How Do You Keep Your Toddler Quiet in a Public Library

I let my daughter pick her books out first thing, then she gets to sit in a big bean bag chair while I look for mine.

my son is three years old and i rather not take him because he is loud. If there is a playroom take her in there to play and make some noise if necessary. It is hard to tell a child of that age to be quiet for long.

I'm a librarian and I can tell you that things have really changed at the library. Most libraries do not expect that people come in and be totally silent or not talk. Many see themselves as a "third" place much like a bookstore or other place in the community that people gather so they expect that people will engage in conversation, etc. Heck, sometimes the staff are the loudest people in the library!

I would go to a storytime or other program with your daughter and see how she does with that. People expect there to be more noise when there is a storytime as parents and kids often hang out afterward to pick out books and to socialize. As long as she's not running around or talking in a really loud voice I wouldn't worry too much about her making noise and being a kid. I've seen people get upset over a baby making a noise that was not particularly loud or out of character for a child that age...I think that person is the one with the problem and not the child or parent.

If your library doesn't have a separate children's area maybe find another library nearby that does. NJ has great libraries so I'm sure you'll be able to find a place where you feel welcome.

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I used to choose and check out our books online at the library website so they would be ready at the front desk for me to pick up. Then, when we went I could just have my daughter pick out one additional book instead of being overwhelmed by choosing more than one, and it also cut the visit time down so she would not have to wait for me to pick mine out.

Go when all the other mom's take their kids so you aren't the only one battling the toddler.

I bring my kids to two libraries each week and do EXACTLY what Dawn B. suggested.
Also......the craziest irony, in the one library, I was feverishly trying to keep my daughter quiet and the librarian was the one talking in a BOOMING voice! Hahaha! I couldn't believe it! So I didn't feel so bad about a little noise after that! :)

Let her know she should be quiet so as she gets older and listens better, she will eventually "get it". I think most people are understanding of this. The only time I think people get really irritated at kids being loud when they shouldn't...at movies/plays, etc that are NOT for children (pg13 and R). Myself included.

It's pretty much impossible - I just try to race through to the children's section. I think the librarian know little kids aren't going to be quiet and pretty much expect it. In our library the upper floor is "quiet" area and I would never take them up there!

You don't...just like Dawn B. said. Keep your visits short and sweet. Hopefully they will have a kid section with puzzles etc and the staff will be a bit more tolerant in the children's department.

Way to instill the love of reading early! Don't give up even if your dtr becomes a handful. Make it fun!

A lot of our libraries here have a separate children's room where the kids can be kids. There are a few that do not but I think the noise children bring is expected.

I don't think there is anything wrong with talking to your daughter about what constitutes good behavior at the library and setting your expectations before you go. Part of growing up is learning how we're supposed to act in different situations.

Definitely do not avoid the library! Make a weekly trip so that you foster a love of reading and the library. Attend the storytimes and other children's programs. Maybe start out with shorter trips and build up. Or tell her that you can stay as long as she follows your directions. If she is having a good time a gentle reminder that you'll have to cut your visit short might be enough to calm her down.

My girls love the library because I let them a borrow a ton of books. They know that the answer is alway 'yes' at the library while 'no' at the store!

I no longer think of the library as that quiet 'sterile' environment. I think times have changed and many people are not so much there for quiet reading (unless you live in a college town). Of course there is nothing wrong with you setting expectations either because practice makes perfect!

Good luck and I hope she grows up loving the library!

Our library has a separate section, but it's still all one big room so I hear ya! lol But my son is 4 and I also have a 1 1/2 year old...I couldn't imagine keeping the younger one quiet! It's not in his nature or any 1 1/2 year old's nature! People shouldn't expect that a kid that young will be quiet in a library. they don't care where they are and if it's extra quiet, then usually they'll be extra loud just cause they can hear themselves better! In the future, maybe bibary will work for you! I always tell my 4 year old he can pick out 2 books and if he's extra good (and quiet) he can pick out a third one. I try to pump him up before we go...he's usually excited about going to the library anyways, but I just keep telling him "you know, if you're extra good you'll get that extra book!"

My son isn't loud, but runs around. So I squat down to eye level and say "either you hold my hand or I carry you." If he won't do either, we leave. Maybe you can try something like that.

Our library is one large room. There is a children's section, but no room separating them from the public. Fortunately, I think most people are understanding when it comes to little ones in the library. With both of my children we visited during story time, even if we aren't going to participate. The other people in the library are usually more forgiving when the place is crawling with toddlers. They also get to see a bunch of kids modeling quiet, calm behavior - most times at least during the story (not necessarily before or after) is actually being read. I am also not afraid to leave. We have had to do it twice...once because of my son and once because of my daughter. My son is almost 5 and still reminds me of the time we left because he was running (he was 2 at the time) :). My daughter gets a little more excited in the library than my son did. Our library has a bunch of stuffed animals on the wall...I told her to be quiet so she wouldn't wake up the library babies. I have also told her not to wake up the books. It's silly I know, but she isn't even two yet and it works.. most of the time. :)

I mean not screaming, but in the kids section I think people expect there to be noise. I personally have never been bothered by kids making noise in the kids section. Also, our library has little kid classes where they go in a room and they scream and dance to music all they want.

Ha ha! I look forward to the answers. Thankfully our library has a separate room for children. I actually get my books first because if the kids don't behave they don't get books. Then, I just continually remind them to be quiet. I think it's a training process and hopefully people have a little patience and understanding with your sweet little one.

I would put her in training! Go with the only purpose of getting her to learn to be quiet. After a while she will totally get it. Find out what she likes to do at the library and go with that. Following her interests will help her stay focused a little longer.

When she gets too fussy or loud then it is time to leave. Eventually she will learn she gets to stay longer if she is quiet.

One thing that I have done to teach my kids what "quiet" means is through classical music at home. We tip toe and talk very quietly at the quiet parts of the music and repeat the word quiet so they get a feel for what quiet is. Then at the loud parts we learn what loud is through our actions and voice.

This helps when you have to tell your toddler "quiet" in the library. She will get it!