To take a 4 month old to Nottinghill Carnival

[LemonSwan]

I didn’t realise quite how crazy an idea this was until I started to plan this evening.

Is this just stupid?

Is getting there for 10am staying on the edges, watching a couple of hours of the parade and then heading for jerk chicken at 12 and to one of the nearby parks to relax for a couple of hours before trying to leave an insane idea?

How would you do this?

Any experts on quietest areas? Recommended side to come in on?

Or just forget it?

Nothing Hill is heaving at normal weekends. No way would I go there during the carnival...

I wouldn’t take my kids and they are 11 oldest youngest 5 so no I wouldn’t take a baby

Madness. Don't do it.

No way should you do that. Would never take kids there.
I have been in crowds which swept me away from my friends

Don't. Apart from anything else, if you get caught in a crowd control thingy, you will be there a lot longer than you think.

basically you only go there if you love crowds. But I'm willing to bet your poor baby won't enjoy it.

Oh dear 😬

Complete plan fails 🤦‍♀️

Have you been to NHC carnival before?

I go every year on both days. Sundays used to be the ‘family day’ and Monday is when most people would turn up however it’s hardly like that anymore. It is PACKED. There’s hardly any space to move and there certainly isn’t much roads to stand on and just watch the parade. What parades are you talking about? It’s usually people dancing and playing mas. That’s way too noisy and not enjoyable for a 4 month old at all.

I’m West Indian so NHC is quite literally my culture. I have a 15 month old and a 4 month old and they’ll both be staying home. I don’t think it’s safe for them to be around so many people either. Better off going by yourself or leaving it a few years

Yes I have been quite a few times, a while ago now though - well nearly a decade actually last.

And always on the Monday.

I assumed the Sunday was more child friendly and we could just float around the Emslie Horniman garden maybe. Obviously was wrong 🤦‍♀️

By parade I mean the procession of all the dancers and floats.

Oh right yeah the dancers and floats is called ‘playing mas.’ It’s completely different to some years ago when it was an enjoyable experience and you could take your kids on Sunday!

You’re best bet is to stay at home. Much more safer and quieter there!

Thanks @876starlight

Appreciate the insight.

We have planned to go to London to meet friends on that Sunday so anyone have any ideas of other Carnival styled things where we can soak up a bit of the vibes without actually going to the carnival?

There's a huge difference between "child-friendly" and "taking a 4 month old baby"!

Why would anyone go to Notting Hill Carnival? It’s full of delinquent teenagers trying to earn their road man stripes, crack heads, and stupid rich girls who want to upset daddy

You'll be fine if the baby is in a sling, I wouldn't take a buggy because of the crowds. I took my two when they were 8 and 6, we did what you did and for there early, left early. We had a brilliant time!

Oh dear.

I absolutely love carnival but no way would I take a 4 month old, definitely not a sling either 🤦‍♀️jesus

Why not! Take them in sling and you can always leave if too busy. There’s lots of parks nearby. Take headphones for baby though, it’s pretty loud

I have policed Notting Hill Carnival. I have a four month old baby. Having seen what I’ve seen there isn’t a chance in hell I’d take her anywhere near it (and I’m not precious about where I take her, she’s been to gigs/camping/festivals since she was a couple of weeks old)

I wouldn't go anywhere near it, never mind with a 4 month old baby.

Just don’t. I live nearby and made the mistake of taking my 2 month old daughter in a sling years ago. It is much busier now. It was heaving and dangerous. Police on horses, crowd surges if things go wrong. All the local parks are packed out too.

Seriously, a sling?

Please do not take baby in a sling OP that's really dangerous. No protection from the huge crowd, if anyone falls in to you etc baby could easily be injured.

I don’t know why I thought it would be ok. Probably because if it’s ok for a young child then it would be ok for a babe in sling.

I don’t know why I thought that. Probably because I was imagining children at knees levels in a crowd would be worse but than babe in carrier but then they are probably not down there are they. Probably on shoulders. Basically just hadn’t thought it through.

I used to go to NHC until about ten/twelve years ago, it's not at all how it used to be more. I work with the riskiest of offenders so I'm not easily concerned, but I won't go anymore let alone take my child. It's a shame.

Hell no
I went about 12 years ago, it was horrendous
I've never stopped my DC's from doing anything, within reason, they were all in their late teens/ 20's back then and I asked them not to go. Ever.

Please don't take your baby in a sling 🙄