When Is a Good Age for 3D Movies

Updated on June 27, 2010
T.F. asks from Eugene, OR
17 answers

I have noticed that there are a lot of movies that are 3D. I was curious to see what other moms thought about these types of movies. What is the appropriate age to let your child see a 3D movie. My son is 4 and I'm afraid of messing with his eyes and causing headaches.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

L.A.

answers from Austin on

His eyes will be fine, the question is, will he keep the glasses on the whole time..

I am more worried about the volume of the theaters.. I always took earplugs just in case it was just too loud.

FYI, Toy Story 3 is just as good without the 3D..

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.D.

answers from Philadelphia on

my 4 and 5 year old daughters get scared at every movie in 2D (even UP!) , so we are waiting to let them see anything in 3D! haha!!!!

More Answers

K.C.

answers from Dallas on

No, they did a study and posted a report saying not to take children under 7 because their eye muscles aren't developed enough for 3-d. last year, before knowing this, i took my nieces (who were 5 1/2 and 3 1/2 then) to aliens vs monsters in 3-d. they could not watch it. it hurt their eyes, gave them a headache, and so they ended up sleeping the rest of it.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.S.

answers from Seattle on

I know some movies such as Toy Story 3 have 3-D showings and 2-D showings. I will be taking my four year old to the regular showing.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I took my boys (4 and 6) to how to train your dragon in 3D. They loved it and had no issue wearing the glasses. There were lots of young kids there and no one seemed scared or hurt, everyone seemed to enjoy it. My boys have been begging me to take them to Toy story and Shriek in 3d now.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Seattle on

They don't mess with his eyes. He would be wearing 3-D glasses to be able to see the 3-D effects. He would love the movies, just make sure that they are age appropriate movies for him. Toy Story 3 is a great movie to take him to. Our youngest was 3 when we went to Disneyland and took him to the 3-D movie there. He loved it. Go, have a great time!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.C.

answers from Portland on

I haven't read through the other answers but i would say wait until age 7 or even older if you can. From what I've read about neurological development, kids are soooooooooo stimulated by everything that something like 3-D would just be too intense. My son is 3.5 and we hardly let him watch anything. He's fine with it, doesn't know what he's missing and plays great by himself.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.D.

answers from Portland on

That's a good question. We took our daughter to see Toy Story today (she's nearly 3) and opted for the 2D version. It wasn't to hard to find it in 2D, our local theater has both. I think as long as the child is able to keep the glasses on and not have it be too freaky to them it should be OK. As far as I know it doesn't mess with your eyes (I am usually sensative to light and other things but 3D doesn't bother me). We won't be taking our daughter to a 3D any time soon. She had a hard enough time sitting through a regular movie let alone keeping the too-big glasses on for nearly 2 hours.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Seattle on

we took our son to UP last year (he was 3.5 at the time) - he didn't wear the glasses for most of the movie because they were not comfortable - but he didn't complain about his head or eyes hurting without wearing them (or while he was wearing them). Not sure if there are any actual side effects, but this was our experience...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.Z.

answers from Portland on

3D movies are not recommended for children under the age of 7. The 3D effect messes with their eyes and can cause damage. This is from Nintendo, who is trying to market a 3D game player.

M.H.

answers from Raleigh on

My son has done the 3D stuff at an educational IMAX and he has done it at Disney, and I have to say that while he has never complained about his eyes or a headache, he doesn't love movies that are 3D. It often times scares him when everything is popping out. He saw Toy Story 2D and loved it, so I figure there is no reason to spend the extra money to see it in 3D too.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Ask your Pediatrician.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Good Q. No idea.

My son was 7 for his first 3d movie (Xmas Carol), and then we/he watched Avatar in the theatres 4 times this year (also age 7).

We've found that the IMAX 3d gives us headaches unless we're in the dome theatre... but that Real3d is fantastic and headache free.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.A.

answers from Portland on

We did the 3D Toy Story ride at Disneyland and my 2 yr old and 5 yr old loved it. They didn't have any problems seeing or with headaches afterward. The glasses help bring out a separation of colors that give the illusion of dimension. There isn't a focus or correction given to the glasses, just that they are polarized, as such, for changing the appearance of what you see. It looks flat, 2D, without the glasses and has dimension with the glasses.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Most of the movies that are being shown in 3D are also shown in regular format. Our theater has the toy story in 3D and in another theater just regular. we won't do the 3d cause its the same movie only costs $3 more per person.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.P.

answers from Seattle on

We took our kids to the 3D "movie" at Disneyland last year and it was the only "ride" that scared them. They liked the roller coasters but the 3D was just too much for them. It may be too scarey. (They were 3 and .5.5 at the time).

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.G.

answers from Davenport on

My son is 4 and we have skipped the 3-d. I didn't even think about headaches/eye muscles not be developed...very interesting. I was only thinking about wearing the glasses through the movie, which I knew he would not do.

He really enjoyed How to Train Your Dragon and Toy Story 3....both in 2D

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions