To take my 8-week-old to a pub early evening?

[boy2026]

Would IBU to attend a group activity (foreign language exchange) in a pub with my 8-week-old? The group meets on a weekday evening (not Friday) 7-9pm. Social drinking (not me as I will be driving) but nothing rowdy. Baby is breastfed so I can't attend unless I take them.

YABU - inappropriate to take a baby to a pub at this time
YANBU - no issues

I think a newborn is fine, it’s kids I don’t like seeing in adult social groups.

i go to ww every week, I like my child free time to chat to other adults and it does annoy me when they bring kids with them and they’re messing about.

a non walking baby is fine

I wouldn’t think anything of it at that age, they sleep when they sleep!

In the circumstances you describe no I wouldn’t go. A new person arriving with a baby in tow would be a bit odd in my opinion. It’s completely different if you are an established member of the group. Congratulations on your new baby

Personally I think it's fine with a 8 week old baby sleeping in a sling. Most pubs allow kids before 9am.

But....when do you think it starts being unreasonable? Maybe when the baby is sitting up, engaging with others, making sounds and therefore being a distraction for you and other.

I think you are probably ok until 12-16 weeks.

I think that is best.

Yhe but you should only get them a half pint, a full one would definitely be too much.

Joking, but no take them. We took ours to the pub when they were babies and it was great, mostly slept the whole time and got cooed over by old people.

A social night at the pub can be precious child-free time for many people; the focus will almost certainly be primarily on your baby and it is almost inevitable that others in the group will be silently seething. Your baby's presence is not the focus of the meeting and his presence is not wanted or required by others in the group. Bringing him would be reminiscent of self-important women on mat leave striding into the office with their newborn in tow, expecting the other women office workers to drop everything they're doing to coo over their baby.

Yes its fine! Enjoy x

You deserve a baby free night also! Is there any way someone could mind and feed him (expressed) for a couple of hours while you go to your group?

If you don't feel comfortable doing that just yet, then I would leave it for now. As others have said, bringing a newborn/baby along to an adult evening takes the focus from the group.

Congrats on the baby!

depends on the type of pub. Family friendly one that serves food will likely have lots of other kids around, so absolutely fine. Laddy one when a match is on, old-man-type boozer or slightly scuzzy one where students are pre-drinking, maybe not.

what an utterly bizarre comment!

In my experience, people who are interested in the baby will coo over them, those who aren't will ignore them, neither will have any impact on the event/workplace.

1. many pubs will not have a licence or insurance after eg 8pm for children.
2. an adult hobby group is not the place to bring a baby. Totally changes the dynamic and the topics of conversation I’d be pretty unhappy. A friend brought her baby to our nighttime book club. 80% of the conversation was about the baby.

Has the baby had any vaccinations yet?

It would be fine imo but many pubs don’t have licenses that extend to under 18’s being on the premises until 9pm. Especially if there isn’t a meal involved so that’s something to check