Seriously who takes babies to the theatre?!

[EL8888]

Went to the theatre last night, 2 babies and their mothers were there. Cue a fair amount of noise throughout. It’s not a mother and baby group?!! People are trying to enjoy and concentrate. Don’t worry l checked and it wasn’t a “baby / children showing” or something like that. Some people are so self absorbed and entitled

I probably shouldn’t write this in AIBU. Because l really don’t think l am! My partner and the woman sat next to me who l don’t know were unhappy as well 😡

she did get restless and moany for a grand total of a minute.
I get what you are thinking, but even the one minute it takes to leave the theatre or settle your child is really annoying for other people. You do understand that don’t you?

It depends what your watching. I have taken all 3 of my kids to watch the pantomime/ kids shows since they are babies so they sit great as they know that’s what is expected. I wouldn’t take them to an adults show though.

I'd be really annoyed. Theatre is so expensive that it's a rare treat for many. It's also very disrespectful for the actors if a baby starts fussing during a performance.

I don't care how 'good' your babies are or how much you promise to take them out if they get restless or noisy.

Once they start you've already disturbed people.
And if they don't, you've been bloody lucky. And faffing about getting out bottles or whatever also disturbs people.

It's selfish. Get a babysitter or wait till it's on video.

It’s amazing how many parents are totally oblivious to how much noise their children are making.

YANBU at all.

I don’t think the theatre should be admitting babies. It’s really unfair. Even the most well behaved, sleepy newborn is going to be unpredictable over the length of a whole production. I think even panto is a bit dubious given the cost of some of them. I was debating taking my 3 year old to panto this year but thought she’d be a bit wriggly so will wait until next year. I’ve noticed the new frozen musical has age guidance of 6 plus (it was 8 plus on broadway) and that clearly won’t be stuck to. I’ll acknowledge my hypocrisy and say I was considering it but given the ticket costs, i didn’t want to take a risk even though I think she’d be ok and really enjoy it. I’m hoping it’ll still be running the year after.

Why? Why?! Why on earth would you want to take a baby on a night out anywhere? Just...Why?!

Please complain

Theatres shouldn’t admit them unless for a kiddy show.

I get what you are thinking, but even the one minute it takes to leave the theatre or settle your child is really annoying for other people. You do understand that don’t you?
Tbf at 10. 30 on a Saturday its likely full of noisy kids anyway, they're family showings here.

Panto or other kids performance then fair enough, otherwise definitely not acceptable.

Am assuming the babies are all wearing ear defenders?

Entitles arseholes, that's who.

The sort of person who thinks it's OK to take a baby along to a Valentine's dinner in a restaurant 😊

Totally unfair and selfish to do that. Surprised the theatre allowed it. Theatre tickets can be very expensive so if I couldn’t hear it all due to a baby crying I wouldn’t be impressed

I actually took my kids to a childrens theatre show this week and the show was almost ruined by small babies in the audience crying throughout. So everyone saying it's ok to take them to kids shows, I'm not entirely sure I agree! We couldn't hear the dialogue properly over the top of the crying which was rather annoying considering the cost of going to the theatre as a family.

I don't think I'd even have taken mine to the panto (both of mine were the kind of babies who couldn't be relied upon to not scream the entire time and a wailing baby would definitely ruining even a kid's play for the people sitting around us).

No one can absolutely guarantee that their baby won't cry or be noisy. It's selfish to take them to cinemas/theatres and restaurants during the evening.

YANBU, some selfish twat brought their baby to The Nutcracker at the Albert Hall when I went in Dec. To be fair to the child, it only whimpered once before it was removed/silenced/seen to, but it shouldn't have been there to distract and disrupt people who'd paid £££ for tickets.

Mind you the child was less distracting than the stupid tone deaf bitch right behind me who hummed along to the Sugar Plum Fairy music until my best friend and I turned round with looks to freeze the blood.

Children under 3 years are not permitted in our local theatres. For good reason!

The theatre is at fault. You need to complain to them.

Depends on the performance panto or similar yabu

A rsc showing of hamlet or something really high brown yanbu

Yanbu I would not be happy at all.

It puzzles me how it’s ok to say babies shouldn’t be allowed, but if you complain about any other group of people making a noise you’re a bad person. I once complained about an Alzheimer’s patient singing along loudly, and the usher was very vocal in saying HE’S DISABLED and I hope when you’re elderly you get bullied in the same way.

I took my 3 month old to see an amateur production of the Beauty and the beast (asleep and in a sling). My husband had her and 15 mins before the end she woke, he passed her to me and I fed her. The lady next to me at the end looked and i thought she was annoyed but at the end she said he hadn't even realised we had a baby and how lovely it was we'd felt able to go and feed her at the theatre. So I don't agree with a blanket no babies at the theatre but obviously they should be taken out immediately if they are noisy.

My same baby who is now six performs regularly in local productions having been brought up going to all sorts and is totally enthralled in anything we watch.