Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking baby to the solicitors with us

48 replies

kenbon · 14/01/2019 20:10

Hiya. Sorry I am not sure if this really qualifies for AIBU but I am not sure where else to put it.

DH and I have an appointment with the solicitors tomorrow. No we aren't in legal trouble lol but we do need him to draw up some legal documents for us.

DH is saying it is fine to take DD along with us as he knows the fella and he thinks it is only going to take half an hour or so. I however think we should really try our best to get alternate arrangements for DD. She is 6 months old and I'm afraid she is going to act up in the middle of our appointment. Both sets of parents are busy tomorrow of course so we are in a bit of a pinch.

So it got me thinking as a whole... do you take your baby with you to professional appointments and such? Is it a big deal or frowned upon to do this? I often see mums at the doctors with their babies and out and about so I wondered where the line is drawn.

OP posts:
TulipsInbloom1 · 14/01/2019 20:12

6mos don't really act up do they? Presumably she can have a feed or a snack or a nap or a cuddle. If she can't be consoled you and dh take turns taking her out while the other chats then swap.

moreismore · 14/01/2019 20:13

I wouldn’t think twice about taking her tbh, unless the appointment was likely to be emotional/stressful and cause her distress.

Huntawaymama · 14/01/2019 20:14

I've had accountant meetings with my baby's before. Needs must sometimes

gambaspilpil · 14/01/2019 20:15

Wouldn’t be an issue for me my 6mth old would come with me

DamsonWhine · 14/01/2019 20:15

I’m a solicitor and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. I might even give her a cuddle while you signed something I may have even done this in the past

whittingtonmum · 14/01/2019 20:16

I have taken babies and small children to appointments at solicitors before. It's usually only 30 minutes or so and it was less hassle to take them aling than to arrange and pay for child care. I can't say it was ideal but it has always worked out.

peachgreen · 14/01/2019 20:16

6mo is pretty much the perfect time for taking to appointments - can't go anywhere, usually quite content so long as there's something to look at.

ToeToToe · 14/01/2019 20:16

I took my few weeks old baby to the solicitor when we needed a legal thing for our mortgage. It was fine, he was just in his car seat.

whittingtonmum · 14/01/2019 20:16

along

StowawayJo · 14/01/2019 20:17

6 months?! Be fine!! Wait til she gets to toddler hood - by the sounds of it you'll never go anywhere Grin honestly take her it'll be fine.

zod1ac19 · 14/01/2019 20:17

I’m an accountant and have only had people turn up with kids a few times and must admit I am not keen.

That said, a six month old is different to a 5 year old, who frankly can be quite distracting and make the meeting take a lot longer. At the end of the day time is money and nobody minds it taking 5 mins longer but constant interruptions are a pain.

Raspberry88 · 14/01/2019 20:18

I'd definitely take her. We have had to take DS to plenty of things, including a meeting at the bank where he fussed and fussed but no one minded at all and we actually had a lovely chat in the end! Lots of people don't have any childcare at all and people tend to understand!

BikeRunSki · 14/01/2019 20:19

We made our wills when DS was 2 months old. He came too. We changed our wills when DD was about a month old, and DS was 3.3. They both came. We needed some business documents sorting when DS was at school, but dd was not at nursery, aged about 3. She cane and did some colouring. On both occasions I took a baby to a solicitors office, they slept. On both occasions I took a 3 year old, they were overwhelmed into good behaviour, and distracted by colouring and biscuits.

DontTouchTheMoustache · 14/01/2019 20:19

Im a single mum so when i was on mat leave baby went to all my appointnents, i didnt have much choice as no one else to have him and no money for childcare

whatsthepointthen · 14/01/2019 20:24

Im a lone parent so dont go anywhere without mine!

Vedette89 · 14/01/2019 20:31

I'm a property lawyer and clients have brought their children a few times - never telling me beforehand. I do think it's a bit rude not to mention it beforehand but it wasn't a massive deal and I wouldn't have turned them away or anything.

PumpkinParent · 14/01/2019 20:32

Another solicitor here and I too wouldn’t bat an eyelid at a little baby coming along. It is thoughtful of you to consider it but I think it is one of those times where you have to do what you have to do. Hope the meeting goes well.

BruceAndNosh · 14/01/2019 20:36

If you compare the hourly rate of a solicitor to the hourly rate of a babysitter, I'd get a sitter.
Do you really want to pay the solicitor for 2 hours because none of you can concentrate on the matter in hand because you're bouncing a fractious baby on your knee?

tranquilitybasehotel · 14/01/2019 20:40

I'm an accountant and have had clients bring babies before and not batted an eyelid. They aren't as disruptive as a toddler would be and at the end of the day it's you paying more for the meeting (if it did take longer) not me!

CantWaitToRetire · 14/01/2019 20:41

When my DDs were young I had to take them with me to a meeting at the bank. The lady gave them paper and crayons and they sat happily drawing. Next time I went in I saw a couple of their drawings pinned on her wall Smile.

Pachyderm1 · 14/01/2019 20:43

I’m a solicitor and for something like that I wouldn’t have any issue with a client bringing a baby. If it’s not complicated and won’t take long it will be fine.

drspouse · 14/01/2019 20:43

Baby yes, toddler no.

Mathbat · 14/01/2019 20:43

I’m a solicitor and I wouldn’t mind at all, from my point of view. However, it depends on what it is you are wanting to discuss and whether you think you will be able to concentrate properly with the baby there.

StickItUpYaJumpa · 14/01/2019 20:49

Depends. If it's something you'll need to really concentrate on or might be emotional then no. If it's a straightforward thing then fine.

SoftSheen · 14/01/2019 20:49

6 months old will probably be fine, you might even be able to get her to nap in a pram or sling. 18 months would be another matter altogether...