do you take an infant to a movie theater?

[karenTX]

Netflix is our best friend!! No, we would never dream of taking dd to the theater yet. She's too active and loves to talk. I've taken some "time off" on the weekends to see a movie while DH watches her.

One of the theaters near us has signs up at all the ticket booths that have a cute picture of a baby and says "You're cute as can be... but you're not who I paid to see" and then "No children under 12 admitted to R movies after 6:00p.m., with parents or not, no exceptions."

 

[aaronandterri]

Ive taken all of mine as babies to the cinema, When they are very young they slept through it all oblivious in there car seat or pram, or in one of our arms, and then as they got a little bigger i would plan around there sleep times and book for when i knew they would sleep and keep them awake till then and feed them when the film started and they would be asleep 5 minutes later, mine have never seen bothered by the noise and actually slept better for it, but i always took another adult with me to watch other kids incase i had to leave with an irate baby, it never happened but i was well prepared to leave if it did, and i never had anyone complain, once they got to just over 1 we stopped and waited for them to be old enough to come and enjoy the film without being a nuisance to others, around 2 1/2 or 3 depending on the film

 

[minkydog]

I didn't start taking my children to movies until they were about 4yo, old enough to sit through it(mostly). It's one of my pet peeves that people insist on bringin small children to the movies. The first date we ever went on, there was a 4yo in the seat behind us, screaming and crying the whole time. I guess he was bothered by "Blood Beach" Who would do that to their kid?

I have an 11yo DS who is low-functioning autistic. I rarely, but RARELY take him to the movies because he's unpredictable. If it's a kids movie, maybe. Anything else, forget it. He saw a preview (once) of "Jurassic Park" and that was all she wrote--he was hysterical, screaming, clawing his way over MY seat. I had to leave and call his daddy to come get him! I had no idea that a PG-rated preview would make such an impression on him.

 

[alloyd1170]

I used to bring my babies (now 4.5 yrs and 14 mos) and stopped once they got too wiggly and interuptive. We would go to the movies on the weekend around nap time, trying our best to keep them awake on the way there. Once the movie started and they got tired of being in awe by the huge screen, I would simply nurse them to sleep in a sling. The rest of the movie our little ones slept snug as a bug in the sling. One note, we didnt bring them to loud movies (occasional loudness was ok and the sling provided a bit of sound barrier, as well as my hands), or to really long ones (2 hrs was max, 1.5 hrs ideal). I was lucky in that they never fussed, but had they, I wouldve immediately left. As they got older and wore out their welcome at the theaters, a few times I had to catch the end of the movie sitting in the ramp area where you enter the room. Not a big deal, but not too comfy. Now if youre lucky, some theaters (Lowes I believe is one) run mommy movies where kids under two are acceptable. The are the new movies and other moms bring their kids, so you may have to deal with some noise.

alison

alison

 

[texasthree]

I would rather have infants sitting behind me than teenagers!

 

[cakesnkids]

I only bring my children to children acceptable movies, but I do bring them, and the littlest one has been going since she was 1, never a peep. It's the adults and teenagers that bother me

 

[Alex2kMommy]

There are a couple theatres near me that do the "Mommy" movies, and you are allowed to bring infants up to the point that they are walking. The movies are shown in the morning, and only adults with an infant are allowed to these special showings. And no older children, either.

I took my infant to several of these; he always fell asleep, so it was a nice, relaxing break for me. The last one I attended, however, was a PG movie and there were a few scary noises and sights that he wound up experiencing. I managed to distract him by breastfeeding him, but decided after that that we wouldn't be going to the movies anymore.

I took my older son to his first movie on his 5th birthday. I warned him beforehand that he would need to sit still and be quiet, and we chose a children's movie that I thought would keep his attention for 90 minutes. He was perfectly behaved, but a lot of others weren't. He asked me why those other kids were running around or throwing popcorn or talking, and I just said they were not behaving very well, were they? He agreed they were not.

Younger son is only 2yo, and behavior is not very predictable or controllable yet. And I'm too cheap to pay for a movie only to walk out of it if he misbehaves, so we occasionally rent a movie or watch something we own.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We did with our first. I don't buy the "it's a sacrifice when you have kids" line. That's a bunch of bologna. If my infant doesn't make a peep (which she didn't)--she did a lot better than some children over 2 and some adults for that matter. Mind you we weren't watching a slasher flick--but it was certainly a film not marketed to children. (ETA: It was also a matinee--there was *some* sacrifice...but not really as we are not "late night" kind of people).

