Anyone do Broadway shows with your 9-12 mos babes?

[ellairiesmom]

We are close to NYC & my sis in law & I want to bring the kids in for some discounted shows (Wed Matinees) over the next few months. We would go to the Times Square booth on the day of the show to get the reduced tix. She has my 4 yo niece & 2 yo nephew & then my DD1 is 3 & DD2 will be 9 mos next week. Our DHs would most likely be able to join us too. We are thinking Mary Poppins, The Christmas Spectacular, maybe Wicked.

I would have one of my slings or carriers, her favorite quiet "chew toys" & of course, could nurse her whenever. I also have Peltor headphones we have used on her for concerts & fireworks if anything was too loud for her little ears.

Has anyone brought a 9-12 mos old to a Broadway show? Is there any tolerance for little noises or happy shrieks during the more family friendly performances (esp. a matinee)?

And do I need to pay for a ticket for the baby?

Thx for your feedback. Our other option would be to leave my nephew & DD2 home & just take the older girls-which we were considering doing for The Lion King as Christmas gifts. But we would like to do something with all of them & our DHs too-especially the Christmas show when we go in to see the tree.

[Youngfrankenstein]

I wouldn't do it. I don't think it's the place. Having said that if it were a child-specific performance of something, I would be fine with it. Even shows like Mary Poppins show in the evening aren't really baby-friendly to me.

I can't imagine being happy having paid for tickets for Wicked to have a baby there.

[annettemarie]

Most theaters won't even let you through the door with a baby. I think the minimum age tends to be 3 for family shows, which Wicked isn't.

[annettemarie]

Children under 4 aren't permitted at the Gershwin Theater where Wicked is playing:
http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/th...er/theater.php

ETA: Children under 4 aren't allowed in the New Amsterdam where Mary Poppins is playing, either
http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/th...er/theater.php
We took our older two to see it about 3 years ago when I was pregnant with Daniel and had to leave Nicholas with his grandparents.

[choli]

Broadway shows are not appropriate venues for babies or toddlers, and that is why you would not be allowed in.

I can't imagine the response to paying the bucks for the tickets, and finding oneself seated next to a 4 yr old, 3 yr old, 2 yr old and a 9 month old. "Happy shreiks" would not be the description.

[cloudbutterfly]

Wicked gets pretty loud and scary at a couple points...I was worried about my DS when we saw it, and he was still in the womb!

Having taken him recently to a classical music concert for toddlers, I can see that there's no way DS will be ready for a full length performance of anything, even a kid friendly show, for a very long time, between the excited bouncing in my lap and the "talking" (i.e. shouting happily) to the people on stage, who he naturally assumed were speaking directly to him in the front row. I'm sure there are 10 month olds out there who would be quiet for a whole time, but probably not enough for theater owners to let them in.

[whozeyermamma]

Lots of good comments - but also to add, my very well behaved DD who normally can sit thru long movies, read solo, at school, not fidgit, etc, got VERY bored and crabby at times during Mary Poppins and Little Mermaid when she was SIX, so the 3 and 4 yr olds might have some trouble, too.

There are some awesome small theater productions for little ones, Manhattan Children's Theater is amazing (in Tribeca)

http://www.manhattanchildrenstheatre.org/

Before or afterward - head to Walkers for lunch. Walkers loves kids. Great fries.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe...69406237689991

MCT would be no problem for a baby and perfectly age appropriate for the other kids. Also much cheaper.

(That said, I have to say one of my best friends is in Mary Poppins on Broadway and it's an incredible show!!)

[ellairiesmom]

nak.

thx for all the feedback.

we had taken them all to see high school performances of beauty & the beast & cinderella in may & they were really into it & sat well through them without talking at all-they were mesmerized. bummer that they have age restrictions since my 3 yo is better at sitting through music/performance oriented stuff than kids older than she is. (although its not like they can check her drivers license at the door)

Wicked is listed under the family friendly performances & since they both loved Wizard of Oz, I thought about it. but maybe not.

whozeyermamma-thx for the links-sooo helpful!!!! looks like a great plan for a day out for us can't wait!

the christmas spectacular says it's for all ages & even allows lap kids under 2 yrs old. so we can def do that with all of them. ill bring the ear phones for the baby.