Do you think it’s appropriate to take a baby with you to house parties or out drinking?

Question

My cousin is 25 and having her first baby.

She has always been a heavy drinker and parties with her friends at bars, concerts and house parties with 5-10 people.

She has friends who bring their babies to the house parties and drink with their little kids and babies there. They spend the day after the parties hung over while their parents watch their children. They have the motto of “Why should I stop partying when I am still young?”

My cousin says she has no intention to stop partying when the baby gets here. She plans to take the baby along to house parties and hang out with her drunk friends and her husband is okay with this too.

I know it’s not my kid, but this upsets me so much. I am pregnant with my first baby too and I wouldn’t even take my dog to a place where people are drinking out of control!

Do you think it’s appropriate to take a baby with you to house parties or out drinking?

Answer 1

That is so not right, I feel for the child she'll be having. Mom is choosing booze over him/her. When will people learn that chidren are not a fashion craze and are not accessories???
I admit, I take my children most everywhere I go and I do take them to parties--when children are invited. We don't get drunk, we don't even get buzzed and we still have a good time. GRRRR! Makes me so mad!

Answer 2

If the situation is as you say it is, and your cousin doesn't improve her behavior, then you will need to do something. Talk to her first and explain your concerns. If she doesn't listen, try enlisting either the aid of her parents or the child's paternal grandparents, assuming that they're around. If this still doesn't make things better, then you'll need to call Child Protective Services. There's no way that those children can be getting the proper supervision while their parents are getting drunk, and it's an incredibly dangerous situation for them to be in, to say nothing of the damage that's being done by exposure at such an early age to that sort of behavior. Babies are like sponges, and you have a responsibility to ensure that they don't wind up in situtions offer the possibility of long-lasting psychological harm.

Answer 3

Absolutely not appropriate! If it's a party where people are drinking to get drunk, then there should be no children around. There are too many things/accidents that could result in a child being around drunk people. If people are partying, how are they to look out for a baby/child?

This angers me as well, but all you can do is focus on your own child. There is not much you can say to your friend to make her not do this, unless you call child protective services? But only if you think it is necessary.

Answer 4

I definately would not! They make it illegal to drive drunk for a reason... this would mean all other activities as well, esspecailly caring for an infant. Just because it's at night, doesn't mean the baby is going to sleep through the night. What if she dropped the baby or something while she was drunk and the baby got seriously hurt. She needs a wake up call and a fast one at that. Also, what's wrong with these people's parents watching their kdis because they are too hung over?!?! I'm very young to have kids and i have two. But at least i take responsibility for my kids. THis makes me very angry!

Answer 5

It is never appropriate to take you children to drunk fests its one thing if your at home have a couple friends over and you have a drink or two while the children sleep safely in bed its another thing to have wild parties around your kids or to take them out then your gonna drive home with your kids in the car? I will pray for your friends and you should stay away from them as much as possible you don't need that influence in your life neither does your baby.

Answer 6

not appropriate at all. I have 2 small kids and I would NEVER take them to a party like that Ever. When you have kids, yes your partying days are over. Your kids are #1 in your life now and she needs to accept that. She needs to take care of her child and not her own SELFISH desires. She shouldn't have made the decision to get pregnant if she cannot be an adult and raise this child. personally I would call social services the second you know that her child is at one of those parties. Who knows what could happen to that poor baby. *cry*

Answer 7

it really depends on the circumstances...if it is like a barbeque and most people are sober but an odd person here or there gets blasted (which often happens at barbeques) and im staying sober then i think its okay for me to go eat have half a beer and leave..but to bring my baby to a house where the intention of everyone there is to get drunk and even myself then absolutely not under any circumstance...your cousin/or her friends need child welfair called on them for subjecting their children to this behavior. btw im 25 and thats is more then old enough to start acting like an adult.
yOur cousin needs a good reality check..call social services. it will smarten her up.

Answer 8

Yes, I find it very inappropriate to take kids to late night "house parties", especially if there is a lot of drinking involved. I mean, seriously...does your child need to see that?! I like to go out and have some drinks, too, but my kids aren't with me and, when I do drink in front of them, I do it responsibly. The parent needs to set an example! Your cousin should stop breeding until she decides to grow up and be a parent to her children.

Answer 9

No of course it isn't appropriate. When everyone is drinking, thre is not much good judgment left in case an emergency happens. And even if they ARE at someones's house, if an emergency would happen, who would be sober enough to DRIVE to a hospitol? I think the parents of the drinkers are only helping them along in their irresponsiblity---I mean, I like drinking, but I don't drink so much I can't even function the next day to take care of my children.

Answer 10

HELL NO IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE... sounds like these "partiers" need to grow up... and their parents need to not watch their children for them when they're hung over... if i had a child that took her baby to a house party with her and expected me to babysit while she slept off a hangover... i'd take her to court and take away her baby. I would ask your friend if she wanted to lose that baby cause if you know she keeps partying then you'll take her to court to prove her an unfit mother and that the child needs to be put somewhere that someone could take care of it... Call the police & have them bust one of these parties!!! Maybe then these people will get the hint