Changing Baby's Sleep Schedule for Church?

Carla - posted on 11/08/2011

Excellent, excellent, Jodie!

Jodie - posted on 11/07/2011

we have had our babies attend church morning and night, since they were a couple of days old. Its not easy, but persistance pays off. babies and toddlers respond well to consistancy and routine. the more you frequent church, the more your baby will find it familiar and if you try and relax and allow your body to relax, often infants will sense that and copy it... If you go stressed, and feel self conscious and frustrated, you can almost predict how your bubba is going to be. Every week your baby is older and more experienced, so set it up to succeed... make sure you take all you need with you, take a pram and baby bag with all the stuff to keep bubs occupied if awake, food if hungry, drink if needs be etc and expect that sometimes you may have a fussy fidgetty bubs whose crying loudly and at those times, just take them for a walk outside of the chapel area til they settle and then return as soon as possible. If music is too loud, stay just beyond the chapel when it can be heard without distress, if preaching is too loud, do the same. Get familiar with your church lay out and when people offer to cuddle or rock bubs, let them. Never apologise for your baby , and keep a close eye on them, but dont dont dont give up or give in... Dont let your child dictate what you can and cant do...eventually they will adjust. It can be hard in the mean time, and opting out can seem like the easiest solution, but you pay for it in the long run...and remember even at this young age, your bubba is watching you and learning from you. He/she will learn to value what you value.

Jennifer - posted on 11/07/2011

Wow! Tell your husband thank you for serving our country. If you can get the little one to fall asleep in the carseat carrier, he might stay asleep during the services. A lot of little ones do. If you are going to a small or young church, are there younger families which would be willing to take turns watching the children in a classroom that could be made into a temporary nursery. I know there is a growing trend of young families keeping their infants & toddlers right there in the service with them. Most of the congregation does not mind the little ones in there. I on the other hand had three kids in four years and really looked forward to my weekly breaks. I really appreaciated those who were willing to watch the kids, especially since my husband wasn't available to be home in the evenings. Thankfully his work schedule has since changed and the kids grew.

Emily - posted on 11/07/2011

I would try bringing him and see how it goes. If there's no nursery, I'm sure people will be understanding. Maybe you can do just one of the weekly studies to minimize the disruption to his schedule, but on the other hand, I liked the comments about parents bringing their kids to these things since they were tiny and they end up able to sleep anywhere! Sounds like you need the fellowship and support while your husband is gone--I know I would!

Kelina - posted on 11/04/2011

If your son is anything like my daughter, trying to get him to sleep when you're out is something that's just not going to happen. My daughter often winds up fussy, cranky, screamy and generally unhappy. She won't take anyone but me, and even when she's in my arms will scream and flail. I would see if maybe you can put together a moms group or bible study that's better suited to moms with young kids. I would definitely try taking him and seeing how he does, who knows he might do great but if he doesn't don't get discouraged. Babies don't stay that way forever, he'll get better at staying up past his bedtime in time.

Susan - posted on 11/01/2011

I would try bringing him, and seeing if you can get him to sleep next to you or on your shoulder. I think you might be surprised how many other women in your church might be willing to "share the load" on that task as well. I would also say that if you find that you can't get him to sleep and he winds up being cranky because he isn't getting enough sleep then don't feel you should stay home. He will only be this young for a season, and then you will be free to be more flexible once again. You might want to also check with the staff at your church to see if there are other mothers who have the children the same age as your own. You may be able to start a bible study during the day for mothers with children the same age. Some friends and I at my church started getting together to study the bible and just support each other with fellowship and prayer one morning a week. Honestly, I get more from that close fellowship than I ever got from the big "church" meetings I go to as well. We just pick a bible study or Christian book to read together. And if one of us needs to vent/talk/get advice, we set aside the study for that week and do that instead. I'll be praying for you that the fellowship you need will be provided for you no matter what decision you make.

Anne - posted on 10/31/2011

Our Daughters are now 23 and 27 years old. BUT when they were babies, and then children we took them to Church. Thankfully we had a Nursery and because of the size of the Church we also had one paid staff. I am wondering if you talked to your Pastor is a Nursery could be started. Even if you needed to take a turn watching the children you would still be others, and I know what ever you decide is best for you and your family God will honor your faithfulness.

Sarah - posted on 10/30/2011

I took my daughter to meetings with me in her carseat till she was about 12 months old, and it worked really well for both of us.

Missy - posted on 10/30/2011

Thanks ladies for your advice. I've been missing that fellowship especially since my husband has been away.

Carla - posted on 10/30/2011

I agree with Victoria whole-heartedly. We fell asleep in church on the pew or in the floor, and my children did the same thing. God will honor your hunger for Him in this act. He may take a couple times to get used to it, but he will.

God bless, honey

Victoria - posted on 10/29/2011

Our kids have attended bible study on Wednesday nights at 7pm since they were born. Sometimes when they were really small they would fall asleep on the seat next to us or in their infant car seat or in the nursery, and as they got older they started to attend children's church after worship. For us it's only Wednesday nights and Sunday nights as we have both an AM & PM service.



Even though your son is so little, God can still minister to him through these meetings, in a way and to levels we can not possibly understand.



It's never a selfish thing to want to be in fellowship with other believers receiving from God in a collective manner, I believe it is a hunger & desire that God puts within his Children.



There is a ministry God does when we are gathered as a collective body, that just doesn't happen when we are on our own or in a family bible study at home. There is a tent of meeting or sermon on the mount experience we can have, that God will feed us from his word & send us home fulfilled & satisfied.