Hi to all,
Okay, I am going to stick my neck out. So don't flame me too much. I am baby
friendly, I have 2 grandbabies and love them dearly. I also enjoy other peoples
children , But...if I pay $115. for a one day conference $10 for parking, $85+
for a hotel, I expect to be able to hear the speaker and not have a baby/toddler
either behind me or around me that is distracting  and causing me to miss what
the speaker is saying. Yes, some babies are very quiet and I think that is great
to have them at the conference, but many  little ones are not and there are some
mothers who  do not   think their baby's little noises bother anyone.
 I think we are all know that a 2-3 year old is not going to sit quite for 50+
minutes for speaker to give a lecture unless they are sleeping. I think it is
fine to bring them to the conference but have a sitter who will help  watch the
child and will come and get you when the infant/toddler needs to feed.. Or if
the child is with you, sit near an exit so as not to crawl over 15 people in the
row  when the child starts to make noise.Then take the baby out to a sitter. I
have been at conferences when the child is really fussing and the mother
continues to sit trying to hush the child. This is not fair to the
infant/toddler nor to  anyone at the conference.
The conferences are costing more  and many of the hospitals are paying less in
education funds. That leaves the person attending with more out of pocket
expense. If the mother is angry and frustrated because she can't attend with her
baby, I too am frustrated if I pay 200 or more dollars only  to hear a baby cry.
It is not my intention to upset or anger anyone.  There really are 2 sides to
this issue.
Jan Aken ,who is baby friendly.