https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 09:43:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2752113 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 13:54:03 +0000 Truth Bombs 2752113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Since your younger daughter isn't getting much out of it, and also making it difficult for you to get much out of it, why don't you leave her at home with your husband and just bring your older daughter? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2752079 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 12:57:10 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2752079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd be leaving one or both at home for a while so you can enjoy it alone. Then try bringing your older one and bring the younger once she doesn't need a nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2752042 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 11:48:11 +0000 808love 2752042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: Ooh that's a great plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2752040 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 11:46:51 +0000 PawPrints 2752040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if I were in your shoes, I would absolutely leave the 14-month-old at home with your DH so she could get her nap at the correct time and you could enjoy the service. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2752003 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 10:13:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2752003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both DDs have gone since birth, since they're pastor's kids :happy: </p> <p>Currently we are in our own church in a movie theater; we don't have a lot of kids yet so I dedicate my time to chasing my 2.5 year old around while wearing my 6 mo old. </p> <p>At our old church, once DD1 was mobile she went to Sunday school. When we went to a transition church before we started our own, she also went to Sunday school. At first when she was shy, I wouldn't be able to stay in service and had to hang around with her outside they but did have audio/video. </p> <p>I think it's important for a church community to be family friendly, to either have a dedicated children's ministry, or have a casual service environment where it's okay if kids make noise, and okay if they run around (to a certain degree). I don't think I can ever expect young children to stay still and quiet through a whole service!</p> <p>So from my perspective of being the church, we don't have a lot of resources at the moment but we have a dedicated kids room with various activities and a semi structure time. And if kids choose to stay with their parents, they are okay to not sit still and they don't have to be quiet (all to a certain degree). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751979 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 09:20:21 +0000 krispi 2751979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've tried a few different churches since she was born, but I'm not sure we've settled on one good option yet. When she was a baby, we would take her into the service with us. She enjoyed the music, then would usually fall asleep in her car seat. </p> <p>As she's gotten older, she can't sit still through the service anymore (she's almost 2 now). Of course, this coincided with a major case of separation anxiety starting, so we had trouble dropping her off in the kids' area too. It was pretty discouraging.</p> <p>The church we prefer is a smaller neighborhood church. They do have a kids area, but it's pretty small with only a couple of volunteer workers. We feel bad about dropping her off there, because it usually takes one person's entire focus to calm her down. The last couple of times, we've gone to more of a mega church. The service is more contemporary than we prefer, but their kids area is awesome. It's larger and structured more like a daycare, so she's in a room full of other kids her own age. She still cries at drop off, but she seems to get a lot happier a lot sooner. :) For now, we'll probably continue to go where it's better for her, even though it wouldn't be our preference otherwise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751923 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 07:59:54 +0000 tinyperson 2751923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We take our two girls -- but I will admit, I spend a lot of time with the baby in the nursing room. She still takes two naps, and her first one usually ends up being right at the beginning of the service. We do what we can. </p> <p>For my 4.5yo, she knows the rules. It's quiet play with books, small toys, stickers, colouring etc. If she starts getting loud or whiny, we go downstairs and she sits on my lap or on the chair next to me with no toys until she's gotten it out of her system. It is a long time to sit, but I think there's value in having kids learn to sit quietly for short periods. </p> <p>It will take time if they're not used to it for sure. It's a lot to ask right off the bat, but stick with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751915 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 07:53:44 +0000 looch 2751915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about calling whoever is in charge and asking for a tour? I think that would be something my son would really respond to, being shown all the special places and then having a familiar face up at the front/greeting upon entering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751913 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 07:51:54 +0000 red_seattle 2751913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've had DS with us in the sanctuary (as opposed to the cry room) with us since he was 2.5, and DD (16 months) has never been in the cry room. Lots of good advice here! But here's some we do that hasn't been mentioned yet:</p> <p>- sit close to the front of the church, not the back! It's easier for kids to behave and engage if they can see the action, you can explain what is going on. And if you are next to the aisle, you can make a quick escape as necessary.