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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:
chrisinthesun · 27/10/2018 16:20

Not in a million years would I take a newborn to a panto.

I can't believe anyone would even ask!

There are so many reasons not to!

A woman I used to know brought her FIVE DAY old son to a bloody 21st birthday party once, just dumped in a car seat on the floor by her feet. There was 100+ people, many of them smoking, many of them drunk, (and VERY loud,) and there was very loud music!

It was 20 years back, but even now I still judge her, and so did many other people. She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, and left school with no qualifications and never amounted to much, but it was basic common sense. Why the fuck did she take her five day old baby to a bloody noisy party full of smoke and a 100+ people?!

Taking a baby to a panto is not much better. The only difference is that there will be no smoking there! It will be noisy, hectic, and loud (they use microphones, and the voices/noises/music are all amplified, and VERY loud!) And the audience will be loud too.

For goodness sake NO. Do not take a baby to a panto at 3 days old!!! It's just bloody cruel.

@Witchend

I took a 5 week old and she was totally riveted. Lay in my arms and waved arms and legs excitedly the whole time.

You're joking obviously?!

EwItsAHooman · 27/10/2018 16:28

Taking a baby to a pantomime is not bloody cruel.

Lovelydovey · 27/10/2018 16:32

You might not even have given birth 3-4 days after being induced....

TheDayMyButtWentPsycho · 27/10/2018 16:36

@LovelyDovey RTFT

sweatthesmallstuff · 27/10/2018 16:38

No absolutely not !!
It will definitely be the last thing you will want to do when the baby is born anyway .

glueandstick · 27/10/2018 16:40

I thought new borns slept through noise?

If you’re feeling up for it I’d go! My newborn slept through a massive loud sporting event at 2 weeks.

Santaclarita · 27/10/2018 16:40

Well you're clearly going to do it anyway. Dunno why you asked.

Seems a waste of time and money to me though. What if the baby cries the entire time? You're either going to annoy everyone in there or miss the whole thing.

I would just sell the tickets. Try again next year. But you wont. Good luck.

sweatthesmallstuff · 27/10/2018 16:42

@chrisinthesun
That reminds me of a time I used to work in a big open plan office and this guy who worked in our team brought his 1 day old yes 1 day old baby ( think in was on way home from hospital) into work to show everyone with the mum of course . They were a young couple but no one could believe it . That was about 15 years ago now . Grin

TheDayMyButtWentPsycho · 27/10/2018 16:44

Well you're clearly going to do it anyway. Dunno why you asked.

Not true whatsoever, what in this thread has indicated that it's been decided that it's happening anyway? I'd say quite the opposite in fact. Did you RTFT?

platesandflowers · 27/10/2018 16:45

What an assault on the poor babies senses!

I wouldn't consider it.

Soontobe60 · 27/10/2018 16:50

It's a stupid, selfish idea. You don't know how you'll be feeling, who you'll be sitting near, how will you protect the baby's ears? Yes, babies can be taken anywhere but that doesn't mean they should!

Santaclarita · 27/10/2018 17:15

Not true whatsoever, what in this thread has indicated that it's been decided that it's happening anyway? I'd say quite the opposite in fact. Did you RTFT?

All she's done is argued against any point that anyone else had and found a problem with it. And then said she can't get a refund anyway.

Did you read the thread?

SimpleSimonstherapist · 27/10/2018 17:22

No, you shouldn’t take a newborn to the pantomime, it’s ridiculous that you even need to ask. It’s too noisy, a theatre stuffed with germ-addled kids is not the place for a new born. You would also be completely inconsiderate to all the other theatre goers who are there to enjoy it. Even if you jump up when the baby cries you have to push past other people to get out, you’re opening the doors to the auditorium. Just miss it this year, let your dh take the kids.

TheDayMyButtWentPsycho · 27/10/2018 17:22

Erm....

The guy just emailed back and I'm unable to change the tickets to the later date anyway. Gutted.

Did you RTFT?

April2020mom · 27/10/2018 17:36

Play it by ear. How do you feel? A week out from birth I was walking around my apartment carrying my newborn baby in a sling while I did some light housework.

MsNowtyBach · 27/10/2018 17:40

I really doubt that this will seem such a great idea when the time comes.

BertrandRussell · 27/10/2018 17:47

I'm assuming that all these people saying the baby crying will spoil it for other people are confusing "Pantomime" with "Piano Recital"

oliviatrivia · 27/10/2018 17:54

We took our second to see Father Christmas (with our then toddler, not alone Grin )when he was 4 days old. Was absolutely fine.

Talith · 27/10/2018 17:56

I don't know if it's been said but the theatre might not let you take a baby in. Sometimes they have a lower age limit of 3 or 4 due to the pyrotechnics etc. If you are planning to, check ahead to see if they'll even permit it.

Schuyler · 27/10/2018 18:10

If you’re up to it, I don’t see why not. :) Perhaps ear defenders but even then, only if you really think so. More importantly, what is it please as I think I may need to go?!

essexmum2019 · 27/10/2018 18:47

No, I wouldn't. It's one year and I hate pantos and going to a loud, stuffy pantomime is not the same as going out for lunch

SusanneLinder · 27/10/2018 18:54

I probably wouldn't because of the noise for the little one, however I wouldn't judge anyone who did, because I might do things that other people judge me for!
However as you mentioned it was a West End Cast, am guessing it's London. If its the one at the Palladium, they have a no babes in arms policy. Please check with the theatre.

www.fromtheboxoffice.com/city/2957-london/JWGR-snow-white-at-the-london-palladium/

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 27/10/2018 18:58

No way! My husband is a sound engineer and just said "that child's ears will be damaged!

AllAboutTheBuppy · 27/10/2018 19:04

I would say don’t do it. That time of year there are all sorts of bugs- flu,noro, etc. There’s gonna be
Sneezing and coughing every where. I recon it will be an assault on your newborns system that could be hard for it to deal with. I don’t work in infection control but I do work in healthcare. And those are the things we struggle with at that time of year.

Starlive23 · 27/10/2018 19:10

It sounds like you have already made up your mind to go OP, so not sure why you are asking for advice.

I wouldn't personally, it would be a germ fest and if baby got sick I'd feel absolutely terrible.