As a woman with no career, I am probably not the best person to ask about this, but I would consider it perfectly acceptable for a woman to turn up anywhere with a baby strapped to her. I'm sure plenty of people at the conference will think it perfectly fine, and possibly also charming, but there's bound to be some others who'll think you should have stayed at home.

I'm going to say weird/memorable. I'd be a bit worried about whether he would make lots of noise in a new and odd environment. I'd also be a bit worried about the crusty nature of the publishing industry and how they'd take this (although Snowbooks, we know, is not afraid to challenge crustiness).

Am I a hopeless reactionary?

Em, you take that baby wherever you want, however you want. He's a person too, isn't he? Anywhere other than this weird country, where we frown on chldren in public places and think every solitary man in a park is a paedophile, he would be welcome and bring delight.

It outrages me you even feel you have to ask the question.

I took my daughter to the Hay Festival in a sling when she was six weeks old. She drew a few oohs and aahhs but no tuts, but then she was silent throughout.
Breastfeeding, of course, is a different matter entirely. Sigh.

I think it is fine too. But would you be fine changing his nappy on a toilet floor? Best check out facilities and stuff before you decide.

I carried my small fry everywhere in a sling, and a lot of the time people didn't even notice she was there.

Absolutely within the bounds of respectability, and I can't believe crusty publishers will have a problem either. All I'd say is that if Ro does decide to grizzle during a session, then you need to respect the needs of the speakers and the other delegates. And if we are talking Brighton in early March, I am sure the Grand has baby changing facilities - or should that be nappy changing? Anyway, I hope to see you and Ro there. Happy New Year!

I think it's an acceptable question to ask. For you - it's entirely acceptable, cos you know Ro will be no problem. Generally speaking, however, it *does* depend on the baby. If you have a baby who screams the house down in public, then you'd be foolish to take him/her along to a conference.

I've worked in the shop with Timothy straddling my thigh before now (if Nic and I are doing a swap-over, or some emergency babysitting was required) and have had no tutting from customers.

I don't think anyone would or should mind. You can sit on an aisle so that you can pop out if necessary and as for changing, you could take a travel mat or a towel and change him somewhere - no need to use a loo floor.

Women have babies and those of us with our own companies don't have the luxury of 6 months maternity leave so we have to fit them into our working lives. People need to realise that.

That all sounds much more strident than I meant to! I'm sure Ro will be the star of the show and the only people who will mind him being there are the ones who think he's stealing the attention they think should be due to them!

I can't thank you enough for all your comments. Ro shall go to the ball!

Honestly, bad idea Em. All the comments are all very well and good in Utopia, but in reality? I'm assuming you're going there for the purposes of furthering the business, not to show off Ro (cute as my nephew is the little button). You also, i think, have to respect the working environment of other people, who also will be there (away from their families) to further their own business interests, not to look at Ro (cute as he is...) I would not want to be next to a mother and child at a work conference. If you're not going to the conference for the benefit of Snowbooks then don't go, stay at home or go out for the day. Its not about whether you have a right to take him wherever you want, of course you do, but just because you have the right doesn't make it right..right. Sorry for blunt honesty but I had to counter the myriad of snowacolyte comments.