Cry Baby Matinee: Going to the Movies with a Baby

I hadn't been to the movies in 10 months since having a baby and I missed it. I missed debating over the listings with my husband. I missed smuggling in Duane Reade candy and rating the preview trailers. I missed the dark that settles over the theater like few other places in this city, allowing you to escape for two hours even though you're rubbing elbows with a stranger in the next seat.

I'm not a movie buff, really. Going to the movies just sits on that list of adult things I no longer do, and therefore completely romanticize, since having a baby. Still, while I miss Fandangoing, I have a hard time justifying a babysitter when there is Netflix, so I was intrigued when a friend told me about a movie theater that not only allows, but encourages, parents to come with their babies.

The Cry Baby Matinee plays Wednesdays at 11am at the City Cinemas on East 86th Street. The film changes each week. Hoping to find strength in numbers, I went with my moms group. I didn't know what to expect and arrived sans stroller with the baby in the carrier. Right away I regretted that decision when I saw the "regulars" wheel their buggies right down the aisle to their seats. As I followed them in, I walked past a diaper changing table set up near the door.

There were about two dozen parents inside with babies mostly under one year old. Most came in groups. A few were brave enough to go solo. We settled in and unpacked our ammo to keep the kids quiet and entertained. In place of popcorn and giant sodas, we armed ourselves with pacifiers and sippy cups.

Before long the movie started. The overhead lights were kept dim and the sound thankfully seemed a bit lower than usual theater volume. For the next two hours there was a lot of knee bouncing and searching the floor for dropped items. There were occasional cries, but none followed by an angry "shhh."   Some parents stood along the wall and
swayed, some rocked strollers in the aisle, others (myself included) held their wide-eyed babies on their laps and fed them a record number of cheerios.

Whatever the technique, we were all managing to watch a movie, IN A THEATER, WITH OUR BABIES. When the final credits rolled I was amazed by our success. I actually got to watch most of the film, which luckily was a light chick flick and not some complicated whodunit. As we waited for the changing table afterwards, my group agreed to return.

Overall, while the Cry Baby Matinee was a far cry from my carefree movie-going past, it still offered a bit of an escape for this mom.

Cry Baby Matinees play at 11am on Wednesdays at City Cinemas located at 210 East 86th Street. Call for movie selection (212)734-4427.

Other baby-friendly movie theaters:

Landmark Sunshine Rattle and Reel on Houston Street welcomes caregivers and their babies Wednesdays at 11am. Adults pay normal admission prices but all babies are free. Tickets available at the box office only on the day of show. Check website for upcoming shows.

United Artists Court Street Stadium 12 in Brooklyn Heights welcomes adults with babies under 2 to the first showing on Wednesdays. 106 Court St (Schermerhorn and State Sts) Call 718 246-8170 for upcoming shows. Babies under 2 free.