Babies in cinemas

[chocchipbrioche]

Couldn't see what category to put this on so stuck it on here for parents with kids opinions.
I went to the cinema the other night with some friends. 9.30pm showing of the new Venom film. As the adverts were starting in walk a couple with a baby (3 months at the most) and sat at the front. The baby immediately started crying and the parents made no attempt to take the baby out to the foyer. It eventually settled but after 3 more times of it crying, now during the actual film, a guy stood up and had a go at the parents.
The father got into a shouting match with this guy and eventually the parents did take their baby outside.
Just wondering what people's views on this are.
Mine is that it's completely inappropriate to bring a small child to an evening performance that will disrupt others enjoying the film.
I think it shows a very selfish attitude and if you are now parents you can't expect to do the same sorts of things you did before kids.
There are plenty of family friendly screenings if you don't want or can't pay for a sitter and I think the cinema should have a rule about it.
I also feel sorry for the baby's poor ears as it was a very loud film.

'A good parent does a fuck ton more than just love a child. Love is definitely not enough.'

Very well said

I'm glad to see that most people on here are of the same opinion that it is unacceptable.
Also for the posters who said they took their baby but left when it cried that would be the appropriate reaction because I suppose you could chance it and see if your baby slept through.
I never thought about complaining to management for a refund. I'll remember that if it happens again. I did ask the staff member checking tickets when I left if there was a rule about babies and kids in evening performances but he just shrugged and said no.

You're totally right.

Baby screenings are happening again at my two local cinemas. But they weren't last year when my DD was tiny, so that was my tough luck, I just missed out. I wouldn't have inflicted her on anyone else.

@DifficultBloodyWoman

Completely inappropriate.

I would have walked out and complained to management and demanded a refund but I don’t blame the other customer for addressing it directly.

I agree.

@DifficultBloodyWoman

Completely inappropriate.

I would have walked out and complained to management and demanded a refund but I don’t blame the other customer for addressing it directly.

I agree.

I don't think it's illegal as cinemas round here do special baby screenings for adults where sound is lowered to protect baby's ears and everyone attending most expect a bit of crying. Not fair to baby or other cinema users at a standard showing though. No wonder baby cried it was probably painful to their sensitive ears not to mention scary.

I don't think it's illegal as cinemas round here do special baby screenings for adults where sound is lowered to protect baby's ears and everyone attending most expect a bit of crying. Not fair to baby or other cinema users at a standard showing though. No wonder baby cried it was probably painful to their sensitive ears not to mention scary.

Would never dream of taking a baby to an adult film. It's just so selfish to ruin other people's expensive day out!

Even at the parent and baby screenings I've been to most people take their babies out to settle them if they start making lots of noise.

The p&b screenings are back on at two cinemas near to me (both chains) so they probably had the option of going to one of these too.

Trying to put myself in their shoes, maybe their baby usually has reliably long naps so they thought they could safely get through a film without it waking?!

The film I saw that was ruined was a pg. Vue said if it had been age classed they wouldn't have gotten the baby in at all. But they rely they said on parent's common sense... The baby wasn't screaming but was unsettled and lots of dm shushing and standing up jiggling it around. I was enraged to say the least!! I had paid for 8 tickets and treats. An entitled dm and it wasn't even her pfb!!

So the option of seeing an adult film but with the lights up and volume lowered during the day is no longer an option for parents

Tough. Get a baby sitter like the rest of us did.

I had the same scenario as the OP for the 2nd Thor Film. When the baby started up the second time I went over and said take it out.
They started whining about not being able to do anything so I pointed out others in the audience: mostly same age as me with grown up kids who missed out on loads if stuff when their babies were growing il and don't want to be disturbed by other people's offspring. A young dad stood up and said he was paying nearly 100 Euros for a babysitter and would they kindly fuck off.

The cinéma wound the film back 30 minutes and handed out vouchers on the way out.

Several of us also emailed the cinema to say that if it happened again we'd spread the word to people not to go. It is inexcusable sekfush

Totally unacceptable, I'm the person who would say something to their face too! Apart from the fact the poor child would have had to cope with such loud noise, people pay a lot of money for tickets. If I paid out and went to a night time viewing of a film, a 15 no less, in no way would I expect a baby to be there!

When my kids were small we didn't get chance to go to the movies as we have no family near by. We just had movie nights at home instead!

@chocchipbrioche

I'm glad to see that most people on here are of the same opinion that it is unacceptable. Also for the posters who said they took their baby but left when it cried that would be the appropriate reaction because I suppose you could chance it and see if your baby slept through. I never thought about complaining to management for a refund. I'll remember that if it happens again. I did ask the staff member checking tickets when I left if there was a rule about babies and kids in evening performances but he just shrugged and said no.

That's not good enough. Is it a chain? Write to/ask to speak to management.

And no, of course it's not OK to a) bring a tiny baby to an evening film or b) sit there while it cries.

if you're sat watching frozen on a Sunday afternoon you expect lots of kid noise. DP and I saw Frozen in a cinema full of kids and parents and the kids were silent throughout, totally spellbound.

We used to take our babies to the cinema to see adult films but only at special baby showings.
I wouldn't take them to a standard one.

@Dunnowhatalltheacronymsmean

Trying to put myself in their shoes, maybe their baby usually has reliably long naps so they thought they could safely get through a film without it waking?!

So you think it is OK to take a small child to a film rated 15?

A 3 month can actually see the images on the screen you know.

I took my own DD to the cinema until she was 14 months. The viewings were always in the day and the max rating of the films were PG. She clearly was watching the films in between falling asleep until she was about 9 months old, as she was an early talker and didn't talk during them.

@MrsFin

Completely inappropriate and also technically illegal unless the film is U rated, or PG.

No it's not because they show up to 15s at baby cinema clubs

If cinemas aren't doing baby friendly showings it still doesn't mean you can take your baby to the cinema the rest of the time.

Most cinemas FAQs confirm they'll happily admit babes in arms.

I wouldn't take a baby to a normal screening but the parents aren't breaking any rules.

Out of curiosity those who think you shouldn’t take a baby to the cinema to see a film that’s over a PG rating. Does that mean you only ever watch baby friendly tv, even if your baby is in the room and asleep? No soaps, no dramas, no news? Is that the same for radio both talk and music which can also be inappropriate?

Not cinema, but similar - my mate thinks it's appropriate to take her baby to the theatre (local, community stuff, but that's irrelevant). It really really winds me up. It's distracting for everyone - performers and audience. When you have kids surely you realise that some things will have to be put on hold, or you get a babysitter.

@Thesearmsofmine I'm careful what I watch and listen to as DD does zoom in on things.

She can tell you random things on Covid and about Boris Johnson.
We learnt that when she shocked an OAP friend of ours by saying stuff on them when she was about 18 months old.

@Thesearmsofmine when my children were babies it did dawn on me that I didn't have to watch CBeebies just because they were in the room! What a relief that was! The point about a 15 film is that it's a lot of explosions, sudden noises, scary music etc, so no I didn't watch films like that when babies were in the room.

There may not be a rule in cinemas but there really, really should be. It's bloody expensive these days and even a parent taking a baby out when it cries is really distracting.

@Greytminds @Nightmanagerfan

Which cinemas? I last checked about 3 weeks ago with odeon, cineworld and empire and non of those were doing their baby screenings.

@BrumBirth The Everyman cinema. Their baby club is awesome - you get coffee and cake included in the standard ticket price.

My local Picturehouse does dog friendly screenings!