Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to take him with us?

67 replies

MummyTigger · 11/07/2011 16:17

Ok, so since our local supermarket has decided to sell rugby tickets on a buy-one-get-one-free basis, DP and I have EXCEPTIONALLY good seats to Wales V Argentina on August 20th.

DP's parents are also going - sitting in a different area - meaning that the baby I'm currently incubating would either have to be looked after by my parents (which would be fine) or to come with us.

Am I being completely unreasonable in taking what is likely to be a one-month-old baby to a rugby match? Have specifically invested in a 4-position carrier so I can BF with ease, and it also gives us the opportunity to put him in his rugby romper suit that my future MIL invested in.

DP totally agrees with me and thinks it would be a great few hours out with the family. What do the Mumsnetters think? Beginning to rely on you all for advice quite a lot!

OP posts:
Insomnia11 · 11/07/2011 17:05

I took DD1 to a music festival in Regent's Park when she was 2 weeks old and breast fed her and changed her nappy under a tree! Not sure I'd be as confident about bf in a big rugby crowd though. You could go but be prepared to leave early if she is unhappy/you are uncomfortable.

HPonEverything · 11/07/2011 17:07

tell me more about the rugby romper suit! that sounds mega cute :o

posterofagirl · 11/07/2011 17:13

You can get baby ear protectors online because crowds are very loud.
Just prepare yourself for the worst and anything else is a bonus.

Moomaloo · 11/07/2011 17:13

Years ago my friend took her newborn to a Heineken Cup final - it was VERY noisy but she put cotton wool in his ears (just slightly) it worked very well and he was happy as larry. Think he slept through whole match!

Original poster
MummyTigger · 11/07/2011 17:13

Well it's in the middle of Cardiff, and since my ticket was technically free I don't think DP would care if I decided to take the baby out and about for a quiet walk :) I'll definitely be seeing how I feel, and taking a cushion too, but hopefully everything will go ok :D

OP posts:
JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 11/07/2011 17:14

I would worry about the noise. Yes you can get baby ear protectors but I'm not sure how sensible it would be to use them on such a tiny baby.

I also suspect you might get a bit panicky if you get caught up in a jostling crowd, with such a wee scrap of a thing strapped to your chest.

Can your mil not take him for the duration?

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 11/07/2011 17:15

Bugger sorry - I know your mil is going, too!

Can somebody else mind him for a few hours?

TheOriginalFAB · 11/07/2011 17:16

I think you need to get plans in motion for every eventuality. I thought I would be fine (had nannied for years) but turns out I wasn't once Baby was born.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 11/07/2011 17:17

I suppose it is August though - and there's good access to outdoor areas outside of the stadium iirc. You could do shifts maybe, and avoid leaving/arriving with the worst of the crowds.

BiscuitNibbler · 11/07/2011 17:18

You might be completely fine, have a straightforward birth and be feeling brilliant.

You might have a harder birth or c-section, still be bleeding profusely changing your double-layered maternity pads every hour and feel like crying at the thought of climbing the stairs.

You might be somewhere in between the above two options.

Until the time comes you have no idea how you'll be, so plan to go but also be prepared not to. I thought everything would be a breeze too, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. Hopefully it will be for you.

grottielottie · 11/07/2011 17:21

A friend of mine was going to some rugby match with a very young baby, in the process of booking she mentioned it to the box office person on the phone and was told that babys below a certon age were not allowed in that part of the stadium ( I think it was quite high).
I'm sure it will be fine but perhaps just check.

Original poster
MummyTigger · 11/07/2011 17:25

I'll clear it with my parents, just in case I don't feel up to taking him. I'll be able to express some milk for them to have and I'd only be gone a few hours.

HPonEverything here's a photo (albeit not a good one but you can definitely see the design :D i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z370/gingertigger/IMG_0302.jpg

And I'm on the ground level right opposite the posts, so I doubt there would be issue with me having him there but I'll certainly check :D

OP posts:
sausagesandmarmelade · 11/07/2011 21:54

Totally unacceptable in my book...and totally selfish!

