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 ?

Well, it worked out OK, your children didn't make a noise, and no-one complained, so don't beat yourself up. If you sit right by the door and take them out the minute there is noise it should be OK.

But you did get up and go out, come back in, get up and move, and then the 2 yo played on the steps - that is quite a lot of disturbance for other people who have bought tickets.

It's hard, I know why peple do it, but maybe swap children with a friend and one of you babysit while the other takes those of the right age?

Sorry, OP, but DH and I have now mostly stopped going to the cinema, because we've had so many bad experiences with noisy children and babies (not just toddlers, but older children too). I feel really sorry for the children who are clearly bored/scared/want to go home but are stuck there making everyone else miserable too. Going to the cinema isn't cheap and if you work shifts you can't always just go in the evening, so while I agree that a kids screening is obviously going to be a free for all, a full fee screening that happens to be daytime should have a reasonable expectation of good behaviour.

To me a toddler playing on steps (in semi darkness) is a trip hazard and my other thought is that what happens if there's a fire and they are then in the main escape aisle?

Hi Iggly :)
I know I am pants. I pop onto active convos and post on the odd threads but never remember to go to antenatal!

How are you all?

I personally think what you did was ok. It is hard to find things to entertain all ages. And you took the baby out when they cried. Fine :)

postnatal....^

I've been hoping to go to the Odeon Newbies Club which encourages parents and babies once my DS is a bit older (he's 14 weeks now). This is a specific showing of a current film once a week, usually about 10am. Has anyone done this before?

I did Watch With Baby all the time when mine were babies minibmw the younger they are the better it works (once you're sufficiently on top of parenthood to get up, dressed and out of the house in time for 10am).
It's excellent for bf because they just lie in the dark and have an enormous feed. Subtitled films are good because if a baby wakes up and bawls you don't miss any vital dialogue. Big action movies not so good because the explosions keep waking them up - I still don't know what the hell Toby Stevens' evil plan was in that James Bond movie because the cinema was packed with screaming infants.

But once they hit 6 months then they learn the concept of boredom and become increasingly less amenable to lying in the dark for two hours while mum watches something intellectually challenging in Finnish (or a Jennifer Anniston rom com). So enjoy it while you can.

masochist

I wouldn't take mine (4 & 2) on my own. They've been once, my sister came along too. We saw The Wiggles movie . DD cried for the first 10 mins.

OP Well done for trying - shame it didn't work out. Poor you for spending alot of money trying to keep them all amused, the rubbish weather it is hard to think of things that you can all do while leaving the house. Definatley go for the cheap kids films in future.

I have taken mine fairly often to the cinema - since they were 4 & 2. I didn't have any problem taking them on my own. My DS2 sat through Monsters vs Aliens spell bound......

They are now 6 & 4 and we went this morning to see A Turtles Tale - it was dire really really dire, but they seemed to enjoy it.

I'm looking forward to Rango next week.

Hi Princess - have messaged you!