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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

270 replies

ThirdChildFourthPile · 27/10/2018 13:19

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?

OP posts:
drinkygin · 27/10/2018 14:01

@angelil babies don’t have first jabs until they’re 8 weeks old, is she supposed to stay at home in a sterile bubble until then?

noeffingidea · 27/10/2018 14:03

I'd leave the baby with my husband if he didn't really want to go and I did.

Original poster
ThirdChildFourthPile · 27/10/2018 14:06

Thumbwitches because I will be induced W/C 17th December.
So the 17th/18th was a guess but it could be the 19th, 20th or 21st. So I just had to roughly guess the dates. And roughly guess the baby's age.

I was in and out in 24 hours with my induction so I don't expect to be in there for days.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThirdChildFourthPile · 27/10/2018 14:06

noeffingidea I don't have detachable breasts unfortunately.

OP posts:
Chinnychinnychinnychib · 27/10/2018 14:09

I took my newborn to the panto, she’d have been a couple of weeks old I think, if that? She was fine, slept through it, don’t think she even fed!

lottiegarbanzo · 27/10/2018 14:09

I'd be concerned about loud noise for the baby. Plus germs. also, I couldn't sit still on a chair for that long at that point, after tearing and stitches.

AlphaBravo · 27/10/2018 14:10

Yeah a panto with stitches and inability to sit down properly, leaking clots the sizes of oranges and wrangling a screamy newborn sounds fucking ace to me. Great day out. Go for it 👍

chocolateavocado99 · 27/10/2018 14:10

I would. Life doesn't stop with a newborn (its not like he is your first baby). I took 4 day old dd2 on an hour train journey to London to get her passport. She was fine.
There will be germs in your house as you have older dc. People will be visiting and most likely you will be running to the shops for some last minute Xmas shopping. And I love the panto, so wouldn't want to miss it.
Wrap him in a sling and be prepared to spend the entire time with him breastfeeding.
Hope you enjoy it!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 27/10/2018 14:10

Ah got you - you don't have an actual date for the induction. That makes more sense now! Grin

lottiegarbanzo · 27/10/2018 14:11

Ah well, there's always next year!

BlueBug45 · 27/10/2018 14:12

OP I should have added to my post my DD has to live with 2 people with impaired immune systems who gave had colds. She hasn't caught one yet so I wouldn't worry about bugs from other people.

The main issue is unexpected loud noise e.g. bangs can cause babies to cry due to the shock. Oddly enough, if the loud noise is consistent e.g. music they are frequently fine with it.

BlueBug45 · 27/10/2018 14:16

@AlphaBravo only in the worse scenario. The OP has older children so has an idea of what her labours are like.

Oh and not every women ends up with stitches they can't sit down on and produces large clots. It also took 5 weeks before my DD worked out how to cry properly.

ourkidmolly · 27/10/2018 14:20

I never heard of anyone so keen to go to a panto? Which you've clearly been to before. Why is it so good?

Lovemusic33 · 27/10/2018 14:22

I would book the tickets, you have been through child birth before and you know how quick you recover, worst case scenario would be you not being well enough to go and then dh could take the children, chances are you will be fine to go and baby would probably sleep through it.

Lovemusic33 · 27/10/2018 14:24

OP is obviously one of those who recovers quickly and is out and about the day after giving birth (the kind of people we hate) Grin

I know I wouldn’t have been able to sit on a theatre seat 😐

Miscible · 27/10/2018 14:35

Aren't you liable to be having pains as your uterus contracts? I found they were really bad when feeding, and got worse with each successive baby.

BertrandRussell · 27/10/2018 14:37

“It's a bit selfish imo as obviously the baby would be better off at home.”

Why would the baby care?

Has anyone mentioned “leaking” yet?

NordicNobody · 27/10/2018 14:38

With my first it took 2 days for my induction to get labour started, then I was in hospital for a week, then I dont think I managed to get out of my pjs until DS was a month old. With my second I was in and out in about an hour and down at the park chasing DS about with baby in a sling the next day. So, given that this isn't your first baby, and assuming everything goes well with the labour, I definitely think you should hit the panto if you feel up to it! Stick baby in a sling and they'll probably sleep through the whole thing :)

formerbabe · 27/10/2018 14:39

I wouldn't...not because of germs though but because it will be busy, hot and noisy.

drinkygin · 27/10/2018 14:40

Clots the size of oranges Grin wow. If this was the case I’m sure OP would be back getting herself checked over at hospital rather than shouting “he’s behind you!” In a packed theatre. In any case, the OP has said she’s now unable to change the tickets unfortunately. Such a shame.

Coconutspongexo · 27/10/2018 14:40

I wouldn’t.

What is too hot for you is different for what is too hot for your baby.

I can’t imagine anything worse than taking a new born to a pantomime tbh, surely it would be too loud too? Also not really fair on people around you if the baby becomes restless. (I understand babies get restless and people shouldn’t get annoyed but somewhere like this is understandable)

peachgreen · 27/10/2018 14:40

No way. Too loud and germy for the baby. Not fair. I do understand your pain though - I had to give up Hamilton tickets because my daughter would have been too small to leave. It's pretty gutting but it is what it is.

EwItsAHooman · 27/10/2018 14:42

Has anyone mentioned “leaking” yet?

Not yet but I'm waiting on it to complete my game of Post-Natal Confinement Bingo.

I was in the pub when DC3 was four days old having a lovely Sunday lunch and watching a magic show with the DC.

pinkcardi · 27/10/2018 14:43

I would, without worrying about it at all, if you feel up to it.

A tiny baby will just feed and fall asleep in arms. At very worst you take it out whilst elder kids enjoy themselves.

Newborns are portable and usually quiet.

I don't see the problem tbh.

ButchyRestingFace · 27/10/2018 14:44

Younger siblings can be incredibly noisy and babies seem to cope OK.

Not to the levels produced at a panto, surely?

I wouldn’t, due to noise.