How to Keep Your Baby Quiet During Church – 9 Tips + Tricks

Attending church services is an important part of growing your faith. However, as a new parent, it can be hard to attend church with a little one. Some parents don’t feel entirely comfortable leaving their baby in the nursery when they’re very little and others simply prefer to take their child with them to the service. No matter what your situation is, you’ve probably looked for ways to keep your baby quiet during the service.

No parent wants to be the one with a fussy baby in church. Although a baby crying in the middle of service is bound to happen sometime, there are many ways to keep your baby calm. We’ll share our best tips for keeping your baby quiet in church.

Tips for Keeping Your Baby Quiet in Church

Bringing your baby to church for the first time might make you nervous. You might be worried what other people will think when your baby starts to cry during the service. Having a baby in church with you is normal and even if your little one isn’t quiet the whole time, that’s okay. Here are our best tips for helping your baby stay calm during church:

1. Sit Near the Back

One of the best things you can do when bringing your baby to church is sit near the back. If you’re sitting in a place where you’re constantly worried that your baby might be interrupting the service, your baby will feel that anxiety and worry too.

Sitting near the back also means you can step in and out of the service without disturbing anyone. Especially the first few times you take your baby with you to church, you may be leaving the service and coming back in quite a few times. Finding a seat near the door means you’ll be able to slip in and out unnoticed.

2. Feed Your Baby During the Service

Babies and children of all ages tend to get pretty cranky when they’re hungry. You might need to bring snacks during the service or you may need to nurse or bottle-feed your baby during the service.

If you’ve found a seat in the back, you can breastfeed or bottle feed your baby discreetly during the sermon. If your baby is a little older, bringing snacks with you to church can be a gamechanger. If you need to step outside to feed your baby, do so and then come back to the service. A full baby will be a happy baby.

3. Bring Toys to Play With

Don’t expect that your baby will stay occupied on their own. If they’re awake, they’re likely going to want something to entertain them. Bringing them toys to play with will give them something to do while you’re listening to the message. Bringing quiet toys is a good idea as well instead of toys that are going to disrupt the service more than your baby would.

4. Time the Service Around Their Nap

Especially if you have a younger baby, the best way to make it through a church service is to have your baby nap during the service. You may not always be able to plan this, but newborn babies especially can sleep through anything. At most churches, you get to choose from a couple different services to attend. Choose the one where your baby will be more inclined to nap.

5. Bring a Baby Carrier

Carrying your baby in a baby carrier is a great way to keep them quiet during the service. Even if they’re awake, it’s a good way to hold your baby to keep them calm, while also still being hands free.

Especially while you’re standing during the worship music, having a baby carrier handy can help keep you and your baby calm. It may even soothe your baby enough that they fall asleep.

6. Take Breaks

Your baby may not be able to make it through the whole church service and that’s okay. Taking a break in the middle of the service may help your baby stay calm.

If your church has a nursery or other designated space for moms, go take a break halfway through the service to rock or feed your baby. If you notice your baby getting fussy, take them outside the church for a few minutes. Having your undivided attention again for a few minutes may be enough to calm your baby down.

7. Practice at Home

Kids of all ages are more likely to feel comfortable with something they’ve seen before. Practicing everything from listening to worship music and reading the Bible at home can prepare even the youngest children to attend church service.

If your church shares the sermon or worship service online, practice by watching the service together at home.

8. Offer grace

Grace needs to be extended to both you and your child. You will be able to teach your little one to be quiet in church, but it will take some time. If you have to leave the service early because your child is upset, that’s okay in the beginning.

Remember that God always extends his grace to us. He is strong even in our weakness. When things don’t go perfectly, show yourself some grace and try again next time.

9. Use the Nursery

If you’re not comfortable leaving your baby with people you don’t know, get to know the volunteers in the nursery. It might be helpful to spend some time there with them for a week or two of service. Also, remember that you don’t have to keep your baby in there the whole time.

The time during a service when a baby might be most fidgety is during the actual sermon. If it makes you feel more comfortable, let your baby stay with you during the worship music and then drop your baby off right before the sermon starts. This will allow them to spend less time in the nursery, and may help them adjust to being in there.

9. Pray

Trying to bring your baby to church with you can be frustrating or nerve-wracking the first few times. Your best tool is to pray before and during the service. Ask God to give you the patience and strength to stay focused during the service.

Ask the Lord to help your baby stay calm during the sermon. Most of all, ask the Lord to give you peace that you’re doing the right thing and doing the best you can. Don’t expect too much of yourself. You’re only one person and remember that it’s okay to ask for help when you need it.

Benefits of Bringing Your Baby to a Church Service

Being able to keep your baby calm in church depends a lot on your baby’s age. But there are also some tried and true methods for keeping babies of all ages happy during the service. If you’re a new parent or haven’t taken your baby to church before, you may be wondering, why should you bring your baby to church anyways? The truth is, there are many benefits to bringing your baby with you.

Some families choose to put their kids in the nursery or child care during the service, while others choose to attend church together as a family. Both of those options are okay! But if you are trying to decide what’s best for your family, here are some of the benefits of bringing your baby to the service with you.

1. It Will Get Them Used to Going to Church

If you start bringing your baby to church with you at a young age, they’re more likely to feel comfortable sitting in church in the future. Even babies under one can get used to a rhythm or routine.

A church service can be very overstimulating for a baby the first time. From the music and the lights to the crowds of people, there are many things for a baby to get used to.

If attending church becomes a part of your little one’s routine, they will adjust quickly to the new environment.

2. The Word of God is for All to Hear

In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” No child is too young to hear the word of God. Even though younger children might not understand what is happening in church yet, they’re never too young to experience God’s presence. The worship music and sermon can influence little ones from the first time they attend church. Remember that you are attending the service to grow in your relationship with God, and it’s perfectly okay for your little one to be there too.

To wrap up…

Bringing your baby with you to church may seem like it could be complicated. But there are many benefits to bringing your baby with you. If you plan ahead and are prepared, it’s also possible to keep your baby calm and quiet during the service. Next time you have your baby with you in a church service, we hope these tips help you keep your baby calm.