Comments on: Babbling babies in church http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/ the methods and madness of one family of 12 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:10:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Joelle http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-48915 Joelle Mon, 04 Jul 2011 23:47:45 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-48915 Thank you for this post. I have looked through the comments and there were some helpful ideas there too. I have been so discouraged lately because it feels like I cannot get much out of church because my 5-month-old daughter gets fussy after sitting for awhile. We live in another country and my husband often does guest speaking, so I have to take care of the baby. There are no mother's rooms in many of the churches here. I still am not quite sure what to do, as she isn't necessarily babbling, and mostly fussing, but I think I am going to try practicing with her at home with a timer. Thank you for this post. I have looked through the comments and there were some helpful ideas there too. I have been so discouraged lately because it feels like I cannot get much out of church because my 5-month-old daughter gets fussy after sitting for awhile. We live in another country and my husband often does guest speaking, so I have to take care of the baby. There are no mother’s rooms in many of the churches here. I still am not quite sure what to do, as she isn’t necessarily babbling, and mostly fussing, but I think I am going to try practicing with her at home with a timer.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4604 Anonymous Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:08:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4604 Kim - thank you for responding so quickly, wow! We have had our son sit with another family occasionally and it does usually work very well. I guess the problem is that we ask him where he wants to sit as we're walking with him from Sunday School to church, and he usually says with me and promises me he'll sit still and be good...and once I'm playing of course it's too late.<br/><br/>(Funny how solutions seem easier when typed out and getting an 'outsider's perspective!)<br/><br/>I think we need to decide ahead of time who he will be sitting with and let him know so it's not suddenly sprung on him two minutes before church is starting. The concern is that he will not want to sit with whoever we pick and will be difficult to them, and I always feel guilty about putting that on someone else during worship time. Kim – thank you for responding so quickly, wow! We have had our son sit with another family occasionally and it does usually work very well. I guess the problem is that we ask him where he wants to sit as we’re walking with him from Sunday School to church, and he usually says with me and promises me he’ll sit still and be good…and once I’m playing of course it’s too late.

(Funny how solutions seem easier when typed out and getting an ‘outsider’s perspective!)

I think we need to decide ahead of time who he will be sitting with and let him know so it’s not suddenly sprung on him two minutes before church is starting. The concern is that he will not want to sit with whoever we pick and will be difficult to them, and I always feel guilty about putting that on someone else during worship time.

]]> By: Kim C. http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4603 Kim C. Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:11:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4603 Dawn,<br/>We rarely need to leave our children's side during church, but I have noticed that the children of our elders, piano player, etc. often sit with another family when both parents are occupied, or a teen from another family will sit with the young children.<br/>Maybe you can make an arrangement like this with a family in your church?<br/><br/>Bonnie,<br/>I'm glad you stopped by. There are so many young mothers looking for help and advice - we can certainly use input from a mother whose children are grown! Please feel free to speak up anytime!<br/><br/>Dirksgirl,<br/>Hi - yes, I remember Hubby visiting your group. It's nice to meet you. Maybe we can get together sometime? In fact, I think our church groups should get together sometime! Dawn,
We rarely need to leave our children’s side during church, but I have noticed that the children of our elders, piano player, etc. often sit with another family when both parents are occupied, or a teen from another family will sit with the young children.
Maybe you can make an arrangement like this with a family in your church?

Bonnie,
I’m glad you stopped by. There are so many young mothers looking for help and advice – we can certainly use input from a mother whose children are grown! Please feel free to speak up anytime!

Dirksgirl,
Hi – yes, I remember Hubby visiting your group. It’s nice to meet you. Maybe we can get together sometime? In fact, I think our church groups should get together sometime!

]]> By: Anonymous http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4602 Anonymous Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:23:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4602 Definitely some food for thought... My husband is also a pastor and I am often involved in the worship singing portion of the service. We have a 14 month old and a 4 year-old. I feel like we have been training the older one, but he is still often very difficult during church (we've made several trips to Daddy's office for a spank). I'm not sure how we could be doing better - he often misbehaves during the singing while I am playing piano and Daddy is also busy. He always has consequences after, but it feels like it doesn't work with him.<br/><br/>I wish you did house calls - Church Nanny 911 or something, lol! Definitely some food for thought… My husband is also a pastor and I am often involved in the worship singing portion of the service. We have a 14 month old and a 4 year-old. I feel like we have been training the older one, but he is still often very difficult during church (we’ve made several trips to Daddy’s office for a spank). I’m not sure how we could be doing better – he often misbehaves during the singing while I am playing piano and Daddy is also busy. He always has consequences after, but it feels like it doesn’t work with him.

I wish you did house calls – Church Nanny 911 or something, lol!

