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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flamingo Land suitable for a baby?!

184 replies

sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 18:32

Please help me settle this disagreement with my OH. We have 3 older kids between us (his two aged 14 & 11, mine aged 15), and a baby together. He wants all 5 of us to go on a family day out to Flamingo Land. I've never been. He's insisting it's suitable for all the kids including the 4 month old baby? To me it looks just like a theme park - I can't think of anything I'd rather do less with a baby tbh. He thinks we'll all have a lovely family day out. I don't - I think he should just take his eldest two (and my eldest if she wants to go) and I'll stay home with baby. He thinks I'm being miserable and unreasonable. Help?!

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 04/08/2021 19:00

Definitely look for some vouchers, they are always some about.

Mydogsbetterthanyourdog · 04/08/2021 19:00

Would you not want to see the fun the older DC's are having?
My 2 are older and we recently went to a uk theme park, I didn't go on a lot of the rides but I loved seeing how much they enjoyed themselves

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 19:02

@Mydogsbetterthanyourdog

Would you not want to see the fun the older DC's are having? My 2 are older and we recently went to a uk theme park, I didn't go on a lot of the rides but I loved seeing how much they enjoyed themselves
I would if the baby stayed settled and happy. If she was to be unsettled in all honesty I'd find it very stressful standing by myself with a crying baby while they all went on rides
OP posts:
IncludeWomenInThePrequel · 04/08/2021 19:19

But why would you just stand there? If the baby is unsettled you feed/change/take it for a walk so it falls asleep.

You're waaaay overthinking this.

gogohm · 04/08/2021 19:26

There's slow rides even a baby can go on and animals. Great for the older kids

Hankunamatata · 04/08/2021 19:31

Love flamingoland. But we hire a caravan which was great when kids were younger as we could retreat when things got a bit much. Would your dd want to go without you?

Hellocatshome · 04/08/2021 19:33

Are there any family days out that are suitable for a 4 month old?! At least they have the animals for you to look at while the others do the rides.

LouNatics · 04/08/2021 19:34

What would you normally do if your baby was unsettled? I’m struggling to think why you’d just stand there if the baby was upset - I can understand if you mean you don’t want to be the one stuck on baby duty all day. If the baby will be unsettled in a pram, take the sling or carrier instead. Feed, change as normal. There will be lots to look at and lots of lights and sounds. The baby will probably like it.

Two adults and three capably aged kids and one baby - everyone is capable of watching the baby for a bit. My teenagers would take their turn at baby duty and like taking the baby off to look at the animals etc as well as going on all the rides and eating junk food.

I don’t think it would be as bad as you think it would be.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 19:39

@IncludeWomenInThePrequel

But why would you just stand there? If the baby is unsettled you feed/change/take it for a walk so it falls asleep.

You're waaaay overthinking this.

I probably am overthinking it tbh. I get very anxious when she's unsettled and crying so the thought of it all happening so publicly and just by myself trying to settle her feel a bit much I think.
OP posts:
Jangle33 · 04/08/2021 19:43

But what be good for a 4 months old!? They just sit there, definitely go and have a lovely family day out! Spent a lot of time sitting on benches breastfeeding, but it’s lovely to be out and about at that stage.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 19:43

I can understand if you mean you don’t want to be the one stuck on baby duty all day.

I think this is what I mean yes. And I know I would be in charge of baby by default while he does "fun dad" on the rides

OP posts:
Wheresmrpenguin · 04/08/2021 19:46

@sofiegiraffe

I can understand if you mean you don’t want to be the one stuck on baby duty all day.

I think this is what I mean yes. And I know I would be in charge of baby by default while he does "fun dad" on the rides

Why can you be fun mum too though? If he wants to go then you take turns. Just go, it'll be fun. I'd just make sure there's somewhere to go if it rains, you don't want to be stood outside with a pram in the rain.
girlmom21 · 04/08/2021 19:47

At least if it's a crap day out you can blame
DH because you told him so Grin

itsgettingwierd · 04/08/2021 19:48

They do shows etc. Agreement could be of baby unsettled during a show DP takes them.

Also it's cheaper for a family ticket if you buy in advance.

As well as looking online for discount codes.

I'd take a book too. When baby happy and asleep you can sit and read with a coffee whilst the others queue for a ride!

pinkcircustop · 04/08/2021 19:50

Yeah, I think YABU and miserable. At that age baby doesn’t need entertaining, just take her along. There doesn’t need to be anything for her.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 19:53

@Wheresmrpenguin he'll be the more fun one by default because I don't like rides

OP posts:
Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 19:53

@girlmom21

At least if it's a crap day out you can blame DH because you told him so Grin
😂
OP posts:
shouldistop · 04/08/2021 19:57

Ds2 went to a few theme parks in the summer when he'd just turned 6 months. He was perfectly fine with people watching from his pram, napping and going on a couple of boat ride type things sitting on my knee.
I think you're being a bit miserable.

UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 19:58

We went to Drayton manor with a baby in a pram and did feel like it was a bit of a shit day out for the little one, spending most of the day being pushed around in a pram while his brother had all the fun.

But really, it's the same for any day out with a 4 month old. If you aren't bothered about the rides just split up and wander round the zoo/go to the shows/ have a quiet coffee etc.

I will say that Flamingo land though does seem to be on it's last legs in terms of money so expect it to be understaffed with some rides only being open for short hours and huge queues/waits as they can't get their shit together in terms of maintainance and having decently trained staff to get people on and off rides quickly.

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 19:59

@UrAWizHarry

We went to Drayton manor with a baby in a pram and did feel like it was a bit of a shit day out for the little one, spending most of the day being pushed around in a pram while his brother had all the fun.

But really, it's the same for any day out with a 4 month old. If you aren't bothered about the rides just split up and wander round the zoo/go to the shows/ have a quiet coffee etc.

I will say that Flamingo land though does seem to be on it's last legs in terms of money so expect it to be understaffed with some rides only being open for short hours and huge queues/waits as they can't get their shit together in terms of maintainance and having decently trained staff to get people on and off rides quickly.

I'm tempted to screenshot your reply and show DH to put him off 😂😂

OP posts:
coffeepleeease · 04/08/2021 19:59

Well really it's a day out for the older children but obviously the baby can go with you. When DD was 10 weeks old we went on a day out to a theme park, she's an only child, but we went with all my family which includes my niece who was 18 months at the time. Still a fun day out!

paulhollywoodshairgel · 04/08/2021 20:00

I e mailed flamingo land the other day about the possibility of spectator tickets!! I begrudge £40 when I don't go on rides. Take the baby to the sea lion show 😊

ChorleyFMcominginyourears · 04/08/2021 20:01

I've got annual passes for flamingo land for me and the kids as we live near by, its a great day out tbf rides and the zoo, its lovely

Original poster
sofiegiraffe · 04/08/2021 20:01

@paulhollywoodshairgel

I e mailed flamingo land the other day about the possibility of spectator tickets!! I begrudge £40 when I don't go on rides. Take the baby to the sea lion show 😊

Ooh what did they say about spectator tickets? That's also a part of the issue - £40 to wonder around with a pram and watch them lot. No thanks. Unless the zoo is included in that price.

OP posts:
Caffeinemonster · 04/08/2021 20:02

Everything is suitable for a baby so long as you can take them round in a pram and have access to somewhere to sit and feed them.