Tips for taking baby (4 m) to a wedding

[BunnytheFriendlyDragon]

We have a wedding coming up. Baby will be just over four months old then. It's the wedding (civil ceremony), wedding breakfast. Not sure if there will be an evening do as well but if there is I imagine we won't stay late. Planning to go and come home same day. About 1 hour each way.

We are planning to go and come back in a day.

It's the basics like do we need to carry baby the whole time? I'm not sure we can take the pram in. Or would we take the car seat in case we need to put baby down?

Baby is breastfed. Assuming there may be somewhere for me to go to feed baby.

I haven't actually taken baby out much at all due to Covid so that's a factor too in that I haven't had to feed him at a public place or anything. We've been out and come back or I've fed him in the car or we go for walks with the pram.

Ring the wedding breakfast venue and ask about prams. You definitely don’t want to be carrying your LO the whole time - it would be a pain when you have your meal, if you want a bit of a dance with your OH, when you pop to the toilet, have an adult conversation without a baby pulling at your hair or getting its head in the way, having to whisper if baby is asleep etc…
Having a pram would make your life so much easier. If you have a pram with good storage, it also means you’ll have somewhere to keep all the paraphernalia that you’ll undoubtedly need.
Take a monitor. You might get lucky like I did once - we were at a reception having drinks on the terrace and I put the pram under a tree on the lawns beneath the terrace, in the shade and right away from the hubbub. However, it was out of ear shot so I nipped up to my room and got the monitor.
Arrive early if possible, so if your LO gets crotchety in the car you can go for a quick walk to settle him and give him a feed before the service. Don’t go into the ceremony room until the last minute, and make sure you sit at the back for a speedy exit if needed.
Be prepared to suddenly have to leave the table, and with this in mind eat as much as you can whilst you can! Whenever someone offers to help, say yes. Hopefully your LO will enjoy being passed round the table while you are able to eat your dinner with cutlery in both hands (heaven).
Take a change of clothes for yourself in case of spitting up.

Thank you @Ricekrispie22 !

Definitely bring the pram but also it's a good option to look at a sling in case baby is happier up close or when they are awake. Sometimes pranks are hard to manoeuvre etc amongst crowds / photos / odd venues so if you also had a hands free sling option that would be useful.

I have t got a sling yet but was thinking of getting one

I took mine to a wedding at 5 months and had all of the same worries and concerns! I took his pram and used it during the meal (he wasn’t ready to use the high chair) and it was also useful for a walk around the grounds to give him some time out from all of the excitement.

I held him during the ceremony and just left the pram in a convenient spot as there wasn’t a huge amount of room. We sat near the back at the end of the row in case we needed to duck out and I took some (quiet) toys to entertain him as you inevitably end up waiting a while for things to start.

In terms of feeding I ended up breastfeeding during the ceremony, took him outside to feed during the meal (it was a lovely day and comfy seats with a good view!) and fed again during the evening. I haven’t been out a lot with him during covid and thought I’d be worried about feeding in front of people but I just went for it. If you think you might be worried just consider your outfit choice or a cover up but really it’s just natural and you shouldn’t feel anxious about it.

As I went without DP everyone was really helpful, people offered to put the pram wherever needed so I could carry the little one. My starter was brought outside as I was feeding (I didn’t ask, the venue staff were just lovely!) people offered to hold/entertain whilst I ate etc. It was actually a lovely day despite me worrying for a week beforehand!

We stayed until about 8 which was good planning as he had barely slept all day due to being nosey! He was ready to sleep the hour drive home and even coped with the hour diversion due to roadworks.

I'm also wondering whether to stay at the venue just so I can head up to the room during the day but it's about £300. It's a nice spa hotel and normally I love a spa but it's not like we'll be able to use it, unless we take baby in the pool the next day, but it's an expensive swim! Part of me thinks it will be nice to make it into a mini break.

It's less than an hour from home and as we're not staying late I don't think we need to stay over

I'd stay if you possibly can. You can go for a lie down too if you get tired !

Re the swim If it's a fancy venue they may not allow young children in the pool/ spa. I know many don't. Worth checking if you are planning around that.

Yes I'll check. Wedding is a weekday though so also need to check if DH can get two I days off work!

The couple might have negotiated a special rate with the hotel, hoping the £300 isn't the special rate !!

We took DS to a wedding about that age. Had the pram at the bag of the church and I stood up there with him rocking it and he slept through the ceremony. Put him in a sling during the meal and he mostly slept then too. Got him into sleepsuit and sleeping bag at about the normal time and he slept in his pram in a side room with a willing supply of people wanting to take a break from the disco and watch him then headed home.

I never removed myself from any situation to feed him. Nobody ever really notices you doing it, it's really fine.

I did one with DS2 aged 3 months. We had a borrowed pushchair (had flown over) but I was kicking myself for not taking the sling on the day! He was not happy at all in the pushchair and only wanted to be held. Too big a crowd of strangers I think.

So Id recommend taking both

I looked on a similar situation as my excuse to buy a beautiful silk-mix sling which sort of became part of my outfit.

Take a pram and a sling. Buy yourself a breastfeeding friendly outfit (ASOS do nice nursing occasion dresses). 4m is a good age as baby should still be stationary!
When I took my second to a wedding at 4m old I just breastfed her throughout the ceremony to be sure she wouldn’t make any noise!! Sit at the back where you can get out quickly if needed. If baby cries for more than 1 second then pleeeeease immediately exit until they’re settled.
Take about 4/5 outfits for the baby and lots of muslins!!
Staying over would probably make your life easier.
Don’t assume you have to leave early. As pp, mine have slept in pram through evening discos, or in a sling on the dance floor!!

The couple might have negotiated a special rate with the hotel, hoping the £300 isn't the special rate !!

About £300 is the special rate! It is expensive.

Take about 4/5 outfits for the baby and lots of muslins!!

4-5 sounds like a lot just for the wedding!

May need to look into slings.

Really not sure what I will wear. That is another issue as I will have to buy something and still varying baby weight