With our youngest--we've taken her to children's films when we were taking the older child. Our movie theaters also have the free movies over the summer for kids. As far as I'm concerned--FREE and children is fair game. The movie theaters do not restrict with a minimum age requirement and thus--there is no such sacrifice to worry about.




But noisy kids---teach them decorum, or get a video from blockbuster.

 

[Tikki-Tikki]

basicly i think if parents are considerate and dont just allow their litlle treasure to scream or run riot in public places then there should be no issue, i personally would and have instantly removed my little ones from situations the instant they start playing up because i really hate to upset other people trying to have a nice day/evening out, its the parents who just ignore thier kids behavior and dont care about others enjoyment that are the problem, actually teens are the worst nightmare in movies (sorry to all you lovely nice teens) the ammount of flims ive been to where ive had swearing loud and disruptive teens is amazing.

 

[mdinecola]

basicly i think if parents are considerate and dont just allow their litlle treasure to scream or run riot in public places then there should be no issue, i personally would and have instantly removed my little ones from situations the instant they start playing up because i really hate to upset other people trying to have a nice day/evening out, its the parents who just ignore thier kids behavior and dont care about others enjoyment that are the problem, actually teens are the worst nightmare in movies (sorry to all you lovely nice teens) the ammount of flims ive been to where ive had swearing loud and disruptive teens is amazing.

Wanna bet these are the same kids that ran rampant through the theater as children and still think that it's OK because they "paid for their ticket just like everyone else"????????? I, as a teen, would never have been so disrespectful to a theater full of others. I'll never say never, but hopefully my kids are learning now at an early age that it isn't OK for them to do this either!

 

[puffkin]

I worked in a movie theater for 5 years and it is amazing how many people would take in infants.

That theater was sold a few years back and now the new owners charge for everyone, even infants. If you take an infant in, you pay the child price for them. It seems to have really cut down on the problem.

I have a 6 month old and would never consider taking him to a movie. The few we have seen, we have taken him to his grandmothers (she actually begs us to go so she can babysit).

 

[jessica52877]

We took my son all the time, but he slept. If he wouldn't sleep I would never take him. If he made the smallest peep, I mean peep, I would be out of there. I missed the end of Elf because he was awake and felt that I should go out.

The manager at the movie theatre asked why I was sitting in the hallway with him and I told him. He said, oh there are only a couple other people in there, 4 to be exact, go back in, but I declined. I do not feel it is fair.

Honestly I can't stand it when a child is loud or won't sit still in a kids movie. To me movies are places where kids sit and watch. There was a good 2 year span where we did not go to a movie because my son would no longer sleep and I didn't feel I wanted to take him.

I also won't go near a movie until it has been out for a while and if we go it is usually on wednesday afternoons, so not many people in there.

As far as a restaurant, I would take my child no matter what time. Of course I don't have an unruly child so maybe that would change my mind. He would sit appropiately and dress appropiately. I found it very easy to get my child to do as I wished since I was firm and started at a young age.

 

[pigget74]

There is a thread on the restaurant board, whether parents are rude or not taking under 2yos to dinner late. Anyway, it got me thinking. I was wondering if parents take their infants, or small children to see movies the parents want to see? I was talking to a friend who has an 8yo, 6yo and 2 mo and she said they went to a lot of movies this summer. So, i asked who watched the baby. She said no one, we brought him with. I have 2 kids, and I have never taken them to a movie as a baby. For some reason, that is one of my biggest pet peeves. To me, its a sacrifice having kids...you get a sitter, or you wait til its on video and rent it. I dont like being disturbed during any movie listening to babies crying. Is it just me, or do others feel that way too?

I guess it all depends on the kid. When my DS (will be 1 tomorrow) was smaller and less vocal we took him to about 4 movies. As a family we rarely go to the movies. I have 2 others a 9 yr old and a 12 yr old. The last movie we took the baby to was Cars I think. During that one he talked very little. If he would have become loud or cried I would have left in a heartbeat. He is so laid back and never cried. He usually slept during the movie or drank his bottle. Will I take him now that he is 1--no way -- he is to loud. I am the type if my little man hints to about cry we are up and out. Once he has settled down we will return. People do not pay to view a movie or eat a dinner with a screaming baby or child.

 

[makinorlando]

My DD9 and I LOVE going to the movies. It is something we have enjoyed together since she was three..... the first couple movies I took her too (age appropriate movies for her) -we did not stay to see the entire movie as she got restless - we got up and walked out!

