Paying an entry fee for a 4/5 week old baby!

[Justmebeingme22]

Is it not strange to charge £10 for a newborn to a mostly outdoor event. I’m not sure why it is necessary?

Need a bit more context.

That is bad!

Very. I've taken DD2 to loads of stuff since she was born including the theatre, soft play, several other music shows and a petting zoo and nowhere has charged for babies under 1 and certainly not newborns!

It’s an adventure playground. Apparently they have ‘sensory options’ but I’ve been before it’s outdoor fairground rides, outdoor play and animals. Just seems unreasonable as a newborn surely wouldn’t leave mums side. Plus already an entry fee for adults not much different to child (reasonable)

Ok, that’s nuts.

I even emailed to query, they confirmed that a ticket would need to be purchased. I thought surely not. At 6-12 months at a push they may get something from the experience but 5 weeks 🙃

My DS was about eight weeks old when I took him with me and my three year old DD to see Angelina Ballerina at a theatre in Glasgow. During the break, a member of staff came over and loudly asked me if I had bought a ticket for the baby, who was asleep in my arms. I said no, and she said that it was required for fire regulations. It was really embarrassing! I'm sure they could have had an option to register the fact you are bringing a baby but not have to pay for a ticket.

That's bloody ridiculous! Never heard of anywhere that doesn't have free entry for babes-in-arms.

This would mostly impact mothers who have recently given birth, so I'm not sure its legal for them to do that.

I wonder did the person misread weeks for years? Seems crazy otherwise.

I would understand a fee where there was a total limit. But not an outdoor even on the pretext of 'sensory' options.

I wouldn't go and id post on their Facebook page to warn people

The problem is when should they charge? Many venues aimed at children have a 1 year and up rule but I can see why they might just say everyone needs a ticket

I made it clear I was talking about a newborn. I’m thinking to just turn up anyway, surely they can’t think it’s reasonable.

Yeah I think it’s a bit much expecting to pay for a newborn entry fee imo most places I see are 2 years +

With theatres it's often a case of no ticket no entry in my experience, I got away with taking my then 6 week old in and was told next time she needs a ticket (Childrens concert series, last in the year tickets bought before I was pregnant!)

I think it depends on what they offer. This place is 90 percent outdoors, with fairground rides and outdoor play. The only part for babies is a sensory area.

Often the capacity for fire regulations and the number of seats in a theatre are very close so if you start adding in babies (especially more than one) without assigning them a seat it will go over. As they can't then give that seat to someone else paying doesn't sound unreasonable.
Makes no sense for an outdoor place though.

Some places have a babe in arms ticket for free, maybe that was what she meant

Why are you going there? Domypu have other children or are you trying to give the baby an experience?

Yeah I am due to go with a large group of friends. I have an older child. My baby isn’t even born yet 😂

I can see their point of view - sorry! Only because of the limit, and people less reasonable than you arguing the point. Even if they said, “crawlers upwards” - they can’t exactly police that by making you put your baby down to prove it either way!
They could say “newborns” but then some people would argue that a 9 month old in a sling counted.
I do think they should work out a better policy - but I also see pitfalls for them too!