https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:32:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2304423 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 16:30:19 +0000 Applesandbananas 2304423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, an hour is definitely too much to expect from a 2.5 year old, but I'm trying to find a happy compromise!</p> <p>DH wants us to go and I want to be there, but I don't think it's fair to others if he's super disruptive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2304359 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:42:51 +0000 namaste 2304359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our church offers children's activity toys which helps our toddlers but with my LO, I just chill outside in the foyer when she wants to chat (9 months old). I can hear everything from outside and there's plenty of other moms who are doing the same thing so it becomes baby play time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303834 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 08:30:31 +0000 erinbaderin 2303834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that's a lot to expect from a 2.5 year old. I'd say do what everybody else has suggested, last as long as you can, and when he gets too loud for your comfort just go out in the foyer for the rest of the service - maybe you and your husband can trade off weeks. He'll get there but right now he's so little! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303824 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 08:26:29 +0000 avivoca 2303824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Snacks, coloring, books, and a stuffed toy. Plus she runs around to my parents and back. If she gets really disruptive, I take her to the back and let her run a bit. I've just had to get over my initial discomfort and embarrassment and embrace the fact that she's two and is going to make a little noise. </p> <p>It also helps that there is another toddler there doing the same thing, so we commiserate about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303753 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 07:16:13 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2303753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about practicing quiet time at the house? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303721 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 06:05:02 +0000 honeybear 2303721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sympathize and I totally understand the stress. We did what @matador84 does, and my 5yo does an excellent job in Mass (now, but it was a process to get here ;) ). My advice is to take the long view, explain as much about Mass as you can to your LO to help give them a sense of what's going on, and then just keep at it. I never liked cry rooms and I'm too disorganized to keep a special bag for Mass snacks/toys, so I didn't use either. If LO got loud (more than babbling and actually unhappy), I took him out. Mostly I just expected him to learn what was going on and why and to behave appropriately. He rose to the challenge. </p> <p>Our churches have almost all had gardens with statues in them so when I had to take him out we went there and walked around while I explained who the statues represented and I said prayers with him. My objective was that he understand that the time during Mass was for focusing on God, not playing. We also stood in the back a lot when he was really wiggly. Basically, we took the standard church aerobics to a whole new level (relatively quietly and while trying to be as little of a distraction as possible). :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303694 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 01:01:35 +0000 red_seattle 2303694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It can be really hard until LO gets the hang of it! We talked with DS a lot before we made the switch from cry room to Sanctuary-- about what is expected, what the rules are, what happens if he misbehaves. I think kids can often behave if you explain what to expect. Our rules are simple: no fits, whisper voice, no running off (stay in the pews), and check for feet before putting the kneeler down. At 2.5, DS could understand those rules, and he quickly learned that if he broke a rule, he was removed from the church and got a time out outside. If he has to be removed, we make sure it's not fun-- he can't walk, run around, go to the playground, etc. (He's free to wiggle, splay on the floor, or walk around between us in the pew.) We sit near the front so he can see the action, and we try to talk through what's going on. Like others, we have a bag for church that has snacks + special church only (mostly religious) activities: books, coloring books, &amp; lacing activities. And, I try to set an example-- as long as he's behaving, I focus on mass, not on him. LO is learning. LO won't be perfect for a long time. But if LO knows what to expect, &amp; you're consistent, they'll get there eventually! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303618 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 21:04:20 +0000 KayKay 2303618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He's a kid! No one should expect him to sit quietly and still for an hour+. If anyone gives you side-eye, he/she is being a jerk. </p> <p>Our church takes the kids out during the reading and sermon but DD (3.5) doesn't always go. I'm usually solo with both her and my younger one (10 months). I bring emergency snacks (usually Cheerios) but try to rely on coloring or letting her bring a doll. For the baby, I have some toys and let her crawl around on the pew or floor next to me (we sit near the front but also near a side section...weird layout).