Is it safe to take a baby on a demo?

[Flowerface]

Have never been on one (to my shame...) but would like to go to the anti-austerity one in London. Is it safe to take my 10 month old, or irresponsible? DH imagines us being kettled, crushed, trampled, etc... I am assuming this is silly, but don't actually know!

[FuckyNell]

Well if it's against the closure of a sure start then yes.

Against nuclear/abortion/peta then no

[Flowerface]

For some reason my q doesn't seem to have posted... Unless I am being more than usually technologically dense today! Just wondered whether it was safe to take a 10mo to a demo in London or whether DH's end of days style scenarios are probable...?

[Blazing88]

Irresponsible.

Seriously, you're asking??

[Flowerface]

... Oh for crying out loud. Now I can see it... It's the anti-austerity one, Nell, I assumed it'd be a mixed crowd...

[BuzzardBird]

No

[Floggingmolly]

Don't.

[jaffacake2]

The trouble with lots of demos are that other groups often anarchists will take over and then violence happens. This happened in London a few years ago and just as a bystander I got stuck in the middle. Police cordoned off the area and I couldn't get to the tube station for hours. Would have hated to have the responsibility of having a baby or children with me. Very scary

[Flowerface]

Raised eyebrows? Is it a truly ridiculous idea?? I am surprised.

[VikingVolva]

It's a bad idea to take a pushchair into a large crowd that might become closely packed or unruly. So sling if you can, and stick to the outskirts IYSWIM.

If there is trouble at any part of the demo, even if not particularly close to where you are, leave until you're sure it's all calmed down.

[Branleuse]

ive been on quite a few demos, and you can always avoid the dodgy bits fairly easily

[Branleuse]

anarchists and rioters are not synonymous btw

[hazeyjane]

I wouldn't.

I have been to lots of demos, many of them very peaceful, but some have taken a totally unpredictable turn and turned nasty. Even the peaceful ones have sometimes been very crowded, claustrophobic and noisy and I can't imagine any of mine being very happy with those things at 10 months old.

[Hurr1cane]

Yeah it's not really guaranteed to be safe to be honest. It could start off peaceful but it only takes one or two idiots to start throwing stuff for mob mentality to over rule people's common sense. I really wouldn't.

[Laquila]

It's not a ridiculous idea to take a 10m old on a demo, nor is it categorically irresponsible. It might, however, be a bad idea to take a baby on that particular demo - personally I think something like that in the centre of one of the busiest cities in the world may well descend into chaos, however well organised, and will almost certainly attract a variety of anarchists, bandwagon-jumpers and extremists, any of whom might contribute to a bit of a pressure-cooker situation. So on balance, I personally wouldn't do it, but that wouldn't put me off considering other demos in the future.

[Flowerface]

I was thinking sling.

I was so-so about the idea and still am. Surely the only way demos will be representative and family friendly is if families turn up? I wouldn't take my 3 or 5 year old due to danger of trampling/being scared/pissed off, but thought a baby would be less silly.

[DuncanQuagmire]

I would not

[Flowerface]

Though thinking I am leaning to your view Laquila esp as we live miles away from London...

[Jobless123]

No, no it is not. I thought about taking my seven year old to one once, to do with the Olympics. Glad I didn't, the police rounded everybody up and took them to the police station, it would have been a long day and long night

[eurochick]

No way. I expect that one will turn into a bun fight.

I have been close to a demo in London and almost ended up kettled (I was on my way to my office). You can get caught u in things you don't want to be involved in so easily.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I've seen plenty of kids in pushchairs at demos (anti war) but I didnt take dd as you can grt stuck in one place for a long time.

Id play it by ear. There are loads of different blocs going. I'd choose one of those to join if you go as they are likely to be safer areas in the demo. Dont go if the weather is horrid and therefore potentially uncomfortable if you get kettled. I wouldnt worry too much about violence, the main march will be almost entirely peaceful. After all it will be mostly people just like you and me. I wouldnt hang around in the evening though when things can get a bit more 'off topic'.


I went on one march where I was happily walking along with thousands of people, next thing we had cleverly been diverted down a different road by the police and had to wait for ages before we could rejoin the main march. Not worrying or scary, just most puzzling!

[BrianButterfield]

I was thinking about taking my DC on that one too. Friends who went last year seemed to think it would be OK. We probably wouldn't go on the whole march but just a part of it then duck out. We would be part of a group too so plenty of adults around to keep an eye on DC.

[Pennies]

No. Absolutely not.

[Blazing88]

I wouldn't take my 3 or 5 year old due to danger of trampling/being scared/pissed off, but thought a baby would be less silly.

[MagentaVitus]

Some protests a fine, some are likely to get violent and dangerous.

I have taken my kids to many. I would not take them to the particular one you have mentioned.

[motherinferior]

The trouble with lots of demos are that other groups often anarchists will take over and then violence happens

Can I just point out that most of the anarchists I've known are pacifists?

I've been on masses of demos, most with loads of babies.