Church question... need Help!

[mlrw70]

OK, I am taking my 3 yr old to church with me tomorrow for the first time. I am Catholic and I go to church occasionally but I have never taken DS. We talk about God and things like that at home, but he has just never been. We are having the Mass for my grandparents 60th anniversary and I do want him to go, just nervous about it. The church I go to doesn't have a "crying/kid" room and I really don't think he will cause any problems, but any suggestions on things to take with me or advice. Thanks for your help!

[FlirtatiousBrat]

cheerios..lol seriously they are a lifesaver for us

We have children's church thru kindy but if we're doing something in the great hall and my kids have to be in there I make sure and have crayons, paper, color book, etc for them to stay occupied.

[Sarah8914]

We always have our kids with us and the first part of church is for everyone, families and such, so they are always in there with us... unless we have to walk the halls because they are too noisy.
Meghan's ideas are great...cheerios, animals crackers, whatever snack your child likes.

If this is going to be a regular thing (you always bringing him from now), you could do more things for him... like buy/make a quiet book with little things to keep him busy. File folder games are great too. Little photo albums to look at pictures, little books if he likes to look at books. The quiet book I've made (am still making...) seems to do the best for us and keeps the girls busy for almost the entire hour.

good luck!

[emmasmommy]

We were just in church tonight with both girls. We don't have a crying room or anything like that so we always bring snacks (goldfish, pretzels, a cup, etc.), some books, a couple stuffed annimals and usually that's good. They usually want to look around at everyone who's there and "flirt" so we get off pretty easy. Good luck!

[SmallMoments]

Bring anything quiet that your 3yo loves. For Luke, we'd bring coloring book, crayons, books, snacks. Luke also loved playing games on our ipod. lol

[Stacey42]

Mine don't stand or sit still for long enough for church. Even with crayons or a toy. We aren't practicing Catholics now so we don't go regularly & they are not in the habit. We mostly only go when my family are around. My husband thinks there is plenty of activity in Mass with all that stand up, sit down, kneel :) but the boys disagree. When we go we sit in the back row if possible and when they get antsy one of us will take the wiggly one in the back or outside for 5 minutes.

[nikkiARNGwife]

Avery does pretty well with his trains or cars for a while, then usually we pull out books or coloring books..still he usually has to be taken out before invitation at some point. He's getting much better now at 4 though..I think 3 is the worst age for getting them to be still in church lol.

[MamaBee]

Yup... snacks... lots and lots of snacks... :p

My kiddo likes lacing cards, a magic doodle board, and books. My church has "activity" bags available for kids during the service...

[d2vasquez]

lol I am smiling because the nuns at our church always talk about those "kids" who bring snacks to church but I was one of them and found that was the only way I could get my little one to sit through the mass. We also let her bring a tablet and she would draw pictures and such. And yes, sometimes she fell asleep but I justified it that at least 3 of the 4 of us were hearing the priest talk as opposed to 1 parent outside with a screaming kid! She turned out ok and is now altar serving on Sundays.....and stays awake!:p

[mlrw70]

Thanks for all of your great suggestions. We went today and DS was AMAZING!
He sat still for most of the time, colored (I made him a church book with the All Boxed Up Timeless Template) and played with his little toy dog. He was so great and I was so very proud of him :thumbup:

[jaylensmom]

when my son was younger i would bring snacks or some toy to keep him busy...luckily for me the church we attend has a children's church so my son goes there while i go to the adult church...