I don't like to see mother's and babies have breastfeeding interrupted but at
the same time if I have paid money to attend a conference, and none of them
are cheap, I definately 'would not appreciate being distracted or missing
some important information as I frantically take notes ( because of not being
allowed to tape which would make things much easier) because of baby noises.
 I think at conferences reservations should be made in advance for mothers to
bring babies BUT there should be a room set aside for these babies with a
competent baby sitter, the costs of which should be paid for by those mothers
 making reservations to bring babies.  These mother can leave feely to check
on and feed their babies but they should not be in the conference room in my
opinion, but arrangements should be made so they can attend with their
mothers.
It's not so much not wanting the babies at conferences (in the conference
room) but it is more that each of us has different sensitivies to noices and
different abilities to tune them out and to concentrate.  Those of us who are
more sensitive to noises and maybe have a lesser ability to tune them out and
concentrate should not be penalized or disrupted by even the sweetest cooing
little visitor since we are paying to hear and enjoy the speaker and should
be able to do so without disruption.  If there were a guarantee that baby
wouldn't make a peep, by all means bring him in, but you have to have one set
of rules.  You can't just say that if the baby is disruptive, please leave
the room because who is to say what is disruptive.  Is it okay for one baby
to coo and not okay for another to cry or squeek?  Who is to distinguish
which baby is disruptive.?  Maybe the baby is only disruptive if you are
sitting near the couple and not to the people on the other side of the room,
but we all paid the same price to attend.  If I can't hear or or concentrate,
than I can't hear or concentrate - period.   After reading some of the other
posts I feel a little intimidated to send this.  I'm not the enemy.   I
promote and support breastfeeding all the time, but this is another point of
view.  Yes, Katheryn, paper shuffling and candy wrappers, etc. are even more
annoying.   Unfortunately I am one of those easily distracted ones who no
longer has babies and is not yet a grandmother.