Festivals with DC

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So Wibu to take a 2 year old and 3.5 year old to a one day music festival locally. Or is this an impossible dream? All opinions welcome.

Go for it. I took my 9 month old to Glastonbury and will take my almost 3 year old and 11 month old next year if I get tickets.

Why not? Take a buggy for stuff and 2 yr old legs, snacks, water, picnic blanket...crack on!

A one day one? No problem, just go for it!

I took my 10 year old to ours last year. A friend joined us with her 18 month old. There were things for small children to do, age appropriate food, face painting and lots of grass to run around on.

A one day one you’ll be totally fine. Absolutely knackered but fine!

I would invest in one of the pull along carts, line it with blankets and pillows so they have somewhere comfy to sit/nap when they get tired and cranky. Eat defenders for if it gets loud and ideally a couple more adults on hand so you actually have time to have a drink and watch some music. And put your name and phone number in sharpie on the back of their t-shirts just in case they do wander off.

Ear defenders!

I think it's doable and have done it in the past. I think it depends on the festival though. Be prepared with lots of water and snacks and think about the distances you will have to cover and how you will get them around. Also, what if the weather isn't great. How will you keep them dry and warm. Will the music be extremely loud? If so, do you have ear defenders?

I think it's possible to have a great time as long as you accept it's going to be a very different experience to festivals pre-children.

We have one of the 'big' festivals 5 minutes down the road and have taken the kids since they were really young.

We've never camped there, I can't actually think of anything worse, and we're close enough to walk home if the worse comes to the worse.

It's easier now my children are teens, but it was certainly do-able when they were littlies

Definitely not an impossible dream - but you need to accept it'll be a very different festival experience!

It's easier IMO if you look at it as you accompanying them to their first festival (so emphasis on doing stuff they and you will both enjoy) rather than trying to recreate a pre-DC festival experience with DC in tow.

My DC love festivals.

The onky thing I'd say is 2 sounds like hard work (because of keeping an eye on both at once in crowds) but maybe your DC are better at not running off than mine!

Will you have other adult(s) with you?

Fine to do as long as you get that being at a festival with small children is just the same as every other day w small children but with a better soundtrack. I mean, it can be fun but equally could be really frustrating, depending on the children on their mood on the day. Top tip: take a port-a-potty

I agree with Teddy, a pull along cart is a great idea. We had a collapsible one so we could fit it into the car.

Personally I don't see the point.

Whilst I'm sure there are things there for kids to do, people don't go for the kids primarily. And traipsing young dc along will give you no time to yourself to enjoy anyway.

Go for it! I've been taking my two to festivals since the youngest was a year old. Plenty of snacks, blankets to curl up in or lie down on. Find a place to sit towards the edge/back of the ground. And take some bubble wands. Children will happily spend ages chasing bubbles. You will attract a small crowd of small people.

We took DS 2 last year and he had a fab time... probably more fun than me! He was dancing away till about 9, then fell asleep watching the fire dancing.
It was hard work and a very different experience, but I was pregnant and it was very hot so probably made that a bit worse.
We're planning to go to 2 this year (only for the day, not camping) with him and baby due in may.
If there is a big main stage ear defenders are a must.

Been going to festivals with my son since he was 2-3 years old. Even went to one on my own because it just happened to be when I was on holiday. I camp as I go for the whole weekend, which means i am the one usually carry all the stuff. Its fine.

Gp for it.

Great tips, really helpful. And thank you for the encouragement.

I would go into it treating it as an experiment I think. One which might go horribly wrong, but if that's the case we can always get home easily.

Now I just need to persuade DH

Unless children ask to go when older then really it's a trip for the adults with them tagging along to an adult event. Doesn't sound much fun for them.

YellowMakesMeSmile maybe you're going to the wrong festivals? The ones we go to are great for DC!

Just asked DS if he likes festivals & why.

He said "yes! They're really fun. You get to do stuff and go on stuff" he said he likes playing with other kids and when asked remembered he likes the music too!

God those bloody carts at Glastonbury are a pain. More so at night. Families group together and cause grid lock when you want to get from one stage to another. Personally I'd say age 10+ if they get tired and can't walk don't take them.

We aren't festival goers but went to one for a day. Mostly full of late teens, twenty somethings and childfree adults but there were quite a few parents with very little children. To be honest I judged abit. There wasn't anything there for them, they got nothing out of watching bands and were obviously bored. As it got dark they stayed, and quite a few people were drunk/high stumbling round in the dark. I would not have wanted my children in that environment (9 and 11) let alone tiny ones. DH and I were abit . Plus what if they get lost! Bloody nightmare.

We definitely wouldn't stay with them into the night. Also I think we'd plan for the in-laws to come down so if they hated it, they could come and get them.

It's hard to know if I'm being a bit selfish. They both like listening to music we play them and dancing to it in our living room. But maybe that doesn't translate to an actual festival. I wouldn't want to get on anyone's tits, and you're right it's the sort of thing I would probably have judged a bit pre-kids.

TBH- if you've got willing babysitters, then I'd just leave the kids with them and go and get pissed in peace.

Unless it's somewhere family friendly like Camp Bestival, it's always gonna be a bit of a letdown going to a festival with small children. You'll just be sat on the sidelines watching everyone else have the time of their lives.

Fair point saucyjack

I think it's selfish sorry. Leave them with granny then you can go and properly enjoy it. Or to one of those kid friendly ones but frankly dds friends go with their parents the kids don't particularly enjoy it much it's the parents that want to go and tell themselves the kids love it.

Go to camp bestival instead or a similar festival - our whole family loves it, there is tonnes to please everyone. I have 2 DD's with a big age gap, they will be 12 & 3 this Summer, it's great as there is something for everyone to enjoy, soft play and cbeebies favourites for the littley, active adventure, science and art for the bigger one. I enjoy the talks and food demos, crazy bits and music, dp likes people watching with a pint on the grass. Get some ear defenders and go for it!