Do you allow your children to sit on Santa’s lap?

I would allow it but currently my daughter is scared of him so I don’t force anything on her and just hold her while sitting/standing next to him for pictures

Children don’t sit on Santa’s laps anymore in the UK, they changed it a few years ago.

@Amy if you don’t mind me asking, why? How did this conversation of banning this come about?? In my head I was thinking the children and the parents/ caregivers would make this choice. But it seems like it was bad enough in the UK for the government to step in and end it.

@Amy my friend took her LO last week and she did.. maybe it not the same everywhere x

Erm, I feel like if they really wanted to/ they asked, I probably would allow it… But I also think I’d lead with “do you want to sit next to Santa?” rather than “do you want to sit on his lap?” Though my eldest is cripplingly shy and this would never even be a scenario for him 😂 He just about copes sitting near Santa with either me or dad! Perhaps my youngest will be more inclined 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Amy I don’t think you can make a blanket statement about the UK as a whole not doing it. Where we take my girls still does it

I guess lol I’m going to be right there 🥴🫠and it really should be quick as there usually are many children lined up to do the same

No her dad is gonna hold her and take the picture

I let my kids set their physical boundaries. I’m not leaving them alone with Santa but if they want to sit on his lap, then sure. My kids always opt for standing in front of him or sitting next to him though.

Kids sit next to Santa here. I think it makes both kid and parent more comfortable

For child protection reasons, I guess it's not encouraged but there's no actual "ban" in the UK. My husband does a turn as Father Christmas and it was suggested to him to offer to sit next to him. A lot of the Father Christmas actors will have a DBS to show they are safe thus far or will be accompanied to protect themselves from accusations.

I guess if mine ever asked me I would let him but it wouldn’t be what I would go for

I would buy my boys generally dislike men so won’t be taking them unless we find a Mrs Claus

I don't think they even do that here anymore. You just sit next to them.

@S. annalese to be honest I have no idea, it’s not a law etc, it’s just common place that the majority of places don’t offer that anymore, and will take photos of children next to Santa. I hadn’t realised that some places still do though!

I was gonna go to the Macys santaland next weekend and NOT sitting on his lap wasn’t something that even crossed my mind.

The ones we’ve been to Santa is sitting down and the kids tend to stand in front of him. Last year he was on a roped off stage. Mine are too big anyway but I don’t think I would feel comfortable but not for any sinister reasons.

If she wants to and if it’s allowed (I’m in the Uk) yes..but this is the first year I’ve taken her (shes only 2) and I’m not sure how shy she is going to be

The store or whatever Santa’s aka strangers or acquaintances no, our family gathering where I know it’s my cousin I leave it up to my kids whether they’re comfortable with it or not.

I always find the whole concept really creepy. Why would you allow your child to go and sit on a stranger’s lap whom is dressed to look like a fictional character that will supposedly bring you gifts in the middle of the night if you’ve been good and nice? Why should we teach our children to be good for Santa Claus and not just “be good” in general? Like who is this man that can suddenly makes someone wants to be good? And if they didn’t receive the gifts because you just can’t afford them, what is that teaching them exactly? That they haven’t been good enough? That they can wish and wish but their dream would never come true? This is the one concept I would like to see discard of completely in the future. It’s just weird and creepy. If you want your kids to be a believer then you should be teaching them to believe in doing goods, and that goods will always attract goods. Believe in themselves, believe in the efforts. Or you know, actually teach them why Christmas is celebrated 😅

My uncle and his best friend dress up as Santa for each other's families so I'd allow in that instance. I don't think we'll ever go to see a mall Santa or anything, but if she wanted to I'd probably allow it.

Yeah my kids would be too shy to do it right now but if they wanted to then yes we would let them

Yes we allow it. Last year was my son’s first time sitting on Santa’s lap, he was so excited too. Prior years he sat on my lap and I sat next to Santa. I’m not too concerned that Santa at Macys or Nordstrom is gonna do anything strange to my child.

My son met him yesterday (I haven't actually decided if we're doing Santa or not yet 😅, but photo ops and it was free so we did it) and my son barely even wanted to stand next to him! He wanted to run away the whole time 😅. So I guess I'd leave it up to him and what he feels comfortable doing.

The first yer she sat on his lap because she was just a baby. Last year she sat on my lap because she was terrified lol

@Sarah same. My 3yo has always wanted to sit on my lap beside Santa. But if she wanted to I would be okay since I’m right there. Never ever would force her.