Inspired by a friend's post and recent experiences

[zevabe]

 On friday I was on a train in the early afternoon and there was a crying baby the whole way.  Normally it really irks me (I am not a parent but simply do not like the sound of crying babies), but I just decided that since i was planning to sit and read, i could ignore said child, who is not my responsibility.  I should think this way more often

Comments

[adrianna_r]

When children are very small they cry because thier basic needs aren't met. Meeting those within 10 minutes is relatively easy if you're well prepared (have diapers, bottles/boobs, toys, blankets on you). They also cry because they get hurt by stuff, but that doesn't usually happen on mass transit

[joshbrown]

There's more to it when it comes to shul. It's not only a question of them sitting and behaving themselves, there is also an issue of the fact that you are in shul to daven. So if you have to take care of your child at all, you are taking away from your own davening.
There is no age that you can point at and say that children over this age can be brought to shul, and children under that age cannot. It depends on the nature of the child.
When we were young, we were not allowed to be brought to shul unless we brought a book with us, and could be relied upon to sit and read quietly next to my father. We were not allowed to go outside and play with the other kids. I happen to think that this is the right attitude.

[zevabe]

Rebecca was told growing up that she could read one book, either from the shul library, or of the type to be found in the shul library. But for her (and probably for you as well) reading was an inherently rewarding activity.

[onionsoupmix]

Babies cry for many other reasons as well. When they are young, they cry because they start and then don't know how to stop, how to self soothe, for example. Babies cry because they are colicky and the best bottles, diapers, toys won't help at all.

Shul is a difficult question because by the time they are old enough to come and sit for 2 hours, they will usually find they have better things to do, unless they are trained early that shul is a fun, happy place.