Taking little ones to funerals

I don't think there is any one right answer here. I have taken babies to funerals before, mostly because they were too little to leave with a sitter at the time. As children get older, it becomes more complex and the child's emotional needs also needs to be considered. Here are a few wonderings I have to help make this decision:
- Will you be so upset at this funeral that you will be unable to look after the child?
- Is your child old enough to understand death?
-Does your child want to go to the funeral?
- Does Covid allow many guests or is it limited?

At the end of the day, you know your child best and will be the best person to make this decision.

I think that it depends on the circumstances. We brought our little ones to a smaller, intimate funeral because they were close to the deceased and didn't have much choice (re: childcare). The service was short and it was manageable.

I think that it's a good option to bring kids to calling hours because as someone stated, children do make these situations a little easier. I would be more apt to bring the little ones to something like that.

It is really up to you if you are comfortable bringing your little kids to a funeral but personally, I really do not bring my kids when they were little to funerals primarily because they do not have an understanding about funerals and all that goes with it. I would want to bring them to funerals once they have a deep understanding of what is happening and why this event is important. I also want to discuss about loss, death, grief, and mourning before I bring them. I just want them to know what to expect and be emotionally and mentally ready for different situations that might happen while we are at a funeral.

Bringing your little kids to funerals and similar events is really a personal decision, especially if it involves family and closest friends but please take time to explain to your kids what a funeral is all about, and of course, you have to make sure that it is really safe to bring your kids to such social gathering, after all, we are still in a pandemic.

There are 2 sides to this answer. In general, people tend to leave infants and toddlers home when there is a funeral. However, children tend to make a sad situation lighter, so if your child is a close relative to the deceased, you may want to consider bringing your child. However, if you are too distracted or distraught to care for your child and have no one to help you, it is best not to bring the child.

For those not in the immediate family unit, it is respectful to leave your little ones at home.

There are 2 sides to this answer. In general, people tend to leave infants and toddlers home when there is a funeral. However, children tend to make a sad situation lighter, so if your child is a close relative to the deceased, you may want to consider bringing your child. However, if you are too distracted or distraught to care for your child and have no one to help you, it is best not to bring the child.

For those not in the immediate family unit, it is respectful to leave your little ones at home.