6 reasons why you shouldn’t take infants to movie theater

Looking after a new baby is hard work. Many parents dream of a simple night out, and a film seems like the easiest plan. The baby is small and sleeps a lot, so why not take the baby along? It is a fair question. But there are good reasons to think twice before you take infants to movie theater shows, and most of them have to do with the baby’s ears, health and comfort.

This guide explains six reasons in plain words. It also tells you what the experts say, what to do if you still decide to go, and some easy ways to enjoy a film without the stress. We have updated this post with checked facts. One number in the old version was wrong, and we explain why below.

Reason 1: Cinema Sound Can Be Too Loud for Tiny Ears

This is the biggest reason. Sound is measured in decibels, often written as dB. Normal talk between two people is about 60 to 70 decibels.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, a large group of child doctors, says that long exposure to sounds above 70 decibels may damage hearing. Sounds at 120 decibels can cause harm right away. The AAP also says, citing the CDC, that places like a rock concert or a movie theater can range from about 80 to 115 decibels. The US National Institute on Deafness says that long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. It puts a movie theater at about 74 to 104 decibels on average. It also asks adults to protect the ears of children who are too young to protect their own.

How Loud Is a Cinema, Really?

The old version of this post said that movie theaters have sound levels of 110 to 115 decibels, as if that were normal for the whole film. That is not quite right. A study published in 2019 measured sound during film shows. The average levels were between about 54 and 82 decibels, depending on the film. But some short peaks, like explosions or loud music, went as high as about 134 decibels.

The study found that the total dose of sound stayed within the limits set for adult workers. It also pointed out something important. There are no set sound limits for children. Adult limits were not made for tiny ears.

Why Babies Need Extra Care

Children have smaller ear canals than adults. The AAP advises parents to avoid bringing young children to very noisy places. If you must go, it says to use protective earmuffs, even for young infants. It also has a simple rule that is easy to remember: “If it sounds too loud for an adult, it is too loud for a child.”

Do not use foam earplugs for babies. The AAP warns that earplugs can be a choking hazard. Baby earmuffs made for infants are the safer choice. To learn more about protecting your hearing at every age, read our post on World Hearing Day.

Reason 2: A Closed Hall Full of People Can Spread Germs

A cinema hall is a closed room. It is full of people sitting close together for two or three hours. Some of them may have a cough or a cold.

For an adult, a cold is usually a small thing. For a baby, it can be more serious. One common virus, called RSV, is a common cause of hospital stays for breathing problems in infants. It can cause bronchiolitis, an infection of the small airways in the lungs. Bronchiolitis mostly affects children younger than two. In the United States, it is the top reason for hospital stays in babies under one year old.

Most babies with bronchiolitis get better at home. Still, it makes sense to lower the risk. The usual advice to prevent RSV is to wash hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. A packed cinema makes the second part hard. For simple steps that protect the whole family, see our tips on how to protect yourself from flu.

Reason 3: The Hall May Be Too Cold for a Baby

Many cinemas run strong air conditioning. Adults can wear a jacket or simply put up with it. Babies cannot tell you they are cold, and they cannot move away.

The Lullaby Trust, a UK baby safety charity, advises a room temperature of 16 to 20 degrees Celsius for a sleeping baby. It also says babies who get too hot face a higher risk of sudden infant death. So the goal is a baby who is neither too cold nor too hot. To check, feel the baby’s chest or the back of the neck. Hands and feet are usually cooler, and that is normal. If the skin feels hot or sweaty, remove a layer.

In a cold cinema, parents often pile on blankets. Then the baby can get too warm instead. It is hard to get this balance right in a dark hall. For more on keeping little ones warm in the right way, read our winter care tips for your baby.

Reason 4: It Can Upset the Baby’s Sleep

Many parents hope the baby will simply sleep through the film. Sometimes that happens. But the NHS, the UK health service, says that being too hot or too cold can disturb a baby’s sleep. A hall that is cold one moment and full of blasts of sound the next is not a calm place to rest.

Newborn babies sleep more than they are awake. The NHS says their total sleep can be around 18 hours a day. They also wake often to feed. A two or three hour film cuts right through that pattern.

To be fair, the NHS also says that babies do not need total silence to sleep. It is good for them to get used to normal everyday sounds at home. But a cinema is not everyday noise. The sudden loud parts and flashing light of a big screen are very different from a home with the TV on low.

Reason 5: Not Every Film Is Suitable

In India, every film shown in cinemas gets a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification. Here is what the main ones mean:

• U: Open to everyone. These are family films.
• UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+: Open to all, but children below the stated age should watch with parental guidance. These newer age labels were added in November 2024.
• A: Only for adults.

An A film is meant only for adults, so a baby should not be in that hall at all. Even many UA films have loud fight scenes and dark themes. If you plan to go with a baby, a U film at a quiet time of day is the gentlest choice.

Reason 6: It Is Hard on You and on Others

Babies cry. That is how they talk. When a baby cries in a cinema, one parent usually has to step out. That parent misses part of the film, and the night out you planned turns stressful.

Other people in the hall have also paid for their tickets. A crying baby can spoil the film for them, and that can lead to angry looks.

If You Still Plan to Take Infants to Movie Theater Shows

Sometimes there is no one to look after the baby, and you really want to see a film. If so, these steps can make it safer and easier:

• Use proper baby earmuffs. Never use foam earplugs.
• Pick a U film and a show at a quiet time, like a weekday morning.
• Sit near the back, close to the exit, and away from the speakers.
• Carry a light extra layer, and check the baby’s chest or neck for warmth.
• Skip the trip if anyone in your group, or the baby, has a cold.
• Step out if the sound seems too loud for you. It is surely too loud for the baby.

Better Ways to Enjoy a Film

The simplest plan is to leave the baby at home with someone you trust. This could be a grandparent, another family member or a trusted babysitter.

Another easy choice is a film night at home. You can keep the volume low, pause when the baby needs you and keep the room at a comfortable temperature.

If you are expecting a baby, it helps to plan for these changes early. Our guide to things to know about your newborn is a good place to start.

What We Changed From the Old Post

• The old post said cinemas run at 110 to 115 decibels. Average levels measured in a study were much lower, but short peaks went even higher. We have explained this.
• We added expert advice from child doctors on noise, earmuffs and earplugs.
• We added the new film certificate age labels from 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can a baby go to a cinema?

There is no fixed age in the sources we checked. Child doctors advise keeping young children away from very loud places, and using earmuffs if you must go.

Are cotton or foam earplugs safe for babies?

No. Earplugs can be a choking hazard. Use earmuffs made for infants.

How loud is too loud for a baby?

Long exposure above 70 decibels may harm hearing, and 120 decibels can cause harm right away. If it feels too loud for you, it is too loud for the baby.

Can I take a baby to an A rated film?

No. A certificate films are only for adults.