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[tkm1005]

We have been perhaps at times a bit too ultra conservative about making sure our kids get a good nights sleep. So no we wouldn't take our kids to a midnight showing and I always feel bad for kids who are out so late. They clearly get overtired and sometimes can't control their behavior. However when it comes to babies and toddlers who might be sleeping - I guess I can see that - I know how much it costs to pay a babysitter to sit at your house when your child is asleep - so if the child is small enough to just sleep through the movie I can understand that part.

[Ace_Athena]

I can't judge the actions of others because I don't know their personal situation. Personally, though, I wouldn't bring my boys to a movie theater at any time of day because they can't sit quietly throughout family movie nights at home. I wouldn't want to ruin other people's experiences because my kids were antsy.

As for the R rated movies, I don't have a problem with them. My boys are 3 and 4.5, so I'm not plopping them down in front of R rated movies. But, as they get older and can comprehend what is happening in movies, I won't shelter them from content. I will use it as a learning opportunity to have discussions with them, just as my mom did with me. Sex, profanity, drugs, alcohol, and smoking are all topics that can be ignored by a lot of parents, yet my mom talked with me about them with and without the aid of different media. I actually credit those talks with my smart decision to dump my best friend in high school when she started experimenting with drugs and alcohol. I believe everything can be turned into a learning opportunity.

[Teresa]

Originally Posted by Ace_Athena

I can't judge the actions of others because I don't know their personal situation. Personally, though, I wouldn't bring my boys to a movie theater at any time of day because they can't sit quietly throughout family movie nights at home. I wouldn't want to ruin other people's experiences because my kids were antsy.

As for the R rated movies, I don't have a problem with them. My boys are 3 and 4.5, so I'm not plopping them down in front of R rated movies. But, as they get older and can comprehend what is happening in movies, I won't shelter them from content. I will use it as a learning opportunity to have discussions with them, just as my mom did with me. Sex, profanity, drugs, alcohol, and smoking are all topics that can be ignored by a lot of parents, yet my mom talked with me about them with and without the aid of different media. I actually credit those talks with my smart decision to dump my best friend in high school when she started experimenting with drugs and alcohol. I believe everything can be turned into a learning opportunity.

I took my girls to movies when they were infants, but we would always sit on the aisle in the seats closest to the exit. The second the baby would start to fuss or cry, either I or DH would pop out. It helped that we were tuned into our kids and knew when there was going to be an issue, way before they would start making noises. Missed a few movies that way, but not many. Couldn't afford movies and child care, it was our only solution.

I do think a lot of people, not just kids, have a hard time understanding that the movie theater is NOT home! It's not the restless children that bother me, it's the people who talk constantly, text on their phones, or fidget continually. It all just comes from watching movies at home - we get used to stopping the movie to go to the bathroom, talking to others, answering the phone, whatever.

[Huntermom]

As I have read this thread, I wondered if people have the same feelings about kids out far after bedtime at WDW. It is not uncommon for little ones to be at EMh, something I have trouble doing in the evening.

I think if a parent is prepared to make sure their child will behave in what ever situation, there should be no problem with them going-movies, restaurant, WDW, whatever. I think kids can be overtired any time of the day and any place. If you need to take a sick child who has been up all night to the doctor, it's one thing. If you are at WDW, the movies, the mall, etc. and your child has not had enough sleep, you as the parent need to think about what you are doing.

I was like TKM1005 really needing my kids to keep to a bedtime so they would be pleasant the next day. Have they missed out on things? Sure, but it worked out better in our house.

[CinderAbby]

However when it comes to babies and toddlers who might be sleeping - I guess I can see that - I know how much it costs to pay a babysitter to sit at your house when your child is asleep - so if the child is small enough to just sleep through the movie I can understand that part.

What I don't understand is why they had to go to THAT particular showing of the movie. It's not like it wasn't going to show any other time, KWIM? What in the world is so great about going to a movie at midnight -especially if you have young kids at home? Or maybe it's just me. I am no way impressed with people who say "I was at the midnight premiere of such and such a movie" so if that's a reason to go, it's certainly lost on me.

[wishes]

I wouldn't take my young children to a midnite movie. However, to me, that's very different than taking a 3 mo old. Not that I would've done that either, but babies that age are very portable & can (generally speaking), sleep through anything. Yes, I thought it strange to have parents in the theatre with kids that young, but who knows what those parents circumstances were? Funny, both my girls asked me the same question (they are 21 & 14)...

In any event, it was a horrible thing to have happened & I pray each day for everyone affected by this tragedy.

[KMB733]

Sometimes when you're a parent you have to make choices, and that means giving certain things up. I'm sorry, but I think it's selfish to bring any child to a midnight showing of a movie. Especially a movie that has a mature subject matter. If you really want to see a movie then you make arrangements for a time when you can get a babysitter or wait until it comes out on DVD (because that turn around time will be pretty quick)

As for children at EMH at WDW, I've seen kids screaming their heads off because it's 11pm or Midnight and they are clearly tired, but again you have selfish people who just don't care.

[jimmymac]

Originally Posted by Roxie2006

I just cannot understand the reason to take a child, infant or toddler to a midnight movie Period. It just breaks my heart.

[feonag]

Originally Posted by sherreexx1

It bothers me very much that a baby was in the theatre at such a late hour.
Some R rated movies may be ok with a parent, but I don't think a very late ( or early as the case may be) movie is appropriate for young children.

I agree. No way would we take our kids to a midnight movie let alone a baby. Frankly with the noise level and the germs it should be considered child abuse and theaters should not allow any infants into any movie. I am sorry that having a kid spoils your fun and you can't see a first run movie what do these ppl think they signed up for when having a baby. I think most ppl have lost the common sense the generations before us had and no one wants to sacrifice even a little bit of their personal pleasure that they do not even see the harm they are doing to the kids. We did not go see movies or go out to eat when the kids were that little we just waited till it came out on cable. Or go at a time when grandma can come and sit with the babyif you can't live without seeing a movie. I see ppl come to the restaurant I work at with their newborn right after leaving the hospital. OMG!!!! And then they wonder why the kid is back in the ER the next week with RSV.