I'm currently pregnant with our first child, and they will be roughly 6/7months old in December next year. We've gone to the panto in Canterbury every year for the last few as a couple and with friends. I know that a baby that age won't get anything out of the panto themselves, and I've checked that babies that age are allowed in (they are, with limits on numbers).
What I don't know is if it's a totally terrible idea to even try and go with a little one that age! I (obviously) have never had a child, and haven't really been around little ones much in the last decade so I've forgotten what nieces and nephews were like at that age.
If (big if) we did book, we'd get all the seats protection etc possible and we'd accept that if closer to the time it looked impossible due to illness/baby stage/how they cope/how we're coping, then we'd lose the money and that's doable. But it's one of my favourite bits of December so if there is any chance it could work it would be nice to try.
This year's visit is coming up soon so I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for little ones and see if people are going in and out with them etc. I don't mind the panto being disrupted for myself/husband (likely me if I can breastfeed as planned) but don't want to be a total pain to everyone else - I think there's specific sessions aimed at younger ones/people who struggle with the typical panto experience, so lights on and quieter music etc that we could look at. We'd go for a late morning performance most likely (does that tend to be nap time?).
Really long post sorry but...opinions from people who actually know what babies are like!? Help!