Rookie mom, Emily, suggested hitting the drive-in movie as a great baby-on-board date night.
The last time I went to a drive-in I was driving cross-country with my pal, Rachel, and we actually watched the movie Twister (in which a drive-in theater is decimated by a tornado). I only wish the drive-ins near Berkeley were still operating!
Emily tells us about taking her two-month old to the movies:
This is perfect for my baby – she falls asleep on the drive there, sleeps through most of the movie, and when she wakes up (and cries), no one can hear her, and I can breastfeed discreetly in the car.
When she is fussy, my husband and I take turns bouncing her on our laps, just trading off every 20 minutes or so. This has allowed us to see all the first-run adult movies.
Oh yeah, and since the sound comes in through our car stereo, we don’t have to worry about loud movies.
For Peninsula moms, there is one in San Jose off Capitol Expressway. Check out DriveinMovie.com to see if the drive-in movie is still alive and well where you live.
We agree with Emily that having a baby DOES NOT mean the end of loving movies.
Related activity: Go to the theater where crying is allowed.
We went to the drive in while on vacation once when A. was a toddler. We were about halfway through Men in Black 2 (yeah, whatever) when she woke up unbeknownst to us. All of a sudden we hear this little voice come form the back seat, “Why is there a talking dog in my movie.” That story has become a legend in our family, but from then on we always made sire there was nothing too racy that we wouldn’t want little eyes to wake up to.
In NYC, of course, we don’t have drive ins, but we do have loads of outdoor movie festivals which serve the same purpose. If you’re around NYC this summer check out our list of the most kid-friendly ones.
[...] [RM note: we love the drive-in for babies! ] [...]
has anyone out there tried the drive-in with an 11-month old? i am desperate to see some movies that are coming out this summer and also to have a date with my husband, but we can’t afford both the theater and a sitter…will my son stay asleep in his carseat while we watch the movie? what has your experience proven, other moms out there?
@Katy, I took my one year old a few weeks ago and it was great. The first movie started around 8:30, so he started to get sleepy before the movie even started. I was able to nurse him in the car and he slept through two movies on my lap. I could have moved him to the carseat, but sleeping is the only way he sits still long enough to cuddle, so I couldn’t pass it up. He did wake up a little on the way home and I had to put him back to sleep in his crib when we got home, but it was still totally worth it. With a 10 year old and 1 year, this is the ONLY way we get to see movies anymore.
@caitlin your story inspires me! i will spend this week drudging up courage and try driving in this weekend
@Katy and @Caitlin… the only way you know is to try. Sometimes the only way it will be good the second time is to royally botch it up the first time.
Good luck!
hey ladies, not sure if i mentioned this before, but there’s a drive-in just off of hwy-4 in concord…that’s not too bad of a schlep for you berkeley kids. it’s pretty cheap, too, for first-run movies!
@sara, bless you for reminding us. I was going to ask the 510families crowd.
Was going to mention the Solano theather – but looks like Sara bet me to it! Thanks for the reminder about this. We took out little guy at 2 months last summer – and will try again this year! BTW, this type of “forcing yourself to get out and try new situations with the baby” is just what I blogged about this week! Good for us Moms!!!
Heather, not only did we watch Twister, but there was a STORM at our theatre during the actual scene where the drive-in theatre is decimated by a tornado! Too fun!
[...] able to deal with Kung Fu Panda 2 at 8:45, this would be perfect for you. Mine are soooo not ready. Little babies who sleep in the car seat might also enjoy this adventure. Audio for the shows plays through your [...]