Is It Ok To Sit Babies Near The Back?

I think its fine to expect them to sit near the back, but I'm not sure you'd need to ask them to. Most parents with little babies would automatically do this I think.

Recently I had a conversation with a friend who just had a baby who brought up that she was worried about the baby during the ceremony, I reassured her that general baby noises were absolutley fine and it's only if the baby is screaming the place down that she probably ought to take him outside!!! She said she'd be sat near the back by choice!

Sorry, I forgot to explain that one of the reasons I ask is because my OH's family is insisting that all family members be sat at the very front, regardless whether someone has a baby.

I was going to ask what people do about family babies?

Mine (toddler) was best man and was chatting all through the ceremony on my dad's lap on the first row. As was his cousin, my baby niece, one row back. Partly for this reason, we kept our vows short and simple. I wouldn't have dreamed of sitting family babies at the back, and in this vein, wouldn't have asked friends babies' too either (although there were none).

If it were my brother or sister's wedding, as a family guest, I would ask and accept sitting at the back with my children, but it would make me a bit sad. Family is family to me.

At the end of the day, if the baby is screaming the parent should take them out regardless of where they are sat IMO. So I wouldn't get too hung up on where they are sitting if you know they will do that.

A little gurgle or a toddler chatting away a bit too loudly every now and again will just make everyone laugh!!

When I was doing a reading at my brother's wedding, I was in the 2nd row with my 2 month old but on the end of the row, so me or H could easily escape with baby if necessary. The end of a row - any row - can actually be easier to escape from quietly than the middle of a back row full of young families.

At one of my best friend's civil do at the weekend, even though I was doing a reading, my partner and I sat at the back on the end of a row with our 2 yr old and 11 month old so we could make a quick escape if we needed and also made sure we had a baby friendly friend next to us to hand little man over when I did the reading. If you ignore the baby doing a really loud "blah blah blah" chatter just as the registrar asked if there was anyone here who knew of any reason why etc etc, they were OK. My point being, I'd have thought any parent with half an ounce of common sense would sit somewhere to make a quick exit - perhaps you could let them know about the layout of the venue and ask them where they'd feel more comfortable sitting so if questioned by other relatives, it's not your fault if they aren't seen in the "proper" place.