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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take 1 year old to music festival?

45 replies

Badgergirl123 · 29/12/2019 11:50

Have never been to a music festival or even camping in my life so not sure what's come over me!

It's a family friendly festival (Eden) and DD will be one and a half and walking. She's generally up for things and a happy wee baby all round. Is this a terrible idea?

TIA!

OP posts:
NoMorePoliticsPlease · 29/12/2019 11:51

Yes its a truly terrible idea. Nothing for the baby but stress. Get a babysitter

PurpleFlower1983 · 29/12/2019 11:54

I wouldn’t at that age.

Alsohuman · 29/12/2019 11:55

Leave her with grandparents, you’ll all be happier.

TheFuckingDogs · 29/12/2019 11:55

Totally fine! It’s family friendly and you’re always going to have nicer well rounded children when they learn from an early age to fit in with you. . .

Emmelina · 29/12/2019 11:56

Personally I’d wait a couple more years, even for Eden. You’ve never been to a festival to know what the facilities etc are like, and generally for a babe in nappies and still needing naps and what have you... it’s not great I’ll be honest.
The kiddo will be more than happy sitting outside your tent poking mud patties with sticks, honestly, but the additional stress of them doing so away from home will mean you won’t actually relax and enjoy properly either.

TheFuckingDogs · 29/12/2019 11:57

Obviously if you want leave with the grandparents - totally fine but so many people in the U.K. seem to have this strange idea that you have to have fun away from your kids - love to have mine with me then they see family having fun together

TheFutureIs · 29/12/2019 11:58

Our little one went to 2 festivals when she was nearly 1 and has since been to lots more. She loves the music and at nearly 2 was dragging us into rave tents

theowlwhowasafraidofthedark · 29/12/2019 11:59

Try camp bestival Smile

gamerwidow · 29/12/2019 12:00

For a family friendly festival I think it would be fine. For a festival that’s more rowdy with beer and drugs floating about like Reading then absolutely not.

TigerOnATrain · 29/12/2019 12:00

LOL @Badgergirl123

You are joking right?!

LionelRitchieStoleMyNotebook · 29/12/2019 12:01

Camping or just for the day? I'd do day tickets, but wouldn't camp, I couldn't sleep for DS clambering all over me and DH or worrying he'd escape the tent while I slept. DS will be 18 months this summer and we're planning to take him for the day to a local family focussed festival, he loves music and is happy in crowds of people. Is there a compromise to be had where you either go home, to a hotel or an RV for the night?

CharlieandLolaCat · 29/12/2019 12:03

Is fine. Take trolley with you and then they can sleep with plenty of warm clothes/blankets etc and stuff for them to do.

idontknow54789 · 29/12/2019 12:03

We've taken our now 2 year old to a few festivals, all family friendly ones. He's loved them all, the highlight of our year and i think it's good for him to experience different things. Do some research on tips for taking little ones to festivals, you'll be fine - enjoy!

rainbowlou · 29/12/2019 12:07

We have taken ours to quite a few festivals and they’ve had a great time.

glastogal · 29/12/2019 12:08

Took my ds to Glasto this year at about that age and we all had a great time! He napped in the buggy and slept fine in the tent (after the first night, which was a total disaster and ended up with me getting a black eye!!) Needed to take a lot more stuff than usual but the facilities were great and he's coming again next year.

7dayslater · 29/12/2019 12:19

I don't know much about Eden but we took DS to a family-friendly music festival when he was 15 months. DP and I enjoyed ourselves and DS absolutely loved it. He slept well in the tent, napped in the pushchair & the festival had facilities for baby change / bath.

Enjoy! (I recommend ear defenders for loud music) Grin

FruityWidow · 29/12/2019 12:24

Eden is a fantastic festival. I felt very safe there. It has wonderful cabaret area with lots of workshops for children even under 1yrs.

RosieBooBoo · 29/12/2019 12:50

We took our DD to her first festival when she was 15 months and it was great! Eden is a lovely family friendly festival, really chilled vibe.. We got lucky and DD slept fine in the buggy at night & we caught the headliners..

FilthyforFirth · 29/12/2019 12:54

Nope terrible idea. No matter how much you try to sell the idea of being something your child will enjoy or get a lot out of, it is 100% for you.

I feel terrible for small children being pulled around in a wagon with headphones on, desperately trying to sleep.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 29/12/2019 12:55

I wouldn’t. Book a sitter if you want to go.

I don’t think music festivals are places for children until old enough that they actually ask to attend. Hundreds of other activities that suit a held much better than being taken along to an adult event.

Thatagain · 29/12/2019 12:58

It's a good idea. I took my DS when he was 2 to the Isle of Wight festival and we had the best time he was amused with the dancing and the music. Was pretty hectic but breastfeeding helped a lot. We went with our outher children who were all under the age of 12. They all remember it well. If you go prepared you will love it.

TisTheSeasonForMincePies · 29/12/2019 12:58

I think it probably depends on the child and the length you're going to stay, I think for a lot of babies that age it would be a bit too much for a whole day or more. If it's family friendly with calmer areas that wouldn't be too bad for some.

envelopeofpubes · 29/12/2019 13:41

Nope terrible idea. No matter how much you try to sell the idea of being something your child will enjoy or get a lot out of, it is 100% for you

And a child having to go along with something its parents want to do is terrible why exactly?

ForalltheSaints · 29/12/2019 13:58

Not without ear defenders.

FilthyforFirth · 29/12/2019 14:13

Because it isn't age appropriate. I think it is cruel really on a child so young. They have literally no choice in the matter.

Nothing wrong with doing something you enjoy but not with your kids if it isn't appropriate for them. Where do you draw the line?