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The whole breastfeeding a baby in church thing always kills me. What the [email protected]#$% do they think Jesus ate? Mary certianly didn't run to the 7-11 to pick up a can of emfimil! Do they think that she birthed him in a stable so he could have milk fresh from the cow????
I have always breastfed my kids in church and will continue to do so. Once I even recieved communion while nursing dd in the sling. Hey it's really what god made breasts for!!!

Sandi, don't you know, it wasn't Enfamil, it was Similac?? :

My in laws have a problem when I nurse dd in church. I don't see what the big deal is. Like Sandi said, that's what breasts were made for.

My dh, who is a pastor, has had to preach over some pretty weird stuff.

Musical toys playing, adults whispering, outside traffic noises, you name it. All the stuff quoted above...snacking, sneezing, rattling change, rattling paper, cell phones, pagers, on and on and on....even had a guy clipping his fingernails--very loudly, with shavings flying everywhere--once!

Two things he has NEVER complained about: Babies crying (It is so wonderful to have children in the church, and we want parents to feel totally comfortable about bringing their children to church, even if they sometimes get loud. Of course, the parents should try to calm the child as quickly as possible, or if the child needs more attention, take him or her out for a few minutes...that's just courtesy, IMO) and mom's breastfeeding.

As Bella Babe said, bfing keeps the child content!! Who could object to a content child in church??? It absolutely boggles the mind...

I am a proud bfing-in-church mom. I'll admit that the first several weeks after ds was born, I usually took him to the other room to nurse, but it was because we had latch troubles (he had a tight frenulum) and it always took awhile--and more than a few tears (from both of us!) to get things working correctly!

When the new baby is born, unless some similar sort of problem exists, I won't leave. My thought on the matter is to do whatever causes the LEAST distraction to the other worshippers.....getting up out of the pew, stepping over people, dragging along a toddler and a diaper bag....well, if it's not necessary, it's just a huge distraction!

Just my $.02....

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When we cleaned our church (at my childhood church) there was always a certain pew that we would find fingernail clippings at! uke Yuckkk!

I always nursed in church, til Ian got too noisy -- now I go to the Mothers Nursing Room.

That article makes me !

I guess you saw this thread? Bfing during the actual baptism?

http://216.92.20.151/discussions/sho...threadid=91515

What kind of priest would object to a baby being bfed in church? Oh, a gay pederast, I guess!

My stepfather is a minister and in a discussion the night before my daughter's baptism he said he wished more women felt comfortable nursing in church...

So the next day, shortly before (but not during) her baptism, I nursed Lilly for all to see. How great to be the one setting the example!

The funny thing is. . .every time we got to church she wants to nurse. What will people think now that she's almost a year old!!

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Just my experience, and I'll admit that my church is wonderful (no bias there! ) but I am probably the first mom in that church who has nursed a baby on the pew, and I've never gotten negative comments!

Once recently a woman was talking to me before church and I started to nurse ds, who is nearly 20 months now, and she looked very surprised, and said, "You're still nursing? How much longer do you plan to?" And I just smiled and said, "Oh, he'll probably be done in a few minutes!"

But she was surprised, not disgusted, and mostly because she didn't realize it was possible to nurse during pregnancy. So, I just told her the facts, and said I was mainly just letting ds decide. IME, people have been very kind and even proud of me, even though they are often surprised and don't really understand why! Of course, I realize this isn't everyone's experience...I have been truly blessed.

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I don't blame you! I wouldn't go to any church where part of my family wasn't welcomed! I've even been to places where, when you come in, they "strongly encourage" you to take your kids to the nursery....um, no thanks! If there's something going on in that church that my kids can't be part of, then I don't think it's the kind of place I need to be! :

OTOH, bfing does work very well to get rid of the tract-bearing white shirts that walk door-to-door! I had a two guys knock on the door once, and I went out on the porch, ds in my arms (he wasn't nursing at that moment), to talk to them for a few minutes. They were very polite and nice....then ds, who was about 3 months old, started to get hungry, so I just very naturally and casually--mid-sentence--started to latch him on. You shouldda seen how quickly they left after that! Tripping over each other and stammering about how I was obviously busy, and they'd try another time....it was really kind of funny, in a Keystone Cops sort of way...

Sad though....

I have to say that re: churches recommending/encouraging you take your children to the nursery, I'm not all that offended. I think that it only makes sense that most children would be happier where they can play & be loud -- not to mention listen to an age appropriate (read: easy to understand) lesson, verses having to be quiet while some "grown-up" talks "forever!" :LOL

Now the younger ones are different story. They just need their mammas, so there should be no question. I find myself in the Mamma's room quite often, where Ian can play without fear of a two year old's biting (or stomping on), or make noise with no problem. I can then listen to & watch the service on the tv without Ian interrupting it for anyone else.

Just my $.02!

You know I actually had to decline going to my aunt's church when she made the comment," and if you have to nurse the baby the bathrooms right around the corner". I told her I didn't nurse in bathrooms that's nasty, "well teh baby doesn't know it's in a bathrrom". I told her I was wearing a nursing dress if that helps her. she just said that was not apraite to nusre in church.

I told her I would not be going because I don't go places where I can't nurse my babe.

I've got to give the minister at my sister's wedding last year credit. I made eye contact,and nodded in agreement, with him as he gave the sermon and I was nursing 3 year old DD, the younger flowergirl, right there in the front pew (sat there with Mom and Dad to be able to wrangle said younger flowergirl and get her out to where she needed to be when time to process out arrived.). As far as I could tell he didn't so much as blink.

Children at our church are encouraged to be in the nursery, but only because the discussion in service is going to be boring for them. Should the child choose otherwise, she is more than welcome to stay. I've yet to see so much as a blink in our direction when DD's nursed there too.

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Oh, I didn't mean to sound across-the-board disapproving! I just meant that I don't care for the attitude that some places have of clearly letting parents know that they are expected to send their kids to the nursery while the adults have "real" church. That, basically, the kids are not welcome. IMO, it should be left up to the parents whether their kids stay with them or not. The parents are the only ones who know the kids, know how much they can handle and so forth. And I think the parents should have the right to decide at what age they want to start teaching their children to sit still and listen during church. That is a difficult lesson to learn, and a very gradual process. Basically, I think it should be totally left up to the parents--not the church officials--and that appropriate facilities (whatever the church can provide--some don't have a lot of money) be available so that parents can take their kids out when they need to.

Just to clarify the intent of my earlier post!

Mamabeth, ITA with your post! And, your point about people who make the choice to come is a good one. (I do think that most people can--and should be expected to--exhibit appropriate behavior where ever they go, though. And "appropriate" is different in different situations.) But I agree that behavior is secondary to attitude--and anyone who makes the choice to come to God's house should be welcomed!

Anyway, when I mentioned the things my dh has had to preach over, I should have made it clear that he has never (and would never) "complained" to anyone except me. He's human, too, and sometimes things get to him even if they aren't a big deal in the larger scheme of things. I see it as part of my privilege as his wife to be a sounding board when he needs one!

Bella Babe, I wasn't able to access the original article....you have to register, and they want a full life's history! : I don't feel comfortable providing them with my mailing address! Anyway, I was wondering: would you mind sending me (via pm)the text of the article, and an email address where I can respond? I'd really like to write a note! Thanks!

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Ohhhh... I get it!

Sorry I kind of abandoned this post!!!

I have been going to a church where all I get is smiles when I nurse, and there are tons of kids in the service. I am more comfortable in a service with children, families, etc...

They are out there, just few and far between unfortunately, esp where I live... :