Would you bring baby to a funeral?

Just being honest my husband and I don't have a babysitter and we both have to attend a funeral for a family member. Initially I thought oh of course we'll truck the baby along, but my MIL mentioned it would be rude and I took to the internet and oh boy. Everyone seems to think it's rude! But like my choices are attend with or don't attend. Like are all these opinions out of touch from being a mama in the moment? What would you do? Side note though the number one reason people say it would be rude is a baby is disruptive. And like yeah babies make noise. But as a general note on edicate of course I would take my baby outside if they were getting fussy. And we wouldn't be there for the whole service, just want to pay our respects. Is it that crazy?

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Firstly, I want to say sorry for your loss 🤍 We took our 5 month old to my husband’s grandfathers funeral earlier in the year, didn’t think twice about it and no one mentioned anything about it being rude (to us anyway). If she started making noise, I just took her out but honestly she ended up sleeping through most of the service. I think it can be definitely manageable to bring your baby to a funeral. They may also bring some joy to the family during this time of grief 🤍

@Patience omg thank you, that's exactly how I felt but was too scared to say so! I mean what am I going to do leave the baby at home? Sheesh

I’ve been to a funeral where there was a young boy in attendance and he made some noise but his parents brought some activities for him to do during the service. End of the day if it’s a family funeral and you want to attend but don’t have child care then you should absolutely take baby with you, it’s your choice

I was pregnant during my friends funeral but my baby was 3m during his celebration at the church I took her along and she did a good job we sat in the back just in case I had to walk out if she cried but she slept through most of it and just stayed silent when she did wake up. Everybody commented on how quiet she was

I took my baby to a funeral and didn’t give it a second thought! As you say, it’s either go together or not at all!! Just take the baby and if anyone says anything just ignore them!! Sometimes MIL’s just like to try and make you feel awkward and uncomfortable it’s what some of them do best! Just ignore her!

in my culture we don’t take babies to funerals or even when you’re pregnant. something about the baby coming out colicky or your breast milk splitting. idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ can’t even visit the cemetery either. i haven’t seen my friend since in 2 years i became pregnant and still breastfeeding because of this. super hard

My son almost two year old has been to 4 funerals. If he got fussy I would take him outside. At my great uncle’s funeral so many people thanked me for bringing him because babies make everything better

I think if it was another funeral, I would send my partner on our behalf or I would go and my partner have the baby but family funeral? I'd of course try and get childcare but if I couldn't and we both had to be there then no. I've never heard of it being rude?!?! My main concern would disturbing the service not being rude?!?!

@Tiffany Yes actually, pretty much as soon as my grandfather died, my cousin took her twins up to my grandmother. Oh my god the difference they made in her, she LOVED it. They brought a smile to the face of a 90 yr old who had just lost her husband of almost 70 years. It lifted everyone actually.

I took my son to my parents brother funeral and my little boy was good

Sorry for your loss. Personally no, my family don’t take children to funerals. I didn’t attend one till I was in my 20s. Never heard of it being rude, I just dont think funerals are the place for littlies xx

I vote yes. We have done funerals both pregnant and with babies and honestly most people find peace with having little ones there. It's a sad day and everyone grieves but little kids can bring light to the day

My Father in Law died we took baby to the funeral. Another family had a baby there too. The babies make it better not worse. Like a ray of hope on a really tough day.

We took our daughter to a funeral for my husband’s uncle, she started fussing a bit partway through so I just took her away from the service & walked her around. I don’t remember how old she was exactly but she was pretty little still, under a year. She did good overall & no one said anything to us

@Sarah We never went to any as children but I think that's also because we were fortunate and never lost anyone close. I wouldn't take an older child but a baby who at that point has no idea what's going on. Don't see a harm. 3m maybe, 3 years, no. I wouldn't do that.