odeon newbies - films with toddlers

[brdgrl]

Hi, just wondering if anyone else goes to the odeon 'newbies' films for mums and babies. i have been once. my DD is fifteen months, and the other babies there were all much younger. DD was pretty good, and i took her out when she'd had enough (which was about 30 minutes in). but she didn't sleep through it, like a tiny baby would, and even though she didn't cry or kick up AT ALL, i felt worried that someone would tell me off. (i am very conscious in restaurants and public places when DD makes noise...my DH thinks i am too worried about it, but i would rather err on the side of being considerate.)

i don't want to annoy the other mums by taking DD. But she is still too young for a 'regular' screening. And i need to go to the cinema once in a while or i think i may go mad! i am quite lonely and don't really have other mummy friends. and DH and i can only afford to have a babysitter every so often, and we use those times to go to dinner and have a proper date together.

what do you guys think? is it ok to take a toddler to these, or are they meant only for wee babies?

[MonsterBookOfTysons]

I personally think you should still go.
My ds is 3 years old and dd is 11 months so we cant go now till dd is old enough to go to a kids am viewing.
Enjoy going while you can get away with it :)

[Pkam]

I used to go with DD1 when she was small - there were always toddlers there and they tended to get up and wonder around the aisle a bit if they got bored. No-one minded as that's really the point of it. Depending on the layout of the cinema, try sitting right at the front where there is usually quite a bit of space for her to roam around in, play with toys etc. where you can keep an eye on her and watch the film at the same time.

[brdgrl]

thank you both! guess i just needed to hear that it was ok. we'll go back on wednesday and sit down in front. :)

[An0therName]

oh you are fine to go I am sure - but just a thought could you not take yourselve off one evening or weekend when your DH is around to look after LO - as I am sure it would be more relaxing to watch a film without a 15 mo -
and re mum friends - do you go to groups/classes - it can take a while but sure you could meet some people there

[brdgrl]

anothername, thanks, yes, good point.

i have been to the groups a couple of times, but i find them really difficult. i am too shy and socially inept and i don't seem able to connect with the other mums. i'm starting a swim class tomorrow with DD. and DH takes her to a group every friday on his day (we both work part-time so we have set days to look after DD). i will keep trying, i know it is important for me and for her!

i'm writing my dissertation, so the times when i don't have DD, i have to work on that. the nice thing about the newbies is that i thought it is something i can do while i have her... i wish they had one just for toddlers!

i put her to bed every night; she still nurses at night and i like to be the one putting her to bed. but i could go to a late show after she goes to bed, i guess. i'd like to take her, though, so that she gets used to going. i don't watch tv with her, but i'm very keen to have her develop a love of movies and of going to the cinema, and understanding what the rules are as she gets bigger. we go to the library a lot, and she is learning already about 'library voice'.

[An0therName]

brdgrl - try a few different groups - they vary massivly in how friendly they are in my experience
re cinema - this just my perspective but we didn't take DS1 to the cinema at all until he was 3.9 or so - then he LOVED it - sat nicely the whole way though and now he - is nearly 6 its a massive treat

[bagelmonkey]

Go for as long as you can get away with it. Some cinemas have a no-crawlers policy for baby cinema.
I went with friends with our babies and we all found that we could block out any baby crying except our own. Mine didn't sleep at all, just wriggled A LOT.
Luckily we found a cinema that shows decent movies at the baby cinema because the picture house was only showing arty subtitled documentary wank and when you haven't been to the cinema for 6 months that's NOT what you want to see.