Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Is 15mo too young for a panto?

21 replies

HeadDreamer · 28/09/2015 16:17

They are playing Jack and the bean stalk in the nearby theatre. It's targetted at age 3+. I've not been to a panto for years, and would like to take 4yo DD1 to see her first. However, we also have DD2 who will be 15mo at christmas. Would she be too young to go? Will other family mind having a baby/toddler there?

OP posts:
HirplesWithHaggis · 28/09/2015 16:22

15 months is too young. She won't be able to follow the stories and might find the bright lights and shouting scary, which will distress her as well as annoy others - and what do you do if she does cry? Take her out and leave your 4yo alone, or do you all have to leave?

Find a babysitter and enjoy the experience with DD1.

SoupDragon · 28/09/2015 16:24

I think it's too young as well.

Original poster
HeadDreamer · 28/09/2015 16:31

Thanks. I'm worried she'll be scared and cried too. Just needed an honest opinion. I'll have a chat with DH. Maybe one of us will take DD1 instead.

OP posts:
Bellebella · 28/09/2015 17:27

My ds was 2 earlier this month and I am not taking him to panto. I do think they need to be older to appreciate it and concentrate it. That and it could ruin it for other families who want to enjoy a Christmas activity, it's not as if the panto is always cheap. I would never want to risk being that parent!

Have someone babysit dd2 and take just dd1. Am sure she would love some one on one time and it's not as if your dd2 will be any the wiser.

EllaMenoPea · 28/09/2015 17:31

I took 15 month old DD last year but only because a friend had a last minute ticket for free. I say near the door and was going to take her out the minute she got upset or bored but she sat beautifully the whole time and was enchanted! I would have paid for a ticket or thought about it in advance but I'm glad she went as she loved it.

EllaMenoPea · 28/09/2015 17:32

Sat near and Wouldn't have Blush

Twitterqueen · 28/09/2015 17:34

Too young. The noise will be too much.

PesoPenguin · 28/09/2015 17:42

It depends on the child. DS went to shows from very young and was transfixed but other children might get bored and fussy. You know your child best but I wouldn't risk it if you think she might get upset as its not fair on other people. It might me nice for your older Dd to have a mummy/ daughter or daddy/ daughter day anyway!

AuntieStella · 28/09/2015 17:47

I think 15 months (or anywhere after slumbering babyhood but before an adequate and vaguely reliable attention span) is a very awkward age, and would look for a sitter.

But if you must, please take two adults, so one can take DC2 out if loud/wriggly, because although other families will be pragmatic enough to put up with minor disturbances, anything that doesn't settle rapidly just isn't fair on everyone else.

Blu · 28/09/2015 17:54

Things that set small children off in Pantos;
The darkened theatre
The evil baddy being very loud
Flashes and bangs- pyrotechnics etc
Other effects - strobe lighting etc
Actors in big costumes tearing down the aisles and along the rows, often in a 'scary' chase scene
The mere mention of a giant, witch, ghost etc

For the amount that the tickets will cost you, don't risk it.

Glasspumpkin · 28/09/2015 18:05

Just make sure you sit at the end of a row and leave the main theatre once your 15 month old starts disturbing everyone else who has paid for their tickets to enjoy a show without a screaming child ruining it for them who is too young to even understand what the show is even about so shouldn't even be there hence the reason it is age 3+

imip · 28/09/2015 18:13

Yes, too young. I have 4dcs and always kept those under 3 home with dh, was just to difficult. Even over three they can be a little complicated - our biggest issue is, "I can't see!". I took a v young breastfed baby to tiger who came to tea, I spent the whole time bf and swinging to keep calm - luckily was at the end of the row at the end of the theatre. It was a bugger!

MizK · 28/09/2015 18:16

I agree, too young. I would say 3 is the youngest that I would start taking a child along as they are pretty long, noisy affairs.

notaprincessbutaqueen · 29/09/2015 12:48

no not too young!
well yes and no. obviously they wont be able to follow the story or get the jokes or anything, but they will enjoy the music and the lights. eat ice cream during the interval and then fall asleep!
We've been going to the panto every year since dd was 3. and in that time she has gained 2 brothers and a step-sister and we have always taken them although the 2 brothers have been jan/feb babies so 10-11months old for their first panto. will be going again this year with a newborn.

DrSausagedog · 29/09/2015 15:29

Too young, we waited until age 3.

Luciferbox · 30/09/2015 17:54

DS1 was 3.1 last year and he was bored after 20 mins and found the whole thing confusing. He asked to leave in the interval but was persuaded to stay when offered ice cream. However he hasn't stopped talking about it since, every time we go past the theatre he sings the songs so he obviously took in more then I thought. He's already asking to go this year. DS2 has now arrived and he'll be staying at home with DH whilst DS1 and I enjoy the panto.

NeverNic · 30/09/2015 19:34

Can your child sit through a children's film on the TV? If they can't, then I'd say probably not. We took ds last year when he was 2.5yrs. I was a bit worried that he wouldn't like it, but he loved it. We had an aisle seat just in case but we were fine. Our friend went to the same panto with their 4.5yo and just 2yo and he was too frightened and fidgety. Bizarrely at that time my son was more of a 'wuss' so I was surprised our son enjoyed it more.

ShowOfHands · 30/09/2015 19:40

My DS was 15 months old when we went to a pantomime (my first too). It was for DD as a Christmas present (she was 5) and we didn't have to pay for DS's ticket as he was under 2.

He burst into terrified tears very soon after it started and - as we'd planned - DH took him out immediately. I went and found them at the interval and DH was sitting with at least 10 other Dads of under 2s. They were in the bar, drinking coffee and entertaining the children.

I breastfed DS and he nodded off so we took him back in for the second half (slept throughout on my knee).

He's 4 now and loves the theatre.

At 15 months I wouldn't recommend it.

ShowOfHands · 30/09/2015 19:42

DS wasn't frightened of the stage btw. It was the audience shouting out "he's behind you" or similar. It must have seemed very sudden and very loud.

loubielou31 · 30/09/2015 21:37

Too young and if it's anything like the panto near me much too expensive(even for the four year old).
However the smaller theatres near me have lovely things on year round but always have a christmassy one that lasts about an hour, loads cheaper and just perfect for young children 2-7 ish, have a quick google to see what's on and save the panto for a while.

TheGreatBigNo · 30/09/2015 22:07

I took DS aged 11 months last Christmas, and will be taking him again this year aged 23 months.

But my oldest is 8 so DS is used to fitting in with older stuff, and he is very laid back.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page