... to want to take my baby to the cinema?

[HarktheheraldAnglepoise]

I really miss going to the cinema. There are baby screenings near us but they are at an unearthly time of the morning (I am not a morning person) and are for things I do not want to see. I was therefore wondering whether I am allowed to take DD to a mid-afternoon mid-week screening, which will probably be empty, and have asked on another forum whether anyone else has done this and whether the cinema allows it etc. I've only had two replies so far and they've both said that they would be annoyed if someone took their baby to the cinema, even if it was being quiet. I find this utterly bizarre and genuinely don't know whether AIBU or not. I can understand why people sometimes object to babies in pubs or restaurants, but in a cinema where you're barely going to notice it? AIBU?

Hark, they probably knew that mums will continue to try and placate a crying baby long after the people nearby have noticed, and are getting pissed off!

Sad fact of life, especially in wedding ceremonies.

I will get some ear defenders at some point (Glastonbury next year!) but NHS says it's okay

most places have a 'watch with baby' screening

I took DS2 when he was about two weeks old as DS1 was desperate to go to the picures. We went to see Shark Tales. As we sat down a group of teenage girls started making comments about how ridiculous it was taking a baby to the cinema.

However I can hand on heart say DS2 was much better behaved thoughout the whole film than that group of girls. They giggled,chatted loudly, texted and ate sweets loudly throughout. DS2 on the other hand BF'd cuddled or slept and we didn't hear a peep out of him. None of the cinema people made any comment to us and I did it several more times usually picking when he was due his afternoon nap so he was sleeping anyway.

Before Dh and I had our DS we used to take a day off midweek and go to the cinema in the middle of the day (it felt like we were skipping school and we liked it, anyway) we went one day and there was us and another couple in the cinema, half way through the film DH nudges me and then points to the other couple, she had her head in his lap and it was obvious she WAS NOT WATCHING THE FILM iykwim, we pissed ourselves laughing. No baby related issues just thought I'd share that with everyone.

I think all the advice given here is very sensible, I would just add that the atmosphere at baby screenings is really welcoming to you if you're bf/want to change a nappy in the aisle/baby kicks off. You might feel uncomfortable bf in a non-baby screening (mind you, people probably wouldn't even notice), and changing nappies in the aisle is good as that way you don't miss the film.

Just watch out for the noise. I saw 'Children of Men' at a baby screening and it was still way too loud. All the babies in the cinema started howling when the bombs exploded!

Apparently (the Odeon manager told me this) you can take babies into 15 and 18 films but you have to take their birth certificates with you to prove they are under a certain age (can't remember what that age is), this is driven by the council not by Odeon.

Volum level is the only reason that stops me from doing it.

I have taken my baby Orlaith at 3 weeks and 6 weeks. When I took her at 8 weeks the cinema 'ODEON at the QUAY' in Glasgow wouldn't let us in because it was a 15!!! Like she was going to do anything but sleep. So long as you know you must take baby out if it starts to cry then why not? Noise not a problem!

Our local cinema has "crying rooms" for both screens. I think it's fab - if you do take a little one and they are likely to disturb people you just go in there instead and get to watch the film without stressing. They show a lot of art house films so you're not limited to the big name cinemas with "babes in arms" showings where it's just the mainstream stuff.

good for you

I think if the cinema puts on special 'baby' screenings, with adjusted volume etc, then you're just being downright difficult to not make use of them and expect to go to normal screenings! 'Not being a morning person' is no excuse - just lazy!

If I really wanted to see a film, I wouldn't want to run the risk of having to take a baby out half way through because it started crying - I'd rather get a babysitter and do it properly. If you're not that bothered about having to go out and miss some of the film, how bothered are you about watching it in the first place?!

The other thing I'd add is that often babies of several months upwards are not quiet feeders! Mine used to chomp happily away - at 6 months my dd used to get a great rhythm going with snuffles and even a humming sound! All very adorable when you're feeding at home, but absolutely not if you're in a cinema! It's just as distracting as eating popcorn for anyone sitting near you!!

I'm all for babies being included in events where they aren't a distraction for anyone else, but very unfair to impose them on people who don't want to hear them.

I agree with Violet. I think when you have very young dc there are some things where the choice is simple - a. don't do it, or b. get a babysitter.

As for the 'take the baby out when it starts crying" - by then you have already annoyed other people around you.

Moondog - a 3 week old baby isn't over 15! They'd be breaking the law allowing it in. Daft as it is the law doesn't provide for babes in arms - I've had to enforce it in the past and there isn't a way round it.