To ask why children don't sit on Santa's lap anymore?

[MmmnoodlesoupIsDueXmasEve]

Been to a few shopping centres recently and noticed that children sit next to Santa on a bench, rather than on his knee. Is this a new thing? Thought it was a bit sad!

Santas I've seen recently have been up for lap-sittage. My DCs don't, because DS reckons he's too big now, DD1 is still a little nervous of Santa and DD2 refuses to go within ten feet of him, but if they'd wanted to sit on his lap they coukd have done.

my dd sat on Santa's knee. must depend what grotto you visit perhaps? I did notice Santa was careful to only touch her round the waist and other hand on his seat arm.

We went to the one in Brent Cross last weekend. DS (23 months) was terrified :( but Santa was very nice about it :o

Parents should go in the grotto too, why would you just shoo them inside and wait outside? Never heard of that. So not like anything is going to happen. The two different grottos I have been in also have a photographer so in court they would be witness to clarify that nothing happened (much like doctors that have to ask a nurse to come in when they do personal examinations).

First year we went to a grotto with DS (9 months) he sat on his lap but it was a tiny grotto so not enough space for one of us to sit with him. Then second year was a bigger grotto and we all got in the pic. DC were screaming so was pretty good we didn't have to dump them on the poor Santa's knee anyway.

I'm glad they don't. I never wanted to sit on Santa's knee when I was little, found it so embarrassing!