Letting Baby crawl about when out

[Pigleychez]

DD2 has just turned 10mths and is crawling and cruising about.

DD1 has a 30 min ballet lesson every thursday to which DD2 comes too. Parents sit in a waiting area just outside the hall in a new community centre on lovely new sofas etc.
I let DD2 crawl about around me and play with her toys and pull herself up on the little side tables etc. Not upsetting/annoying anyone at all.

There are 2 other little siblings there at similar ages (one born the same day!) but their mums hold onto them sitting them on thier laps and fighting with them squirming to get down.
DD2 is very sociable and looks at them desperate to play with them.
Im getting abit confused as to why this is? Do they think im a slack mummy or something? They dont really chat with me very much. I think it would be lovely if the LO's could have a little play together whilst thier sisters dance.

Should I not be letting DD crawl around? Yes she gets dirty knees sometimes but surely thats better than spending 30 mins struggling with her squirming about and getting cross?

[notnowbernard]

I'd let her crawl too

[mamsnet]

And they're not even PFBs!!

[muslimah28]

id let my pfb crawl about like that, hes 10mo and it seems silly to have him on my lap for all that time

[DancingThroughLife]

I let my pfb crawl around In Public. Given the alternative (a wriggly, annoyed baby) I'd pick crawling every time. If they want to spend that half hour fighting a baby, more fool them

[belindarose]

I let mine crawl around at that age too, but did get some odd looks from the people lucky enough to have quiet, calm babies who would sit nicely in a pushchair or on their lap!

[FutureNannyOgg]

Maybe they aren't confident crawlers.

DS sits very well in my lap (almost unaided) and wriggles and jumps about like a loon, he looks like he should be very mobile (he has been known to wriggle down to the floor) but he can't sit up on the floor, or crawl yet. He's only 7 months, but looks about 10 months (though it would be odd to get 2 behemoths like DS together )

[partickwhistle]

I let mine (pfb) sit on the pavement today while we waited for our lift, as long as there are no hot drinks/plate glass etc I don't see why she shouldn't be crawling around outside a ballet class. I put my DD on reins so she can have a bit more freedom (she's just starting to walk) so you probably don't want to emulate me as according to MN reins are "for dogs"

[partickwhistle]

sorry, I meant according to some on MN (have seen threads about reins on AIBU and been a bit at them) :)

[quickchat]

Weird, unless of course they can't crawl? Maybe they just roll.

I used to take DS to football classes (indoors) and let DD, then 10 months crawl on the very dirty floor, along all the parents feet as we all sat on the floor! She would start to empty handbags or climb unknown mens legs or even try to join in the football!

I couldn't expect her to sit on my knee for an hour just to avoid dirty knees, that would be unfair I think.

Why don't you ask in conversation if they are walking/crawling yet?

[LunarRose]

another for the crawling around option

have memories of mine crawling down main street in disneyland paris

[Sirzy]

Even if they coudnt crawl in that situation I would allow them to sit on the floor if that is where they wanted to be. 30 mins is a long time to try to keep them sat where they dont want to be!

[redstripeyelephant]

next time why not take a blanket with you and spread it on the floor (in case it is dirt that is worrying them) then plonk DD down with some toys and ask them if their DC would like to join her?

Do they just sit there waiting and not talking? Very odd, sounds like a good opportunity for a mini baby group!