https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 00:19:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1804130 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:53:32 +0000 Boogs 1804130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have taken LO to several funerals. We just tried to keep him entertained and quiet and he didn't seem to bother anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803705 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:14:20 +0000 mediagirl 1803705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry for your loss. </p> <p>We took our toddler (16 months) to my Grandmother's Catholic funeral. My husband stayed with her in the car during Mass but she was there for the viewing the night before, the pre-service thing they did before Mass and she came with us to the graveyard. My Gram made a big deal over how happy M made her (she met her twice since we live so far away) and told the family so. That made us feel very comfortable bringing her with us to the services. Also, a baby/child brings a sense of new life to a somber time like this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803704 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:12:27 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1803704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it all depends on your comfort level. A friend brought her 1mo old to my dad's funeral (though it was a much shorter event). She just made sure to stay in the back in case baby made any noise. Then everyone was happy to see a baby at our home later on, especially my mom and cousins who had just found out I was pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803691 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:08:37 +0000 Mommy Finger 1803691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took DS to my grandfather's funeral in February. He was about 15 months at the time. We went to the wake and then DH took him home and put him to bed while I stayed. The next day, he came with us to the funeral, burial, and the luncheon. He got a little antsy in the church so DH walked him around in the back. But otherwise, he was great. Sometimes I think it helps to have the distraction of a super cute baby in these times.</p> <p>Sorry for your loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803658 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:50:40 +0000 tinyperson 1803658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO was 4 months old when my dad's dad passed away. We brought her to the funeral, but skipped the interment (cold and rainy), and went straight to the reception. We also went out to dinner with my dad's sister and my cousins afterwards. It was a long day, but she did really well. I made sure to sit someplace with easy egress in case we needed to escape, but she actually fell asleep during the funeral. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803653 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:49:03 +0000 HappyBaker 1803653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH's grandmother passed away recently, and I opted to not bring our DD to the funeral / burial itself. She was about 15 months old at the time. I just met everyone at the family gathering afterward, and I did bring her to the wake the night before for about an hour. </p> <p>For us it was more because I know when DD is around DH and I can't focus / turn off being a parent, and I wanted DH to be able to grieve with his family completely and not be distracted by her needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803646 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:47:07 +0000 singingbee 1803646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo was 6 months old when Dh's great uncle passed away. She came and stayed through everything. It was hard because she was upset because I was upset,but I'm glad we brought her. It made us and the family feel better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803639 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:44:31 +0000 illumina 1803639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO was younger, 3 months, when DH's Grandma passed away and I just brought LO along to the gathering afterwards. I think I would probably do the same now at 11 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803635 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:43:09 +0000 rattles 1803635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took LO to a funeral when she was 12 months. We sat in the back and stepped out when she got squirmy. Everyone at the reception seemed to find her a welcome bright spot in an obviously cloudy day. In my opinion, times like that are all about family, and your LO is part of the fam so as long as you're comfortable and won't find it too difficult, I would bring him. So sorry for your loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803619 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:38:38 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1803619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your husband is ok with it, I would suggest taking baby along to everything, but you stepping out with him if he gets noisy or fidgety. </p> <p>In my experience with family funerals, people really like having babies around because it reminds them that life continues on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803614 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:35:03 +0000 swedishfish 1803614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you have to do what you feel most comfortable doing and everyone will understand. I'm sorry for your loss.</p> <p>ETA - my MIL watched LO for us while we attended a funeral for a relative in my family when LO was 5 months old. It was easier for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803608 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:32:46 +0000 cheert16 1803608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did this with LO when he was about the same age- although it was a significantly shorter day. There was just a celebration of life at a church- and then a gathering afterward. He was fine- and everyone there was fine when he was getting loud. I did take him out for a walk a couple times- so he could get the ants out of his pants. Perhaps plan on going to everything- knowing that you wont be able to participate in a lot of it, so you can tend to baby? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803607 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:32:19 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1803607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took DS1 to a funeral when he was 7 months, but it was huge and not very formal and we ended up pacing way in the back of the church, no one minded at all. I think go to the events you want and just be prepared to step out as needed. Sorry for your family's loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/funeral-with-baby#post-1803602 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 13:29:31 +0000 ShootingStar 1803602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A fairly close relative of DH's passed away yesterday and there will be services for him on Monday. There will be a funeral at the funeral home, then a service at the church, and then interment at the grave site. I imagine there will also be some kind of family gathering afterwards.</p> <p>We have an 8.5 month old that his family adores, so I'd like to bring him, but I'm not sure what events would be appropriate. It'll also be a really long day, starting with the funeral at 9am. I feel like the funeral and interment aren't really baby-appropriate but if there's a family gathering afterwards I think they'll expect him to be there. So I can either show up later in the day with the baby and miss certain things, or I can bring DS to all of, which could be a bad idea. And it's too far away to attend the funeral, then pick him up at daycare and go back to the family events.</p> <p>Any thoughts? </p>