How often do you get a public fuss/cry with your baby?

Question

Your baby crying or making a fuss of the sort that disturbs people nearby -- routine? Rare? Brief? Long? Etc. At what age did the public fussing start?

Answer 1

15 months now. He's usually held or walked. Don't own a stroller, likely never will. Car seat stays in the car. We have used the seat on the cart. never tried a sling. From eating in restaurants, visiting nursing homes, going to the store, Anywhere at all. He's not made so much as a whimper in public. Always smiling at everyone, looking around, laughing, jabbering. There's just too much to see out there.

We keep him occupied with singing or learning colors from the scenery, or counting items.

Never bribed with food or toys.

I think it has to do a lot with how well you have raised them. Having the close bond with you so they are comfortable and having them get to know other people too so that they aren't scared in public. Also giving them alone time to learn to occupy them selves so that they aren't in a constant need of attention.

He fusses at home at times as any baby will. Far from the colicky baby he was considered to be when he came to us.

Just the sweetest baby you ever seen.

New word for today, Cars! That's my boy.

Answer 2

I haven't read the other replies yet- but our baby never fusses in public.



I have an interesting story though: we were grocery shopping and she was in her sling...another mom passes by with her baby husband. Her baby was in the carseat- screaming. She was offering him a paci, rubs, etc. She saw me again in the store and asked: where did you get that thing you are wearing. That is what I need! I stopped and handed her the website- and she was so happy.



She is 17 months old now and still never, ever fusses. She loves to be out, and when I know it's time, she goes into her mei tei on my back and loves the view!



Our infant seat always stayed in the car: 1. it was too heavy to lug around 2. we found she was happiest in her sling and 3 it was easier shopping with her in the sling.



So, the fussing never started for either of ours...ever. He is 11 now and she is 17 months.



My sister and brother in law came here to visit after she was born...we went sight seeing, traveled around- and she was always in her sling. My sister-in-law had never seen one and was amazed at how easy it was getting through the crowds- no stroller to maneuver and no fussing- if she fussed, I nursed her while I walked...not one person even knew I was nursing.

Answer 3

The only time my son is fussy in public are for the same reasons he gets fussy at home. He's either hungry so I stop to feed him (yes I am the one you see standing in the bread department of the grocery store holding my son and feeding him. If my cart is in the way - GO AROUND). Or he's tired and he's still small enough that with a couple blankets I can make a bed out of the seating area of the cart and the motion will put him to sleep very quickly, sorry if I seem to be running aimlessly around the store! Or he needs to be changed (and heaven help the grocery store/coffee shop etc... that doesn't have a changing area or a place where I can change his bum because I WILL change him where ever I can find a spot if I can't go back out to my van easily). If he's cranky for any other reason and won't settle then I will remove my son, even if it means I have to leave my cart behind (if there's frozen/refrigerated stuff I try to find an employee to let them know the stuff needs to go back right away and apologize). However it is rare that any of those things happen and we are out almost every day, going somewhere as my son loves to go new places and right now at 6 mo old his favorite store is Home Depot!

Answer 4

My 9 month old rarely fusses while we're in public (he's usually too busy people-watching). When he does, it's usually my fault for being out and about longer than his patience and comfort level allows and he's tired of being confined to his carseat or cart or stroller.



During the times he's been fussy I make sure that it's a short-lived event. I usually find a quiet spot to nurse him and he's back to cooing and smiling at passersby in no time.



When my daughter was still a baby, we had no problems with her. Ever. Seriously. I wore her in a sling about 90% of the time when I was out in public. I'd love to do the same with my son, but at the rate he's growing, I think I'd break my back wearing him.

Answer 5

It hasn't started yet. My daughter (1 year old) is pretty well behaved in public, for some estrange reason. So well behaved, people tell me all the time how good she is and I don't deserve such a nice daughter lol. At the mall, at planes, you name it.



Then when we're home, that's another story, lately she fusses about everything. Mainly cause she wants to play for hours and sometimes she even refuses to eat! She's too excited with this new walking thingy.



I suspect the public fits are not too far away....



Edit-



Babies Über Alles, wait until your baby starts getting more mobile and doesn't want to be in the sling anymore cause all she wants is to run around all the time lol.



Edit2-



Oh yeah! My daughter fusses in crowded elevators!! Man, she can't stand those, but can't blame her!

Answer 6

My baby is three, so the "fussing" is mostly just the occasional foot stomping because he's angry. But as a baby, he really didn't cry much at all when we were out of the house. The sling solved that problem very well. Of course he cried on occasion, but it was usually because he needed to be fed or changed. I honestly only remember one big "outburst, if you can call it that". Due to the fact that he was always held and is a naturally easy - going child, he was an easy traveller.

*EDIT* Pitusi, I have the SAME issue with my son! People have always told me how well - mannered he is when we're out. Now, he's a pretty good kid at home, but he's certainly no angel, either. I guess we should count our blessings that they at least behave when we're out, though.

