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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Taking baby to a fireworks display

24 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/11/2015 15:53

My older ds age 7 was very scared of fireworks up until last year. He's got a real thing about loud noises. He's getting over it as he gets older though.

Because of this I've never been able to take him to a fireworks display so we've always done a crappy box at home with him watching out of the window.

This year if like to take him to a funfair and fireworks display in the park as he'd really enjoy it now, but, we have the baby (5 months).

I'm not sure if I'd be mad to take him, he'd be all wrapped up in the pram with his coat and footmuff or I could carry him in the sling. I expect we'd get home around 9pm. The baby has a really good bedtime routine and is usually tucked up in bed by 8pm.

The other option would be for me or dh to take ds1 and the other to stay home, but we'd like to all go, we could ask grandparents to babysit but I'd feel a bit cheeky asking when one of us could stay home.

The reason I want us all to go is because I hate rides so dh would do all that but I really want to see ds face at the fireworks I love bonfire night.

OP posts:

DisappointedOne · 02/11/2015 16:03

We've taken DD every year for bonfire night and New Year's Eve. She was 3 weeks old for the first one.

(Mind you, she is vampiric so keeping her out late anytime was rarely an issue.)

teatowel · 02/11/2015 16:12

My six month old slept the whole way through her first firework display all cosy and warm in her pushchair.

Spottyladybird · 02/11/2015 16:14

I took my DD to fireworks at 5 months. She was in a sling and all cosy on me, fell asleep half way through. X

Strokethefurrywall · 02/11/2015 16:18

Yep, took my babies from a couple of weeks. When they're tiny their ears seem to be far less sensitive, presumably because of all the noise in the womb.

DS1 was happy as larry watching fireworks until he hit about 2 1/2 then he became more wary of the noise but still loves watching them.

SellFridges · 02/11/2015 16:20

We took seven month old DS at the weekend. He seemed to like the fireworks and didn't flinch at the noise. DD ended up wearing his ear defenders.

maamalady · 02/11/2015 16:38

We took DD last year when she was four months - she was wrapped up warm in the sling while DH carried her. She quite liked the fireworks too :)

We did choose to go to a local village display rather than trek into town for a bigger display so we could come home easily if she'd been upset.

pilates · 02/11/2015 16:45

I would ask GP's to babysit and make it a special night out for the three of you.

CesareBorgiasUnicornMask · 02/11/2015 16:47

I took mine at 4 months last year. Giant ear defenders and snuggled up in a sling - he was absolutely fine and loved the bonfire.

Original poster

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/11/2015 16:53

That all sounds reassuring. I assumed that people must take babies as they are family events but obviously it's late, cold, noisy etc.

I'm just a bit apprehensive as he doesn't sleep well at the best of times and is very tired by 7.30 and ready for bed, he might surprise me though and sleep.

When you say ear defenders do you literally mean ear muffs?

OP posts:

Original poster

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/11/2015 16:56

I'm probably a bit put off as I remember my sister taking my nephew to the fireworks when he was roughly the same age, and my parents slagging her off saying how it was no place for a baby, quite mean of them really wasn't it?

OP posts:

MaxPepsi · 02/11/2015 17:06

I don't have this issue as no kids, but I see plenty of young babies at bonfires and personally think it's great that the whole family gets a night out together.

No one appears to slag any of the families off at all.

I however have had grief for taking our dog to firework displays. We walk there, he gets fussed and fed by random strangers and loves it. He is not disturbed one iota by the bangs so I am not cruel as some people like to suggest. He normally falls asleep whilst they are on as everyone stops fussing him to watch and he gets bored!!

Redberrypie · 02/11/2015 17:13

I took ds when he was a baby, one late night won't do him any harm. Go and enjoy! Ds wasn't at all bothered by the bangs and liked watching them. The only year he didn't like the noise was when he was nearly 3.

LBOCS2 · 02/11/2015 17:14

I took 11mo DD to the fireworks in a sling and she fell asleep. It was absolutely fine!

cherrylola · 02/11/2015 17:16

I would pop baby in the sling with some baby ear defenders. EMs for Bubs is a brand for little babies

PrincessHairyMclary · 02/11/2015 17:21

These ear defenders are great.
My DD hates loud noises and has been wearing these since she was a baby and we use them at lots of different events: Fireworks/ air shows/ music festivals even on the tube.

Crabbitface · 02/11/2015 17:22

DD was 11 months at her first fireworks. I bought little ear defenders before hand. Totally unfazed.

Autumnalhedgehog · 02/11/2015 17:25

I would have one of you take 7 year old and the other one of you stay with baby at home

avocadoghost · 02/11/2015 17:51

I've been pondering this as I have a 5mo too and (selfishly!) I really want to go to a really good bonfire/fireworks night that we went to last year.

Probably will need to get ear defenders though (they're not ear muffs - they act as proper protection from loud noises).

Original poster

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/11/2015 17:54

Ah yes thanks I've googled andI realise they're proper ear defenders.

OP posts:

specialsubject · 02/11/2015 18:05

ear defenders and if the baby decides it doesn't like it and starts screaming, obviously leave sharpish.

Original poster

Pyjamaramadrama · 03/11/2015 13:06

Thanks for all the replies we've decided we will all go.

I'm looking at ear defenders I can't really find anything suitable for a young baby, they all seem to have headbands.
Would you just by childrens ones and hold them on?

OP posts:

cherrylola · 04/11/2015 09:21

These are for tiny babies ems4kidseardefenders.co.uk/ems4bubsbabyeardefenders/

Original poster

Pyjamaramadrama · 07/11/2015 22:44

Well we went. It all worked out fine. He ended up staying in the pram in the end, he fell asleep and slept through the whole thing. Ear protectors on, all snug in footmuff and rain over over the pram.

OP posts:

Fatmomma99 · 08/11/2015 01:59

I think being in the womb is REALLY loud. Babies don't in my experience seem bothered by loud noises.

Toddlers can really hate them.

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