Hellobee Boards

@swurlygurl: I feel your pain! We are trying to go to church again after many years and trying to get my 3 and 5 yr old to sit for an hour is hard!

I hate the cry room so instead we sit in the very last row. This way we have the end so the kids can see the priest and altar but we aren't front and center!

We have been going for 6 weeks now

When we get there and get seated I kind of let them do whatever - then once Mass starts I give them coloring books.

They both talk - its inevitable - but so are all the other kids in church so I don't feel too bad!

I bring a small snack too.

I will hold my 3 yr old for a little bit when she gets antsy.

I bribe my 5 yr old with a donut after church - ha!

Not sure how old your LO is but I assume it will just take time!

@looch: Oh yes - the 1st time I took my 3 yr old it was quiet and she yells out "Where's the TV?"

That's basically our list too. One thing is that we have a separate set of books and toys for church, so at least they're sort of novel? We have little saint dolls, board books about church (we try and point out the stuff in the books around us there), and a kid's rosary. I've started printing some coloring sheets with biblical stories, but I don't think DD is quite big enough to keep the crayons consistently on the page yet, which is fine at home but not in a pew We've definitely been bringing cheerios since it's harder to talk and squawk with her mouth full. Overall, I just tell myself that it's better for us to be there than not. Even if we're only getting 50% of the sermon, it's more than nothing, and it's setting an example for her that it's important to be there.

ETA: DD is 17 months, and we've been going each week since she was 8 days.

Also quiet books, but I never got around to actually making anything.

Finger puppets could be a good idea, you can probably find ones that are religious themed, or make some?

We try books, stickers, snacks, water, ect. however, we have finally resigned to taking her to the Nursery. It's the only way we can both enjoy the service.

@meredithNYC: aren't they? I've got the st. Nicholas one on my wishlist for LO. I do hope they make more saints. I'd love to get St. Therese.

@JerricaBenton: those are so cute! Not exactly the same, but I have saint dolls for LO from a shop on Etsy called Saintly Silver, and she definitely makes a St. Therese. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SaintlySilver

@swurlygurl: oh that's adorable and totally a project you could make!