“Babes in arms” - what age would you say this is?

[SteakSteak]

We’ve got a wedding invite for this summer addressed to just me and DH. Obviously is just us and not our DC - more than happy with that. However, DC2 is 8 months old (will be 9.5mo at the wedding) is absolutely refusing a bottle.

what age would you deem ‘babes in arms’?

so not to drip feed:
To add to the faff - DC2 has CMPA so we’re trying to introduce special formula.

DH and I are also on holiday at the time of the wedding. We’re flying back and meant to be leaving both kids with family members aboard. I’ve no issue - other than she’s refusing a bottle. If I had to bring her, just wondering if I could. Although I would feel terrible leaving our toddler.

Obviously, I know the answer is to ask but just wanted to gauge opinions before going through all of it, if it becomes a non-issue.

I would say up to 6months definitely. 8mo would be borderline imo but 'babes in arms' would mean no high chairs or food provided, literally, you'd expect to hold them or have a pram for them to sit/sleep in.

Babies who aren’t crawling yet.

up to 6 months tops.

Pretty much this. Babies who are being held or carried all the time.

I’d say up to 6 months or so before they need a highchair etc.

if they are that important that you are leaving a holiday with your child for them then surely you can just ask them?

6 months and under. If they're old enough to eat solid food then leave at home.

This

A baby that isn’t going to be crawling around under the tables.

my ds was a babe in arms at that age. Couldn’t crawl, couldn’t sit without support and just sat on me.

I think that up to six months is being generous. Your child is likely to be mobile, sit supported, and should be on solids.

4 months, imo. 6 months at a push.

I would disagree with the Pps and say it depends on the baby.

My baby turned 6 months last week and is absolutely still in my arms most of the time. Can’t quite sit up herself yet and is only just about tasting food. Tolerates a high chair for about 5 mins.

I would assume under 1

Under 6 months - ie no highchair or food requirements.

Those saying crawling - are you seriously trying to say at 4 months, my baby wasn't a babe in arms??!!

Could your baby properly crawl or did she just sort of shuffle on her front and not able to get far? Once a baby can roll or crawl to get to places then they stop being a babe in arms.

I think 6 months as most have said is a pretty decent guideline but I'd say under a year is probably a grey area where it's possibly acceptable. The fact that there's no universal agreement on this means you'll probably have to clarify with the bride and groom.

I would say non-mobile babies so younger than your baby.

I would say 6 months max. Several of my friends had children who walked before 1, two of them before 10 months so I definitely wouldn't say up to a year would fit the description babe in arms.

Agree with this

I think it's age not motor skill led though. My children were not mobile until 11 and 12 months (and I wasn't myself until 12 months) but definitely wouldn't have called them 'babes in arms' and that age.

I have always thought of babes in arms as older than most posters. In theatres it usually refers to children under 18 months old. I would take it to mean too young to require their own seat.

There seems to be such a range of opinions it is difficult to know what the bride and groom mean by the phrase. The only way of knowing is to ask them.

9-6 months.

Obviously that should say 0-6 months

At 4 months he was (if left on the floor) commando crawling about the room.
At 5 months, he was properly, properly crawling - including stairs. But he wouldn't have been put on the floor somewhere like a wedding reception! So would have been excluded, even tho he could have been treated like any of the other 4month olds who weren't as wriggly!

I think crawling is a very discrinatory method, as it is so age dependant. Some babies dont crawl!

Generally it’s six months and younger, a baby who can’t move themselves