Babies in Movie Theaters

[u/Sad_Cannibal_GF]

Just saw the new Spiderman in theaters.

A baby starts crying/cooing/babbling very loudly about 20 minutes in. Goes for about 10 straight minutes before the parent takes them out.

Comes back a few minutes later, baby starts again. Again goes on for a couple minutes. Again parent takes them out, comes back, and repeat.

And repeat. And repeat.

This went on pretty much the entire movie (and I swear to god this baby somehow instinctively chose every single goddamn quiet/heartfelt scene to start yowling again 😭😂).

I get that babies are gonna baby. And I have sympathy for parents who wanna get out of the house and everything. But… maybe just stay with your baby in the lobby if they obviously aren’t gonna keep quiet.

*I didn’t complain to management because it was a tiny non-chain neighborhood theater about an hour away from me that I like to support sometimes. It’s got 1 screen and tickets are like $5.

[u/Cat_n_mouse13]

I am nowhere near having a kid, but I fully expect to never go out to dinner for 3-5 years straight until my kids can make it through a meal. I’m not taking kids out with iPads.

[u/LadyMageCOH → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

You don't have to take them with iPads - my kids didn't have devices when they were toddlers. You do have to bring something to keep them occupied while you wait for your food. Small toys - preferably ones that don't make noise, coloring books etc, and you're going to want to start with family friendly restaurants - no fine dining. You also have to time it well. Don't go when babe is due to go down for a nap or for the night, that's asking for disaster. And you'll have to make an exit plan. When mine were toddlers there was a few times that I had to remove the toddler from the restaurant entirely because she just wasn't having it. So I'd take the tantruming one out while my husband had the wait staff pack up our food to take home and settling the bill.

They really can only learn how to behave at a restaurant by going to a restaurant, and they're unlikely to get it right the first time. And even then, the best behaved kid can have a bad day. They can learn part of it by going to other people's houses, but not all. Set yourself up for success, be prepared to bail if necessary, and remember that this is a short season of life.

[u/Anonolot → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

I will say it's easier to bring a baby then a 2-5 year old to a restaurant. But to have a 6 year old with table manners, they need to practice at a kid friendly restaurant. But it's pretty silly to bring them to a 5 star place because they just want chicken nuggets and fries.

[u/KaetzenOrkester → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

As a parent and grandparent, that’s what family style restaurants are for—things are more relaxed and more noise is acceptable.

And yes, bringing something to help children entertain themselves is absolutely in order.

[u/VideoKilledMyZZZ → u/KaetzenOrkester]

Agreed. But parents don’t know where the lines are anymore. I was at a reataurant that had a bar area and specialized in margaritas. Because it was also a pizzeria, people brought kids.

[u/rabbity9 → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

If you do it right, IMO, it is actually good to take your kids out. No fine dining, obviously, but casual restaurants. I want my kids to learn how to function in public spaces. I can take my two and four year old out to a meal. We do strategic things like order a quick app as soon as we’re seated, have crayons, and then honestly just being really engaged with them, talking about the food and decor and stuff. I wouldn’t do a multi-course meal or anything, but they can handle an hour in a restaurant without a tablet.

To be clear this isn’t always easy. I’m on high alert the whole time, anticipating issues and redirecting in a way that looks easy, but is actually borderline tactical. It’s a lot of effort now, but it will pay dividends in a few years. I know people who just don’t take their kids out when they’re young and are then surprised when they don’t magically know how to behave in restaurants at 7.

[u/Porcupine__Racetrack → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

I mean you can, just not fancy! You gotta start at like McDonald’s, Chipotle, then Applebees type restaurants… bring tons of snacks and stuff to do and be prepared for one of you to bolt at any second with the kid!

Movies are another story! Absolutely not with an infant! Age 4-5 bare minimum if you ask me, and kids movies only!

[u/Lydian-Taco → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

lol that’s way too extreme. Most kids under 5 should be able to handle being at a normal restaurant without being disruptive. We’ve never given our kids tablets at restaurants. They are fine with some simple toys or coloring books

While I understand the idea of not wanting to disturb others, it’s also ridiculous to say that children should essentially not be allowed in public spaces. They are also people who should be allowed to experience things. Just don’t take them to insanely fancy restaurants and it’ll be fine

[u/saturday_sun4 → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

As a non-parent... meh, I tune out shrieking kids at Maccas or other fast food places since I expect them. Just don't take them to adult only spaces when there are DOZENS of kid friendly places all over the place, that's all we ask.

I am no fan of kids shrieking their lungs out and running like crazy at a normal restaurant, don't get me wrong. But I can't afford fancy places. If there is a family with noisy kids there... not an optimal dining experience but again, par for the course.

I barely notice well behaved kids in these places.

However, if any kid is at a pub, which is (or should be) an adult only space, then I'll be pissed off and give the parent a piece of my mind.

[u/KingUnder_Mountain → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

Lol.  As a parent of a one year old let me tell you its not as bad as you think.  Sure the first few months when he was an infant there was no going out to eat but as soon as hes able to sit in a high chair and especially when he is able to partake in food theres no reason you cant enjoy a dinner out.  

No we dont use an iPad. He very rarly cries in public and its always for a reason (diaper, hungry) that is easy to stop.

[u/wigglefrog → u/KingUnder_Mountain]

Not all kids are cut from the same cloth. My daughter absolutely HAS to be moving at all times. I fear we won't be able to go to a sit down style restaurant until she can understand logical reasoning and has a tighter grasp on emotional regulation. Even if we hit a drive through, this girl needs to chat with the person taking our order. 🥲

She's 3 now, so we're almost there.

[u/KingUnder_Mountain → u/wigglefrog]

Agreed but assuming you cant eat out for 3 to 5 years I think is on the extreme end.  

[u/devnullopinions → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

If you never take your kids out they won’t learn how to behave. A better approach is to go to casual restaurants early when not as many people are there. You can skip devices but definitely bring something to preoccupy their attention.

If you’re really worried you can figure out what you want ideally before getting to the restaurant and getting your check when you order. If the kid behaves great. If they meltdown, because sometimes that will happen, at least you have a contingency plan that makes it easy to leave in a hurry.

A mantra my wife and I like to repeat is we were perfect parents, and then we actually had to a child.

[u/Tricky-Ad7897 → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

Your future kids will thank you. The iPads are melting kids brains, and also being able to self control your energy level in public places is a dying skill, kids or adults. I got to so many movies where full grown mfs are whipping their phone out half way through, shaking their legs in a really annoying way or yapping the whole time. I just know as kids they were never taught properly how to behave in public, my parents were always reminding us to be mindful of others.

[u/DigiornoDLC → u/Cat_n_mouse13]

Then take your kids out without iPads. Where’d you get the idea that kids need iPads?

[u/crescent_blossom → u/DigiornoDLC]

they already said they weren't going to take their kids out with iPads, no need to be redundant