It doesn't bother me as long as the baby doesn't start crying. When that happens, it just becomes a complete distraction.

No way. Leave the baby with the husband or babysitter. Just because you chose to have children doesn't mean we all welcome them in our lives.

Call me harsh, but you know you have felt the same way.

I agree with boosha. There's a reason why I don't bring my baby there (or get pregnant)...it's because I don't want the baby there. Plain fact.

no. it really botheres me. i had a felow student bring her baby into a class - it was awful.

and i would never do anything like that to other people. i hate when people breast-feed publicly or change a diaper. it's intimate thing, and mums should work out with the babies. they should go to these amazing water classes for babies. it's really important for the baby not to develop a fear of water and swim before they can forget how to do that. i really regret my mum not doing that to me, i suck at swimming now.

no, it's a huge distraction and it totally takes away from the class. if you can't find a babysitter, get some DVDs and excercise at home.

It's inappropriate for her to bring it to a group exercise class that isn't designated as one for children.

Even if the child is quiet, other in the class (including the teacher) will be distracted by the child. They could be wondering, "What if it cries? " "What if someone accidentally runs into it?"

When you go to a class where your focus is supposed to be "workin' on your fitness," you shouldn't have anything like that which distracts you.

Most gyms, though, have policies about anyone under the age of 18 being in the fitness facility. At my gym, and the one I was previously at, children weren't allowed on the gym floor or near the equipment. There was baby-sitting facilities available for parents to leave the children while they worked out.

If you can't get a sitter, you shouldn't bring the kid with you.

Unless the class is a mommy and me class baby needs to stay home. How rude. I can appreciate that she wants to work out but a group class is no place for an infant. If she can afford the gym membership than I suspect she can afford someone to watch baby for 2 hours or her husband or grandma can do it. I don't even like kids in the locker room unless they are there to pee and than taken back to the daycare.

Allyta - is breast feeding in public really that irritating? It is the most natural thing a person can do, and woman should not be forced into hiding because their baby is hungry. For the sake of avoiding controversy, a simple blanket covering the breast is sufficient. Just another way society tries to punish women's natural bodily functions and label them as "shameful".
That said, I do not agree that the mom should be able to bring the baby to a fitness class. The woman should join a gym with a day care and/or leave the baby with someone, or just lift weights at home. It is not everyone's responsibility to care about other people's children.

This is a BIG NO NO for me because of a few things:

The CUTE factor is distracting, the music is way too loud for baby ears, and it's just way too dangerous with mommy jumping up and down on aerobics steps and weights and such.

by the way...Breast feeding is SOOO CUTE! It's so magical! hahaha.

It's inappropriate to bring a baby to a group exercise class. I mean, good for the mom for trying to stay fit, but if your baby-sitter cancels or the dad is working late, then that's why the exercise gods created DVDs.

LJDP: Going to the bathroom is a natural bodily function, but I don't think women OR men should do this in public. Actually, I don't have a problem with mothers who cover the breast with a blanket. It's the moms who don't that freak me out. I mean just because a baby is sucking on it doesn't take it out of the realm of public nudity.

If you can't ditch your baby with the hubby then exercise at home.
@javs, I completely, 100 percent agree. Lots of things are natural, but that doesn't mean they're tasteful in public.

I agree with #1. I'm fine with the baby as long as he or she is not disruptive.

baby & me classes only!

Not appropriate. I would be terrified doing exercise in a fitness class with a mother and baby near me. The only exceptions would be any Mum and Baby swimming lessons and/or yoga classes.

I don't think I'd mind if someone did...I'm pretty easygoing.

But I wouldn't do it myself...I'd have my husband or mother watch my baby while I went to class.

I think it's inappropriate unless, as others said, it's a class specifically for moms and babies. My sister just had a baby and she has a DVD that I got her that's a "postnatal workout" so she can do stuff at home. A baby at a group fitness class would definitely be a distraction...even if he was sleeping, I'd be nervous that we'd wake him up or something. Normally, I don't mind babies in public at all, but if you are going to a workout, leave your baby with hubby or a babysitter.

No. Many gyms now offer child care while you work out. Find one.

No way. Leave the baby at home, or with a babysitter, but do not bring it to class. It's completely inappropriate and I think very rude to everyone else. If you can't leave the baby with someone else, don't come to class.

No way! How rude.

I don't think a fitness class is a place for a baby. I think most fitness facilities offer day care for members. However, I wouldn't have a problem with the baby personally as long as it didn't cause a distraction.

I'm a Mom, and I will NOT bring my son to a gym class.

Leave the baby at home w/ dad/grandparents/babysitter.

Or do it like me, when no one around, use an exercise dvd. Believe it or not, unless it's a friendly place for children to bring to (like baby and me YOGA class, or whathaveyou), you need to consider the other participants as well, they PAY too and I know if it were me, I don't want to be distracted during something I pay EXTRA for.

Like I don't want kids running around in a really fancy restaurant, it's one thing if the parents restrained the children, if they can't restrain them, then DON'T BRING them. Yes. I'm a mother of a rambunctious child, very precious child but I'm not going to disrupt the 'public peace' for my own 'convenience.'

As for breastfeeding, I think it's a very natural thing. It depends on each individual on what they want to do. When I was breastfeeding, I did it at home, or I just pumped the milk and give the baby the bottle when I was out in the public...

depends, maybe it's a one time thing. our gym doesn't even alone kids under 13 on the floor where the actual equipment is, and they aren't allowed in the exercise rooms.

i'm more bothered by moms bringing kids to the hair or nail salon where they use harsh chemicals and the kids have nothing to do and then "surprise" don't behave.

To be honest, I'd be distracted. I applaud the mother for trying to stay healthy postpartum, but I would worry about the noise level and risk of harm to the baby. I vote against taking babies with to the gym.

If it's a baby & mom class, fine. But please, no crying babies at the gym. I already have to deal with crying babies everywhere I go, so I always love a baby and child-free place... It's also nice for some mothers to be able to do something just for themselves and by themselves. I've got a friend who had a baby last year and even though she loves her, she also enjoys leaving her in the care of a trusted one, once in a while.

boosha I'm with you, leave 'em home.

DEFINITELY, as long as the baby isn't in danger of being injured by gym equipment, etc.

As long as the baby didn't start crying I wouldn't care.

Leave the kid with someone who can watch him/her for an hour or so, and enjoy the rare moments of having some time to yourself. They'll be few and far between...