anyone else's school say no babies at the school xmas play??

[sparklygothkat]

recieved a letter today saying no babies or small children at the key stage 1 play and at the key stage 2 carol concert. I can't leave callum with anyone as he is BF and will not take a bottle, also he needs topups after feeding. I thought I would feed and topup just before the play and concert and he should sleep for a few hours.

makes me wonder who the concert benefits - is it for the kids or parents. IMHO it's for the kids - those that act and those who might cry, wriggle or shout out. I've had problems with parents pushing & even taking my seat whilst big & preg - never minded a noise from a child.

ours does but it does offer a creche in a classroom staffed by parents/carers. so it wouldnt be an problem as a baby could be fed and then left with a carer. If any child gets really upset or wont settle the secretary will go and find the parent.

I didnt like this idea when it started but do agree with it now and support it by helping in the creche when possible. Have sat through too many plays which have been spoilt but crying children.

We have 4 performances and no pre-school children allowed at any of them, under no cirmumstances no sirree!!. Still limited to 2 tickets.

Having returned from my DDs play this evening I can fully understand why and agree no babies or child. The performance was totally unaudible in parts due to screaming/muttering/crying etc.

What shocked me even more were the parents who chatted during the performance? Unbelievable

Flippin eck!

Can't believe this thread!
What happened to all the common sense.

Our school welcomes babies, and toddlers, there would be outrage if they were banned!

However there would also be outrage if they were disruptive and their parents did nothing to stop them ruining the show.

There are no policies or letters home its just sort of understood by everyone.

ours says no pre-school kids, which is fair enough as my dd would have ruined it

I guess I am allowed to have strops at school as I help to run drama classes for children so dd has had plenty of opportunities to perform.

And we allow anyone, crying babies the lot. It can be hard, there was one particular baby who did drown out some quiter children and the mum should maybe have stood outside and watched through the window.

And my own mum had to come backstage as ds was threatening to kick off at dd's performance last weekend so she missed it.

should have an evening showing sans screaming babies. screaming babies are not at fault its the mother who doesn't go outside but adons perfect mum face with the "its all natural" stance - well its fucking natural to walk out wen your kid is spoiling it.

sparkly I am sure they will let you take a sleeping babe - esp as you have asked.

To others - just think about the 4yos on stage who have worked so hard! We went to DS2's nativity y/day (lovely) and so did lots of 2yos etc (no ban at our school) and after about 20 mins some got sooo restless and chatty and crying - you couldn't hear what the children on stage were saying, and they all got a bit put off. Let's face it, yes, it's not the RSC, but it is why we were all there. Why don't people take them out? grrrrr

Creche a good idea actually at agreeing with Xenia .

DS2's jnr school has afternoon perf with pre-schoolers allowed and evening one with no under 5s. Also you only get 2 tix. What to do with my other 2 children??? well I give them to a neighbour for an hour. Is that really so hard?

I went to a nativity done by the posh school I work in. They allowed everyone and sensibly hired radio microphones for the speaking parts. The performers were louder than any toddler noise. There was no limiting of tickets, enough programmes to go around and one performance. It was lovely and ds had a wonderful time.

Ds has played cello at several concerts this year. Imagine if preschoolers were banned from those - he wouldn't be able to play . Yes there was a two year old running around, but again the worst was one of the other dads having a conversation whilst ds was playing.

Babies are always welcome at any show or concert I put on - it's good training for the children at not being distracted, and good for the babies/toddlers to learn how to behave at a concert.

I've taken ds to all manner of orchestra,theatre and music theatre things and would therefore be pretty miffed about not being able to take him to see 5 year olds shuffling around with teatowels on their heads.

I am wondering if MrsMagicweasleymincepies and I are parents at the same school.
My ds school runs a creche too by parents, would love to have helped out, but right now it's not so ideal, so maybe next year

Ours also give 2 tickets per family, but sell off any extras on a date beforehand.

we are allowed to go to the rehersal play with Callum, but we have just started with bottles of EBM and he actually will take it now. So at least I can leave him with MIL.

No not all mums have someone who can watch their baby for an hour. They just don't. I think its probably those who haven't that actually should be at the plays most, in a way.

I can't believe how precious the school is being, really. Its just common sense. Allow babies in. If they cause a disturbance, take them out. Duh. These plays should be a relaxed, family thingy, its not the feckin RSC.

Yep - just backing you up C&L'smum. I don't have a happy little band of helpers - and quite frankly I feel a baby is a part of myself until it gets mobile and crawls away. Rather like a large unpredictable handbag. Small babies are no trouble at these sort of events - just plug'em in to your breast if they start to stir. A young toddler may be trouble (unless it's naptime) but a pre-schooler would in all likelihood greatly benefit from the experience. After-all they'll be in the same position in a year or two. I'm really taken aback by the idea of banning children, although I can see that schools are probably pushed for space and seating.

ok so babies can be noisy, but the whole point of Christmas is that a baby was born who christians believe was sent to save mankind. So if schools start excluding babies they are defeating the whole purpose of the nativity. I've been reading the bible a bit recently, although i wouldn't call myself a christian, so please don't throw things at me when i say 'Suffer the little children, let them come unto me'

another thread about this

I am in the 'no babies' camp

also 'no unruly toddlers' either

agree with custardo

couldn't have put it better myself

Utterly stupid having a no babies rule - only in bloody England!! - the same for weddings.

Babies can be hushed

Little ones regularly goes to Evensong to hear the boys sing and is rarely disruptive. - if they are you take them out and hush them

Kids should be exposed to all sorts of culture forma a very early age

yes id dint go to celebration ass=mbleis when ds3 was smalla nd irritating
tey arnet a birth right you kow

ye sbut oyu alwasy get he natural mother wiht eh baby squaking

keep em out fgs

ANYWYA

gothkats baby can be fed before hand

yes we have two natural mothers

beatific smile as undernourished looking baby screams its head off and filthy toddler pulls pages out of bible

oh cod I know, thats why I was miffed that he can't come along, he will be sleeping.. as it is he has just started taking a bottle so can now be left anyway.