<br /> - For young toddlers, point out lambs, other symbols quietly. Blow kisses to Jesus in the stained glass or statues. Bring coloring books. Encourage her to shake hands with others if that is part of your service. Walk around if necessary but always go back to the pew. I feel like before 2, it's a lot to ask a mobile toddler to stay still, so walking around is ok when you know your older kid will be ok for a minute.<br /> - and this was already mentioned, but talking a lot about behavior expectations before church is soooo helpful. Ours for 2.5 -3 were "stay in the pew, no fits-- ask for what you need calmly, use a quiet voice." Within a couple months DS really had it down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751888 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 03:27:32 +0000 Grace 2751888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've taken LO since she was a week old. Snakcs were important when she was very little. And being consistent about my "rules" was too. I worked on getting her to be quiet and not leave the pew. I always bring books, colouring (magic books where markers don't work off the paper). And to be honest, I got very little out of mass for 2.5 years. I figured my "job" for that time was to expose my LO to God and that one day I will have the chance to participate again. And I have! At 3 years old, we discovered sticker books. They only come out at church and it keeps her occupied for the whole hour!! And them I could pay attention again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751887 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 02:25:07 +0000 Cherrybee 2751887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellocupcake: not opposed to snacks at all. :happy: I rely on snacks heavily! I always take ample snacks with me and feed them one by one to S (she likes to drop them on the floor and exclaim uh-oh if she gets more than at a time).... she munches it then screeches like a pterosaur for the next one. Meanwhile, E needs me to watch her eat every single one ("Mummy watch, mummy look, it's crunchy, did you hear it? Mummy? Mummy look, mummy,"don't eat me don't eat me help" , is that funny mummy? Mummy, look. I don't like this one, it's got a brown bit on. Mummy, look. I don't like it. Mummy? "Then I ask her nicely to let me listen and she starts fake crying. It's very relaxing :silly: </p> <p>I love all your encouraging comments, thank you. I'm really fortunate, our church has a play corner in the actual church, with toys, a play tent, books, craft stuff. E won't play without my 100% focused attention and input but S loves to crawl about exploring until she realises she is tired and melts down. It's all good. But it's awesome to hear commiserations and encouragement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751880 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 00:02:19 +0000 hellocupcake 2751880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you opposed to snacks?<br /> DD has always been great at going to class but DS is a work in progress. We take snacks for him; let him color or in desperate times let him watch videos on my phone. As he gets more comfortable with people he is doing better. He loves worship so I hold off on snacks and coloring until actual service. It definitely gets better ❤️ The community and church family is definitely worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751878 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 23:56:23 +0000 808love 2751878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was tough taking LO under year. She caused a ruckus, as aligned with her usual baby behavior, so we finally went to the nursing room and watched it from there. We did a lot of online services and then put her in the nursery. I even volunteered there for awhile. No tips...just encouragement as it is just temporary. Oh another thing that helped since I didn't get too much out of distracted messages is that DH and I started a very small group of Christian parents of preschoolers while LO was 3-4 to support each other deepening faith and prayer while the kids played together one evening a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751872 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 22:51:04 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2751872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: oh and to answer your other questions I wholeheartedly believe in taking your young kids to church! Even if it doesn't seem like it they're being blessed being there and being in the presence of God's people.. and I think in general people are happy to love on the younger kids and happy to see them at church. Again for me it's what my kids have had since birth and I love that they have a second "home" and strong community. I know your kids aren't used to it yet but hopefully after an adjustment time it will also become like their second home and community. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751870 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 22:47:30 +0000 mrs.kiwi 2751870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go every Sunday and because it's very important to us we make it work. I think it also helps that they have been to church every Sunday from 4-5 weeks old... less of an adjustment if they've been there ever since they can remember. Our last church I had my baby (from when he was one month until 18 months) with me during service. People were understanding and there was a lot of space in the back for him to play quietly. There was a separate nursery if he was having a bad day.</p> <p>Our current churchthere is a children's program for 15 mo and older. So my oldest went to "class" (cried first few times but got used to it) and when my second was born I ergoed or held her thru service. It helps that there is a back room for moms with young kids with a futon and toys and changing area. Now my youngest is 16 months so both of the kids go to their Sunday school "classes" and I get to enjoy service with my husband.