Odd Question

[Anglewannabe]

As much as I do think it is wrong to change a baby in a church pew, I can also sympathize with a busy mother forgetting herself and making a mistake. Sure it was no fun to have the priest ask you not to do it, but live and learn and forgive yourself.

As for a change table, IMO with mainly seniors attending most churches go to, I doubt there will ever be enough moms to push the ‘buying a change table’. Sadly even churches cater to the biggest majority.

However, most churches I have been to have an entry before actually entering into the church. If it was absolutely crucial to change your baby right then and there, I would have at least stepped into the hall and done it there.

 

[CradleJourney]

JMHO:

Is changing a baby in a church pew specifically wrong? No. God created us, He creates babies. Jesus lived here on earth with all the sights and smells inherent in human life. I absolutely cannot think of Him being offended by a loving mother caring for her baby in a discreet, normal fashion.

Is changing a baby in a church pew a good idea? No. As several others have posted, it is definitely not the ideal spot by any means for a wide variety of reasons, including the possibility of offending others - specifically in this instance the priest.

Did the OP do anything wrong? Nope. Without changing tables, the restroom is definately OUT. Use all the pads you want, that floor is not a place for a baby or for the mom’s knees and possibly hands when she’s trying to keep the little one on the pad, while cleaning and changing. For 90% of the population, the only way to change a baby in the car is to have the door open and bend in over the seat - not at all reasonable in a downpour. More possible (and I have done it) in a minivan since you’re able to get in and shut the door but still not easy.

From my reading of the original post, other areas around had groups of people - much better, again, in my opinion, to use a back pew away from people, so that unless someone happens by in that space of few minutes during the changing, like unfortunately the priest did, no one would notice or need be offended by the sight of the baby being changed.

That said, for times I have been in a similar situation, I have found the reconciliation room to be quite private and empty and have used that, though my preference is for the seat in the cry room if it is empty. Luckily, if/when I have grandbabies, it will no longer be an issue at my parish thanks to the KofC donation of 2 changing tables.

And yes, I feel that was money well spent. After all, the total cost - spread out over the several years of use they get - is well less than what is spent on the cost of meat purchased by the parish for one mercy meal each year. (And no, I’m not calling for the elimination of those smile just pointing out that parishes spend money in a wide variety of ways to help make life a smidge easier for their parishioners in time of need.)

God bless!

 

[Aggies08]

I do think it was inappropriate.

If the child needs to be changed, you either pull out a receiving/swaddle blanket, and put it in the floor or the bathroom/hallway/not the nave, or go to the car. I’ve done it many times.

If it’s not raining, the trunk makes a great changing spot; if it is raining, then the front seat/passenger, or into the rear if you have an SUV.

Why not ask the priest/secretary/other where they’d prefer you change him when you saw he needed to be changed and didn’t see a changing table?

Once the child is a year, you can change them while standing, even for BM’s. “Touch your toes!” they will learn quickly, and can be practiced at home if it’s a frequent need in the places you visit.

I’d request a table added. Our church doesn’t have one in the bathroom, but it’s in the room the bride would change into (it’s not the one the priest uses though, not sure what it is, exactly).

 

[Bruised_Reed]

JMHO:

Is changing a baby in a church pew specifically wrong? No. God created us, He creates babies. Jesus lived here on earth with all the sights and smells inherent in human life. I absolutely cannot think of Him being offended by a loving mother caring for her baby in a discreet, normal fashion.

Is changing a baby in a church pew a good idea? No. As several others have posted, it is definitely not the ideal spot by any means for a wide variety of reasons, including the possibility of offending others - specifically in this instance the priest.

**Did the OP do anything wrong? Nope. Without changing tables, the restroom is definately OUT. Use all the pads you want, that floor is not a place for a baby or for the mom’s knees and possibly hands when she’s trying to keep the little one on the pad, while cleaning and changing. For 90% of the population, the only way to change a baby in the car is to have the door open and bend in over the seat - not at all reasonable in a downpour. More possible (and I have done it) in a minivan since you’re able to get in and shut the door but still not easy. **

From my reading of the original post, other areas around had groups of people - much better, again, in my opinion, to use a back pew away from people, so that unless someone happens by in that space of few minutes during the changing, like unfortunately the priest did, no one would notice or need be offended by the sight of the baby being changed.

**That said, for times I have been in a similar situation, I have found the reconciliation room to be quite private and empty and have used that, though my preference is for the seat in the cry room if it is empty. Luckily, if/when I have grandbabies, it will no longer be an issue at my parish thanks to the KofC donation of 2 changing tables. **

And yes, I feel that was money well spent. After all, the total cost - spread out over the several years of use they get - is well less than what is spent on the cost of meat purchased by the parish for one mercy meal each year. (And no, I’m not calling for the elimination of those smile just pointing out that parishes spend money in a wide variety of ways to help make life a smidge easier for their parishioners in time of need.)

God bless!

This articulates all the thoughts that floated through my mind. I bolded the important parts.

 

[QuiteCatholic]

I have six children and never came across this problem. I know though that I would never change a diaper in church. I would probably just have left immediately after Mass and changed the baby in the car or waited until we got home.

 

[Iheartcoffee]

I would probably find a back hallway or a side room if the bathroom is unavailable. There are some good little fold-able changing pads that are inexpensive and can be wiped down because they have a plastic-y fabric. You can throw that down on the floor and change the baby on it. Floors get mopped regularly and as an added bonus the baby can’t roll too far and get hurt because there is no where to fall!

The church should probably consider a changing table of some sort, though. It would make things easier on families.

My guess is that the priest was mostly concerned about hygiene. There are some nasty things that can be passed from contact with fecal material. It doesn’t matter if it is a tiny baby, they can have those germs too. Considering that it was in a church pew, he was probably worried that the pew would not get properly disinfected after being used as a changing table.