To take my 4 month old baby to the cinema?

[Gatecrashermum]

I'm solo parenting this weekend and don't know how to fill the time.

I'll be knackered and it's only a bit windy round here tomorrow, so feel safe driving a short distance.

But will it be too noisy? Is it bad for the baby's hearing? We've been to baby cinema before and he's just slept through it.

Fine if he sleeps through again but not so great for other cinema-goers if he doesn’t and makes it difficult to concentrate. Cinemas aren’t cheap.
(What’s the certificate? Are babies allowed in to anything other than U?)

Unless the show is aimed at parents with babies I would avoid, unless you are happy to leave should your baby become unsettled. Cinema tickets are not cheap, I would therefore be upset to pay and be disturbed be distracted by someone's children

Might be safer with ear defenders just in case, cinema is usually too loud for DH and he grumbles afterwards 🙄.

You might get some tuts and eyes rolls though if baby starts screaming the place down.

Are you planning to go to a baby cinema screening? Or just a normal showing?

Personally, I think it’s unreasonable to take a baby to the cinema unless it’s the former.

The cinema is way too loud these days for a baby. I always wear earplugs. I have with wax earplugs before and could hear it perfectly well which tells you it's too loud, especially for a baby's sensitive hearing. Be prepared to take baby out if you can't settle them.

Most don't let them in after 6pm or to films ranked 15 or 18 otherwise it depends on your little one

There was another similar thread last week and the consensus was really just to go to dedicated baby friendly screenings. Let me see if I can find a link and post it.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/films/5217633-have-you-taken-your-baby-to-the-cinema-adult-screening

Unless it is baby specific, no.

It's very unfair to bring a baby. It's an expensive evening these days and most cinema's have discounted baby sessions.

Baby cinema, no problem, but please don’t take him to a normal showing. It’s unfair to everyone else.

Might be safer with ear defenders just in case, cinema is usually too loud for DH and he grumbles afterwards 🙄.

Can you take along ear defenders for everyone else in case it screams throughout?
I'd be seriously hacked off if I paid £18 for a cinema ticket and had a baby crying through the movie,
I wasn't overjoyed with a child that talked it's way though Paddington - only pausing when it was stuffing smelly pizza.

Do not take your baby to a cinema, it’s very unfair on the other people who have paid to see a film.

Depends how reliable his sleep times are. It's really not fair on anyone else if he is grizzling.

and if he's properly awake it's not really fair on him,

A walk? A coffee?

it's funny how we're all so different. I live alone & I love it. I don't have much energy anymore, so most things sound too exhausting. I'm completely happy at home, on my own, for days on end.

I'd be perfectly happy at home with the little fella. Just mooching around the house, napping, cuddling, playing, watching one of the million things on the TV.

The original Everyman used to do early morning "screamings" designed for taking kids to. Is there anything like that where you are?

I agree with this. I once got a refund from the cinema as a baby cried all the way through the screening! Unless it’s a specific screening for babies YABVU.
I am also interested in why people do this?

I loved doing baby cinema on mat leave.Do go!
Normal screenings. No.

Ok thanks all, that's a very clear message! Will save our next cinema visit for a baby cinema.

We've done baby cinema twice and he fed or slept all the way through.

I was wondering about a morning viewing of a kid's film like Moana, and yes would have taken him out if he'd grumbled.

Kids viewings are on a Wednesday round here - I'm just not sleeping and there's something so hard for me about being theoretically able to rest / nap but then just as you fall asleep, the baby cries. I'd rather go out and was trying to think of an activity out of the home which was indoors.

Looks like I'll be trudging round the shops like a zombie again!

Museum, gallery, library? Hole up in a café with baby (hopefully) sleeping in pram while you have a coffee and read? Watch a film at home, with curtains drawn and snacks for you?

Sleeping away while hearing slowly gets damaged. There’s no accounting for common sense.

Sorry if I am being thick but how would ear defenders "for everyone else" work in case it screams throughout?🤔

There are better options for a 4 month old at this time of year. Look for local Christmas bazaars, school fetes, Santa grotto etc.

I’ve taken my baby to the cinema loads in his short 8 months. Mostly toddler showings with DD2 but recently DD1 and I wanted to see Wicked. He’s breastfed so I can’t leave him that long. The longest he whinged was the 20 seconds it took between him deciding he was hungry and me getting my boob out. Apart from that, he watched the film and then fell asleep.

If he had been fully crying or disturbing others, I’d have taken him out.

Sorry if I am being thick but how would ear defenders "for everyone else" work in case it screams throughout?🤔

Really? Don't think think they were being serious lol

The cinema is far too loud for a baby. I actually think they’re far too loud for anyone these days.