</p> <p>If it's important to you stick it out and it will for sure get easier! And if you're committed you can even talk to church leadership about how it can be easier for you. Usually at a smaller church people want to make it easier for you to come out and will try to accommodate.. at least that's in my experience... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751841 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 21:12:39 +0000 Mamatimes3 2751841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm catholic with 3 kids (5,3,1) and we go fairly regularly. Sometimes we sit in the cry room. Some Sunday's they are good and other days it's a mess and I can barely hear a thing. But I think it's good to keep going. If I have time and am well prepared I bring snacks and books. My motto is anything to keep them happy and quiet. As they get older I'll expect more out of them. My oldest goes to mass at school and is well behaved. But I also know it's shorter and geared to kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751830 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 19:49:34 +0000 Tanjowen 2751830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our church has nursery for up to age 3, so DS just started going in with me this year. DH travels most weekends for work, so its just us 2 most of the time. </p> <p>Some Sundays are good, some are bad. I take stickers and crafy paper and snacks. We talk over and over on the way there about being quiet and listening, and I make a huge deal out of it the times he manages to do it.</p> <p>Right now , I'm not getting much out of service while wrangling him, but I remind myself it's a season. I love the people there and the community and it's something I want to hang onto and need in my life, so we go. It will get better (or so all the other moms there tell me!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751823 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 19:22:25 +0000 avivoca 2751823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take both girls to church by myself 90% of the time (my husband is also not religious) and yes, it's a zoo. There is another girl with three kids and we just sit in the back trying to pay attention and keep the babies quiet. It involves lots of snacks, quiet activities, and understanding people. They go to the children's area during the lesson so at least I can pay attention to that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751815 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 18:41:05 +0000 Mrs. Washi Tape 2751815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to a smallish church (a couple hundred people) and there are special classes for the kids during the service. I have a 4.5 and almost 2 year old and I can't imagine trying to keep the 2 year old with me in service. So distracting! Both of my kids love church now but it took them a little while to get comfortable. Things will definitely get easier with time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751813 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 18:36:04 +0000 MrsBucky 2751813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's hard. We've gone since he was two weeks old which i think helps some, but truthfully some weeks are better than others. We talk about expectations before hand, he gets special treats afterwards if he is super well behaved, and we have some church books for him. But mostly we just power through the bad weeks because this is just what our family does and i know it's not going to get easier at a magic age, especially if it hasn't been part of our routine before. The thing that helps the most is quietly narrating what is happening on the altar for him in language he understands. Then he feels part of what's happening and sometimes it will engage him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751809 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 17:33:15 +0000 SugarMaple 2751809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't make it weekly. It's a humbling experience. I took my LO yesterday with my parents. He had gone a couple times with them before, and was always uncharacteristicly well behaved. They didn't believe when I woukd tell them he has a tough time. Yesterday was a typical day and I looked to my mom with a 'I told you so' wink!</p> <p>It's nice to hear how others manage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751808 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 17:32:01 +0000 gingerbebe 2751808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, then I would power through. Your baby will only have a morning nap for a few months longer! Your oldest will need to learn to deal. I would Google "busy bags" or "quiet bags" for ideas on activities and things you can bring in a bag just for Sunday services for each kid. Perhaps you can make a busy bag for your eldest you know she will love and build up the suspense and reward her with it for church. And yes to all the special snacks and bribe afterwards if necessary! My DS1 expects his sprinkle cookie after service and demands it! Some kids have a tradition of getting some special breakfast like donuts or lunch like McDonald's (that was me growing up!). It's really hard now I know it is, but at almost 3, I love my son cheering on Sundays when we tell him we have church and he says "Playdoh with Jesus!" We have plenty of families who bring their kids in service too and they all squirm and flip out and the parents are mostly taking care of them but it just shows the kids that church is important and worth the hassle and they come week after week and eventually those kids all learn to behave. Good luck!