When to Take Baby to Church for the First Time? Here's Your Answer...

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I remember wondering when to take baby to church for the first time, especially with my first child.

For me, church is a really special place and something that I enjoyed the thought of attending with my new baby.

However, there are a lot of unknowns about having a baby and even simple things like grocery shopping with a newborn can feel really daunting.

The answer as to when you should take your baby to a church service for the first time is something that you’ll have to decide for yourself. There is no right or wrong answer as everyone’s circumstances are different.

Below we’ll talk about what you might consider when making this decision. Your circumstances may or may not include these points but as a mom of 3 kids, I feel as though they could be helpful.

Your Guide to When to Take Baby to Church for the First Time

Some moms are back at church the week after having their baby while others take months to return.

The first thing that you need to make note of is not to compare yourself to other moms. You don’t have to measure up to anyone so don’t waste your energy on that.

All of us have different babies with different needs and we all have different postpartum experiences. There’s no award for “bouncing back” the fastest, so please don’t put that pressure on yourself.

Consider the points below when making your decision but remember that it’s ultimately your’s to make.

#1 What Season Is It?

Taking your newborn baby out in public feels a lot less daunting during the warmer months when there are fewer colds and other illnesses going around. The time of year may very well impact your decision.

All of my babies were born in either early autumn or mid-spring and so I wasn’t super worried about their little immune systems too much.

However, if your baby is born right in the heart of flu season, it may be wise to hold off on any big gatherings like a church worship service for a bit.

If you are still happy to go out, wearing them in an infant carrier can really help with keeping people at bay.

Because baby is so close to you people are less inclined to get in your own personal space than if baby was in a stroller or car seat. It’s a good idea for protecting their immune system without having to be confrontational.

#2 Is There a Church Nursery?

Another thing to consider when deciding when to head to church for the first time is whether or not they have a nursery of some kind.

While breastfeeding should never have to be done privately, many moms do appreciate having a private room to be discreet. Breastfeeding doesn’t always feel natural at the beginning and you may not want a bunch of eyes on you as you get baby latched.

Even if you’re bottle feeding (which is what I did with two of my kids), it’s really helpful to have a set space to be able to do that without feeling disruptive.

And of course, babies cry so it’s a great idea to have a place to go if they get really noisy. Having a fussy baby can be stressful if you feel as though they’re being disruptive. Many churches do have a cry room for this reason.

I am very much pro having kids in church, but I think we can all agree that there comes a point where you may need to step out for a moment to get baby settled if you need to.

If your church doesn’t already have a church nursery, perhaps you can suggest it?

As your baby gets older, you can bring some quiet toys and just have them play at the back of the church, but newborns really do need a quiet little space.

We have a speaker in our church nursery so that the moms don’t have to miss out on hearing God’s Word.

#3 How Is Your Recovery?

Postpartum recovery is unpredictable. We all recover at different rates depending on so many factors.

If you’re not feeling well you absolutely should not put pressure on yourself to be back to doing all the things you did before having your baby.

Yes, church is important but you need to be well enough to handle it first.

We went back to church three weeks after my first child was born and although I enjoyed it, I was absolutely exhausted by the end of the day.

Don’t feel as though you’ve got something to prove, because you haven’t. Take care of yourself and the rest will happen at the right time.

#4 What are Your Priorities?

When you have a baby it is hard. There’s no getting around the sleep deprivation, the physical changes, and then mental exercises your brain has to adjust to.

Something to keep in mind are what your priorities are. If going to church is one of them then you need to set it as such.

While you do need to be realistic about your recovery and taking care of yourself, there is also a very high likelihood that there will always be something challenging about getting to church on Sunday morning with a baby.

If you want to get to church then you need to make that happen despite the challenges.

The more you do it, the easier it’ll become.

We like 1.5 hours away from our local church and there have been many times when it would have been far easier to just stay home.

However, the sacrifices have been 100% worth it.

#5 Will You Have Help?

What kind of support will you have when you go to church with your baby?

I have several family members who have always been incredibly supportive.

If your spouse is not with you, perhaps you can ask a friend to be there to help you with anything you might need. If you have older children they may also be a great support.

I’ve always found wearing baby in a wrap to be the most practical way to attend church in the early days.

#6 Do You Have Other Children?

If you have other children then you may go back to church quicker than in if you don’t. I know that for me personally, I wanted my older kiddos to be able to attend Sunday School.

They learn so many Bible stories and just have such a great time. Even for small children there is a children’s ministry and that made me want to get back sooner.

This may not be the same for you and you may find attending a worship service with multiple children far too overwhelming at first. That’s okay too.

One thing that I also considered was the thought of a sick child in the church nursery and the potential of that coming home with my kids. With a newborn it’s hard to make the call as to what you want to do in those situations.

Sometimes I’ve kept my children in the service with me just as an extra precaution.

#7 What Do You Want?

At the end of the day, when to take your baby to church for the first time comes down to what you want.

If you are physically capable of getting there and you want to go as soon as you can, then do that.

If you want to wait a few months then do that.

No one can tell you what is right or wrong and you shouldn’t let other people’s opinions sway you from your decision.

Trust your mama gut and do what you feel is best.

Perhaps you can even do a baby dedication when you first attend again? Welcoming a baby and having a child dedication is always something that a church family rejoices in.

#8 Be Realistic

We live about 1.5 hours away from our church family and so we’ve had to be realistic about what we can actually do. Attending on a Wednesday night just isn’t possible. Even Sunday night service isn’t always something we can swing.

Commit to one service and get comfortable with that and then you can add more as it works for your family.

Final Thoughts

New parents can find even the most basic things now overwhelming with a new baby. Going to church for the first time as a family is an important day, but it’s not a defining moment.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself for it to be perfect. The reality is that your baby might sleep through the whole thing, or cry, or be perfectly content. You really don’t have all that much control over it.

The key is to just get out and do it and then do it again until it becomes a regular part of life again.

Nap time can be flexible to make room for important engagements like church. Trust me, I’ve been going to church with babies and toddlers for over 6 years now.

You can do it and it is totally worth the hard work. Hearing the Word of God and being with other believers can be a huge encouragement. Even if you don’t make it through the entire service, you’ll still be making progress.