Library storytime behavior

[ladygrey]

I take DD (11.5 months) to baby storytime at our local library every Thursday morning. We read books frequently at home and she will sit quietly through 5-6 books at a time, so reading is not a new concept for her. However, lately at storytime, she is absolutely wild - squirming to get off my lap, walking away to pull books off the shelves, screeching loudly and acting like the activities (reading 2 books and doing a few songs) are absolute torture.

I was chatting with the children's librarian this morning and asked her if she had any advice, but she said that it's totally normal for kids to be squirmy at storytime where there's so much stimulation, and that I shouldn't let it bother me too much. However, I feel like DD is quickly becoming the naughty kid in the group; one of the moms gave me a dirty look this morning, as if to say, "why can't you control your kid?"

Any advice? Should I keep trying to hold her on my lap to do the activities, or should I just let her wander around wreaking havoc? I'm almost to the point where the frustration isn't worth taking her to storytime anymore, but it's a great event and I know she's benefiting from the socialization.

hermione

[Velar Fricative]

The librarian is right - no children's librarian has expectations of quiet baby/toddler storytimes! I would say as a courtesy though, if she's screaming a lot (more than just a random scream here and there), just bring her out of the room for a minute and see if that helps. If she's just being squirmy and squealy, it's NBD. Pay the other parent no mind. I promise that unless you come across an asshole children's librarian, a noisy baby will still be welcome.

[6fsn]

I'd say it's pretty normal. Do they have a toddler story time? It might be worth it try an older group.

[ladygrey]

Jun 12, 2014 11:59:06 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

The librarian is right - no children's librarian has expectations of quiet baby/toddler storytimes! I would say as a courtesy though, if she's screaming a lot (more than just a random scream here and there), just bring her out of the room for a minute and see if that helps. If she's just being squirmy and squealy, it's NBD. Pay the other parent no mind. I promise that unless you come across an asshole children's librarian, a noisy baby will still be welcome.

Thanks, I totally forgot that you're also a children's librarian! She's not screaming all the time, just a pissed-off screech whenever I try to stop her from running away or force her to sit on my lap. Sigh... 

[ladygrey]

Jun 12, 2014 12:07:44 GMT -5 6fsn said:

I'd say it's pretty normal. Do they have a toddler story time? It might be worth it try an older group.

They also have a family storytime geared for ages 2-5. We could certainly give it a shot.

[Velar Fricative]

Jun 12, 2014 12:09:39 GMT -5 ladygrey said:

Jun 12, 2014 11:59:06 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

The librarian is right - no children's librarian has expectations of quiet baby/toddler storytimes! I would say as a courtesy though, if she's screaming a lot (more than just a random scream here and there), just bring her out of the room for a minute and see if that helps. If she's just being squirmy and squealy, it's NBD. Pay the other parent no mind. I promise that unless you come across an asshole children's librarian, a noisy baby will still be welcome.

Thanks, I totally forgot that you're also a children's librarian! She's not screaming all the time, just a pissed-off screech whenever I try to stop her from running away or force her to sit on my lap. Sigh... 

Not a children's librarian, just work in a public library where I get to see and hear storytimes.

[cinco]

Sounds like normal behavior to me. I kept trying and it eventually gets better.
I would go under the assumption you aren't getting the side eye. Maybe the other mom has resting bitch face these things are easy to misinterpret and I think we moms often think we are being judged when we are not.

[Deleted]

Or if the other mom has a younger, immobile baby she might just not have a clue. Never take judgment from people who's kids are younger than yours.

Baby/toddler time is pretty chaotic. Now that we're going to the preschool/family story time, it's less so, but I still have to remind my 3 year old to sit so others can see. It's more about learning social conventions and how to act in a group than is about hearing a story (especially since we read at home). The "distractions" are most of the point of going.

[dcn]

Toddler story time is pretty chaotic. I generally let ds explore as long as he isn't disturbing the leader or other kids. I try to direct him to the song or story but some days he doesn't give a shit.

I only side eye people who don't take their screaming tantruming kids out or those that allow their kid to push or hit mine without doing anything.

[greycat]

DS gets squirmy sometimes and if he keeps trying to escape (he's 15 months and running) sometimes I'll leave early.

[holly116]

I think there's a learning curve for story times. I started taking DD when she was that age and it took her a few months before she settled down. She was so bold and would run up and sit on the librarian's lap which is comical in retrospect because she's borderline timid as an almost four year old.

Same thing with DS1, it took time for him to learn story time etiquette.

[robot]

Okay, so with regard to the woman who gave you a dirty look at the library, I just want to say this - people with mellow babies/toddlers who sit and nicely watch story time often do NOT understand that not all kids are that way. It is NOT something you have done "wrong" and it's not bad behavior (pet peeve of mine, grr). Kids have very different personalities, and this behavior is well within the norm. I couldn't take my DD1 to any sort of story time that involved sitting still in any way shape or form until she was like 3. She is highly energetic and a mover. She did not want to sit in my lap like the other kids and listen to a story. It was in no way worth my effort to fight that. I either didn't take her, or I'd take her only to events where it was fine to move around and do her own thing. Your daughter may be more mellow than mine, and it could just be a phase, but regardless, roll with it, and don't worry about what others think if she doesn't want to sit still. I'd personally just let her walk around, as long as she's not directly bothering other people (like hitting other kids or grabbing other people's stuff) or being really loud.

[mainelyfoolish]

If she's not disrupting the other kids' experience, don't worry about it. Getting up and wandering around, squirming, and whatnot are normal and allowable behaviors at story time IME. Now, if she's hitting other kids or screaming so loudly that no one else can hear, then I would leave and try again another time.

My 21 month old DS is one of those "active" kids. At story time he's fine as long as we're singing, but he'll often try to get up and run away during the five second pause between songs. After the official story time is over and the kids and moms hang around for the kids to play with each other, my DS is the one trying to run all through the library and push the power button on all the reference and internet computers. :/