taking a 4,2 and 1 year old to the cinema ?

[OnEdge]

I just went along with them today to watch Smurfs. It started off OK, then my 1 year old got fed up and wanted to sleep, wouldn't settle so I took her out with the 2 year old. Then I settled her to sleep on my shoulder ( had to leave buggy downstairs ). We went back in then 2 year old could not sit still in his seat, ended up playing on the steps in the isle. I moved down to the front left by the door and just sat there cringing. The 2 year old just pottered about sitting on the steps and then sitting in his seat, but he was quiet. I felt as though my efforts to keep him sat in his seat were more distracting than letting him potter about. 4 year old was just good and enjoyed the film.

When I got home, my DH was that I had even tried to take them, also a friend was a bit surprised.

WIBU ? Or is it OK when its a children's film ?

You were brave... 4yo no problem.. but I am amazed you thought a toddler and baby would sit and watch a film!

DS is nearly 2. There's no way I'd take him to the cinema and certainly not when he was 1. Madness!

YANBU, but -sadly- insane .

I could never have stood the stress of being there with 2 children too young to understand what's going on or sit still.

Totally selfish imo

It gets on my norks when people take kids to a film they clearly aren't interested in seeing all the way through...so they spoil it for everyone else.

I'm with your DH and your friend.

Didn't take DS to cinema until he was almost 3 for those very reasons.

Oh Crap ! really ? Why am I so stupid ? I am embarrassed now, thought it was such a great idea too

Mental! Really not fair on other people in the cinema.

I think that in my head, I had the buggy with me, and 1 year old would be sleeping in it, and 2 year old was a bit less of a nightmare.

I didn't bank on having to leave buggy downstairs, thought i could take it to the front.

I think you should have probably left at the point at which the 1 year old wouldn't settle.

But you don't learn these things unless you try them. It's part and parcel of being a parent. And it was the Smurfs, in fairness - you probably enhanced the experience for the rest of the audience :o.

If you want to take them then you're best to aim for one of the weekend kids screenings (usually £1 or £1.25 each for a ticket, around 10am, different cinema chains do it). As it's then a cinema full of kids the noise/disruption is more acceptable.

Oh well, you live and learn, worrying that I am so far removed from reality

Unless you are at the £1 kids club then YABU. ANd even then i would take a sobbing 1 year old out.

It was a kids club film, I think, at VUE, 10:00 one

Not fair AT all on others

Cinema is expensive enough without a child playing on stairs/seats

Did nobody give you a look

Smurfs was one of the £1 films?? In our vue its still full price and the kids club film is Kung Fu Panda 2

Even if its a kids film, they have still paid to see and hear the film, and bringing children who are far too small to sit down and watch is not a great idea.

I brought my almost 4 and 7 year olds to a movie recently, cost me 15 quid, and we couldn't hear a word over babies screaming and toddlers shouting. Really pissed me off.

I think your were unreasonable to take a baby and toddler to the cinema..You should have taken them home when your toddler started playing on the steps. It would have been very distracting to other people . If you want to take your 4 year old take them on their own.

if kids club then not too inconsiderate or extravagant, but very very silly. Between the ages of 9 months and 2 years (3 in some cases) babies and cinemas do not mix.

how are you? Not seen you on the Oct 09 thread (although I've not been on much recently myself)

Did you feel happy leaving the 4 yr old in the cinema when you took the other two out?

You are lucky - the £1 film here was HOP - I took DD and DS

It was a complete waste of £3!!

If your child was distracting me or my kids from watching the film, due to playing on the stairs, I would have complained to the staff.

As an adult I can't imagine being taken somewhere and made to stay there for 1 1/2 hours or so, sat in a seat bored out of my skull and told I'm not allowed to leave til the time's up.

That's effectively how small children feel when taken to the cinema by parents who really should know better.

I know what it is like having 3 little ones and wanting to do something.

YWNBU YWBD(demented). What on earth made you think for a nanosecond a 1 year old and 2 year old would behave/sit nicely/quietly in the cinema. Parents like you annoy me tbh.

worraliberty totally agree this happened to me a few weeks back a woman brought her kid to the cinema

He was tiney but clearly didn't want to watch the film screaming No mummy I want to go and running up and down

Very selfish for a afmilu of 4 it can cost £40 for a film for some children that may have been the only film they will be able to see and it was spent with your kids screaming
Tut tut tut

If they cannot sit trough a 2 hour film out home with out talking or getting up they shouldnt be in the pictures