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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

DappledThings · 29/12/2019 14:35

DS is 3 and has been to 3 festivals. Dd is 2 and has been to 1. It's been great. They loved camping and getting up to go straight I to playing with their friends outside the tent. Loads of stuff for them to do with puppet shows, craft and singing sessions. They got to stay up a bit late then hunker down in the waggon which they thought was hilarious. Slept fine when transferred to tent later.

How many of those saying no have actually done it? It's really not just for the adults either, if it's a child friendly festival there is loads designed for children too. Not heard of Eden but we always go to End of the Road and it's great for little ones.

DappledThings · 29/12/2019 14:37

Because it isn't age appropriate
Which bits aren't age appropriate exactly?
Camping
Playing outside
Dancing
Watching puppet shows and theatre
Eating fun things in the novelty of outside
Spending time with family and friends
Wearing ear defenders and listening to music

Are you under the impression the festivals are hist about taking drugs or something?

SimonJT · 29/12/2019 14:38

My son has been going to festivals and gigs since the age of two, just take a decent sun hat and a pair of ear defenders.

nocluewhattodoo · 29/12/2019 14:38

We went to one with DD when she was two, and our friend had her DD with her who was a year younger. They had a brilliant time trundling round in a wagon or in slings with ear defenders in the evening. We'd never camped as a family before and had to buy all the kit but it was worth it, DD asks to go camping all the time now.

IAmLEA · 29/12/2019 14:39

Hahaha, that's so sweet of you to think that. I took mine at 2.5 year old, he was exhausted and it was a bit of a disaster!
Sorry but it's too young.

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 29/12/2019 14:40

DS1 has been going to festivals regularly since he was 8 weeks old. He's 7 now and would (and has) chosen festivals over a beach holiday.
DS2 was born in September and will be doing camping car shows and festivals most weekends with us June -September.

Take a trolley, a sling and ear defenders and you're golden.

IAmLEA · 29/12/2019 14:40

Then again this is entirely based on my child, yours might be totally different,
They're long days that's all I'm thinking. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Dhalandchips · 29/12/2019 14:42

Go for it. DS did his first Glastonbury at 12 weeks. Been taking all of them to festivals for years!

saywhatwhatnow · 29/12/2019 14:52

Took our 1 year old to a music festival this summer and it was great (although I was pregnant and exhausted). He had the time of his life, slept pretty well but woke fairly early, ate well with loads of choice and loved the bands. We were lucky as the weather was good so just changed him on the grass out of the way. I recommend a sling and a cheap secondhand pushchair (we got a Phil and teds), waterproof puddle suit thing, and ear defenders. I do imagine if the weather was rubbish it would be a lot harder.

Icanflyhigh · 29/12/2019 15:15

All 3 DCs have been attending music festivals and VW shows and camping since they were 4-6 weeks old. They love it, the atmosphere, the relaxing everything. Do it!

Isithometimeyet0987 · 29/12/2019 15:21

Nope I go to Glastonbury every year and no chance am I taking dd. I take her a lot of place posh restaurants, theatre trips, museums, parks, she’s been all round London (we live here) at only 4 so sometimes some things are just for the adults, I want to have a drink, have fun, not worry about her and of course I want to get as close as possible to the stage not possible with a child.

Her0utdoors · 29/12/2019 16:01

Do it! Don't set any expectations of actually seeing anything you planned to, potter about, enjoy the sights and sounds, and pack a couple of extra layers for tge night times so you have the best chance of getting some sleep.

Original poster

Badgergirl123 · 29/12/2019 16:12

Thanks for all the replies, lots to think about! Agree a lot with what @TheFuckingDogs and others have said about (appropriately) including kids in things we do.

@FilthyforFirth Not sure how you figure this is 100% about what I want given I said in the original post I'd never chosen to go to anything like this before I'm almost 40 so there was plenty of opportunity in our child free days! I thought this might be a fun thing to do as a family and wouldn't go without DD. Mother in law would happily take baby but I would rather spend time like that in a posh hotel eating or sat next to a pool!

OP posts:

FilthyforFirth · 29/12/2019 16:20

I appreciate I am in the minority. My child and the other children I know would not enjoy being out of routine, dragged around in a wagon, forced to stay up late, wear ear defenders etc etc.

My idea of family time is a bit different to yours that's all. My nephew is dragged to festivals by SIL and from the pics it is clear he doesnt enjoy it.

I have been to glasto and bestival many times and honestly, and it is my opinion,my heart breaks for small children out late at night around drinking, drugs etc. I haven't been to a family friendly festival so can't comment but personally I wouldnt take a child until they were old enough to ask.

ferntwist · 29/12/2019 16:22

Baby will be fine - loads to look at, space to toddle around under your watchful eye, lots of other kids there. Have fun!

soembarrassing19 · 29/12/2019 16:22

I've taken all my childsren to festivals from being tiny babies. They love it. They still do now. I've been to most you can think of with a child. You'll be absolutely fine at Eden. It's just a camping holiday with music. There's loads to do.

Fidgety31 · 29/12/2019 16:40

Who will benefit for taking the baby ? Some people drag them round festivals like a fashion accessory !
If you’re drinking and partying - which is what most people do at a festival then a child will just be a hindrance.
I don’t see what joy a young one could get from being around all the drink and drugs and rowdiness you get at festivals .
They’re great for teenagers and adults . But for younger ones just get a babysitter . Then you can enjoy yourself and so can the child.

Stressedout10 · 29/12/2019 16:44

I have and other than ear defenders can I suggest that you bring a good set of rains (sp) and a kiddie lojack for DC just incase

BB8sAntenna · 29/12/2019 17:19

I’m actually shocked at the percentage who think YABU.
I don’t think you are BU, I have taken my children to many festivals over the years since they were small and all was well, however, I was a very experienced festivaller anyway so knew what I was in for (ok, so the experience is different with kids in ways!)
As long as you are organised and have the right kit, eg ear defenders for little one, warm clothes, decent buggy which is well lit with fairy lights and reflectors and you don’t expect to see and so everything you will be fine.
I won’t lie though, it’s exhausting, I took my 6 yo and 9 Yo to a festival we had been to many times before, on my own, and I was extra exhausted!

DappledThings · 29/12/2019 18:04

@Fidgety31 Would you like to look at my posts about what our DC enjoy about festivals and comment again? I've been going nearly every year for 12 years. I've seen a couple of people having the odd spliff (not actually people we were with, just in the crowd) and no other drugs ever.

Since DC we hardly drink either and nor do any of the people we go with and their DC. It's a few days of sitting and running around in the outside and sunshine (hopefully!), some children's theatre and songs, lots of great food, the excitement of sleeping in a tent and having breakfast right there, lots of dancing wearing appropriate ear defenders and our two have then slept brilliantly in the waggon and then in the tent later on.

Festivals are as age appropriate as you choose to make them and if you choose the right festival. In my experience Green Man and End of the Road are brilliant for children.

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