I love my kids, and I love spending time with them too. But I’ll be honest, sometimes keeping them entertained is bloomin’ hard work. Especially when I’m solo parenting, I’m tired, and there are approximately 14,236 other things I need to be doing.
It was even harder when they were babies, because you can’t give them an ipad or let them half an hour of YouTube time while you whip around the house and do a few jobs.
So when I found out about baby cinema screenings many years ago I was on it like a shot.
You don’t really associate going to the cinema with babies, do you? It feels more like a primary school and above activity. But baby cinema sessions solve that problem by making a few key adjustments, and it’s great for the parents too. Not that I’m lazy, but we all know how slowly the time can pass when you are alone with your baby son or daughter. Cute as they are, they can do very little to stimulate your brain. You basically end up finding ways to fill time between naps (theirs, not yours, more’s the pity).
Well baby cinema is a little bit like outsourcing an hour’s worth of childcare, plus the 20 minutes or so travelling to the cinema either side. The best bit? You’re not limited to watching kids films, the movies they show are aimed at the parents, not the kids.
For the price of entry, that’s well worth it.
What’s the Difference?
It doesn’t sound all that different from a normal trip to the cinema so far, does it?
There are some differences, though. The main one being that everyone in a baby cinema session will be there with a baby or a child under 2. That’s the whole point. You go to watch films at the same time as other parents and carers, because then the noise the kids make doesn’t upset anyone.
On top of this, the cinemas will:
- Reduce the volume to make it more child friendly
- Dim the lights rather than turning them out
- Allow space for buggies
The hope is that your little ones will fall asleep in this calm environment so you can watch the film, but no one witll mind if they don’t. You are surrounded by other people in the exact same situation as you, so everyone understands.
It’s expected that people will need to get up and move around, leave and come back, settle restless babies, breastfeed, etc. Some even have bottomless coffee deals which is fitting! The point is, you can go and watch a film without the usual cinema rules applying. The pressure is off.
No irritated sideways glances, no shushing, no passive aggressive comments.
Which Cinemas do Baby Sessions?
I’m lucky enough to have 3 different cinemas within easy reach of where I live, so once I heard about one baby cinema screening I checked whether the others did them too.
I was pleased to find that they all did. It’s quite a common thing, although the number of screenings per cinema is limited. They are all essentially the same in terms of what they do (lower the sound and keep the lights a bit brighter), but they do sometimes throw in some nice extras.
I should also say that just because a cinema chain promotes the idea, it doesn’t mean your local branch will be taking part. For example, Cineworld has Cinebabies which is their version of baby cinema, but hardly any branches take part.
Anyway, here they are:
- Cineworld – Cinebabies: Select venues allow children under 1 to attend with an adult. Free coffee refills available.
- Everyman Cinema – Baby Club: Weekly screenings (often Tuesday or Thursday mornings) across multiple locations including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, and more. A hot drink and a slice of cake is included!
- Picturehouse Cinemas – Watch with Baby: Held across Picturehouse sites for parents/carers with babies under 12 months. Membership discounts available at Picturehouse venues.
- Showcase Cinemas – Baby Friendly Screenings: Available at various Showcase locations, typically Monday and Thursday mornings at opening. Ticket prices start around £5.99.
- Odeon – Newbies Sessions: Select Odeon cinemas run “Newbies” screenings for babies under two.
- Parkway Cinemas – Parent and Baby: A smaller chain offering community‑focused programming, including parent‑and‑baby screenings at some locations.
- Hyde Park Picture House (Leeds): Hosts “Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB)” screenings. Ideal for historic‑cinema lovers.
- Barbican Centre – Parent & Baby Screenings: Held Monday and Saturday mornings in London, these relaxed screenings offer tickets often around £6.
- The Castle Cinema (Hackney): Runs dedicated Parent and Baby screenings for babies up to about one year old.
- Rio Cinema (Dalston): Offers regular Parents & Babies sessions with flexible, welcoming environments.
- Storyhouse (Chester): Weekly Parent & Baby showings on Wednesdays at 11 am — no adverts and includes a hot drink and cake.
- The Light (Stockport): Adults with babies under 1 are welcome here, and free refills are available on drinks.
There might be more, but this covers the big chains and most of the biggest independents, too.
So wherever you are in the UK, there is likely to be a baby cinema showing not too far away. And if you need a break but can’t cash in a babysitting cheque with the grandparents, it’s a golden opportunity.