Would you take a 3-4 day old baby to a pantomime?

[ThirdChildFourthPile]

I booked panto tickets in December a few days before my due date. I went very overdue with the others so I thought this would be fine.
It's an amazing panto with west end cast in the Hilton hotel, we all love it and I really don't want to miss out.

However, I've found out that I need to be induced at 39 weeks.

I can get a refund that's not a problem. But I really really want to see this pantomime. The other option is to change the dates and go on the 28th December with a newborn baby.

If the worst comes to the worst I can take the baby out and even drive around with him while DH and the kids carried on watching the show.
But chances are I wouldn't need to. I mean my boobs are right there. And all the do is sleep.

My only concern is the germs. Am I stupid to consider it from a newborn health point of view?

The question is do other pantomime goers want you there with your potentially unsettled baby. And the answer to that is no!

A new born baby is likely to be the quietest member of the audience and can easily be removed.

I would go.
If you have older children the germs thing is neither here nor there.
Any cold bugs with probably be shared around by them.
And a pantomime is hardly quiet,half the audience will be children who will chatter, rustle snacks and need to go to the loo anyway so the baby crying for a second before you feed them isn’t going to really bother anyone.
As long as you feel fine and there will be another adult if want to go and take some time out in the car if gets a bit much go for it.
Might be worth seeing what the latest you can leave it to get a refund for peace of mind though.

If money isn't an issue, keep ticket and see how you and baby feel.

Obviously, you're not going to jeopardize the health of your baby. But I really can't imagine bringing a newborn into a noisy theater. I think I might be happy for quiet time with new baby.

My recovery from ds was slow and painful; recovery from dd quick and easy. Only comparison btwn the births was a baby. But that's not really the issue?

Obvs I have no ideas. Could you leave baby at home?

I took DS to a wedding at six days old. If you think you'll be ok then go for it.

I took my newborn out a lot but personally I feel like taking him to a panto would be a decision slightly lacking in common sense. You'll have to take him/her outside everytime he/she cries. If he/she is sleeping he/she will likely be woken by all the noise - pantomimes are so noisy! The crowd is encouraged to shout! It will probably be very frightening for him/her, having just been in the world for a few days, to be suddenly in an extremely loud place surrounded by so many people who are screaming, shouting, singing and yelling. There will probably be a huge number of people there, any number of them could have coughs, colds, bugs - it will be the time of year when everyone is sick! It's just a bad idea and (sorry this might be insensitive to say but) I'd consider it a bit selfish of you

Would the baby have had their jabs? Guessing perhaps not...

Absolutely. I have heard that diptheria and polio are rife in the Hilton.

No!

Children under 3 are not allowed in many theatres, considering many pants tickets are £30+ it is not unreasonable.

Another one who wouldn’t die to the noise, germs etc.

However, if you do go, which I suspect you will, if you have to take the baby out please stay out for that half rather than going in and out all the time, for the sake of the other panto audience. ( from someone sitting behind a tiny baby at a sporting event recently)

Easiest stage to take one, just pop baby in a sling and they’ll probably sleep through. If not insert a boob. Go for it

To add to the anecdotes- I’ve had three inductions. All fine and like normal births, last was slowest as only 37.5 weeks but had baby second night and done once it all got going.

I'd just take him and get up and leave if he became noisy. In my experience a 3/4 day old is just sleeping and feeding so I don't think it would necessarily be a problem.

No. I'd forget about the panto and think about my newborn child.

Forget the germs – I find it baffling you're willing to subject a few-days-old baby to such an onslaught of noise and bright lights just to see some z-list celebs prance around in costume. Pantos are incredibly loud - music, singing and chanting, kids screaming with laughter. It's not like a parent-and-baby screening at a cinema where they turn the noise and brightness right down.

My baby is 3 days old today, only left the house for the hospital! There's no way I would do her to a crowded place exploding with germs, especially this time of year. Everyone seems ill and I doubt a pantomime is cleaned properly after everyone, imagine all the sneezes and coughs, I think it's completely UN. Ask a family member to have the baby.

I would take her *

There is So Many bugs around.

Iv been ill with a horrendous one for 3 weeks. Partner for nearly 2 weeks.
Iv been in hospital with mine..

So many people we know are down with one.
Many people would still go to the panto if there was "A little bit ill"

And this bug is so catching

I took my baby at three weeks as we’d booked it prev Jan and wasn’t preg at the time. My sister also took her 2 week old baby, along with our partners, Our three yr old children, and my dad and step mum. The babies slept and breast fed fine ( dark no one can see you!) although we had front seats so no one crowding round us but we did get some attention from the cast! Can’t see the problem, there’s no more germs there than if you were to go shopping, for coffee, if you have to catch a bus or train, for dinner, all those kinds of places!

@Neddimum a 3 day old baby is a bit different, there's a lot more germs in confined spaces full to the brim with people crammed together. I think it's so stupid I won't even leave the house with my baby I think it's too cold for her only being 3 days old ! It's incredibly selfish taking a 3 day old baby to a panto. There immune systems are so weak