</p> <p>ETA: clearly a screaming child (crying or happy) is a different story. But I don't think some happy noises or one-off comments are a big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303396 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 13:07:39 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2303396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH takes LO to mass every week (without me) and always makes sure to take several snacks, books, and quiet toys like stuffed animals or toy cars. They've been going since she was about 14 months and she is usually pretty quiet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303247 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 08:07:01 +0000 Mamasig 2303247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3 year old is now pretty good in mass. But my 16 month old is a mess. I bring snacks, books, and small quiet toys. And we sit in the cry room so he can't escape. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303229 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 07:39:35 +0000 matador84 2303229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try not to bring anything for the kids during mass because I feel like then they come to expect it. We try to sit near the front so they can watch the mass and really see what is happening. I keep an emergency book in my bag just in case and will sometimes have to take them out around the second reading for a break, but other than that they do good! (19 months and 3) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303211 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 07:02:53 +0000 littlebug 2303211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, snacks! We're still trying to find a church, and the last one we went to offered children's activity bags. The bag I grabbed had one of those Wooly Willy guys in it, and D LOVED it. Kept him entertained for probably 20 minutes! If we end up going to a different church in the long run, I will probably buy a Wooly Willy because it was so successful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303208 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 06:59:22 +0000 mrsrain 2303208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a church bag with toys/books/activities that she doesn't get to use any other time. Keeps them fresh and interesting! We do still have to take her out occasionally if she gets chatty at awkward times. Most people don't seem to mind her little noises though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303187 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 02:54:12 +0000 MaisyMay 2303187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Snacks, balloon pop app on my phone, singing, sit in back row so she can walk about and dance a little during more upbeat songs, she puts in some change during the offering. All of that fills about 30 minutes and then my little one goes to Children's Church. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303185 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 02:07:45 +0000 rattles 2303185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We bring a snack cup of Cheerios and a specific bag of church toys (to try and keep them somewhat novel). We have some bible story coloring sheets, a couple of church/prayer board books, a couple of kids rosaries and a couple of saint dolls. I rotate a few of the options into the diaper bag each week. Some weeks go better than others, but she at least knows what to expect. She does love participating as much as she can too, so we try to facilitate that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303173 Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:21:26 +0000 Grace 2303173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I second the snacks. Just make sure they aren't messy or crumbly or else you'll spend all mass trying to clean it up. Another thing that is working well lately is to involve her what is going on. We clap during the song, we point out the piano or other instruments (there is a guy in the choir who plays the tambourine and LO loves it). She puts the envelope in the collection basket. We let her climb up on the kneeler so she can see. We tell her that we're going to hear a story during the readings. Oh, and we practise whispering. "Can you show my how you can whisper" (lasts for about 30 sec, but whatever). Besides that it's just books and colouring. And also, you are right - no one is really bothered by a two year old making noise. You've got a year or two at least before you start getting the side-eye. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303168 Sat, 26 Sep 2015 23:19:33 +0000 MamaCate 2303168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: snacks! We were inconsistent with attendance for a while for similar issues. What seems to work well is having snacks initially (bonus if it is not something she gets regularly) then a choice of a few activities. Our activities are lacing cards, a dress up Minnie Mouse and coloring. She also loves putting money in the basket during the collection. DH tends to take her outside after the homily for a little break too but she survives when he is not there too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303149 Sat, 26 Sep 2015 21:39:36 +0000 jetsa 2303149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No help here just commiseration. I take both kids (2 and 4 months) either with my dad or by myself and i've been trying to make it a habit but dang it's hard </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddlers-in-church#post-2303147 Sat, 26 Sep 2015 21:36:32 +0000 Applesandbananas 2303147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone found a great way to keep their toddler quiet during church?</p> <p>LO is 2.5 and we've been slacking with taking him to mass. The last time we tried was about a month ago and he was so loud (in a happy way, reading his books out loud, saying hi to everyone, etc. but still disruptive)!</p> <p>I think most people are okay with it, more or less, because he's just babbling and being cute, albeit loudly... But I want him to sit quietly lol. I wish our parish had a children's program, but they don't :(</p> <p>Any suggestions for activities or strategies to keep a 2.5 year old quiet for an hour? It's really important to DH that we all go to church, but it's really stressful for me to have LO bouncing around making a ton of noise. </p>