It's not all about you and your infant and your desire not to get a babysitter. It is about all those around you in the theater that are paying $$$ to enjoy a show, who at the very least don't want a squirming infant next to them, but also don't want you ruining their experience by jumping up and down taking your child in and out of the theater during the show. I am sure that is why the KC wants you to pay for a ticket. If you look at their website, they recommend that a child is at least 6 before you take them to any show, including things like the Lion King.

Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for the poor PPs who are clearly stuck at home with their infants and no interest in or opportunity to get out and about. Stop singing those who want to go to open houses, the theater etc and don't see why their children should constrain them.

Stinging not singing

I feel sorry for the poor PPs who are clearly stuck at home with their infants and no interest in or opportunity to get out and about. Stop singing those who want to go to open houses, the theater etc and don't see why their children should constrain them.

Anonymous wrote:Americans don't get culture clearly, and nor do they believe in making it accessible to children from a young age.

+1

To PPs - What wrong with taking an infant to play? If you sit bar the back and duck out if the baby fussed it should be no big deal. Or should adults stop living their lives and listen to "wheels on the bus" on a loop for the next five years?

^^ meant ten week old...

Americans don't get culture clearly, and nor do they believe in making it accessible to children from a young age.

The obvious question: why take a ten year old to a play at the KC? If you are doing children's theather, that'/ one thing (but not at 10 weeks!!). Otherwise, your kid will get nothing out of the play, opera, ballet, symphony, etc. and if they start fussing, will disrupt the entire theater, while you push past everyone in your row and try to get the child out. This is just like taking a newborn to the movie theater (except for cry showings)--?except the audience members have shelled out much, much more money for a relaxing ADULT evening.

So why does the KC require this? To strongly discourage parents from bringing young kids to an " adult" show-- or even an older kid show, like the Lion King. By the time your DC is 3-4, look for things in the children's theater.

But please don't take a baby to an adult show. Just no. Instead, take the $$ you would spend on a ticket and hire a babysitter, so you can really enjoy the show without worrying about your child shrieking, or having to leave mid-way through.

I started taking my kid to the Millennium Stage at an early age. We sat near the back and made a quick exit if necessary.

OP, maybe this will work for you.

They're thinking of your comfort! Want to make sure you don't have to hold your LO through the entire performance.

Perhaps this is the reason infants require tickets - to keep infants out.

I'm not sure the Kennedy Center is the best place to take your infant.

Maybe it's a way to dissuade people from bringing their infants to a play at the Kennedy Center.

Why would you take your ten-week-old to a play at the Kennedy Center?

I just found out that if I were to take my 10 week old to a play at the Kennedy center, I would need to buy a ticket for her! Seriously?