</p> <p>I think not bringing distractions can work for certain children or if it's just one kid or if there is a parent for each kid, but I think it's unreasonable to expect a parent to wrangle two kids in church with nothing to interest them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751805 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 17:16:03 +0000 peachykeen 2751805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go to a medium-sized church that luckily has a great kids program. DD has been in the nursery rooms from about 6 months til now (almost 3). They started incorporating baby Bible in the 2 year old room and I love that she's finally learning something. </p> <p>DH is very involved with the music at church so I usually let her stay in the sanctuary for the music portion and take her down to the nursery for the sermon/communion but she has stayed for the service with me occasionally as well. It was rougher before 2.5 or so, but now she will entertain herself with coloring (pencils are a novelty that she doesn't get to use much at home) or "reading" through the hymnals. I try to choose a pew that's mostly empty so she has some room to move around.</p> <p>I think your kids will get used to it once it becomes the normal routine, but a good children's program definitely helps me get more out of the service! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751804 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 17:12:37 +0000 Littlebit7 2751804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have tried. There is only one episcopal church where we live, and while it is family friendly, it just is such a headache to go. It's a 20 min stroller walk there and back so LO just wants to run when we get there. One of us is chasing her or outside with her the entire time. Honestly, I feel like we get not a whole lot out of it. So right now, we go on major holidays </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751791 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 16:23:21 +0000 honeybear 2751791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you set the expectation that they will sit and pay attention and adhere to that standard, it will get easier. My son does great in church now and he even deals with the two-plus hour Easter and Christmas vigils well. </p> <p>I used minimal distractions--no food, no toys, very few visits to the 'family room', and only one book per service that was generally related to church/Bible stories. But I did sit in a spot where we could 'escape' easily if necessary, and as soon as he got too loud or distracting, I took him to the back of the church or outside and talked to him about what was happening inside/the readings (if we'd heard them...)/the statues in the garden. We worked up to him being able to handle the entire Mass. (And yup, I missed a lot of homilies and communions. That's just the way it goes.) </p> <p>I hear you on the nap issues and ensuing behavior struggles. It feels like every church we've been to has scheduled Mass for the absolute worst possible times of day for little children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751790 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 16:13:46 +0000 Cherrybee 2751790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@My Only Sunshine: I just Googled mega church.... and whaaaaaat?! 2000 people?? I can't even imagine that. The average Anglican church congregation in the UK (2005 Church census) is 54 people! My church boasts a family of 90, more than a third of whom are children /teens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751787 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 15:58:03 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2751787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We take ours to church but our church has children's programming. We drop them off before church and pick them up after, and we get paged out if they need us. We actually tried several churches and ended up picking the one we did largely because of how awesome the kids program is. Our three year old loves it and our one year old seems happy. We have several services so we go to one that works with nap time.</p> <p>We go to a church that is probably verging on mega church status, but I grew up in a smaller town and our church also had a dedicated nursery up through elementary school. But I've also gone to churches with kids in service with coloring, snacks, quiet toys, etc. and I think either way can be really lovely. I hope you find a way that works for your family! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751783 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 15:49:40 +0000 Cherrybee 2751783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: wow, that sounds amazing. I don't think there are any local churches anywhere near big enough for that kind of thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751781 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 15:33:30 +0000 gingerbebe 2751781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you invested in a specific church? Is it possible to join a church that has a more dedicated children's ministry? We take our boys to church and they have their own programming while the parents have service. Once they are in grade school they are invited to join the main service for worship music and then they are excused for Sunday school before the adult sermon. However for my kids (almost 3 and 14 months) they get dropped off before service and we pick them up afterwards for cookies and refreshments. Aside from the first few weeks of separation anxiety our kids have done great. It does clash with our baby's nap time, but he usually has so many friends and distractions and crackers he powers through it and gets in a car nap on the way home and that's enough to keep him happy through lunch and then a long afternoon nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-take-your-kids-to-church-how-is-it#post-2751778 Sun, 25 Jun 2017 14:48:36 +0000 gotkimchi 2751778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's very similar to ours. It involves all the snacks and quiet activities. I do it because I think it's a good skill to sit still and listen. Some weeks are worse then others. </p>