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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Taking baby to cinema

178 replies

Dancingfairy · 24/07/2017 11:18

My baby is 14 weeks old and my ds really wants to go to the cinema today to watch captain underpants, I have no one to watch the baby, would it be ok to take her??

OP posts:
NaomiCole · 24/07/2017 23:35

Wouldn't occur to me to ask the mum's net massive! I'd just go. And no, before people wiegh in and accuse me of being 'that mum' - I'm hardcore! My kids behave - I make sure of it. (Primary teacher here.)

TashaRomanoff · 25/07/2017 00:20

I'd say unless it's a baby/toddler screening then no. It wouldn't be fair if your baby did decide to cry that your 5 y/o would have to leave and miss some of the film.

BillyNotQuiteNoMates · 25/07/2017 00:32

Well done OP for going with your gut. Glad you and your DS had a great time

SilverBirchTree · 25/07/2017 03:34

Oh, please don't. Going to the movies is an expensive treat for most families, it's not fair when people ruin the experience with a crying baby/tantruming 5 year old who resents being asked to step outside while the baby is settled.

nooka · 25/07/2017 03:49

I've been to a few screenings recently that really have been adversely affected by crying babies and toddlers. It does seem an incredibly anti-social thing to do. However these were adult films and in the evening, and they weren't removed quickly at all. A day time showing of a children's films is a bit different, and it sounds as if the OP was ready to leave if necessary.

I didn't take my children to the cinema regularly until they were sixish as ds couldn't sit still at all and I didn't want to piss people off when we could easily watch a DVD at home instead.

poguvicuw · 25/07/2017 04:25

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2girlsonemum · 25/07/2017 07:29

Too many people here (and in RL) assume that everyone has childcare on tap and that's not always the case. My dh works full time (quite often late and weekends) to afford me to be at home and we have no one else to rely on to help out with childcare. We've been out as a couple (alone) twice in the last 2years; apart from that I only ever leave the dc with dh if he's around but we're both happy with that. OP has quite clearly stated that she doesn't have the option to leave the baby; she has also said that the she most likely wouldn't cry. Personally, given what she's said, I would go in her situation! I have 3dc under 5, the youngest being six weeks and I would take him as I know for a fact that he can go a few hours in a carrier without waking and, if for any reason he did, a boob would most certainly avoid and potential 'screaming' as many posters have implied. I wouldn't even consider taking my 20 month old however, as she can't sit still for that long and would be trying to move around/talk/generally be a pain in the ass at some point. Most of us know our children well enough to know where they can/cannot be expected to behave and take that into consideration when making decisions such as these.........

RedSkyAtNight · 25/07/2017 07:47

2girls

I have no childcare on tap.
I still think it's a bad idea (not withstanding the fact that OP's cinema trip went ok on this occasion) to take a baby to a cinema.

Taking your 5 year old to the cinema is not a necessity. You can wait until you do have childcare available, or go with others, or wait for the DVD.

Starlight2345 · 25/07/2017 08:45

Most things we do with our kids are not a necessity.. It is knowing your own child..There becomes an age when they can't go or some babies it would be a no.. I took my DS to a baby screening when he was a baby..He slept all the way through, my friend I went with her baby did the same. I had to take my 6 year out of shrek years ago..He was sobbing and very disruptive ( great time to discover he is afraid ofShrek) .. It was a kids screening. so no one can ever know truely how there child or baby will respond you have to make your best guess and be prepared to respond for the unexpected which is normal parenting.

eternalopt · 25/07/2017 11:44

Yeah go for it. It's a kids film anyway - not going to be a quiet couple of hours. Took mine to see les mis when he was three months! No problem slept and eat. Job done

MsJuniper · 25/07/2017 11:48

I run a cinema and we would happily allow you to watch a kids film with your baby, as long as you were happy to sit on the end of a row and be prepared to come out if it didn't go to plan. Most babies sleep though, it's dark and warm. If possible take a sling and either prepare milk or have easy access to breasts.

With adult movies we would ask you to come for the p&b screening.

Tess123 · 25/07/2017 17:02

Have you thought to going to one of the special autistic showings that cinemas do? The lights aren't as dim, the volume of the screen showing is lower and the children are a bit noiser. No one will give any thought to a (briefly) crying baby, and your baby won't be disturbed with a high volume picture. A win,win!

GahBuggerit · 25/07/2017 17:12

I think those showings are for people with ASD/similar, not for people who want to seek out noise so their child fits in more.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 25/07/2017 17:13

Please don't go to the Autistic showing if you don't have a child with autism...our local ones get filled up very quickly and you'd just be taking a space away from someone who needs one

MommaL · 25/07/2017 17:39

Way back in 2005 I took DS2 then aged 1 week old, to a showing of Harry potter. He slept the whole time. No one else cared. I say go. Life doesn't stop cos babies are born.

Leapfrog44 · 25/07/2017 17:39

Even if she is not a crier, it will probably result in her being rather over stimulated and throwing a wobbly later. Crying babies are never acceptable in the cinema so if you are prepared to leave if she gets fed up then go for it.

pollymere · 25/07/2017 17:41

You can only take them to a U, unless it's a Baby screening and you may be asked to pay. It might be worth waiting for a Saturday morning screening as they're usually noisier and cheaper!

londonista · 25/07/2017 17:42

As long as it's a kids movie, it's fair game. Honestly a 14 week old is a complete piece of piss to deal with in the cinema compared to a bunch of fully-mobile 6+ year olds.

I took my very compliant 4 month old to see an adult film once and I made sure to pick an early weekday performance that wasn't at all busy. The people on the door at the Clapham Picturehouse were great but made it clear that as soon as my baby made even a tiny squeak I should bring him outside, which I did.

philoSlothical17 · 25/07/2017 17:57

I took ds regularly as a baby from 6w old as I had a cinema pass. He usually slept or fed through the film and I sat near isle so I could make a quick escape if he cried but he never did. You can only watch a 12a or lower though !

Craigie · 25/07/2017 18:13

Kids film, yes. Noise is expected during kids films. Doesn't bother me.

Leontine · 25/07/2017 18:13

Surely a 5 year old would be allowed in a baby/toddler showing of a film if they were actually with a baby?

Lallypop · 25/07/2017 18:22

I never thought this may have ever have been an issue. I took my newborn all the time, put her on the boob and she slept through. But the cinema is very loud!

RedastheRose · 25/07/2017 18:44

It's fine. My DD2 is 10 years younger than my DD1, she went to all films from when she was a really small baby and was fine. She wasn't bothered about the noise and often just fell asleep on my lap.

RedastheRose · 25/07/2017 18:46

Also, wasn't ever charged for her until she was big enough to watch and no problems with taking her into older films either when she was tiny!

BabyBrownEyes · 25/07/2017 18:50

My youngest is two...and i wouldnt dream of taking her