We have been invited for a play visit for our child n it is scheduled mid-Jan. It's stated that siblings should not be around but I have a newborn who is currently breastfeeding. It's recommended that both parents attend the session and would just like to find out if any experienced parents can offer any advice. Do you think I can bring my newborn bb along? She is really quiet and hardly makes any noise.
ESF play visit
- Thread starter trttrt
- Start date
I would find it very inappropriate to take a newborn, no matter how quiet. A play visit doesn't take that long (no more than 1 hour). Possibly bring your (or a pt) helper and have her wait with the baby in the lobby while you focus on your older child at the play visit?
Such a Hong Kong response.
I would have no problem with a newborn at such a play visit/interview, especially if both parents are around. And if you are breastfeeding, you can't always anticipate when the baby will need a feed.
The reason for 'no siblings' is so the children will play with/around the other, perhaps non-familiar children, not just with the familiar sibling. A newborn is not gong to interfere with that process.
I would have no problem with a newborn at such a play visit/interview, especially if both parents are around. And if you are breastfeeding, you can't always anticipate when the baby will need a feed.
The reason for 'no siblings' is so the children will play with/around the other, perhaps non-familiar children, not just with the familiar sibling. A newborn is not gong to interfere with that process.
which esf is it? my daughter goes to abacus in clearwater bay. they have been absolutely fine with me taking my baby to school events (i don't have a full time helper, and didn't have a part timer until a couple of weeks ago). I just made sure i let them know in advance. The play visit is very informal - i think i was only there for around half an hour & i think my daughter spent most of the time in the playground! Admittedly i was still pregnant when I did the playdate, so didn't take bub to that one, but they've been fine ever since.
A Hong Kong response? I am not from here, and no matter whether I had helper or not, which I didn't before I moved here (and I already had 3 children) I would always arrange somebody for my newborn. In case of breastfeeding I would probably keep that "somebody" closeby if I needed but I really feel it's only fair to the child attending the interview to fully focus on him / her. I've seen it so many times at parents-teacher consultations, etc. that especially Asians (?) bring their children, siblings, etc. Arrange a babysitter! I've never seen that before. They ask you not to bring kids, and so many people show up with their kids? Especially here, it's not hard to arrange a helper or babysitter, or even a friend. That way the parents can focus for 15-60 min on what you're there for. I've never experienced that in Europe. Even with my twins in the States, I have managed to do it that way. I felt I owed to my oldest to give her (or her teacher) my full attention.
Interesting to read the different views though ...
I think if you don't have a helper that is not always possible. because of the helper culture here in hk, babysitters are hard to come by & people generally don't have the same family support that they would if they were in their home country.
If trttrt has a helper, I'm sure the school would be fine with the helper coming along and waiting outside the classroom with the bub, in case a of a need to feed. Again, I would just email/call them to ask/let them know.
I would have no problem finding a part time helper to babysit when asking. Even mine is not that busy with 3 kids in full time school now and has helped out others as well. I see my friends do the same very regularly if needed. Because we don't have family, I see people rely on friends (and their helpers) if needed. I honestly think if you really wanted to, it wouldn't be hard in Hong Kong, but apparently (which is my misunderstanding in the first place) people in general seem to think it's quite OK to bring little ones along, which I didn't expect.
i haven't noticed that people find it ok to bring their little ones along, but i'm new to the whole school thing! for me, i felt like it was a case of take bub along or don't go at all. I never expected the school to be ok with it, which is why i always checked first. of course, having a part time helper now, and knowing more people well enough to ask to 'borrow' their helper for a couple of hours, this is less of a problem for me!
on a side note, i am actually lucky enough to have family here in hk, but they all work, so can't help out during the week!
on a side note, i am actually lucky enough to have family here in hk, but they all work, so can't help out during the week!
. Just something I noticed with 3 kids in primary school ... quite surprised me. I know for a fact that teachers in our school aren't very excited that children come along to parent teacher consultations ... must say, apparently it's usually the same families over and over again. I think schools will always understand if there are special circumstances, so I agree, it's always better to ask and inform them instead of just showing up with a child when specially stated parents only. Kind of common sense right,
?Maybe we have different ideas on parenting but I would not be happy to leave a newborn with a stranger.
Having travelled the world, and lived in four countries across Europe and Asia, I've never seen a situation where people are not accommodating of a newborn, especially somewhere as relaxed as an ESF playscheme.
BTW - 'little ones': a newborn is different to even a four or five month old. I wouldn't take an older baby, but a new baby needs to be with mum as much as possible. It's just a normal part of life all over the world - much more 'normal' than passing them off to a stranger.
Having travelled the world, and lived in four countries across Europe and Asia, I've never seen a situation where people are not accommodating of a newborn, especially somewhere as relaxed as an ESF playscheme.
BTW - 'little ones': a newborn is different to even a four or five month old. I wouldn't take an older baby, but a new baby needs to be with mum as much as possible. It's just a normal part of life all over the world - much more 'normal' than passing them off to a stranger.
I also wouldn't leave my girls with a stranger (neither my bub nor my 3 y.o.). if i had to 'borrow' a helper, it would be someone i know! I also agree with the difference between older baby & newborn. I do think, however, it's a good thing to ask/let the school know if you have to bring bub with you, especially if they've stated that they'd prefer siblings not to attend. In my experience, ESF have been very relaxed, even encouraging about me bringing my now 9 mth old.
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Hi! Thanks for the responses.. It's ESF hillside. I don't have a helper, otherwise I would definitely bring her along and have her wait around. Neither do I have family or many friends around. Friends, if any, are working so it would be impossible to aak them for help. Besides not everyone is comfortable to handle a baby just a few weeks old. I am also not comfortable with leaving my little one with anyone, other than my husband who will be attending the session too.
I think I will give the school a call to inform them. Hope they will be cool. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great new year, all!
I think I will give the school a call to inform them. Hope they will be cool. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great new year, all!
Agree, my kids know many of my friends' helpers by name, and I have known them for a while too. I wouldn't consider them a stranger.
Hi! Thanks for the responses.. It's ESF hillside. I don't have a helper, otherwise I would definitely bring her along and have her wait around. Neither do I have family or many friends around. Friends, if any, are working so it would be impossible to aak them for help. Besides not everyone is comfortable to handle a baby just a few weeks old. I am also not comfortable with leaving my little one with anyone, other than my husband who will be attending the session too.
I think I will give the school a call to inform them. Hope they will be cool. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great new year, all!
If that's what you're currently working with and comfortable with, by all means, call the school and explain. I am sure you won't be the first, nor the last, but I think it's only considerate to inform them. Good luck!!!