Has anyone taken a baby to the cinema?

[Vseager]

I heard there was a cinema in Clapham (South London) that has special mother and baby showings. Is this true? Does anyone know the name of the cinema? Are there any other baby-friendly cinemas? My baby in 3.5 months old and would feed/sleep happily through a film. Any advice?

Has to be the gorgeous Clapham Picture House, tho I didn't know they did this. They do have a kids club on Saturdays, as does the Ritzy in nearby Brixton. The Ritzy is so laid back I'm sure no one would stop you taking the baby in with other children, but I guess you're after the grown-up experience.

Just back from Australia where a local picture theatre had mothers mornings where you were encouraged to see the latest films and more than welcome to bring baby along too. Sounded like a great idea - I want to see some girly films and would prefer to go during the week but can't with dd ( 9 months).

Apparently the Aus one is very popular - perhaps a thought for cinemas here.

Don't think cinemas can stop you taking a baby. I took mine many years ago, and as long as you can keep them quiet there is no problem.

I've taken baby to cinema and breastfed him as soon as he cried. He was "attached" to me for at least half the film, as I recall, and didn't even seem to notice the noisy bits.

Just came across t his thread and it is something I have wondered about doing too - I used to love going to the cinema for matinees when I was pregnant with dd and would like to start going again when she goes back to school next week - taking ds with me! The main problem I suspect will be finding films that finish in time for me to collect dd from school on time...

The only problem with taking a young baby to cinema is that they won't let you into any film with a 12+ or 18 certificate. Sort of silly, I mean, does a 3.5 month old baby really grasp what is going on in a film like American Beauty?

A friend of mine tried going to see a film when her ds was tiny and they wouldn't let her in for the reason Zebra gave. She was fuming but they said rules were rules!

Yes, it is the Clapham Picture House - a friend of mine has been, it's called The Big Scream I think and is on Thursday mornings at 10.30am. She said it's great, full of babies and mums feeding!

When mine were tiny there was a rule that children under 5 were not allowed into the cinema (DD now 17). It seems to have been abolished.

Special mum & baby sessions sounds like a really good idea for everyone. Speaking as someone who goes to the cinema a lot I really get fed up with little children spoiling what is actually a very expensive trip out. We've started going at odd times to avoid the hordes of children, especially now they've brought in the 12A rating. If I wanted to listen to children talking & running around I'd go to a playground. Unfortunately in my area it seems that the people who insist on taking their wee ones to a 12A (for example) are also the parents who don't ever say no. Mine were talk to sit quietly & certainly not allowed to run about.

That should be "taught", of course..

When mine were tiny there was a rule that children under 5 were not allowed into the cinema (DD now 17). It seems to have been abolished.

Special mum & baby sessions sounds like a really good idea for everyone. Speaking as someone who goes to the cinema a lot I really get fed up with little children spoiling what is actually a very expensive trip out. We've started going at odd times to avoid the hordes of children, especially now they've brought in the 12A rating. If I wanted to listen to children talking & running around I'd go to a playground. Unfortunately in my area it seems that the people who insist on taking their wee ones to a 12A (for example) are also the parents who don't ever say no. Mine were talk to sit quietly & certainly not allowed to run about.

wow, that sounds absolutely fantastic, I adore cinema and was already resigning myself to a period of movie abstinence after the baby arrives in a few weeks time!

However the limitation to watch certification 12 and 18 movies will make it hard to watch interesting ones, but I can see the point.

Guess if you are breastfeeding and there is violence/sex/murder on the screen, you are likely to feel distressed and may be passing these feelings to the baby cause he/she will feel you are tense while attached to your breast?
I know the baby can feel how you feel when in the placenta, what about when he/she is at your breast?

I took my dd 9 years ago to the pictures - it was actually The Lion King we went to see (can't believe it was that long ago). Anyway, I didn't even think to ask permission and I certainly wasn't challenged. She just breastfed quietly through a lot of it. It was my 3 other boys I was most concerned about

I live in nz and we have special mum and bub screenings. they even keep the lights on a bit so you can feed. get this- it's cheaper than normal and kids under 5 are free, but who else wants to go to the movies at 11am on a wednesday? It's worth asking your local cinema if they would be interested, maybe Mumsnet could promote it?

Only downside is that there is no choice of film, but they do ask you to choose the next film as you leave.

Otherwise most movie theatres here let you take a baby as long as you leave if the baby cries and you can't cure it by feeding. Not sure the ratings apply to the under 2's here as they are hardly likely to have underage sex or take up smoking as a result are they?

As with most things, if you ask someone will probably think of a reason to say no. Pick a quiet time and go for it!

Dd came with us to see the Harry Potter film when she was about this age. I was all ready to have a row with someone about why she should be allowed in with us, but we weren't challenged at all. It was a matinee full of noisy older kids so she was the quietes there - slept in her car seat, woke up so I fed her. Cried a bit, so we went into the foyer then sat at the back just in case. No problem though really.

Ster cinemas have been trialing mother and baby specials at certain cinemas, not my local one though! Doh!

We have a cinema near us, that has mother and baby screenings (babies under 1 though) every other wednesday morning. They show some recent pics and old classics; Cold Mountain, Breakfast at Tiffany's, for example. I haven't been yet, but I'm intrigued to see what it's like!
I personally wouldn't take my dd to the cinema, mainly because she's older (12 months), but also I like that time for myself, the few occassions I get to go that is!
Personally, I think I would be a bit annoyed if someone brought a baby to the cinema (unless it was entirely quite/asleep). It's bad enough when people rustle sweet packets etc. let alone having a baby gurgling. I am also lucky to have a few 'free' babysitters around, perhaps if you don't have that luxury, taking your baby is the only way.

The Brixton and Clapham cinemas are reviewed here and get high reviews
reviews

I just did a search online - at www.londonnet.co.uk/films they list all films playing as well as the baby/parent ones. It looks like there are a lot of baby/parent films shown - you just have to be willing to travel a bit to find one.

vseager, it is the clapham picture house. the brixton ritzy also does this. i've been and it's great, wonderful to have an m&b thing which is still adult - iyswim.

i believe it's huggies who have teamed up with a lot of cinemas it may be worth checking out there website

Brixton Ritzy used to have travel cots in the cafe and offer a free cup of tea/coffee after. But, that was almost 3 years ago. They used to do it on a Friday morning.

Everyman in Hampstead, Electric on Portobello Road and Rio in Dalston all have what they call "scream" screenings. Most are for under ones but the Everyman has now started an over ones too! Hurrah!