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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

MotherHeyho · 14/01/2019 20:51

I'm a solicitor and it wouldn't bother me at all. In fact, it would probably brighten my day up!

E20mom · 14/01/2019 20:52

I'd definitely take the baby

whatsthepointthen · 14/01/2019 20:54

I Take my 20 month old everywhere, never had any issues.

user1471426142 · 14/01/2019 20:58

Depends what it’s for. A baby is have no hesitation. I had to take my 2 year old to swear an oath and that was ok but I wouldn’t have liked doing it for anything more complicated as I think she’d have acted up.

MillieMoodle · 14/01/2019 21:33

I'm a solicitor and I love it when clients bring their little ones in, it makes the day less dull

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 14/01/2019 21:35

I love it too! Makes my day.

Also when people bring their puppies in to see me.

YouWinAgain · 14/01/2019 21:35

My 3 year old comes to appointments with my solicitor sometimes, no-one bats an eyelid, sometimes the secretary comes and plays with her for me. So I'm sure a 6mo will be fine.

Mumof1DS · 14/01/2019 21:38

I'm a solicitor and wouldn't bat an eyelid. I've had clients kids present before, who have been very well behaved. If it was a baby I'd need a cuddle with it though
I've taken my baby most places on maternity leave and wouldn't think twice to take him to a non complicated appointment with a solicitor or similar. I arranged childcare while i had a root canal, but that would have been an hour where i couldn't comfort him/put him on a boob etc while I'm in the chair.

Bibijayne · 14/01/2019 21:41

DH and I have a solicitors appointment tomorrow. We're taking DS (5 months old) it's a fairly short appointment and it's less fuss to take him than to organise child care for such a short period of time.

Subtlecheese · 14/01/2019 21:46

My solicitor's have a range of toys and books in reception. At 6 months as pp have said she will be fine as milk/ cuddle will probably suffice for a short meeting.

MsTSwift · 14/01/2019 22:10

Hmm. I have lots of clients with babies and young children frankly it can be distracting the parents don’t usually fully take on board what I am explaining as too preoccupied. No problem if just signing docs or similar

Highlowpo · 14/01/2019 22:12

It'll be absolutely fine. I'm a solicitor and had lots of clients bring babies (and toddlers!).

PurpleCrazyHorse · 15/01/2019 08:11

We had to take our 18mo and 7yo to apply for a bank account. That was a bit of a pain but the 18mo did mostly sit on the floor with our iPad helpfully assisted by the 7yo.

We did however ring to say we would need to cancel the appointment and the bank were happy to keep the appointment with us bringing the children (so their choice).

6mo should be fine though, they're not usually moving too far and fairly easy to entertain. I would take plenty of their favourite snacks and a handbag full of quiet toys/books and/or a tablet with a few shows downloaded on it. Never ideal but if the meeting is short, then it is possible. I would also plan to tag team with your partner if necessary, so one of you goes out with the baby while they do their bit and then swap.

MumW · 15/01/2019 08:33

Just take some snacks and a selection of toys. Maybe a blanket so they can sit on the floor.

CherryPavlova · 15/01/2019 08:35

I wouldn’t have considered not taking the child.

CornishMaid1 · 15/01/2019 08:46

Another solicitor and would have no issue at all - I have had clients in with children of all ages and had an appointment where the baby got hungry and needed BF during the appointment and never bothered me.

I would just make sure you have a plan for little one if she is unhappy (toys, snack etc) more so that you can concentrate on what you need to do. As long as you can entertain LO (so if they are a bit older they do not want to tear around the room and destroy it!) then don't even think on it.

I've also had clients who have brought in very young babies and had our receptionists offer to look after then during the appointment too, but that was more for the cuddles!

Original poster

kenbon · 15/01/2019 15:07

Ah thank you all! x looks like most of you think it's alright to take LO along, so I'll stop worrying about it as I always do lol. She is usually quite good when we take her out but I'm always afraid of a looming public meltdown or her getting impatient, especially didn't want something like that to happen at the solicitors as we're having an important discussion there. Luckily we're just in for a short chat and to sign some papers so the more I think about it the more comfortable I am. This is just the first time she's ever come along with us to something like this so I was feeling a bit nervous for some reason. Perhaps the receptionist would even be willing to look after her if they aren't busy! x

OP posts:

RangeRider · 15/01/2019 15:27

Perhaps the receptionist would even be willing to look after her if they aren't busy
Please don't ask them! They'd probably feel obliged to agree and be hating it because they have phones to answers and people to speak to - a job to do! And not everyone loves your child.

FloraPostIt · 15/01/2019 15:51

I'm a solicitor and quite happy for clients to bring babies. Or even older children (preferably with a tablet). I prefer it when they bring dogs though!

GariBaldybiscuit · 15/01/2019 15:57

I'm with Range, please don't ask. He/she has a job to do and yes, not everybody even likes children.

Original poster

kenbon · 15/01/2019 20:58

Right of course, wouldn't ask the receptionist to look after her, I was just thinking if someone had taken an interest in watching her I'd have let them

OP posts:

londonrach · 15/01/2019 21:03

Seriously op....a baby is vvv simple to take to appointments. Dont worry about it. I didnt realise how easy a baby was until my baby became a toddler.

eyesbiggerthanstomach · 15/01/2019 21:10

I'm a family solicitor and clients do this all the time. It's no problem at all. What is a problem is when one divorcing parent brings their school age child to a meeting which is all about the divorce and how god awful the other parent is!!

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