Catholic moms, I need some suggestions?

Question

I have a 20 month old baby girl who is such a CHOLERIC! It is so difficult to keep her happy and quiet during Mass. I have often had to walk outside with her. As I have to drive 90 minutes just to get to church I don't want to be spending all of my time in the parking lot and missing the Mass, just to keep her from bothering everyone else. Do any of you Catholic moms have any good suggestions as to how I can keep my little girl quiet and contented, other than drugging her!?!

Answer 1

Does your church not offer childcare?  If not, this is what my mom did with us...  Bring books for her to look at, toys for her to entertain herself with and snacks.  I would seriously look into childcare until she is old enough to attend Sunday School!

Answer 2

Have you actually asked your DOCTOR this question? If you baby is always crying it may not be colic but something that needs treatment.

Answer 3

http://www.homeschool-living.com/tempera...

Answer 4

my honest suggestion, and your not going to like it is to leave your baby with a baby sitter. the child at this age isn't getting anything from the mass, and is disrupting both the church and your worship. i know, i know it isn't right to not have the baby in church, but if your child is sick even with just choleric being there isn't helping, i would say pray for your child and have those you trust pray with you. might help depending on strength of belief. but it's worth a shot.

Answer 5

So you attend a chapel which is a very long way from your home and entirely unsuitable for your daughter. Have you not considered going to a more child friendly church nearer to your home?

Your child is a baby still. How do you want her to feel about church as she grows up? That place where everyone disapproves of her and won't let her have toys, or that place where everyone loves her and welcomes her as part of God's family? Right now I'd suspect you are in serious danger of it being the first one.

Answer 6

My church has a cry room that you can go into if needed.. i know it's really where u want to be but atleast u can stay through mass!! Try some snacks.. some goldfish, grapes, etc. Or maybe a book with colors in it.. I know it can be quite challenging to try and keep them content.. but the best bet is thr cry room if one is available. good luck

Answer 7

Reward her with small things and teach her that if she keeps quiet she will get more stuff.  

Answer 8

You know this is one of my beefs with the Catholic Church. I have visited Protestant churches, where they have crying rooms--but I have never seen one in a Catholic church.

I did  things like bring a toy, coloring book and etc.--and when my daughter was old enough not to be so fussy we went out for a spanking a couple of times--and that actually was quite effective in stopping future problems ( I made sure she saw me put the paddle in my purse before leaving for church--and that was a definite deterrent)--but it really ruins the mood of that Mass if you have to actually do it.

I have been to Catholic churches that do have children programs for four years or so and up--and that is a great idea.

I try to think of it as just part of the family environment--but I do wish the parishes would do more to help parents with this.