To take my 5 year old autistic daughter to the NYE London fireworks?

[MumOfOneAllAlone]

Hi everyone

I'm posting as I need really some advice. I'm an east londoner but I've never been to the NYE fireworks.

It's just my daughter and I, and she LOVES the NYE fireworks which we watch from home.

Tickets are £20 each and are released on my payday.

She is a very sweet girl who has autism so is pre verbal. I'd take her in her buggy and would go to the accessible area. She'd have ear defenders, a big coat, blanket and her tablet.

Has anyone done this? I imagine it'd be packed but is it out of the question considering her autism? And her age?

She doesn't love crowds but will be okay in her buggy with her blanket over her head (she always does this). We could take the tube close to home and then I'd pay surge price for an uber so we don't have to walk home in the dark.

I hope I don't sound like a bad mum. She really will love the fireworks and it could be a great memory for her. But if it's gonna be too much bother, I'd keep her home.

TIA ❤️🎄

Could you go to primrose hill instead? I normally go there

I absolutely wouldn’t as it will be heaving in London, so after the event too, and you’ll be waiting around in the cold for hours. If it’s freezing conditions that would be awful, but especially late at night for a young child. Save up and take her to Disney Paris to see the fireworks there, in summer

Didn't see that on the site! From the stories, I see why
Edited to say completely agree re bonfire night x

Honestly I wouldn’t. It is very late for a five year old and would be terrible getting home on NYE.

If she likes fireworks maybe try and find a family friendly display on bonfire night which is local to you.

Thanks for this - special cups and lights sound like a fun idea! Maybe I could add extra lights to the bedroom and get some electric sparkler wand things - I'm in planning mode now! 😊 xx

Is primrose hill much quieter? X

I like this 😊. This what we did going into 2023 actually.

She does like to be in bed with me. You're right about the mundane things as well, some of the toys I've bought her and she prefers cheap party bag gifts 🙈 x

I love this, I'm wondering about electric sparklers or something low risk as I've never dealt with sparklers myself x

I understand what you mean but I'm probably doing it for selfish reasons

It's just us and I like to see in the new year with her - she does nap during the day though

She also honestly enjoys the fireworks x

I wouldn't. Some family members went and the smoke was so bad they couldn't see any of the amazing display we watched at home. The crowds and even crowd control measures are really stressful. Watch at home or go to a more local display.

I'll be saving for quite a while 😅 but thank you, I think she'd enjoy it much more x

Thank you for this - completely agree re getting an uber 🙈 - I hadn't factored in the wait, just the price - you can pre book but I still think there's too much that could go wrong with it

The thing I didnt factor in was being able to leave 😔 - the ability to do that is so important x

Omg, didn't think of the smoke. Plus, now thst I know they discourage young children, I'm picturing young drunk adults, defo not the right environment 😅 x

Why not look and see if there is an earlier family friendly fire work display somewhere?

With sparklers stick the holding end into a carrot to give the child something chunkier to hold onto and make sure you both wear gloves and that you have a bucket nearby to drop them into as they are extremely hot. I'd have your hand over hers too. - But I wouldn't do it when she was sleepy.

What I would do is buy or make a cake and get one of those fountain birthday candles. You could make it a tradition because it's the 'Earths' birthday and then the bonus is you have cake the next day.

That's terrified me and brought me to my senses! I'm glad the person you know was ok! X

I honestly wouldn't. I went a couple of times pre-parenthood and it is HEAVING. It actually felt dangerous in places - at one point I was scared we'd end up in a Hillsborough-type crush situation. I really wouldn't have wanted to experience that with a small child. You then have the issue of trying to get home at the same time as 100000 other people. Much better to watch it from the comfort of your sitting room!

No. Don’t take her.

Thank you, I do want to give her as many experiences as possible - what's the point of it being just the two of us if I don't use it to our advantage after all - but completely see that this is an unworkable idea 😬

The thought of not being able to leave due to the crowds is unbearable x

😳🥺 that sounds horrendous! Completely agree x

Oh I love earths birthday! She loves to sing happy birthday as well 😄😄. I think we'll do that, spend the day baking a cake, it will be a lovely tradition 🥰 (she shows some interest when I bake, but I'm thinking we could get creative with the icing)

I'm too nervous about the sparklers tbh but I'm hunting online for electric ones. Plus I could get a sparkler candle for the cake. Thank you 😊 x

I took my ASD son to a small local display from 4 years old but we had to sit in the car nearby. We graduated to getting out of the car the year after and he was wrapped up warm with ear defenders and a beanie. He has sensory processing disorder, particularly with noise. I think because I kept it small and local it's been fine and even now at 13, he still loves to go. I am not sure I would navigate London fireworks though. It's not just the noise but the overwhelming crowds. Only you know your child but if you're going to do it, have an exit strategy and position yourself where you can get away fairly easily. Good luck!

Glad you've seen how crazy that would be. She's too young, it'll be too late and too cold.

OP I'm about to derail you thread but.... Youve mentioned it's just the two of you several times. Is this a new scenario? Are you feeling unsettled about it?

I just want to reassure you, your DD is going to have a fab childhood even if it is just the two if you. You are not lacking if you don't have a partner, you can do this. You are going to make lots of magical memories and lots of brilliant traditions that suit you both (this is perhaps not one of them though).

It's just been DD and me since she was born. We've done lots of city breaks, always stay in a Premier Inn (as they are always the same and helps with the autism) and factoring in travel days is pretty essential and knowing where 'quiet' spaces are at different venues.

I always enjoyed the theatre so started training her early at children's shows so she learned how to behave, then musicals, now proper theatre and Shakespeare so I get to enjoy something for me but even better we enjoy it together.

No I wouldn't. I used to live in central London walking distance of parliament etc. The crowds are massive, just getting on the tube after is hugely stressful ( it was hard even walking home). You may not be able to get Uber the other side. It's not great for children.
Also is it really for her if she has a blanket over her head and a tablet?
Most autistic people hate crowds.
I wouldn't take my own children, sorry.

Ignore this poster. Perfectly fine to celebrate if that’s what you want to do and being awake doesn’t deregulate your DD. Some years our kids have stayed up, other years they have gone to bed and sometimes we’ve woken them at midnight. Do what suits you & your DD.