National Trust Limiting Access

That seems a bit extreme to me. Had the baby been screaming at the time, I could understand you being told to try to calm the baby down before entering but to deny access to you with an awake and quiet baby I find very strange. Have you looked up the NT's rules and regulations to see whether this is procedure?

I think there are a lot of jobsworths who volunteer with the NT.
I can see that a shrieking baby entering the premises could be a turn off but if a baby is quiet there shouldn’t be a problem.
He could have told you it was ok to bring the baby in but if it started to be noisy then please to exit.
However it would have been better for you all to push the pram around the gardens then go to the cafe wouldn’t it?

Oreo, yes we could have just visited the gardens and cafe, but you are only getting half the experience then. There was another occasion when we had our dog with us, and were prepared to just go around the grounds. But this particular property would not accept dogs at all.
They really need to sort these criteria out, I feel they are short-changing members, at a time when they need as many members as they can.
Nonetheless, I do still value my membership, but am struggling with these petty rules, such as they appear to be.

The National Trust is getting so precious it will soon be expecting us to fill in application forms and be interviewed before being alowed into their properties.

I agree the NT is getting very petty and rule obsessed. They encourage visitors with dogs and buggies to walk round the outside paths, but not inside the houses. We visited one recently with a 5 year old GC in plaster from hips down in a buggy and what a miserable palava they played out on going in. Jobsworths. Coming out we were simply allowed through a special disabled doorway no fuss!

Does the NT think that a baby who is sleeping when you enter might not wake up two minutes later and does it assume that all wakeful babies will scream? Surely babies should be allowed in trusting the parents / carers would take them out if they caused a disturbance.

I read an article yesterday about a NT volunteer of many years. He wrote to the management about hundreds of spelling mistakes and errors he had found on their site and publications. They got rid of him!

One of my elderly neighbours volunteered with NT for many years but was one of several volunteers who did not want to wear Pride badges or lanyards and they all left because they were told they had to wear them.

NT would not survive without unpaid volunteers so they should be very careful.

A NT property near me does not allow dogs. It was a condition of the owner’s covenant with the Trust that no dogs be allowed either in the house or in the grounds. I, for one, am very happy with this dog free area and hope the NT continue to honour the donor’s wishes.

I think this has been a 'rule' for years. When my great niece was a baby (she's now 13) we were visiting a NT property and were asked to leave the buggy in a storage area so the baby had to be carried. She screamed all the way through the house, so much so that I left them behind and could hear her screams from the other end of the house!
Poor thing and her poor mum. I have never been back.

I visited Snowshill Manor many years ago and we were not allowed to take a baby buggy around with us; my son was about two and a half and walking, so not difficult.
We entered the room where the Samurai warriors' armour was displayed, into a small fenced off viewing area and set our son down on the floor, where he walked straight through the barrier , taller than he was but constructed of widely spaced bannisters. I had to climb over to bring him back immediately; had he bumped into a model those swords were lethal.
We reported it to a guide, who was horrified, and I believe the barrier was reinforced; years later the entrance was completely different and no access at all was possible.

So many intriguing items at Snowshill Manor!

Is the baby awake or asleep- what a ridiculous question ! As already mentioned the NT should be very careful- or their valuable volunteers will disappear. As for wearing pride lanyards that should be a choice not a rule . Incidentally I would wear the lanyard but have respect for those who would prefer not to.

M0nica

The National Trust is getting so precious it will soon be expecting us to fill in application forms and be interviewed before being alowed into their properties.

this made me laugh why are they so snooty?

M0nica

The National Trust is getting so precious it will soon be expecting us to fill in application forms and be interviewed before being alowed into their properties.

[Smile] this comment made me chuckle.
Whilst we pay fir the privilege I might add.

I personally wouldn't take a baby to an NT property. Years ago we took our daughter to Hampton Court. She was I her pushchair. It was a nightmare. She cried and wriggled, tried to get out of her pushchair. I had to take her outside and sit with her while everyone else enjoyed the house.

I don't think babies, prams, toddlers etc are compatible with some of these historic buildings with lots of valuable furnishings, paintings etc. Not the most child friendly places. Better off staying in the grounds/ cafe etc. I don’t blame the NT for this, they have to balance the desires of the visitors with maintaining the ancient buildings and interiors. Yes it’s inconvenient for some but they often do have playgrounds and child focused outdoor trails which kids enjoy.

At a Midlands NT house over 25 years ago we had to have our baby in a sling to go round the house. I can understand that so as to avoid damage from pushchairs, but I can’t see why a baby could come in in a pushchair but only if they are asleep.

Skye17

At a Midlands NT house over 25 years ago we had to have our baby in a sling to go round the house. I can understand that so as to avoid damage from pushchairs, but I can’t see why a baby could come in in a pushchair but only if they are asleep.

Baby in a sling is far more likely to be peaceful than one in a pushchair.

Like vegansrock I tend to concur with the idea that pushchairs and valuable artefacts don't mix well.

Hello…NT volunteer here. So sorry you had this experience. At the property I’m based at we love babies! Pushchairs and prams can’t come in to protect the collection but babes in arms or in carriers certainly can - awake or asleep! They are the members of the future and it’s very important to make the whole family welcome. So disappointing to hear that this happened. Hope it doesn’t put you off.

Why did he not want to wear the pride stuff

I agree I’m very happy without dogs

TBH nothing on this thread concurs with my experience of the NT.

Everyone welcome. Rules imposed are common sense, but apart from that everyone appears welcome as far as I can see. In fact my nearest NT property “Nymans” appears to have a mum and baby club meet up and they wonder around and then have lunch in the restaurant - all babies and toddlers doing what babies and toddlers do.

I worked in an NT property some years ago and had small children often running around creating noise and havoc. The parents often appeared oblivious when requested to control their children. I don't think a baby in a pram is objectionable unless screaming it's head off.

Oreo
I think there are a lot of jobsworths who volunteer with the NT

Volunteers do not make the rules - they are told what to do and say. Bit much to blame the unpaid!

The NT now methods in / usually sityjng outside cafes barking as they can’t get into buildings (rightly so). Given the amount the NT has spent on accommodating them - dog bins and new signage / they should charge for bring a dog in.