Family party survival - help needed

Today's big Family Do was Bean's first time on show to the aunts, uncles, cousins and general hangers-on of the extended family variety. He's a chilled-out contented little chap and at 4 months is now very obliging with smiles and gurgles, so I was looking forward to showing him off.

What a nightmare. There were 45 of us in a small semi in Mill Hill; on arrival he started wailing at the sight of the assembled rabble and that was it - all afternoon, non stop, wailing. I resorted to the 4pm feed sat in the car, which took half an hour of negotiations to get him to latch on. I know it's silly, but I felt that everyone will now think he just cries all the time, when he really genuinely isn't like that normally! Honest! I tried to look all chilled and calm about the whole thing but I just wanted to cry myself.

Next weekend we face the prospect of a 70th birthday party in a pub and I'm dreading it. Aagghh! Does anyone have any advice on how to survive these family dos with a small baby?! And how do you do it with more than one child?! Advice from veteran Mummies gratefully received...