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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About babies and the Olympics?

79 replies

curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:07

I really don't understand why parents have taken tiny babies and toddlers to the Olympic games.

Last week I went to beach volleyball, and the crowd was very rowdy and lots of audience participation, and loads of people had babies in slings and toddlers with them who were subjected to the rain and cold with no shelter and huge crowds.

At Athletics the couple behind me had a baby I think was probably about six months.. Very calm for most of it, but everytime the crowd cheered and screamed (especially as lots of GB competitors) the poor baby jumped and screamed, clearly terrified.

At water polo / football / rowing & gymnastics it was the same.... Children who were too young to be there, and were clearly not getting any enjoyment out of it.

Leaving wembley stadium after the football is the scariest crush of people for even an adult... Being jostled through that crowd trying to stay with my friends I just felt so sorry for the poor children who's parents had subjected them to this. (and absolutely packed tube after tube with a buggy / pram?? Madness!)

I have a 22 month old DD, and wouldn't for a second even think of taking her to something so busy and loud. The scope for getting lost or injured or just being scared and having a rubbish time is too great.

AIBU to think people with these young children were being irresponsible abd even selfish to take them to the Olympics?

OP posts:
LeeCoakley · 10/08/2012 22:09

Is this boasting by stealth re all the events you've been lucky enough to get tickets for?

Gigondas · 10/08/2012 22:10

Yes yabu

Gigondas · 10/08/2012 22:10

I thought that too leecoakley Grin

BramblyHedge · 10/08/2012 22:10

We took our three (17m, 4, 6) to the rowing with general admission and it was great. They watched the rowing and were excited by it all but being on the grass they could also have a run around and meet Wenlock, watch the entertainment etc. wouldn't have liked taking them in the stands thoug!

Figgygal · 10/08/2012 22:12

I just don't understand it either some ridiculous sentimentality about it being a once in a lifetime event.....1 they won't remember Hmm

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:12

No... It's genuinely being puzzled about why people would take children.

(And no holiday this year so we could get tickets... Along with a travel agent friend who won a few through work... So fair enough I thought?!)

OP posts:
Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:13

Gigondas - but why aibu?? It's dangerous, and quite selfish to take them to at least the larger events.

OP posts:
DilysPrice · 10/08/2012 22:14

I saw loads of toddlers and babies - they seemed fine. Arguably much better in a buggy where you can nap than a five year old who'll enjoy it but will flag on the long march back to West Ham tube (or the slow shuffle through Stratford).

Admittedly the couple whose baby had ear protectors on at a particularly loud event seemed sensible.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/08/2012 22:14

Well it's pretty obvious that with babies and toddlers one of the issues will be childcare for all day and probably less about 'once in a lifetime'.

Or they might be breastfeeding and need the boob there.

runnervt · 10/08/2012 22:16

yabu. I took 6 month old dd to the hockey and she fed, slept and watched and was no problem at all. Ideally I would not have taken her as she didn't get anything out of it in particular but as she is bf if she didn't go I didn't go.

I mostly saw wee babies and not so many toddlers which would be harder work.

Rubirosa · 10/08/2012 22:16

People often take babies because they have nowhere else to leave them/they need feeding.

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:17

Laurie - that's why it's selfish. If someone is just dragging them along so they can go, then they shouldn't be going. That's the responsibility of a parent.

OP posts:
carabos · 10/08/2012 22:17

Felt sorry for a little girl (about 5) in the stand at Greenwich yesterday. It was blistering hot, no shade, she was very pink and clearly uncomfortable. A lot of people jumping up and down, stamping feet, roaring noise (we got the good). She was sobbing by the end.

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:18

Carabos - saw loads like that. Awful.

OP posts:
EasilyBored · 10/08/2012 22:20

Well if its so dangerous, how many babies have been injured?

Seems like most of the examples given were of babies and toddlers who were fine? The babies might prefer a large crowd to a whole day in childcare? Or maybe they just wanted to take their child to what has been billed as a family event?

So yes, YABU.

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:21

Babies being traumatised, sun burnt, cold, scared etc don't often make the news. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

OP posts:
Gigondas · 10/08/2012 22:22

Not been to the Olympics but have taken kids to rugby including internationals and yes it is crowded but with some care and precautions (when how you exit enter etc) it need not be too scary. I

I accept it's not to every kids taste so there is a separate issue about what you want to do v what kids want. For every kid who hates it there will be one who loved it (as other posted have said).

Therefore yabu to be so dogmatic

PiousPrat · 10/08/2012 22:24

Perhaps some of those taking infants were in the same boat as myself, with a football mad 11 year old, a 'once in a lifetime' obsessed 12 year old and a 'wtf is going on? Ooh look people to coo at' 10 month old?

We booked tickets for the football at St James' park because it is our nearest venue and wouldn't present the same problems with transport as the London venues, and only booked a ticket for the (unborn at time of booking) baby in case it ended up that we couldn't leave him. It did end up that no one was free to have him and for a midweek match my OH couldn't get out of work so I ended up taking the 3 kids by myself.

The baby was confused and startled to begin with at the sudden outbursts of noise, but soon got used to it and managed to sleep for 45 minutes in the sling, so can't have been that disturbed. The older DC are old enough to be left in their seats for a bit had i needed to walk the baby around a quiet area to settle him, but nowhere near old enough to go on their own, even if it had been allowed.

It isn't always 'selfish parent's not wanting to miss out on seeing the events. Sometimes it is parents who couldn't give a flying fuck about that particular sport and would far rather be watching the olympics on tv somewhere hot, preferably with a drink with an umbrella in it, but they happen to have kids who are mad for sport. I don't think it is fair that those children should miss out on an event just because their parents made a decision to provide them with a sibling.

As long as it doesn't do the baby any damage (hearing or getting crushed in a crowd) and they don't disrupt the event itself then I fail to see why anyone gives a flying fuck what other people do with their own babies.

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 10/08/2012 22:25

I just think, have small children? Stay home or sort childcare. They simply shouldn't be there.

Everybody around the baby was saying 'why on earth would you bring a baby', 'that poor baby' etc etc.

It really is quite selfish.

OP posts:
amothersplaceisinthewrong · 10/08/2012 22:25

I agree, the Olympics is no place for babies or toddlers. This is the parents being selfish, putting their own wishes first. There was someone whinging about the lack of breastfeeding faciliities at the rowing - stay home and feed your baby then.

DuelingFanjo · 10/08/2012 22:25

why is it dangerous, unless you mean they might get hit by a discus?

laracroft2001 · 10/08/2012 22:26

How on earth did you get tickets for everything when I bloody couldn't get one???Angry

runnervt · 10/08/2012 22:26

I don't think many people would take their children knowing the children would absolutely hate it as, if nothing else, it would make their trip awful too. So I don't agree that children shouldn't ever be taken to something that isn't entirely tailored to their enjoyment. The kids might get tired by the end and be tearful but that happens even on the most child centred trip.

Gigondas · 10/08/2012 22:27

Cos It is that easy to stay home or sort childcare as in piousprat example .

DuelingFanjo · 10/08/2012 22:28

that child you saw probably would have ended up in the same predicament in the park, it's more to do with the parenting than the venue. Not all parents at the olympics will be bad parents, unless you think including your children in general life and events is bad.

You'll be telling me i shouldn't have taken my 6 month old to Glastonbury festival next!