Young parents, please listen up. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO BRING SMALL KIDS OR CRYING BABIES TO SHUL. It is not acceptable during a regular davening, if they will disturb others, and it is not acceptable even more so at a Megillah laining, which cannot be done over on the spot once you have missed a word, because the baal kriah does not know and it is assur for you to speak, anyway.
I stayed home for many years and had my father O”H lain for me, when I had small children. I only sent my kids to shul when they were old enough to sit quietly and not interrupt anyone’s kavanah. You do no mitzvah and you actually do an aveira, when you think you are being mechaneich small children by bringing them to shul when they are not yet ready. Just a thought.
The kids’ megillah reading idea sounds excellent btw, as long as they stay in there.