Julie's Boggle

Ever since a fellow-mum mentioned to me that she’d been to several parent-and-baby screenings at the cinema, I’d been intrigued by the idea and keen to try it out. More so because it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a movie. More than 6 months in fact!

Among the obstacles to this plan was finding a movie that Tom wasn’t fiercely keen on seeing, and at a convenient time and place. It turned out that Odeon were baby-friendly, with specific Newbie screenings, and we have an Odeon in Kensington, just a short bus-ride away.

It’s funny that Odeon’s Newbie page is up now, because it wasn’t when I visited last week. The cinema did advertise the show we went to (Pixar’s Ratatouille ) as a “parent and baby screening”, but one got the impression that it wasn’t something that they were altogether geared up for…

First clue to this was when the woman at the box-office didn’t know which movie was the parent and baby one, and then tried to charge me a full-price ticket for Jonathan. (Before her manager confirmed for us that babies get in for free.)

Second clue was when they drew me aside and said that I couldn’t take the pushchair into the cinema. Tricky. I can see fire-hazard potential if they were cluttering up the stairs, but surely parked discreetly in the open area at the back would be alright? I guess we might have needed to use a bigger theatre – the one we were in was dinky – but would it hurt to make one available given that there didn’t seem to be anyone else about?

And I’m sure that the little office that they stored the pushchair in would not take too many more like that.

Leaving the pushchair meant loading myself down with baby, and all the paraphernalia I usually carry on the pushchair, and then a marathon struggle to get my coat off, thus encumbered, once I got to my seat.

I’d also heard that the lights would not be dimmed completely but this was not the case. Fortunately I didn’t really have any requirements for additional light this time.

And lastly, it turns out that they don’t have a baby-changing table in any of the toilets!

I’d be interested to see if any of this were being changed now that Odeon are so actively advertising their “Newbie” screening. But as they were, I’d give them about a 3 out of 10 for baby-friendliness.

Jonathan was fairly well behaved throughout. Not that it mattered, we were the only ones there! He had a good feed without being too distracted by the noisy soundtrack and then was mesmerised by the moving pictures for quite a while. Round about 90 minutes into the movie, he was getting a little shrill and I figured that it was time for his long lunchtime sleep.

Only gotcha was that Jon needed a nappy change before said sleep, and there had been signs earlier indicating it might be a “third-degree nappy” as one of my friends aptly puts it. Right, better go sort that out quickly…

This was when I discovered that they had no changing table anywhere, leaving the floor in the ladies’ loos as the handiest alternative (in its favour it did look very clean). And on closer inspection, we had more like a fourth-degree nappy to deal with! Young Jon does pick his moments! The only bit that was convenient was having a water supply and bin close at hand. And a fresh set of clothes in the change-bag I was carrying!

Having got through all of that, I picked up my cooing baby and headed back to our theatre… where the credits were rolling up to a jaunty tune. Drat. Guess it’ll leave something to see when I get it out on DVD to watch with Tom.

In response to this sad story, my friend Elizabeth told me that the Notting Hill Electric Scream screenings are far superior. Apparently the seats are leather armchairs! And pushchairs can be parked alongside! We’re going to see The Golden Compass there with our babies on Monday week.

Image courtesy of http://www.myjgd.com