Festival with a 2.5 year old and a nine month old…

[Hiphopopotamonster]

So next month my DH and I are taking our toddler and baby to a festival. It’s a medium size one (a few thousand people I think) and seems family friendly ish although it’s not particularly marketed at families. We’ll be camping in a tent. It’s seemed like a brilliant idea when we booked it a few months ago but im getting a bit jittery now and wondering if it’s just going to be awful.

So - is this a terrible idea? Will it all be ok? And does anyone have any tips to make it more ok…?

Every festival I've been to you can leave it if needs be. It isn't a prison camp.

Don't worry. Lots of people who have never been to a festival think they are all like Reading full of drugged up teens setting fire to their tents.

Whereas plenty have loads of activities for children, places they can play, quiet areas if it gets too much, music they can listen to with ear defenders and thousands of people who are drinking not at all or very moderately.

And mine think airbeds and sleeping bags are just instantly fun. I'd take all the fleecy blankets you can lay your hands on so you have some for out in the trolley, some in the tent and extra ones if it is cold. Ours sleep in pyjamas plus onesies plus blankets are are cosy.

We’re doing one with our two year old (a bigger one sounds like). We’re not worried at all - going with the big group we’ve always gone with (before covid) and they’ve all done it with toddlers. We are the late pro creators!!

Agree with people saying take a trolley if you can as they always looked like such a good idea. Having said that none of my mates ever did just managed with buggies and it was fine. As others have said just plan to be in the family field hanging out together most of the time. I think your plans sound fab and totally doable. If it doesn’t work out well you can always go home and try again next year 🤷🏻‍♀️ you’ve got to be flexible with kids!!

Have a wonderful time. Ignore the doom and gloomers. And take snacks!!

I take it you have laid back sleep loving DC… I wouldn’t even have begun to consider this when my non sleeping horrors were this age!

I think if you approach it as you’ve said, a camping trip where seeing anything else is a bonus, it will be ok. I doubt you’ll see much of your childfree friends though, unless they like hanging out at the face painting.

This has probably been said already but definitely take a porta potty with lots and lots of bags.

You're brave with that age combo!
We've taken 1 DC at 3mo then again at 14mo. The first time was easy in that it was a small festy, she was cozied happily in a sling most of the time and was BF, but it got chilly at night and nappy changes etc were a PITA whilst trying to keep her warm. With only 1 DC, you can get a break too by switching with DH, so it wasn't a slog. 14mo was much harder as she was so excited by absolutely everything (Boomtown - it is quite impressive 😬) and kept trying to sprint off to take a look. I Sharpied my number on her arm, but the constant worry of losing her was exhausting. The hills at that festy are also punishing with a buggy/trolley...
We stopped for a year when DC2 was a baby, then started up again at 2 & 4yo which was fine! We didn't bother with a trolley, but already had a (single) Mountain Buggy pushchair which could handle any amount of rough terrain and mud. DCs generally tag teamed with the buggy, but we did wedge both in on occasion.
The musts for us were a Potette Plus (the folding potty/toilet seat with the disposable bags), ear defenders, plenty of spare warm clothes (get DCs into PJs and fluffy onesies before the sun goes down. Put a puddle suit over the top if at all damp - you may need the next size up to fit over the onesie), Sharpie, a Ready Bed plus sleeping bag for 2yo+, and a very relaxed definition of what a 'meal' is (chocolate brioche for breakfast plus a piece of fruit, cheesy chips or Mug Shot pasta as a complete meal for lunch etc). Glow stick necklaces are also good for nighttime if you have a bolter.

They’re not exactly sleep loving but they’re not awful. The baby is fairly chilled as babies go. The toddler is a lot more high maintenance but loves being busy and loves lots of people around.

Thanks - I’m genuinely really appreciating all these tips from people who have done it!

OP this trolley https://www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/garden-trolley

completely comes apart (one word of warning would be to put it together at least once before you go to check all parts are there - we were missing a wheel lock) and steers easily, holds loads of equipment to move from car to campsite with bungee cords to hold things in place.

It also nearly fits two seat pads side by side, available cheap from b&m etc and you can put one of the sides down to turn it into a seat.

Get a length of this stuff to cover the bars along the other long side and the short sides and you have a passable sofa to keep them contained with colouring books, toys etc . https://www.diy.com/departments/climaflex-polyethylene-foam-pipe-lagging-l-1m-dia-15mm/5413257001143_BQ.prd

Easy to wrap battery powered lights around for night time visibility, big enough for toddler to sleep on.

Neatly^^ not nearly!

