To take my 2 month old baby to the cinema?

[TheFrequentNameChangingLady]

I have an unlimited card for Cineworld and very little money to go to another cinema as I'm on maternity leave - there's plenty of films I want to see coming up but the cinemas near me don't do the baby showings and the junior showings are all kids films.

They allow baby's into the regular showings (see picture) and I know I can keep my baby quiet 🍼 so it wouldn't disturb other people's viewing. (Would most likely be going to less busy morning sessions anyway)

My aibu about taking baby with me is about the noise levels - is it too loud for a baby, do you think it might damage ears?

Only after genuine advice on the noise levels please.

Why would you want to? Yes they are noisy, Lots of bass noise

I did it several times, DS either slept of fed through the film.

I don't know if it would damage their ears as its only a short time, but I think they might find it scary and difficult to sleep. Our cinema did "parent and baby" showings where they had the lights up slightly and the sound turned down a bit. I went to a few when DD was small and there were only about 5 peopke there, all with small babies so it was less stressful if (when) she cried.

Take ear defenders. They will like just sleep. We haven’t taken DD yet but have orders eat defenders off amazon.

I went to the cinema last night and the noise from people whispering, crunching, unwrapping and swigging was unbearable. Not to mention those fiddling with their lit up phones.
Give me a two month old any day!

I don't think it would be too loud for a baby unless you were intending to watch an action film with loads of explosions/car chases etc.
Pull a hat over their ears?

Hmm I think it depends on the film- definitely not for an action film. Perhaps ask the cinema staff what they think/ask how many decibels are normally measured in the cinema (if they know). Apparently you should avoi anything above 80 decibels with a young infant.

*likely

I used to take my DD to parent and baby cinema showings of grown up films - even those films were sometimes quite loud/startling - eg I took her to Dunkirk and had to ask for them to turn the sound down even further!

www.cineworld.co.uk/cinebabies#/

I went to lots of parent and baby showings and they never turned the lights up or the sound down (even though they said that’s what would happen!) and it was absolutely fine. So I wouldn’t worry about taking them to a normal showing.

Unless it's a children's film then yes it's very inconsiderate on other people to take such a young child that could start crying at any time.

I go to the cinema about 2x a week. I usually see parents sit near the front with babies so they can get out quickly if they need to. Usually I don't notice them, and if they have a little cry they are taken out quickly. As long as you do this and don't ruin a film for anyone else I think it's fine!

I find the noise levels of films absolutely dreadful so I wouldn't take a baby without ear defenders. I can't believe the level wouldn't cause damage even if it didn't make them cry.

Also agree with PP - the sound of people chewing popcorn like cows and constant rustling in sweet bags is worse.

People on Mumsnet will say its unreasonable to other cinema goers but I think it's fine so long as you sit at the end of the aisle and are prepared to leave if baby kicks up a fuss.
I did it a bunch of times with no problem. Ear defenders can be bought in baby sizes if your worried about noise levels.
Iirc we were limited to u and PG certificates which I thought was ridiculous given that baby hadn't the faintest clue what was going on.

I used to take mine to Silver Scream screenings (you had to have an under-1 with you), and yes they can be loud. I used to put wisps of cotton wool in their ears.

If no Silver Scream equivalent near you, do try to go to quiet showings, because screaming isn't really fair on others, and neither is he iuptins u have to keep taking a small noisy person out.

@EmUntitled Yes they only do it in certain cinemas and unfortunately not any of the ones near me.

Ear defenders sound like a good call, I'll have a look online!

My baby won't disturb other people in the cinema.

Legally speaking you can’t go past a 12A certificate with a baby. Watch with Baby screenings are normally set up as private clubs so you can see 15 and 18 cert films.

How on earth can you 1000% guarantee your baby won't disturb other cinema goers

Just make sure that there's no swearing or violence in the film.

What sort of parent even comtemplates this?
People dont take their babies out , adult films like Monument Men and the last Tarzan and one woman walked a pram up and down the front, another gave their baby the phone to play with. Gretest shownan 2 babies cried all the way through.

@wakemeup Actually I believe the age ratings only apply to children over 1 year, so you can see a 12, 15 or 18 with a really little one.

This kind of thing is why I don't go to the cinema any more. People are so selfish.

Age ratings apply to all children regardless of age unless it's a specific baby screening set up as a private club, I know because I asked. There was a filming wanted to see and decided to go during the school day but rang ahead to ask if baby (3 or 4 no at the time) would allowed in and they said no as it was a 15 then explained why.

I'd do it, OP. I took the baby to the cinema a few times during the school day to see things that I knew DH wouldn't want to go with me to see. I picked a showing near nap time, sat in an end seat, and was prepared to leave if she started to cry. She never did. If she was awake she would cuddle up and BF, when she was asleep she lay either on my chest/shoulder or on the seat next to me with the arm rest up and she was never phased in the slightest by the noise or the darkness. To be fair I was usually there alone anyway as I picked films that weren't brand new and it was during the work/school day.