we have a funeral to attend on Saturday. it's important that h and I both be there, but h maybe a bit more so than I. we have exhausted all of our babysitting options and none are available (most will be at the same funeral). I would venture a guess that there will be over a thousand people in attendance so my baby would hardly be a distraction in such a huge crowd. I would sit in the back and move him immediately to the lobby for so much as a peep. or are babies at funerals so taboo that I should stay home and send h alone?
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
I would go and take him. My aunt died when DS was 5 months old. I took him with me, and my cousin (also a niece to the aunt) took her 10 month old. No one looked thought anything of it.
Definitely go. DS has been to a funeral and a wake (separate occasions, once at 2 months another at 9 months) People seemed to appreciate that there was something happy (squee, baby!) during a sad time.
As you mentioned, stay in the back in case your LO starts to make noise during the service, but definitely go.
Post by thatgirl2478 on Oct 22, 2014 21:29:31 GMT -5
I would go. But then I just took my 2 wk old and my 3.5 yr old to a funeral on Sunday. My cousin's 1yr old kid was a bigger nuisance than either of my kids.
Post by disappointedkittens on Oct 22, 2014 21:31:13 GMT -5
I just took C to a funeral a few weeks ago and it was fine. There were actually several babies there and people seemed to appreciate the bit of cheer they provided.
Take him. Just be sure to sit towards the back so you can step out if he gets fussy. I think where people have issues with babies at funerals is when the parents dont step out or do anything to quiet the baby.
My experience of babies at funerals (especially funerals for people that had long full lives like you're talking about) is they are the life and hope and "circle of life" in the room and very welcome. I'd absolutely take the baby.
Post by nonsenseabound on Oct 23, 2014 9:51:21 GMT -5
I agree that it's fine to take a baby to a 93 year old man's funeral. We just had a funeral for my 96 year old grandma and my sister brought her month old daughter. My second cousin brought her 3 year old. No one batted an eye.
I agree that only time it would be taboo is if the funeral was for a child. Then I would think it would only be okay if the child knew the other child.
I did. L was 8 weeks old at the time. I sat in the back and I stepped out when he got hungry. Unfortunately I missed the end because I was nursing in the car.