And bring three times as many socks as you think you’ll need. I don’t know how but mine get through so many pairs of socks 🤦‍♀️

I don’t have kids but have been to loads of festival with friends who do. They said it was fine - just have low expectations in terms of sleep, what bands you’ll see etc. take ear defenders and plenty of clothing layers, and snacks

You’re going to a festival for your two year old?

They’d be happy going to the park. I don’t think you can claim you’re doing it for the kids.

Why not ask your DPs or PILs to have them.

Oh gosh some harsh responses! Mine were the ages of yours over covid so I haven't done it with that exact age but have been taking them to festivals since the youngest was 2. Its been great, they love festivals! And we did take the eldest camping as a baby and he was no trouble, it when they can run it got trickier!!

Agree with wagon, most festivals hire them out or ypu can get collapsible ones. Bit of a pain to drag about but so worth it to have everything. I keep the kids out of they've gone to sleep in the wagon, but if they're unsettled or just over it one or both of us will go back to the tent with them.

Loads of books/games for chill out time at tent , some fun outfits and always have water!

You'll have a great time !

I started taking mine to festivals when my daughter was one and my son was three. It was fine, they absolutely loved it, and we've been regular festival goers ever since.

They're actually very child friendly as there's so much for them to do and play with. My daughter, aged two at the time, slept through a Fatboy Slim closing set, covered in glow sticks to stop anyone accidentally dancing on top of her!

1. because we genuinely want to go as a family

2. because I think if we do it right my toddler will love it - she’s nearly 3 and loves being outside, loves being around people, loves things that are a bit ‘different’.

This isn’t what I would choose to do as an adult thing with my DH (that would be a swanky adult spa hotel for a weekend with posh food and long lie ins - I’ll use the GPs childcare for that!) This is what we’ve chosen to do purposefully as a family. Yes I’m having last minute wobbles over how easy/stressful/difficult it will be, but my children aren’t an inconvenience for the weekend - they’re part of this weekend that we’ve planned for us all. Part of my anxiety is making sure they (the toddler in particular) has a good time.

I've been to festivals with and for the children. They might be happy just going to the park but by that measure you'd never go anywhere else. And I don't know about your parks but the ones near me don't include, the fun of camping and eating outside, loads of activities like woodland discos, puppet shows, a consistent 4 days with all of us together, food they can choose for themselves, storytelling, music to dance to, staying up a bit late and just being on holiday.

Festivals are amazing for children and a totally normal place to holiday with them.

Sorry OP but what if the tents around you want to get drunk etc and party all night? You know adult festival. I think it's fine for a day but a weekend.... You are putting your kids in an adult environment with alcohol and highly probable drugs. Completely bloody irresponsible.

It really, really isn't irresponsible in the least.

Most festivals that aren't Reading have family camping. I've been to Green Man, End of the Road, Black Deer and Latitude. All of which had loads specifically laid on for children. Only at Latitude have I seen any number of people really out of it and that was the teenagers in the woods.

A one day festival is far more likely to attract people wanting to drink all day and get out of hand. At a proper one more people are more enjoying a camping holiday with a lot of entertainment added on.

We couldn't afford it this year but will definitely be back at one of them next year.

Reading and its terrifying levels of teenagers out of control and tent burning is no barometer for all festivals. Nor is the size of Glastonbury.

Really? Because as I’ve said a few times it’s fairly family friendly and we’re in the family camping area… I’m not sure how many people are going to be shooting up all night next to the face painting stand…

There are many things I’m nervous about for the weekend but that is not one of them. I’m not sure if you’re imagining Reading or Leeds or something when I say festival. It should be a very different vibe to that!

@DappledThings thanks - I’m finding your actual experience and insights really helpful on this thread

Sure OP you just listen to the answers you want. An 8 month old baby in that environment is all types of wrong. Let's just hope you can control the environment around you.

I’ve taken mine to Shrewsbury Folk Festival since they were 4 and 6, so a bit older - they love it and there’s so many family friendly activities.

Tips: wristband for you 2.5 yr old with your phone number on. Dress them in bright, distinctive clothing.

I agree with this but also take a photo at the start of each day so if they do get lost you have a photo with what they’re wearing. I couldn’t remember what I’d dressed them in each day - much easier to spot a bright yellow t-shirt if you remember that’s actually what they’re wearing today.

In what environment? She's said they're I'm family camping- the last festival i went to we were in family camping and weren't allowed in when we arrived the night before to try and set up without the children around - only families with present children were allowed on site. So it was very safe, lots of fun for the children as there were others to play with everywhere, and generally pretty quiet after about 8pm

I doubt anyone In the family camping area wants to be woken up by a screaming 8 month old during the night. YABU.

What environment? A campsite with storytelling, music, loads of other families and ice-cream? Yep, terrifying for any child. Have you actually been to a festival?