Answer 7

My son was (still is, actually) an angel when we were out in public. Once, he got a little fussy, but there was a lady fawning over him wearing too much perfume. He settled down once she was gone, so maybe her perfume was bothering him. He's now almost 3, and is a great toddler as well. The "terrible twos" weren't so terrible for us, save for a whine here or there. Now when we're out in public, our son is either carried, or he rides in the cart ONLY when he asks to be put down (since he can't walk). He actually has a wheelchair, which is collecting dust in a closet somewhere. He'll actually ask for his chair sometimes, so we'll get it out, and I'll take him somewhere so he can wheel himself around. I never force him into his wheelchair, and I find the time he does spend in it is a happy time with no fuss.



I was in the grocery store earlier, and I saw several babies being carried, either in a sling or in someones arms. These babies were much happier than those who were still strapped in their infant carriers, riding in the cart (apparently, the mommies missed the warning that infant carriers are not made to be placed in the top part of the cart).



EDIT: Just wait until your daughter can talk, especially when she can put sentences together. My son says "hores" instead of horses. We were eating in a restaurant once, and there were horses across the road. He got really excited, pointed at the horses and said "Look mom! Hores!" Of course, there was a group of ladies sitting by the window, and they were a bit startled by this declaration. Fortunately, I was able to explain that he wasn't calling them wh*res.

Answer 8

In public or baby is usually too distracted and excited about everything around him that he forgets that he has a reason to be fussy (hungry, tired, etc). Shopping trips, walks, visiting others, and visiting daddy at work usually never see fussy periods. The only exception has been church on Sundays. At some point in time during the three hours we are wanting to be at church he gets sleepy. He won't sleep any where else but his crib or in the car.



Since he is so little (10 months), he usually doesn't fuss unless he needs something, and then stops when he gets what he needs.



Edit: I think that the fussiness/crying in public usually happens later, and happens because of anger/frustration/trying to gain control etc. I think once babies learn that they wanted something, couldn't have it, and that crying/fussing usually gets them either what they wanted or something else really cool, they start to behave this way in public. What do you guys think?

Answer 9

I have a 15 month old and have only had one public fuss/tantrum that left me embarrassed. He was about 13 months old and we were Christmas shopping. He was tired and cranky to begin with and when I took his hand so we could checkout, he "fell out" in the middle of the store. I just put my stuff down on a nearby stack of books, picked him up and we went home immedietly for a nap, lol



Other than that one instance he is always a very well behaved baby in public.

Answer 10

very rare, and brief for us



when it would be enough to say it's disturbing those around us started somewhere between 18-24 months! When her vocabulary exploded and her mouth was ahead of her brain. The understanding what NO meant, but not understanding the reasoning was extremely frustrating for her, I often tried a brief explanation, but to no avail.



I think she didn't fuss when she was a baby, in public or at home, because she usually didn't need to. She didn't have colic or a lot of gas, she always had her needs met - sometimes before she knew it needed to be met, I usually carried her in my sling while out in public, so I was already holding her.



Just today, I was at Walmart - the mega center of babies crying alone in shopping carts - mind you it's the day before the Super Bowl of American football, and I live in TEXAS - where football is king......



anyway, we're at Walmart and my husband (who often lovingly teases my parenting ways, but always takes notes) kept noticing how a good 9 of the 10 babies/toddlers screaming were in the shopping cart! At one point he even said, within earshot of this one woman "the kid really would shut up if someone would just hold him" I just kept walking like I didn't hear him... I was sort of embarrased, but he was right! Plus the lady looked like she was the type to turn around and kick someone's butt for "talking smack!" LOL



Sometimes things can't be avoided, kids can feel the pain of teething or any thing can set them off... but overall, I think fussy babies fuss for a reason, and if they're tended to promptly and consistently, you can avoid a scene!

Answer 11

Well my daughter uses the carrier while I am out and she doesn't make a fuss. I am always showing her attention and talking. There is no need to put down the people who don't use slings. I have tried many but due to a shoulder injury and surgery, I cannot use a sling. But just because I am one who uses the stroller/carrier doesn't mean that my baby will be more fussy than yours. My baby makes the occasional whimper and noises, but not fusses or fits.



Edit: Thanks Tanya, I really appreciate that. Sometimes I get to feeling down because of all the judgements here and really we are all moms. Thanks again! :-)

Answer 12

I have been lucky here, my little man has never caused a fuss in public, and we set at the tax prep office for about 3 hours today with him and my 9 year old daughter.....both did very well...they did better then dad lol.

Answer 13

So far, besides the first couple months (and he was hungry mainly), he only gets fussy on the city bus. He likes to scream, it drives me crazy. When we go to the store, however, he seems very content and relaxed. We go to the mall and walk it occasionally and always loves to watch everything.



He is 9 1/2 months now.

Answer 14

My son is a little over 6 months and we've NEVER had any of that happen. He's an amazing baby.

Answer 15

Zero. And when I took him out he slept either in his pram or next to me on his lambswool. Or fell asleep in my arms. Never embarrassed me.

Answer 16

AS FAR AS MY SON HE STARTED THROWING MINOR FITS AT 6 MONTHS OLD THAT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 30 SECONDS- YOU FIND WAYS TO HANDLE THEM.

Answer 17

Every time we are out, for as long as his itty-bitty highness feels like it !!



I no longer remember when he started. Feels like forever! ; )