To think you should leave the room with your screaming baby?

Like others have said, our school has no siblings policy and no recording. Been in place for a few years and is followed by parents. Nativity was particularly lovely this year - only two classes, everyone had a speaking part, all lovely and clear, and not too long. Perfect!

I am always for not being THAT parent but if I were you I would actually say something to the school/ head:

Dear Mrs X
We enjoyed little Tommy's nativity so much and we know your staff work so hard to make it happen. We felt a few unsettled babies made it really hard to hear. Could parents be possibly reminded next time to take them out?

It was highly likely the teachers were really pissed off by it too and sometimes schools need a bit of back up from other parents about stuff like this.

Another top tip is that if you DO have to take a baby or a toddler, then DON’T install yourself in the middle of a row. Chose a seat on the end and as near to the door as possible so you can slip out with the least disruption possible.

I wouldn't be more sorry for them than the 100 other parents some of whom have taken annual leave or grandparents who had to travel a distance to attend and who are now unable to watch the nativity. Loudly wailing big babies (12 months old, so soon toddlers rather than babies in arms) can upset the young children whose lines get drowned out by those spoilt babies, especially if they are a bit shy or nervous. They will have practiced for weeks it' just such a selfish thing of the parents not to take out their crying babies and spoil the nativity for everyone.

Of course teachers won't ask them to leave, they are too scared of those who are already inconsiderate. The inconsiderate rule the world now, and their spoilt and entitled offspring will be unable to ever take no for an answer or deal with minor disappointments in life.

Might as well stop doing any communal things such as nativities as people don't know any longer how to behave in a non obnoxious way in public. Everyone is out for their own gratification and don't seem to see that there are others around Tham that also might matter.

Absolutely and I would have zero qualms about voicing it aloud.
The children and teachers work hard at these plays and do not deserve to have them spoilt by one selfish person.

I’d never have taken a baby to a nativity, it’s stressful. It meant I missed several performances in the early years when my dh couldn’t either go instead or look after the youngest while I go.

YANBU but parents like this are everywhere now. It's all about their little family, their needs, what their situation is at home. Pointing out that other people exist and have their own needs is like trying to speak to them in another language.

(This thread is also why nobody believes people when they say they'll take babies out at the first fuss. Nobody does.)

Yes it's all me me me and their child.

You can really spot the parents of these crying, nativity disrupting children on this thread can't you

Absolutely! It's fascinating reading the tone deaf justification - so little self-awareness
.

Of course. So much better that everyone else is upset than your child.

The parents who have young babies should tell their children who are performing:

“If baby brother/sister starts crying then I’ll have to take them outside. It might mean I miss some of the play, but it’s not fair on everyone else trying to listen”.

And if the home dynamic is already like that then that's their issue to sort out and isn't going ro be sorted out by the school play

So that makes it okay to ruin the performance for everybody else? Entitlement much.

If the home dynamic is like that then the family need to make arrangements for a family member to attend without the baby.

Yes they should have taken them outside. I know it’s not always possible but this is why I would always bring someone with me. Mum, brother, friend, husband etc. then someone can stay while the other takes the baby out.

I think YABU

Good!

If the parent does not have the decency to leave the performance then they should quite rightly be ousted by one of the senior teachers.

This is not a new problem. There should be an announcement at the start to make it clear that screaming babies need to be calmed or taken outside.

It can be. If you can't hear the kids a lot of them are very quiet

Tough. It is an easy situation. Teach your kids respect.

In that scenario, you pre warn your child that if their baby sibling starts to cry , then you will have to take them out and that you’ll do your very best to come back as soon as possible but in case you don’t, the most important thing is that baby sibling doesn’t spoil the entire show for all the other children and families.

Simple 😊

Better one child is upset (by their parent stepping out with their baby sibling) than 30 children upset as they can’t be heard over cries!

It’s selfish to put the gratification of one over the many.

Of course you have to remove them! I can’t believe people are actually trying to defend the alternative.

Ruining the play for an entire class and all the parents just so not to upset one child is madness.

My daughter has just become a teacher, and I had the pleasure of attending her class's nativity play. It was charming, although a few parents had younger children who were quite loud. I understand they don't want to miss out on their children's moments, but it felt somewhat inconsiderate. The school had made a classroom available for when their baby began to cry, so there truly was no excuse.
I must add that nothing has changed from when I saw her perform in her class Nativity play 20 years ago!

Don't care. The other kids are performing. That needs respect. Have you tried performing with a load of noise going on?

Yes, absolutely selfish for them not to leave! I’d have been furious

Agree