I'm amazed that so many people would condone taking a one month old (yes ONE MONTH OLD) baby to a Rugby match!!! Shock

Really surprised!

UniS · 11/07/2011 21:59

why not. took DS to a festival ( for the day) age 6 weeks, he slept some, bawled some and fed quite a lot.
Might be worth checking if you need a babe in arms ticket for the infant tho. Just phone the grounds ticket office and ask.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 11/07/2011 23:02

I don't understand why you think it's such a big deal Sausages? If the mum is happy and the baby is snug in a sling with it's ears protected what's the problem? It's rugby not a riot! You do know it's an all seater stadium?

Jenstar21 · 11/07/2011 23:10

I took DD to Murrayfield at 6 weeks old - I wasn't missing Scotland beating England!! ;) She was fine - I had her well wrapped up (March) and had a hat with ear flaps for noise, etc. Everyone around us was great, and very accommodating/understanding. We arrived early, and left later, to avoid the worst of the crowds, and took a cushion! I think rugby crowds are great, and I've never ever had any problems at a rugby match. I'd say if you feel up to it, go for it. I'd be more concerned you're supporting Wales. ;) Ha ha ha ;)

queenmaeve · 11/07/2011 23:20

we took ds to a gaelic football game in croke park in dublin when he was six weeks,he was fine. Crowd of 80,000 there.

queenmaeve · 11/07/2011 23:22

have been at rugby internationals, wouldn't worry about jostling crowds, its a very civilized crowd at rugby.

Glitterknickaz · 11/07/2011 23:28

Wait til he arrives, you'll know better how you feel then, and you'll 'know' him a little by then.

If it's seated though it's not like there will be a crush or anything.

Original poster
MummyTigger · 11/07/2011 23:30

Watch it JenStar, that's my country you're insulting ;) Haha!

Seriously though, any team is fine to support, provided it isn't England!

I'll ring the stadium and make absolutely sure, but other than that I think I'll probably make every effort to take him with us. If circumstances warrant it, my mum has offered to take him. Granted I don't know if she means "I'll take him for a few hours" or "I'll take him, change my name, pack my bags and fly to Mexico HE'S MINE ALL MINE!", but I'm hoping it's the former ;)

If I don't end up going then obviously baby stays with me at home. And I've already started googling for ear-protectors/muffs/whatevers, so everything is going to be fine I reckon :)

And I realise it was going to be a bit of a controversial issue as some people I know in RL have looked completely shocked at this - according to one charmer I shouldn't even take the baby out of the house until he's at least 2 months old! Hmm But thank you everyone for your input :)

OP posts:
GiddyPickle · 11/07/2011 23:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
MummyTigger · 11/07/2011 23:42

GiddyPickle - most sensible post I think I've ever read :)

Got all kinds of plans just in case - only thing to do now is to wait and see! And I love how you've remembered my hip is dodgy at the moment - makes me feel like a proper part of Mumsnet :) Again, I'm hoping that it stops hurting once Baby stops furrowing his way through my pelvis - but it may not! It's just going to have to be a see-how-I-go kind of thing.

OP posts:
hairfullofsnakes · 11/07/2011 23:48

You have no ideas at all how you will change and feel once your baby arrives... And beware that the first few months of bf is relentless and constant... (by the way, if you ever need any support or advice on bf feel free to pm me when baby arrives!)

I'm not sure the best place for baby is a rugby match but see how you feel. You can buy peltor baby ear defenders from many online places but I think at a few weeks old they would be too big and uncomfortable for baby to wear (I had some for my then ten month old and no way are they comfortable for a four week old!)

Good luck with everything!

cat64 · 11/07/2011 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Scuttlebutter · 12/07/2011 00:02

Can completely understand wanting to instill good rugby watching habits early Grin - as long as you are OK, and baby is not screaming the place down, why not?