When I teach or lecture, my policy is "babies are welcome but disturbances
are not." I love to have babies, even toddlers in the room as long as they
don't run around or are exceptionally noizy. Coos and gurgles I can deal
with. "Mommy, I'm bored" messages sent loud and clear (you all know what I
mean!) disturb the mom (which means she isn't listening - which is why she
came to the talk), other participants, and the speaker.  This also applies to
adult side conversations and people who crunch hard candy constantly. It's a
fine line to walk, and some mothers cross it making it difficult for the next
one.

One solution that has worked well in some places - audiotape the lecture,
with the receiver/tape recorder outside the room. Moms can play with restless
babies in the hall and still listen, but miss the visuals. The alternative is
missing everything or leaving the baby.

Face it, sometimes as mothers we must choose. I recently missed a great
workshop because of a sprained ankle. And sometimes we just CAN'T do two
things at once, as much as we really, really want to. There will always be
another conference, on another topic, by another speaker that will make up
for the missed opportunity. The baby will only be this dependent once - then
they grow up and write research papers on breastfeeding.

Linda Smith, tolerant old geezer as I approach 50 all too fast
Dayton, OH