I NEVER went to grown up movies when DD was a baby - I waited for it to come out on DVD! Rarely ate in restaurants until recently either because she just didn't like to sit still that long! I adjusted to her, because otherwise it was not pleasant from me, her or other paying patrons!

It is one of our biggest pet peeves.... I have no problem with the infant/toddler being there, but if they start to make noise, then they should be removed from the theater. It is a "joke" now with DD and I each time we go to see if there will be crier!!! Last movie we had the crying toddler and the woman behind us who insisted on having a cell phone conversation - and ignored the Shhhs and please be quiets! I don't care what the age... if someone is making unneccesary noise for whatever reason - they should leave the theater.

Sunday we went on a tour in Orlando of the Titanic Exhibit - It was not a cheap tour (I left my entertainment book coupon at home) - as soon as we enter into the beginning of the tour there were two families together - each of the families had a small child who was not at all interested in this exhibit. Between them there were 5 adults - 2 Moms, 2 Dads and grandmother.... this is a guided tour led by someone in period costume and in character....
we were not five minutes into the tour when these two children clearly wanted nothing to do with learning about the Titanic!!! I felt bad for the guide who had to talk/act around these little ones and all of us who paid good money to be on the tour - the never did leave with them... you would have thought maybe one adult could have stayed somewhere with the two smaller chldren while the rest of the adults and older kids did the tour. I think this tour is is "comped" with some vacation packages, so maybe for some it was "FREE" - but I paid full price, and it was something that DD was very interested in.....

 

[Bugsmom73]

We took our 6week old to see the final installment of Lord of the Rings, however, we had a plan, a back up method. This kid was a great sleeper, I BF, so latched him on, nursed him to sleep and he slept. It is the best he has ever done at a movie.

 

[U2_rocks!]

I wouldnt take a baby to the movies because the volume of the movies are so loud it can damage a babies hearing.

Same reason I never took any of mine, even if I thought they would have slept the whole time.

 

[almburr]

We have always taken our children to the movies when they were very small, mainly because I BF. But once they got to the wiggly stage it was babysitter time. When our children turned three we would take them again and only to kid movies they had to stay in thier seats, no standing up, or up and down the aisle. If they acted up once it was out. It was my DH or I we would take them out for the rest of the movie and set in the car or lobby.

There is a family that i know that has always taken thier kids to the movie. Mom brought sippy or bottle and blankey. Even eating out for lunch with some one she would have kids (She has here own business and here kids are wilth her at her office) if they acted up she would pick them up tell her friend to get hers to go and she would leave. I have to say those children are very well behaved. they know mommy means business.

 

[brandylouwho]

Personally, we didn't start taking our child to movies until she was about 2. At that point we would go to movies she would want to watch and only if she was in an "appropriate mood". If she got noisy, her dad or I would take her out into the hall, if she didn't calm down, we would miss the movie.

Sure, it may have been a waste of money, but I think going to movies is how I can best teach her to behave at them. We do not live near any relaitves and only recently have I started to trust teenage babysitters with her, so we have learned to do many things with her and in turn she has learned how to do many things with us.

I totally agree that if a child is noisy in a theater he or she needs to be taken out. But I also agree that loud teenagers bother me more often than crying kids!

The worst thing mine ever did was want to go potty every 10 minutes (this was while potty training was still somewhat new to her). So I ended up sitting down near the exit, so as not to keep walking in everyone elses way.

We try to take her to age appropraite films, but strangely enough the movie she behaved perfectly at was the new Superman movie. Not exaclty a kid film, but she LOVES superheroes.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Actually a 2mo or younger is a great age to take to the movies. We went 3 times during those 2 months and the baby slept in his car seat or on me the ENTIRE movie. So just because they take them doesn't mean they disturb people. Mine didn't even make so much as a peep, we purposely picked a time when we knew he would sleep.

Now would I take an older baby that's awake more, nope! But I think it's great to get out when they are so little that it doesn't cause anyone any problems.


Andrea

 

[MATTERHORN]

Same reason I never took any of mine, even if I thought they would have slept the whole time.

In the carrier covered with a thick blanket while they were sleeping seemed to be fine. Granted we didn't take them to action films or anything super super loud, mostly comedy movies here! None of my kids have hearing damage so I guess they are okay. It's probably louder than that when his sisters are fighting!


Andrea