To take my 10 week old DD to a panto with me tomorrow?

[anythingwithagiraffeonit]

I had intended on leaving her with my mother in law, I I I had intended on leaving her with my MIL but she cries when with her as she doesn't know her that well yet and I feel quite uncomfortable about it..

I'm supposed to be going to the panto in wimbledon with my parents, DH and brothers, and DD is (so far) a very good baby... I think if I give her the feed of her life just before then she should be quite happy on my lap looking around / sleeping (she sleeps through the dogs going mad etc, so I think she's generally unaffected by noise)

Problem is... What if she is ratty and does decide to cry? (I would take her out)

Am I just being unreasonable to think that I could take her? Selfish to other audience members?

Would I even be allowed to take her in?

....

[NorthernLurker]

LOvely - well done. Alas next year probably won't be so easy - need a babysitter then!

[anythingwithagiraffeonit]

Thanks everyone for your advice...

I took her last night and she was fantastic! Had a slow feed the whole first half, got fussed over through the interval, and lay watching for the 2nd half... Didn't make a sound!

Xxx

[missmapp]

In my expereince panto audiences are so loud that noone would notice a crying baby anyway!! Far too many over excited children and acts of audience participation - enjoy

[NestaFiesta]

YANBU- I did this last year. DS was 8 weeks old. He was in a Close Baby sling and I sat on the end. He got a bit crotchety at the end of Act One, but had slept through all but the last two minutes of it. so I sat in the bar with him and had a cuppa during Act 2. DH and DS1 watched the whole thing. It was fine. I worried about his little ears and all the noise, but one ear was flat against me, and my hand and the sling was over the other one.

Enjoy yourself!

[Housemum]

You know your baby best, I wouldn't bat an eye at a baby in a panto - it's the 3-5 year olds on the paid seats that make more racket! As others have said, you probably need a free or nominal fee babe-in-arms ticket. I took 4 month old DD3 to the theatre (dance school show, only 1 performance so all relatives who could babysit were there) - I swapped seats with someone on their own who was on the end of a row, so I could make a quick exit if I needed to. She was fine, fell asleep or fed all through.

[LadyGoneGaga]

Take her. If she cries, stick a boob in. Job done.

I took my DS to My Auntie's funeral at three weeks old in a sling - he didn't make a peep. He was doted on all day at the wake. If you can do a funeral a panto is fine!

[undercovasanta]

If I had an end of row seat, I think I would take a baby.
We took DD to the Panto when she was 2yo and I was a bit nervous of her being noisy and disturbing people. I had clearly forgotten it was a PANTO, and therefore already unbelievably loud and noisy!

[starfishmummy]

At our local theatre babies "on knees" are allowed.at.some shows ( which includes pantomimes) but they have to be pre booked, so worth checking first.

[FrostyTheCrunchyFrog]

My DC went to their first pantos aged 6 weeks, 4 months and 11 months. All fine. Enjoy!

[MumNWLondon]

Personally I wouldn't as I wouldn't enjoy it as I'd be on edge worried that the baby would cry. But others will have babies on laps so as long as you are happy to leave if she cries etc then go for it.

[nubbins]

I would. But definitely check with the theatre, I wasn't allowed to take a babe in arms to 'high school musical on stage'.

[onceamai]

We have outgrown the panto at Wimbledon. But oh we enjoyed them while it lasted. Please be assured that they are very very noisy and all the children, including the many babes in arms, make a lot of noise for most of the show. That's what a panto is all about. Your parents will be there too, so if the baby is especially wriggly you can always slink off to the very nice bar until she quietens down.

Enjoy - you won't be alone at the panto in Wimbledon.

[NorthernLurker]

I would ensure you have a seat at the end of the row - ask people to swap if necessary and you may need to sit apart from your family but otherwise should be fine.

[mum2oneloudbaby]

BodminPill

[singarainbow]

YANBU so long as you take baby out if she gets to the point that it will disturb anyone else. I have done this with all kids, I would recommend taking a sling if poss, just for your comfort really, so your hands are free to eat sweets!!![fgrin}
Bet she sleeps thru the whole thing!
ENJOY

[Chil1234]

YANBU. If your baby cries, no-one will hear her over the racket caused by crackling sweet/crisp wrappers, bored children moaning during the mushy songs, uber-loud panto music and people shouting 'behind you!' etc. If she gets really upset (unlikely by the sound of it) then you can always go sit in the foyer and have a drink. Few people go to panto expecting a reverential hush and the producers generally crank up the volume all round.

[PenelopeTitsDropped]

Take Her along.

The only thing I would say is put a hat over her ears, (which you will do in this weather, you're obviously a brilliant Mum)

It can quite loud.

Enjoy it

[Leapoffaith]

Fine!

DH and I are taking our (will be) 9 wk old to panto in January. We called the theatre and they said it was fine but we might prefer to book seats at the end of the row in case we need to nip out.

clary we're going without kids because our friend is in it, which is v exciting for him (and us) because it's a massive professional production.

[nymphadora]

Only thing that may bother her is the sudden noises. Dd3 similar age is used to lots of noise but sudden boos at dd1s play upset her ( don't worry she didn't scream I distracted her with milk >)

[BodminPill]

Are you being unreasonable?

Oh no you're not!



Sorry

[Clary]

Just not sure why anyone without kids would want to go to panto!!

It was a jokey question really. Sorry OP, don't mean to be crazy , guess I am not that keen on the panto, have seen too many over the years for various reasons...

BTW I do think a school play is very different - what's spoiled there is that you can't hear your 5yo shyly mouth their line because somebody's toddler is screaming.

Surely nobody feels the same way about Neil Morrissey's turn as Buttons? Tho I do agree that if anything is a major disturbance (eg upset 5yo, coughing OAP) they should be removed.

[A1980]

At the risk sounding unpopular I don't think any show is the place for a babe in arms. It's still a performance people have paid for, probably not an insignficant amount at Christmas. Why should they be disturbed by a potentially crying baby.

There are enough threads on here with parents complaining that their DC's school plays are being spoiled by the behaviour of younger siblings and so I think to chance it at a proper theatre is even worse.