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…?

@Graceanddecorum you're out of touch love. Those drugs aren't really that popular anymore.
I take my kids, always have and I can promise you I can tell when people are high on drugs and it really doesn't happen as often as people think.

Well - I have heard YNot festival is a bit of a ketamine fest but I wouldn’t choose to bring my two there. Having said that, I know people who have and the kids had a ball. Festival sites are so large it’s possible to spend time at smaller stages and never interact with anyone remotely lairy.

Do you only deal in extremes in everything in your life?

Cab you really only comprehend scenarios in which everyone is off their heads on every drug going while their children stand by filthy and terrified or one where nobody drinks anything other than squash and the whole festival is a playground?

As opposed to the happy medium that actually exists where there are lots of stages for adults to enjoy whilst simultaneously running are lots of children's activities and where some people might be drinking and yet even if lots of people are it is perfectly possible to still not be around it?

@FartOutLoudDay took my kids there too, no issue 🤷‍♀️

That’s good to know - friends said the same and it was their first festival with kids experience. Will keep more of an interested eye on future line ups for that one!

Have a great time op 😊 I've got an 18mo and a 7 week old and was just thinking the other day how excited I am to take them to a festival! I'd give it a go next year but we've got a holiday abroad so don't think we'll be able to afford both, but definitely the following year. I wish my parents had been festival people so I'd gotten to go as a child

Want to ask my teenagers experience of it, seeing as they've been going to a festival since being a baby / toddler?? I can assure you they think they're very very lucky, and don't consider themselves 'poor kids' at all. They've made friends they now end up meeting up with every year, have a really eclectic taste in music - one even ended up getting to chat to a musician last year that they had been studying in music! They're confident and comfortable as they've grown up going to a festival each year!

When my eldest was in reception, as part of RE, they had to name their favourite festival (very multicultural school). Amongst the Christmas, Eid, Diwali, my son wrote the name of the festival we go to 😂

My only real experience of someone drunk and stupid was 4am last year. A group of 17/18 year olds a few tents down, came and woke me up at 4am - one of them was really drunk (thanks fruity cider!) and being sick, and they didn't want to tell his Mum (who was elsewhere in same field), but they'd been chatting with us and knew I would come and help!!

I created an account just to reply to this because I am so, so sick of hearing "you can't do _ with kids" - travel with kids certainly has hard moments but overall the good outweighs the bad in my experience. Of COURSE you can take kids to a festival and actually, in terms of life experience, I think you absolutely should.

We are going to a festival in August (kids will be 2.5 and 3 months). I was taken to festivals as a toddler, too. We have a small car and roofbox so will also be packing very light. I will, however, make space for a folding trolley (got one from Decathlon) and a double buggy (also have fabric carriers for both kids but a buggy will work better if it's very hot or wet). I'm taking ear defenders for both. I'll also take a kindle to read in the tent if we are having an early night. We will just explore and go with the flow for the weekend.

If you have Facebook it may be worth you searching some "outdoor mums" and "adventure travel with kids" groups - you're much more likely to get like-minded responses in there.

I don't have any help for the OP, sorry (although others have posted some really good tips). I just came on to say that this discussion has completely changed the way I view this topic. It's refreshing when that happens.

Initially, I was one of the people who would've thought, "No way! Festivals are no place for kids!", but honestly, reading some of the experiences on here has made me rethink. My experiences of festivals here in the UK are quite limited to the extent that I would have always associated them with drunken young adults letting their hair down. I think I've got this completely wrong and actually am going to have a look to see what's around my locality for next year.

That said - I think anyone who is prepared to take a baby camping, whether to a festival or otherwise is very brave (and possibly crazy 😉).

I went to a Folk Festival with my daughter when she was about 18 months. We had a really nice time. It's mainly older people so everyone was sat down in their chairs for the music and it was all very relaxed.

It was hot so we spent one afternoon with her sat in a bucket of water in some shade by the tent. She developed a rash or something too and St John's Ambulance were really helpful so no worries on that front either.

She hated ear defenders though so I hung back to hear any bands then wld put her to bed, have a drink outside the tent then go to bed at about 9pm and listen to the headline acts. It was lovely!

A little bit late to the thread but fully in support here; I think the key is to have low expectations of what you'll be able to do as adults (which it sounds like you do) and as long as you are happy to tag team between you and your OH then you'll be fine.
Take lots of wet wipes and bin bags and more snacks that you could possibly imagine you could get through. Festival food is eye wateringly expensive.
We've taken our son to Underneath the Stars festival several times which sounds similar in that it is not marketed as a festival for children, but has plenty of family friendly activities. There is not any family specific camping but the demographic is either families with kids or couples in their 50s/60s+ ; if the one you're going to has a similar demographic then you won't have any of the spaced out junkies getting wild!
I always take ear plugs personally (for sleeping) as our DS is 9 so doesn't need such a close eye kept on him and the ear plugs just deaden the noise, not cut it out completely. Enjoy!

Good god what fresh hell is this? I already thought festivals were the seventh circle of hell but now you’re telling me that there can be fractious bored screaming toddlers there? yea gods I’d rather goitre my pen eyes it with a rusty nail.

What do young kids do about the toilets? I mean, have you seen those things!

One other thing, our best "upgrade" has been deep self inflating mattresses. Much more like sleeping on a normal mattress, doesn't go down overnight and much warmer than an air bed.

Forgive me if this has already been asked, but have the children slept in a tent before?

What do young kids do about the toilets? I mean, have you seen those things!
Nearly all of them have been fine in my experience. Proper chemical toilets with flush, regularly cleaned and restocked with loo roll and hand sanitiser.

Another thing that's never been an issue with children.

So loud for their little ears..

There’s not a huge amount more for me to say except that I really don’t believe this will be a bad environment for the kids. I really don’t. I wouldn’t be going if I thought they would be out in a position of being upset or uncomfortable.

@Uggster1 yes they have both been camping before.

As I said, I will definitely report back and let you know how it goes!

@cuckyplunt ear defenders?

I don’t agree, lots of festivals are suitable for kids. Yes some people do drugs and get pissed but I’m sure there are people on your street that do that too. Most festivals have family camping for those who are not there to party hard and get off their faces. We have a couple smaller festivals local to us that are great for kids to attend, they have children specific areas, children’s entertainment and activities. Festivals are not just for adults and teens.

I’ll get flamed for this comment but I don’t think it’s fair on them tbh. No routine, being woken all hours by drunk adults, out of their own beds. No doubt I’ll be told I’m being a neurotic mother and other posters took their newborn to Glastonbury, but i doubt it’ll be enjoyable for any of you tbh, and some things just aren’t suitable for babies.

Why post then if you’ve already made your mind up? Is this just to show what a chilled and adventurous mum you are?

Sounds like an all inclusive in costa del sol to be fair!

ps. In 13 years mine have been woken ONCE by drunk idiots!

I’m guessing your children aged somewhat in 13 years and weren’t babies and toddlers.

😂😂 yes that’s it - I’ve always wanted strangers on mumsnet to think I’m cool.

Or…I was looking for advice and tips and ways to make it comfortable for everyone in a moment when I was having a bit of a wobble about the logistics. I’ve had some brilliant tips from people who have actually done this and I’m so glad I posted.