is and is not acceptable in church. And we have different ideas about what it looks like the see children behaving in church.
Talking about our expectations helped get us on the same page.
We debriefed on the way home from church the first couple of times to discuss how we could have made it better.
Rules and Expectations
What are your actual rules and expectations?
Are you comfortable with snacks and drinks during church?
Will you always sit in the cry room or take your baby to the nursery?
At what point do you remove your child from church if they are noisy?
What is your limit for crying or disrupting others?
One thing I was not open to was allowing our child to eat food in church. In my opinion, once they know they get food they will demand it and it will become a habit that is difficult to break. We do not allow food in church.
Seating
Every church comes with different situations. You could have the ability to send your baby or toddler to the nursery. You may have a cry room offered.
If you choose to sit with the general population I applaud those who sit in the middle to front. I understand those who prefer to sit in the back.
Figure out what works best for your family and what you can be comfortable with.
Entertainment
Bring strategic toys.
My recommendations include items that are soft that way if your child bangs them or drops them you won’t be disruptive.
Books are a great option. Pick ones to bring that hold your child’s attention.
Watch out though for when your child starts saying words. Our daughter learned how to say duck and I stupidly brought a book called Duck and Goose to church. My husband will probably never let me live this down.
If you are comfortable with your child having paper to write on I recommend bringing a pencil. Markers and pens are more likely to do damage.
I also recommend getting toys out one by one and slowly. In fact, at first, do not get any toys out.
Start by just looking around and listening to the music.
Once your child gets restless you get out a toy.
Don’t burn through all of your toys too quickly.
Click the links to check out quiet toys you can find.
Personal Experience
Our first time taking our newborn daughter to church did not go perfectly. We made it almost halfway through and then our daughter started to get fussy.
We had her resting in her infant car seat. My husband started getting her out.
I was watching and then as he raised her up my face dropped. She had a mustard yellow poop explosion!
I said my husband’s name quietly with the sound of complete horror! He started to understand what was going on.
I volunteered to take to the restroom.
I quickly got the diaper bag on my back grabbed her and awkwardly tried to get out of there!
You feel like you need to cradle a tiny newborn, but at the same time, I didn’t want to get poop all over me!
As I am quickly exiting the sanctuary an older mother gave me the look of sympathy.
I don’t know why, but I found this both hilarious and comforting. It’s like mom code or something.
We made it to the restroom and I am juggling everything that comes with a complete blow-out and outfit change. Trying to keep our baby safe and clean up after ourselves.
It was an adventure.
By the time we made it back inside, we basically missed everything. It made for a good memory though.
Conclusion
Taking a baby to church can seem like a daunting task. If it is important though you will push through and make it happen.
Remember that the more you do something the more your child learns how to act and what to expect. Keep consistent in your church routine.
You can do this.
Nearly everyone in the church has struggled through a service with a child, today just might be your turn and that is ok.
Next time will be better.
Check Out My Articles
Your Baby’s First Doctor Visit: What to Expect and How to Prepare
A New Parent’s Guide to Packing the Perfect Diaper Bag: Tips and Tricks
10 Simple but Effective Tips for a Fun and Stress-Free Baby Bath Time
