Bringing new babies into work

Swanandduck2 · 30/09/13 - 18:43

Anyone got strong feelings on this? A colleague was in with hers this morning and insisted on bringing the baby all around the place, knocking on doors of people she isn't even that friendly with and hanging around for ages. Most people bring the baby up to the canteen and anyone who's interested/not under pressure workwise drops up to admire and goo and gah etc. Personally I think that works much better.

Emma_Waughman · 30/09/13 - 18:45

Guess it works out if she hasnt got any childcare available

. Would you leave your child on your own at home? Probaly wants to flash the baby off you know like `Heres my child,take a peak and move on`

Swanandduck2 · 30/09/13 - 18:47

She's on maternity leave. She called in for a visit.

Vodka_Drinka · 30/09/13 - 18:47

It's attention seeking. I've never understood it myself, it's not like no one has ever had a baby before is it?

dorydaryl · 30/09/13 - 18:48

Agree. Don't think there's anything wrong with bringing the littl'un in, especially if people have contributed towards gifts, etc. Bring them in and show them off by all means but be aware that not everyone will be staggering with awe. Taking the baby to an unobtrusive place (such as the canteen, like you suggest, OP) and letting those who want to come and make a fuss do so when they have a moment spare.

Glitterbug13 · 30/09/13 - 18:49

I always think it's odd that you would expose your baby to all sorts of germs by taking it into a stuffy work office!

Plus I am not interested in babies so I usually wander off somewhere else until it's gone

[Deleted User] · 30/09/13 - 18:50

With you OP. The expectation that you must be interested in the baby of a colleague you've barely spoken to is painful.

I'm all for baby being brought into the staff room/canteen etc so everyone who wants to can enjoy it, but when it encroaches on work or puts people under pressure its just irritating!

kippeh · 30/09/13 - 18:50

I saw a similar thread to this just a couple of week back? Of all the things to get worked up about lol

Mint · 30/09/13 - 18:50

Sometimes they are asked to bring the baby in. I get annoyed when I am asked if I want to hold it.

Glitterbug13 · 30/09/13 - 18:52

Nobody is getting worked up about it, just having a discussion that's all :rolleyes:

Swanandduck2 · 30/09/13 - 18:52

kippeh wrote: »

I saw a similar thread to this just a couple of week back? Of all the things to get worked up about lol

Who's getting worked up?

[Deleted User] · 30/09/13 - 18:54

kippeh wrote: »

I saw a similar thread to this just a couple of week back? Of all the things to get worked up about lol

Who's worked up eh?

It's just another old thread about summat that pops up in life.

[Deleted User] · 30/09/13 - 18:55

Glitterbug13 wrote: »

I always think it's odd that you would expose your baby to all sorts of germs by taking it into a stuffy work office!

Plus I am not interested in babies so I usually wander off somewhere else until it's gone

So agree with the BIB! Glad it's not just me

Who really wants their baby subjected to some of the bods we work with

Kiko H Fan · 30/09/13 - 18:59

Banned in our office. You can bring your baby into the office foyer, but that's as far as it goes.

SnrDev · 30/09/13 - 19:04

Two things spring to mind. One is that producing a child is the reason we're on this earth and if you believe Freud etc the reproductive urge is what drives us to do most things, ultimately, so it's not really a surprise that when someone achieves the basic reproductive urge he or more likely she is likely to be keen to display it. Second, the poor woman has gone from working in a social environment with adult company to 100% one on one attention with a helpless child, and is probably quite keen on maintaining adult company one way or another. 9 hours of baby talk a day can drive you round the twist.

kippeh · 30/09/13 - 19:13

Swanandduck2 wrote: »

Who's getting worked up?

Maybe the other thread starter? I dunno. What is the point of the thread again? Oh that's right, one of life's social niceties is that female employees on maternity occasionally call in to work with their baby.

NX-74205 · 30/09/13 - 19:15

Swanandduck2 wrote: »

Anyone got strong feelings on this? A colleague was in with hers this morning and insisted on bringing the baby all around the place, knocking on doors of people she isn't even that friendly with and hanging around for ages. Most people bring the baby up to the canteen and anyone who's interested/not under pressure workwise drops up to admire and goo and gah etc. Personally I think that works much better.

Let me guess, you sat there tutting through pursed lips, rolling your eyes and muttering under your breath.

LykkieLi · 30/09/13 - 19:16

It humanises the workplace. Helps people remember there's life outside of work.
Babies are cute.

Swanandduck2 · 30/09/13 - 19:29

NX-74205 wrote: »

Let me guess, you sat there tutting through pursed lips, rolling your eyes and muttering under your breath.

No, I didn't. I was quite happy to see the baby. I just wouldn't have gone wandering around knocking on doors of people I didn't know that well and who might have been up to their eyes.

Wow, you're sour.

Swanandduck2 · 30/09/13 - 19:30

kippeh wrote: »

Maybe the other thread starter? I dunno. What is the point of the thread again? Oh that's right, one of life's social niceties is that female employees on maternity occasionally call in to work with their baby.

Nope, that's not the point

Maybe read the opening post again??/

molliepops · 30/09/13 - 19:32

Took our puppy in when we got her, everyone was asking to see her and she had a brilliant couple of hours of intensive socialising. Not too keen on babies but can completely understand people wanting to show them off hopefully it socialises them too

NatoPMT · 30/09/13 - 19:47

I used to hate it, I am not very good with babies and used to back away in case I got asked to hold it and I dropped it or made it cry.

When I had my own, I took her because I had to pick some work up but I didn't brandish her about. I felt like it though, because mine is way cuter than anything else that was ever born, even a baby otter or miniature hedgehog.

evil c · 30/09/13 - 19:50

I agree with LykkieLi but once upon a time I didn't. I'd sit there tutting and shaking my head and thinking it was always the people who tried to get out of working who were the first to leap out of their chairs to fuss over baby.

After an experience in my life that made me realise how judgemental I was being, my attitude changed entirely. If a new mum came in with baby I was happy for her and pleased to see her.

oulandy · 30/09/13 - 20:11

Heck! Is it happening again? We had this just recently. Will these baby people never learn?

SaddlerSteve · 30/09/13 - 20:47

The last time this happened in our office the woman who had just had the baby came in and so did the previous 2 women who were on maternity leave... also bringing their sprogs.

Cue every woman in the office abandoning their desks and cooing over the little un's for an hour whilst the men answered their phones!

[Deleted User] · 30/09/13 - 20:52

Babies are cute when they aren't defecating, spewing and screaming. As babies tend to do these things quite frequently, the workplace is hardly the ideal scenario for them. Leave your baby chained to a post outside love, and come in for a cappuccino and a catch up. lol

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