Discussions

The last 3 movies I have gone to have had infants brought into the theatre. If it were a children's movie I wouldn't mind, but if it is an adult show it is unfair to the other patrons. There are dozens of other people that hired babysitters so they could enjoy a nice adult night out, only to have it interrupted by someone else's baby crying part way through.

Yeah, and dozens of people get sitters and go out for an adult night to a restaurant or other places too. Lots of people bring their babies to all sorts of places. Would you consider your evening interrupted if it were a baby crying at the table next to you at a restaurant?  
 
Let's just hope most people who bring their baby along to places are courteous enough to excuse themselves to calm the baby down if the baby really is acting up. This goes for a theatre, a restaurant, or anywhere.  

As a mother to 3 young children I would never dream of taking my baby into the movie theatre. We are a busy hardworking family with no family in Manitoba, yet we still manage to have the odd date night baby free so there are no excuses. I'd be pretty annoyed if we had to listen to babies screaming in the movie theatre when my husband and I made the effort to get a sitter.

If I go to an adult establishment such as a bar or lounge there would not be any children in there. The same applies to a movie rated 18A: there should not be children in the theatre. (this was in response to jellybean)  
 
Edited by Chatka, 2016-02-24 13:22:24

I'm assuming it's the same reason you hear babies at funerals, concerts and adult oriented restaurants.  
 
I disagree with it personally, but we live in an "anything goes" society. I've had babies. They can be deafening! So can the theatre sounds to a baby.  
 
I have too much respect for others to put them through that. It's only a few short hours to get there, get seated and watch the movie. Always hired a sitter. Adults need a break as well.  
 
Those are just my thoughts.  
 
Edited by Kellye, 2016-02-24 13:41:10

Yeah, so I agree that a young child shouldn't be in a strictly adult movie, because it just really isn't appropriate, but there are still people who say have a 6 month old that is breastfeeding, and needs to be with Mom. I really don't see any problem in a young baby being taken along even to adult movies because they aren't going to understand the movie anyways. Why should people with a baby not be allowed to go out to the movies when they aren't able to leave the baby with a sitter. Like I said, as long as those people are respectful and excuse themselves if the baby is being disruptive, it really isn't a big deal.  
 
A bar is a bit of a different story. Children are not allowed in....children are allowed in a theater.

the difference between a restaurant and a movie is that people are trying to listen and immerse themselves in the movie, food can be eaten with conversation and noise, also a baby at a movie isnt a great idea because of the noise level of the movie its self  
 
but one new years we went to a late adult movie and had a mom and baby sit in front of us, it honestly wasnt a huge deal, baby was mostly quite but i could tell mom was embarrassed and she did end up leaving half way through, i felt bad for her, she probably could get a sitter or had just enough to go see the film, she wanted a night out and i cant blame her for that so i tried to view the situation with a little compassion, after all we are in public, if i didnt want to deal with people i should probably stay home

Honestly if a movie is rated 18 then it should be adults only.  
 
It's maybe something the theatre can look at doing. Adult only viewing experiences. I know if I get a sitter the last thing I want is to listen to kids. I would pay extra for a child free guarantee!!

Exactly why these exist....  
 
http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/VIP

I can understand where each side comes from. I was able to make it to a movie without my daughter who was around 4 months even though we normally breastfed. When it comes to the noise of a movie, there are headphones for that. We bought a pair for a Jays game. But I can understand not wanting to bother the other patrons who have spent the ridiculous cost of movies now a days.  
It's a tough call either way.

Chatka said "If I go to an adult establishment such as a bar or lounge there would not be any children in there. The same applies to a movie rated 18A: there should not be children in the theatre. (this was in response to jellybean)     Edited by Chatka, 2016-02-24 13:22:24"

but we've taken my daughter to pubs like The Dock since she was 3 weeks old. And yes we sat on the bar side. As far as I know, having her there never bothered anyone.  
We have since moved to the other side because the highchair doesn't stand as high as the bar tables but I fully intend to go back to the bar side once she's old enough to sit in a chair. We've seen other families with their kids sit in the bar too. Granted we're not there in the later hours so I'm sure that makes a difference.

There is no reason ever to bring a baby to a movie theatre. There are lots of places that it is acceptable to bring a baby but a movie theatre is not one of them. We didn't bring any of our kids to a theatre until they were about 4. I have had a couple theatre experiences ruined by people bringing babies to a theatre. This should never happen....PERIOD(yes I spelled the "period")

Why on earth would anyone in their right mind want to expose a baby to such loud volumes in a theatre??

Like others have said, the biggest concern for me is the volume.  
 
However, in regard to the OP, I would find it a bit annoying if a baby/child was disruptive during a movie. If it's a children's movie, it's to be expected but still not right IMO. If your child is being disruptive ANYWHERE, I just think the polite thing to do would be to leave the area until the child has settled

I just think it is selfish and disrespectful myself. Having a baby means life changes, you have to make adjustments and sometimes that might mean having to wait to see an adult movie. I would never bring my baby to a pub either where everyone around is drinking and swearing: that is also not an environnent for a young child.  
 
The last incident at the movie was a rated R show that was sold out. A parent brought their infant in a car seat and took up another seat in the theatre. Baby was not wearing headphones, and cried several times during the show but was never removed.

If the baby is quiet and does not disturb any other moviegoer. If the baby becomes disruptive I would complain to the staff. I would hope the parents do try and protect the baby's delicate hearing though.

Cee Jay 55 said "Exactly why these exist....     http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/VIP "

Too bad we don't have them in Brandon

maybe they couldn't have a babysitter or babysitter cancelled it or maybe the mother isn't used to be away from the baby.

Then you simply don't go to the movie! Stay home, or find something apropriate to do with an infant.

The question shouldn't be why do people bring babies to adult movies, it should be why do people think it's ok to be disruptive at the movies. There are lots of ways to be disruptive, but not all babies fall into that category.  
 
I brought my son to a movie theatre when he was a couple months old. He slept through most of the movie, then I nursed him and stood at the back of the theatre bouncing him to keep him happy for the rest of the movie. It was awesome.  
 
A couple days later we ran into some friends who we hadn't known were at the same movie and they didn't even notice we were there with the baby.  
 
If my next baby isn't as sleepy and quiet as my first I won't risk it, but I knew my son would be fine and he was.

Brandon used to have Movie Tots. Is this not a thing anymore? You could bring your babies to an adult movie. Lighting was higher and volume lower. It was just known that there may be crying, breastfeeding, or toddlers wandering. Loved it!

that's all well and good, if you're not also still working full time, or if you don't want to see the movie with your spouse who works during the day.  
 
My husband desperately wanted to see Star Wars in theatre, but I was too afraid of judgment and criticism to take our 3 month old baby to the theatre. My husband didn't want to see the movie without me, so now neither of us will see it in theatre. This would be the first movie we would have gone to see in theatre in at least 4 years.  
 
I know, our loss, our fault for having a baby.

There were probably 20+ children at Star Wars when I went: that is totally a family movie. My OP was referring to 18A or R rated movies... I should be able to expect an adult only audience when the rating is such.