Page 6 | To think you should leave the room with your screaming baby?

reventiania · 2024-12-11T20:47:34+00:00

DS nativity today, 120 kids in the performance. Throughout 75% of it, there were two babies (aged around 12 months) that were screaming and crying. It made it impossible to hear what the children were saying, and it essentially ruined the whole thing. AIBU to think they should have left the room with them? I'm so cross for the children as they've worked so hard, just for crying babies to drown out their voices.

GoodVibesHere · 11/12/2024 21:01

Bundlesoffuntoday · 11/12/2024 20:53

I mostly agree with you but…if it’s a nativity then I’m guessing reception age at the oldest? If this is the case then I can imagine it being very upsetting for the child whose mum/dad left the room with the baby…particularly if there wasn’t another parent/grandparent there to watch so although I would leave, I can also see why some wouldn’t want to.

Better than upsetting the entire class and all parents though!

theduchessofspork · 11/12/2024 21:00

Yes, get the school to put a note in the reminder email next year

TheSillyGoose · 11/12/2024 20:59

I've been there when someone else's baby was screaming during their older child's performance. They took the baby outside for a bit, but it hit their older DC's confidence massively.

If the family dynamic is already stretched at home due to a new baby I'm not sure I would want older DC feeling pushed aside by the younger again.

No one chooses to make their child cry.

YABU.

MamaGarl85 · 11/12/2024 20:58

Leavesonthewashingline · 11/12/2024 20:54

Our HT always used to say, before the performance ‘if a little one gets upset or unsettled, please don’t worry about taking them out - take them out, settle them, and then come back’.
Worked perfectly! People took the hint, and because it was given in advance it didn’t hurt either

At DD's nativity today (Year 1), the headteacher made a point of saying in her welcome speech that if younger siblings got unsettled they should be taken out.

To be fair it wasn't an issue today...the guy behind who took a phone call during the show was a different matter 🙄

teenmumstress24 · 11/12/2024 20:58

Bundlesoffuntoday · 11/12/2024 20:53

I mostly agree with you but…if it’s a nativity then I’m guessing reception age at the oldest? If this is the case then I can imagine it being very upsetting for the child whose mum/dad left the room with the baby…particularly if there wasn’t another parent/grandparent there to watch so although I would leave, I can also see why some wouldn’t want to.

Came to basically say this. Yes, I'd have left and I don't think it's fair on the kids / other parents, BUT I'd feel really sorry for the parent having to leave and miss out on their eldest child's nativity. They would be upset and so would the child.

coxesorangepippin · 11/12/2024 20:57

Yanbu

Leavesonthewashingline · 11/12/2024 20:54

Our HT always used to say, before the performance ‘if a little one gets upset or unsettled, please don’t worry about taking them out - take them out, settle them, and then come back’.
Worked perfectly! People took the hint, and because it was given in advance it didn’t hurt either

NantesElephant · 11/12/2024 20:53

I thought you were going to say they were newborns! Babies have a well developed pair of lungs at 12 months and should absolutely have been taken out.

Bundlesoffuntoday · 11/12/2024 20:53

I mostly agree with you but…if it’s a nativity then I’m guessing reception age at the oldest? If this is the case then I can imagine it being very upsetting for the child whose mum/dad left the room with the baby…particularly if there wasn’t another parent/grandparent there to watch so although I would leave, I can also see why some wouldn’t want to.

LlynTegid · 11/12/2024 20:52

Agreed. I don't object to a child's noise or unacceptable behaviour, but do object to a parent not acting to reduce it.

LumpyandBumps · 11/12/2024 20:52

When my children were small they used to have 2 separate performances, and siblings ( assume the babies were siblings) were only allowed at one.
It was still pretty demoralising for the children performing that for much of one performance no one could hear the lines they had spent so long learning, but at least the second was more successful.

WickWood · 11/12/2024 20:52

I have a baby and I would 100% have left the room in this scenario!

comedycentral · 11/12/2024 20:51

Yes, so unfair, all the children worked hard all term and nobody could hear them!

Tetchypants · 11/12/2024 20:50

Yes, you should leave if your baby starts screaming. It happened at one of our school plays and eventually the head teacher stopped the performance and politely asked the parent to leave. Harsh but fair.

Vaxtable · 11/12/2024 20:50

Yes they should and the teachers should have asked them to leave

PumpkinScarf · 11/12/2024 20:50

From the title I was ready to say YABU but given the circumstances yes I completely agree with you it’s very unfair on the children.

Mrsphilmiller · 11/12/2024 20:48

Yes, absolutely they should.