by Kathy Million

Created on: July 01, 2009   Last Updated: July 03, 2009

I can understand why most people feel that parents should not bring their infants to the movies. After all, if the child starts crying it would disturb the other patrons. This can be disrespectful and unfair to others. It can also be frustrating for the parents who desperately need a little recreation. However, I feel that if the parents have a good game plan they can bring their baby to the movies without disturbing anyone. Just use some common sense, come prepared and, above else, be courteous to others. Here is a true story about how my family handled our last movie experience.

Recently my five year old son wanted to see "Up." We hesitated on taking him because we have a six-month-old baby and we debated this very issue. However, our oldest son was quite persistent in his desire to see the movie, so we decided to go. In order to pull it off, we took a few precautions. First off we chose a showing time that gave us plenty of time to get ready. Before entering the theater I made sure that my baby boy had a nap, a good feeding, and a clean diaper. I also packed a small diaper bag with a few essentials, including a couple of clean pacifiers, a bottle, some diapers, and a few quiet toys. Then my husband and I agreed that if our baby started to fuss or cry I would immediately take him out of the theater, and my husband would stay with our older son. We got to the theater early and we went in as soon they were seating. We choose seats that were to the side and near the exit so that I could get the baby out quickly, without disturbing anyone in the process. I admit I was nervous at first, but when the movie began my six-month-old baby stared at the screen with delight. He sat there as quiet as a mouse and watched the entire movie without making a peep. It was a wonderful experience for the entire family, baby included. When we were leaving the theater, a woman mentioned that she was surprised that a baby had been there since she had not heard him cry. I understand that we were fortunate that our son did not fuss during the experience, but if we hadn't tried, my oldest boy would have missed out on a truly wonderful movie. If my baby had started to cry, I was prepared to handle the situation and that gave us the confidence to proceed. I think that with a little planning and some common sense, there is no reason why a family cannot enjoy a movie together. After all spending time together is one of the greatest joys of having children!

Learn more about this author, Kathy Million.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.