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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Air show with baby

40 replies

TheLittlestBear · 01/07/2016 19:11

I am supposed to be going to an airshow this weekend with friends and taking my son who is 5 months old. It will be to where all the stalls are and most of the planes will be flying directly around over our heads.

My friends won't want to view it from far away as they live very close to where it is, and they will understand if I don't come, so there is no politics about it with them. They won't mind if I cancel.

I'm just worried about the amount of noise upsetting my son, AIBU to just not go? Or am I being a perfect first born mum? Grin Has anyone got any wise experience?

OP posts:
AtAt · 01/07/2016 19:14

They normally sell ear defenders at air shows. Go, and hopefully you can pick some up if he doesn't like the noise.

daftbesom · 01/07/2016 19:19

I have been to airshows and I wouldn't take a small baby. The jet aircraft in particular are VERY VERY LOUD. i.e. so loud they make your guts vibrate and there is zero chance of hearing anything else when they are going overhead. I just wouldn't want to put a small person through that. HTH Smile

PS
My kids used to snooze in a pram in the garden, and a couple of times a fast jet came over low, it definitely upset them greatly (but at least they could hear me trying to comfort them).

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 01/07/2016 19:30

My dd has been to Cosford air show every year since we had her .
First year, she spent most of it asleep in a pram. When the jets came, we went to a hangar.
She had baby bans shades and matching ear defenders.
My main concern was sunburn. So she wore a plain white baby grow and had the hood and parasol on the pram.
Baby grow meant she couldn't get her feet out! And no gaps...
She slept through the vulcan last year! In her car seat, with ears on.
Is your ds usually bothered by noise? If so, don't bother. If he isn't, then take him. There will be lots to look at!
And make sure any toys etc are tied on to his pram.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 01/07/2016 19:31

Dd was 4 months when she first went.

LilacInn · 01/07/2016 19:35

I wouldn't dream of exposing an infant to such noise.

Here's an interesting article and excerpt:

www.pregnancy.org/article/the-sounds-of-summer-can-damage-your-hearing

"Noise that's potentially dangerous to an adult is even more dangerous to a child," says Levi A. Reiter, head of the audiology program at Hofstra University. "Because a young child's ear canal is much smaller than an older child's or an adult's, the sound pressure entering the ear is greater. An infant might perceive a sound as 20 decibels louder than an older child or an adult."

toriaplum · 01/07/2016 19:38

We took our then 6 months old pfb to an airshow last year. He wore ear defenders and wasn't phased in the slightest.

We are hoping to go to an airshow this weekend. So I've dug out the ear defenders. In fact he fell asleep in his pushchair earlier and slept through the hurricane practising above us.
What I'm saying in a round about way is it depends on the child.

Enidblyton1 · 01/07/2016 19:39

I've been to a several air shows with babies and never had a problem - you'll probably be fine. I've seen lots of other babies and young children there. More annoying than the aircraft noise is actually the general hassle of being at a large show with a baby! (ie lack of changing facilities etc). Ear defenders might be a good idea - we took a pair and my DDs never liked wearing them.
It may be different at the air show you're going to but we've been to Goodwood revival and Shoreham - it was noisier in the carpark (where the aircraft were actually flyin right overhead) than inside by the stalls.

Fidelia · 01/07/2016 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Moomichi · 01/07/2016 19:53

I would go but I would visit my local sling meet first and get something that I could use with my baby. Connecta, ergo, manduca, Tula or similar. I would also look for some sound cancelling headphone too. Babe will probably sleep through it all.

JenniferYellowHat1980 · 01/07/2016 19:58

My 3.8 yo is scared of the noise of the Typhoon.

SaigonSaigon · 01/07/2016 19:59

The vibrations are something to bear in mind as has been suggested. Planes like the Typhoon (especially with its afterburners on) overhead make your whole body judder. And they are so loud. We've experienced every reaction from our 6 yr old over the years. If you decide to go, get good ear defenders but be prepared to leave early....

Noodledoodledoo · 01/07/2016 20:29

I also have a little one who refuses to wear the ear defenders - we took her to a open air concert at 11 months and had them but we gave up the battle of trying to keep them on after about 30 minutes of it. She had them off within about 20 secs each time.

I wasn't too concerned as we sat away from the speakers and it wasn't that loud but with an air show you all get the noise.

Original poster
TheLittlestBear · 01/07/2016 20:39

Fidelia It is the typhoon I'm most concerned about! Are you from this area? It's a big night for us tonight ;)

DS doesn't like the sound of the hand dryer in toilets, so maybe its not worth the risk. He's good with most noises though. Maybe I'll take a flask and go and sit on a big hill somewhere in the distance... Do they announce when the Typhoon is close?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheLittlestBear · 01/07/2016 20:41

Oh I think the whole thing isn't worth the bother. It's going to be so busy, and such a hassle with the pram on the terrain. And even if I go, I wont be able to get away quick enough if the announce the loud ones.

OP posts:
SouperSal · 01/07/2016 20:43

I'm going too. Have been taking DD to air shows practically since birth. The one you're talking about isn't like Riat where aircraft are taking off a few yards from you (mind you, DD slept through the typhoon taking off the first year we went!). You can also escape and walk around the town of you want to. Get some baby ear defenders and enjoy.

SouperSal · 01/07/2016 20:44

I have the flight schedule. Do you want me to tell you when the typhoon is scheduled?

threadender · 01/07/2016 20:45

Get ear defenders. The jets will be far too loud and frightening for him otherwise, the Typhoon in particular.
I remember going to one when pregnant, DS reacted by jumping around whenever a loud jet was displaying despite being cocooned in my tummy! Have been to a couple since, though not when he was tiny, and the ear defenders worked a treat. They also look very cute wearing them!

SouperSal · 01/07/2016 20:46

This summer will mostly be spent on the Mach loop watching the Typoon.

SouperSal · 01/07/2016 20:48

Typhoon is scheduled at 1pm tomorrow and 4:30pm on Sunday if that helps.

nightandthelight · 01/07/2016 20:54

I wouldn't but DS is very sensitive to noise. Cries if someone sneezes or sings too high! If your LO is usually fine with noise I would just get the ear defenders :)

SouperSal · 01/07/2016 20:56

My DD hates the hand driers in toilets but can sleep through the typhoon taking off 50 metres away. 😂

Original poster
TheLittlestBear · 01/07/2016 21:03

Thanks Soup for the time info. I'm torn now... Where do you get the ear defenders from? Could go early and check it out.

It's sods law. I'm always working when the air show is on, the one time I'm actually guaranteed off work and I have the wobbles about it!

OP posts:
SouperSal · 01/07/2016 21:06

I got DD's from Amazon but they sell them in Argos and possibly big Supermarkets etc.

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 01/07/2016 21:07

There's very little I wouldn't take DD to but an airshow would be one I'd avoid (and we went every year before she arrived). The noise and vibration would terrify her - I don't think ear defenders would be enough for her (but yours may be better with loud noises - mine hated even the vacuum until quite recently!)

specialsubject · 01/07/2016 21:14

I saw the Typhoon recently. It is thump-you-into-the-ground loud. Even from well outside the airshow.

I thought it was brilliant but I'm not a baby that hates noises. He might be even louder...

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