Can I (should I?) take my 11 month old to Cirque du Soleil/La Nouba?

[Disneyfriend]

Hi all,

I've never been to a Cirque show before and am considering this one for our trip in September. At that time, our kids will be 15, 12, and 11 months.

Would it be appropriate to take our 11-month old?

I probably wouldn't hesitate to take her to a regular Ringling Bros.-type circus, because of the noise and activity level. I think people easily accept a little bit of typical baby noise at something like this. Not full out screaming, of course, but just standard noises that a one year old makes.

However, I wouldn't take her to something like a play or symphony because the expected audience noise level is very low, and it wouldn't be fair to my fellow audience members.

I know La Nouba tickets are very expensive, and I just don't know if it would be appropriate to take our 11 month old. Any input?

Thanks in advance,

Disneyfriend

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Leave the 11-month old at home.
2) The show is more for adults.
3) Little kids won't know what is happening.
4) Additionally, for that price, I would not want kids yelling or crying.

 

[Maxie86]

There were lots of babies and toddlers there when we went. Try to get a seat on the aisle so you could easily get up if the baby gets too fussy. Go and enjoy the show. It is awesome.

 

[oogsdaughter]

Leave the 11-month at home and wait till they are older. They won't get anything out of it.

 

[KarenP99]

This show is incredible!

For YOUR enjoyment, I would not take an 11month old. I know if it were me I'd spend more time trying to keep the little one happy & quiet than getting the full (what is it now $85) experience of Cirque.

 

[Disneyfriend]

Just to clarify my original question, there is no option to leave the 11-month old at home. We'd have to use an in-room babysitter, and I don't want to go that route.

So, really, the two choices are for all of us to go as a family, or for all of us to forego La Nouba on this trip.

Thanks!

Disneyfriend

 

[Puffy2]

Don't go with the baby. If you can't find a sitter, forgo the show. It's not like watching a circus. It's more like going to a broadway show.

 

[SLM]

The show is very long-at least I remember it seemed long because you'd want to get there for the pre-show. I do not remember any babies or very small children at the show we attended-mostly 4 years and up. It's a wonderful show, but I don't think a child that young would appreciate it.

 

[shellybaxter]

In using your analogy:

Circ is more like a play or a symphony than it is a circus.

I would not take a baby to this type of event.

 

[laceemouse]

Our youngest was 6 when we went and we all loved it, but I would not take a baby (particularly a mobile one as it is a long time for them to sit still.) Too bad though, because I think your other kids would love it. I guess that is the delimna when you have such an age gap, we had all 4 kids in 6 years time, and even then there are things that the olders can do and the younger ones can't. By the time your baby is old enough the others will be grown.

 

[HodagCatLady]

We went last year with our DD6 and DS12 months. I thought the baby would be fine, but then the show started with some loud, scary effects that were like thunder and lightning. He was terrified and never completely settled back down! The entire show is quite loud, and not good for most babies.

Now for the (relatively) good news. My DH took my DS out of the show, but was shown to an area in the rear of the theater, where he could walk with DS and still see the show. My DH is out right now, but when he gets back, I can give you more details about where he walked. Bottom line, it worked out just fine, and I'M SO GLAD WE WENT because my daughter loved the show, and still talks about it.

I say go ahead and try the show. You may get lucky, and your baby will be one of those that does fine. The odds are probably against that but even so, you can make it work. Your older kids will love the show!

 

[HodagCatLady]

Just talked to DH. He said he walked with our DS12-months (carrying him) behind the last row of seats in the top section of the theater. This walkway is nice and wide (he thought 6-8 feet) and DS did fine there. It was maybe a little quieter, but not much. Arrange ahead of time for your DH to do this, since I don't think they allow strollers in the theater, and it most certainly would have broken my back to carry DS for half the show!

It can be hard having kids with such an age gap, I know, but don't let it stop you! I can't see denying the older kids when there is a perfectly good work-around. The whole reason we went to WDW with a baby is because of our then 6-year old and we're all glad we did. Besides, after driving all the way from northern Wisconsin, everything else was a breeze!

 

[ducklite]

I wouldn't take a child who wasn't school aged to that show, and I'm surprised (particularly with ticket prices as they are) that Cirque even allows children under six or so.

Any way you can split up with one parent taking some of the family one night and the other taking the others the next, and the baby staying with whoever isn't attending?

Anne

 

[gopack]

I second ducklite. It would be a shame for your older children to miss out. What if you or DH stayed back with the baby. My kids are 6 years apart and although we can do most things together we will occassionally split up when it is the best choice for everyone.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

I also second Ducklite. Great idea. i was thinking one parent could take both kids, but that is a great idea to be one parent-one child for one night and one parent-one child for the next night.

 

[ppony]

The Cirque shows we've been to have had babies at them and it's really distracting if you are sitting really near them but you don't often hear them over the roar of the music. I certainly didn't think you meant you would want to bring your baby to enjoy the show. If you can, get a babysitter. You and everyone around you will enjoy it more. But as for waiting until they are much older to get anything out of it, we took my son at an early 3 and he ADORED it! Though at Allegria we were sitting litterally right next to the stage and that is just at eye level and when things got intense there with the wind blowing, he did cry. . No one could hear him though. I was sitting 2 seats away and couldn't hear him. But the coolest thing was one of the members of the cast DURING the performance leaned over off of the stage and asked if he was okay. How wonderful was that. He was, he was just startled by the wind and confetti blowing in his face. But oif we had been further away from eth stage, it wouldn't hve been an issue. I had no idea we were going to be so close or I would have reconsidered bringing him. He's seen a few shows now since then and just LOVES it! He watches Cirque on Bravo whenever it's on, he watches our Quidam DVD and he is really into gymnastics because of Cirque. He listens to the music and does his own "routines" now at age 6. he even asked me to paint his room like Cirque.