Babies... and baby showers

As I was scrubbing the toilet today, a thought kept festering in my brain... why aren't babies (we'll talk about age in a minute) welcome at BABY showers?

I have been to quite a few baby showers in my time, and quite a few in the past few months. Some while I was preggers with Lana (who is now 7 weeks old btw!), some after I had her. Ive been to showers with kiddos running all over the place and more recently, showers where children aren't welcome at all. My baby showers, for both my babies, children were ALWAYS welcome! The more, the merrier! Plus, as a mama, I know its hard to find a good babysitter (yes, even when daddy is home... sometimes the TV is more important than watching the kids).

Ive recently been UN-invited to a few baby showers when I asked if it was OK to bring my 2 week old (mind you, they KNEW I was pregnant and due to have her in July). Then there were the showers that I was pre-approved to bring little Lana to but got the stink eye from the grandmothers, aunts and uncles when I showed up with her. what gives?

To the showers I was UN-Invited to due to the fact that I refused to leave my little 2 week old baby, who is exclusively nursing, at home... well, have YOU got a whole new world of hurt coming to you! How are you going to feel when you have your little one, and will be purposely not included solely because you have a baby? I can guarantee you that someone (either the mama, grandma, etc) will throw a fit because YOUR not included!

Now, don't get me wrong- I think bringing older children to a shower (eg, 1 year and older) if not pre-approved (like how I am asking for pre-approval, like I'm applying for a loan or something?), that's not too cool. SPECIALLY if the kiddo is being a pickle (or the parents just don't watch their kids and let them run around and scream... BIG pet peeve here!). But what about the babes who are new, nursing and in the eat-poop-sleep stage? and what about the kids who are good and listen to their parents?
Is it appropriate to bring a baby without asking?
I would never, EVER want to steal the spotlight from the new mama to be, nor would I bring my little one to show off to someone elses BABY shower! So, how is it, that I'm being shunned or given the stink eye because I have my little one with me?

What do YOU think???