Getting out with a baby - cinema screenings

[BunnytheFriendlyDragon]

I'm on mat leave with a 2 month old. Haven't been out much due to adjusting to life with a baby and covid.

Starting to feel like I would like to get out and do more.

A cinema about 30 mins away does baby and me screenings once a month and I'm tempted to go. DH said what's the point(?!) but it's a lovely independent cinema with sofas and these screenings are adapted for mums and babies.

Has anyone been? What's it like?

I'm assuming I can just sit and BF baby all the way through the film if need be!

I went loads with DD. Loved them. The lights are usually brighter than in a standard screening, and the sound a bit quieter. Absolutely fine to feed, stand in the aisles to bounce a baby etc. Go for it!

I did this quite a few times and it was great. I went with another mum and baby friend and also on my own with my baby. Was a nice treat, I just fed my baby as needed or diddled him up and down the aisle if needed. Noobs minded and others were doing the same. We also did the theatre one afternoon as well which was lovely

I went to these at least once a month while on mat leave! I really enjoyed getting out the house to do something for myself, as all the other things we did were baby groups. My DS would usually sleep through the film, and I'd have popcorn/cake and relax. I'd definitely recommend.

I used to go to baby cinema screenings when my first child was a baby and I loved them. As a newborn she either fed or slept through the films, as she got older and more mobile I went with friends and their babies, we’d set ourselves up in the front row with space in front for the babies to crawl about a bit or play with toys. Highly recommended!

I went with DS loads - it was lovely. He just used to sleep and feed and I'd have a coffee and cake. Used to go to baby comedy club too and have a glass of wine with my mates.

I loved ours with ds and am gutted is closed down due to covid as I now won't be able to take dd. I could feed when I needed was space to wheel the pram in got to watch new movies without the need for a babysitter and no one minded if baby grizzled or cried or shouted when a bit older.

The point is to get out of the house, meet other new parents, and see a film!

I only managed to go to one, as our local Connemara didn’t do them in my first mat leave, and I had a theee year old in tow on the second mat leave, but it was a nice trip out. Kind of “grown up” thing to do.

Thanks everyone - now I'm sold!

They're the first week of the month so there's one next week.

Baby is usually quite content. Only really cries when he's hungry so if I can feed him we should be able to relax.

Can you usually take a pram in? 🤔

I was also thinking it might be the same people going every month so maybe would meet people there but that's not why I'm going.

It's a cinema with sofas and tables and cafe so you can take "proper" food in a bit like Every Man. Seems like it could be a nice treat for me!

I went once years ago with my ds. It's quite nice to do something 'normal' and be able to take your baby and yes of course, you can bf. You can bf anywhere you want anyway

As for your dh comment...that could apply to anything. Why eat in a restaurant when you can eat at home? Why go to the shops when you can buy online?

Now wondering what I do if I need to go to the toilet while I'm out with baby. Presumably go in a big toilet I can take pram into? That might be my only difficulty...

I really haven't been out much other than to appointments or shopping so haven't really had to navigate feeding, changing or going to the loo away from home!

@Comedycook

I went once years ago with my ds. It's quite nice to do something 'normal' and be able to take your baby and yes of course, you can bf. You can bf anywhere you want anyway

As for your dh comment...that could apply to anything. Why eat in a restaurant when you can eat at home? Why go to the shops when you can buy online?

Exactly! I wonder if he thought I was taking baby to see the film for baby's benefit rather than mine IYSWIM

If you need the loo and have your pram/buggy, take it in with you if the cubicle is big enough. If not I always had my sling and I would put my baby in that and go to the loo...took some getting used to!

Enjoy!! I went a few times and loved it. Actually relaxing even with loads of babies in the place! Ask a mum near you to watch baby in the pram while you go to the loo - far easier than taking them with you.

Buggies either come in with you or the cinema will designate an area for them to be parked - then you just go in with a changing bag or whatever.

It was one of my favourite things to do when my oldest was tiny. I sat and watched an adult film and she just fed and slept. The darkness of the cinema really relaxed her. When my 2nd came along I had a toddler in tow so spent his newborn phase in farms and soft plays. Enjoy your last bit of time to do adult things whenever you want! It goes fast. Looking back I wish I had spent the time I spent at baby sensory classes (which dd slept through as she was literally weeks old) instead wandering around art galleries with her in a sling.

Use the disabled loo, it's big enough and usually has the changing table.

I love the loos that have a strap on the table so if you you carried baby in, once changed, you can strap onto the table and you do your business!

Thanks everyone.

The cinema doesn't have its own parking, which is not ideal, but it's in a nice village so I may be able to have a walk around after the film and there are some nice shops near the car park.

The next mum and baby showing is on Tuesday so I plan to go.

Glad you're going to go. I got to go to two showings with DD before the world ended we went into the first lockdown. It was amazing. I got to watch a film and DD got a massive screen to marvel at.

I didn't drive when DD was little so walked everywhere, it's worth investing in a good bike lock that way if you cant take your buggy in somewhere then you can lock it up somewhere appropriate.

Going to the loo, you can use the accessibility toilet although I always tried not to if DD didn't need changing, I'd go to the very end cubicle and put the buggy infront and go to the loo quickly. I'm fairly sure I used to close the door but not lock it so I could still see her and then when she was older and could talk to me would just lock it and talk to her through the door. With hindsight, It's not likely that anyone is going to take your baby in the time it takes you to have a quick pee but I remember being very PFB at the beginning.

I'm going to take the pram on Tuesday but I've ordered a baby carrier. I hasn't got around to it. It might be a bit easier with that maybe.

Also I noticed three seats (well if you book a seat you get two as they're 2 seater sofas) have been booked and they are all the end of rows (there are only four rows)

I think I might be minded to leave pram outside the cubicle but also thinking how long can I go without the loo?! 🙈

It is a nice cinema though so might have nice facilities and hopefully clean!

Go now if you're going to do it. Once your baby gets more fidgety and interested in the world, it doesn't work as well.
The end of a row is always the best position to be in as you can get up & rock or jiggle the baby at the side and also leave easily if it all goes pear shaped!

I used to love going to these. Feels almost normal! It's nice to be in an environment catered for you and your baby. People don't glare or shush you.

We did this several times! It was great! There was a buggy park outside the screen. We had a lie flat car seat so we just took DD in in that. She either slept or fed the whole time, even through the mammoth Avengers film we saw!