]]> By: dirksgirl http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4601 dirksgirl Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:33:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4601 Hi Kim,<br/>Im a friend of Steph and Gar's. Have been reading your blog recently...all good things. Thank you for your comments of pew discipline. Makes me remember Im not the only one. My husband is a pastor here in town (I think your husband may have been to one of our Bible Studies years ago) and I have the task of watching our 5 boys and one girl while he preaches. You know how he was finally able to help his frazzled wife? My sweet husband puts the 4 oldest boys in the front row where he can snap his fingers at them (rarely) if need be! Now I only have the two littles in back w/ me....lovely man.<br/>Thanks for your blog<br/>Aubrey Hi Kim,
Im a friend of Steph and Gar’s. Have been reading your blog recently…all good things. Thank you for your comments of pew discipline. Makes me remember Im not the only one. My husband is a pastor here in town (I think your husband may have been to one of our Bible Studies years ago) and I have the task of watching our 5 boys and one girl while he preaches. You know how he was finally able to help his frazzled wife? My sweet husband puts the 4 oldest boys in the front row where he can snap his fingers at them (rarely) if need be! Now I only have the two littles in back w/ me….lovely man.
Thanks for your blog
Aubrey

]]> By: mattswife1990 http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4600 mattswife1990 Tue, 19 Sep 2006 16:42:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4600 I have to tell you that the idea of having your younger kids "take notes" by writing the first letter whenever they hear God, Jesus, Lord, etc. is really great! <br/><br/>Our church has nursery and kids' church, but this past Sunday we had three coughing little ones and didn't want them contaminating anyone else's children. So we kept them with us through the service. Our 5-year-old did great, writing W for worship (that's what the sermon was about), L for Lord, G for God and J for Jesus! He smiled up at me each time he recognized one of the words he was listening for. :) It was so cute! <br/><br/>The 3-year old didn't quite get the hang of it, and our 2-year old ended up needing to go out of the service after a while. But it went really quite well!<br/><br/>Thanks for this helpful topic!!<br/>Amy :) I have to tell you that the idea of having your younger kids “take notes” by writing the first letter whenever they hear God, Jesus, Lord, etc. is really great!

Our church has nursery and kids’ church, but this past Sunday we had three coughing little ones and didn’t want them contaminating anyone else’s children. So we kept them with us through the service. Our 5-year-old did great, writing W for worship (that’s what the sermon was about), L for Lord, G for God and J for Jesus! He smiled up at me each time he recognized one of the words he was listening for. :) It was so cute!

The 3-year old didn’t quite get the hang of it, and our 2-year old ended up needing to go out of the service after a while. But it went really quite well!

Thanks for this helpful topic!!
Amy :)

]]> By: Dana http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4599 Dana Tue, 19 Sep 2006 01:45:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4599 Thank you for posting on this topic. My dh and I have been working with our 2 year old and he will sit quietly through the service. On the other hand, our 14 month old won't last 5 minutes. He wiggles and talks - and get louder and louder. During the last three services, I have been walking him in his stroller behind the sancuary or in the lobby but have missed a lot of the service. We are one of the only families in our church that *wants* our children to sit with us - most everyone else sends their children either to the nursery or childrens church (even if the child is too old for this - they are then "helpers"). Thanks for all the suggestions - they are a blessing! It is also nice to know that there ARE other like-minded families out there! Have a blessed evening. ~ Dana Thank you for posting on this topic. My dh and I have been working with our 2 year old and he will sit quietly through the service. On the other hand, our 14 month old won’t last 5 minutes. He wiggles and talks – and get louder and louder. During the last three services, I have been walking him in his stroller behind the sancuary or in the lobby but have missed a lot of the service. We are one of the only families in our church that *wants* our children to sit with us – most everyone else sends their children either to the nursery or childrens church (even if the child is too old for this – they are then “helpers”). Thanks for all the suggestions – they are a blessing! It is also nice to know that there ARE other like-minded families out there! Have a blessed evening. ~ Dana

]]> By: jengresak http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4598 jengresak Tue, 19 Sep 2006 01:43:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4598 We begin training our babies to sit quietly through church at home. I get a cd of one of our pastor's sermons. We start small - 5 minutes. When the child can make it through the whole sermon at home, they go into "big church" with us. Our babies actually recognize the pastor's voice from the cd and know it means it's time to be quiet : ) We begin training our babies to sit quietly through church at home. I get a cd of one of our pastor’s sermons. We start small – 5 minutes. When the child can make it through the whole sermon at home, they go into “big church” with us. Our babies actually recognize the pastor’s voice from the cd and know it means it’s time to be quiet : )

]]> By: Catherine http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4597 Catherine Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:12:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4597 Thank you so much for all the helpful suggestions! I will share this with my husband. I appreciate you all taking time to share what has worked for you. Thank you so much for all the helpful suggestions! I will share this with my husband. I appreciate you all taking time to share what has worked for you.

]]> By: Anonymous http://inashoe.com/2006/09/babbling-babies-in-church/#comment-4594 Anonymous Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:45:00 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=1139#comment-4594 My little, almost 6 mo old, is just starting to vocalize, and it can get pretty load. She kind of goes up and down the octives (mostly up) and is just as pleased as she can be with herself. So far she hasn't started it in chuch, which is a very good thing because she is a little young to understand the word no. Although I do believe she is getting close because she is being trained at home on other things. So comprehension will be shortcoming. Right now it is still her naptime during the service so we have trained her to go to sleep in her carseat with a blanket covering it to make a tent. I wish I had done this with the others as they were much fussier during church because of missing the nap they needed so much.<br/><br/>Thank you Kim for all the "how to's".<br/>Alicia My little, almost 6 mo old, is just starting to vocalize, and it can get pretty load. She kind of goes up and down the octives (mostly up) and is just as pleased as she can be with herself. So far she hasn’t started it in chuch, which is a very good thing because she is a little young to understand the word no. Although I do believe she is getting close because she is being trained at home on other things. So comprehension will be shortcoming. Right now it is still her naptime during the service so we have trained her to go to sleep in her carseat with a blanket covering it to make a tent. I wish I had done this with the others as they were much fussier during church because of missing the nap they needed so much.

Thank you Kim for all the “how to’s”.
Alicia

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