Anyone taken a baby to a (big stadium) football match?!

[Rach69]

We want to take the whole family to the Millenium Stadium to watch our team in the play offs - anyone done this with a four month old or am I mad to consider it? I was thinking of a sling or maybe trying to get near the disabled seating (did this successfully when pregnant!).

Rach,
I took my dd to see East Stirlingshire when she was 4 months old, but I don't think that counts somehow :)

We hav'nt but dh would love to take the kids to Barcalona to watch football, so very intrested if anyone has.

Don't think it's a good idea to be honest. Not fair on the people around you. Unless you leave immedaitely if baby starts howling. All the noise might be quite frightening

Well, you're braver than me ... I wouldn't have taken dd as a baby because she would have hated the noise and the crowds, and I would have been scared that it would frighten her, and that she would annoy everyone around us.

good god no

far too loud

doubt there would be anywhere to change her either

I took my (then) 6 month old to a basketball match in a big indoor stadium. She slept in my arms through the whole thing!

But if it's that noisy surely no-one will be able to hear her if she cries?

My dd at that age wasn't bothered by crowds in the least as long as she was in her sling (especially as they're still facing your chest at 4 months).

There'll be toilets, won't there? You don't need somewhere special to change a 4 month old ffs - if there's no room on the cubicle floor just sit on the loo and do her on your lap.

doesn't seem right to be though. I can understand taking kids who will enjoy the match and get something out of it but a 4 month old in that environment - amongst all the beer swilling blokes etc. Or do they have family areas (she says naively!!). My dad went to fa cup final and said the noise was even too much for him. Guess it depends how easy it would be to get out if the baby became distressed

Personally I really wouldn't do this. I go to Old Trafford regularly and I agree with others who have said it would be far too loud, especially when there's a goal

ugh - toilets at football stadiums are minging and have massive queues

My 2 year old would love it, she watches it on TV and shouts when they score. DD1 (2.5 months) would sleep through the noise, she's used to sleeping through noise as her sister is very noisy.

don't think her sister would be as loud as a football crowd though!!!!

you need to check with the stadium that it is allowed - alot of stadiums do not allow 'babies in arms'.

Having said that, it is a fantastic stadium with good access to loos and the like so if it is allowed and you feel you would be able to relax and enjoy the match, then I don't see why not.

Wow! thanks for the response - The millenium stadium is very new and 'state of the art' - our new stadium has family sections, not sure if MS does. Not too worried about changing, think we could manage that. Re the noise, I have taken him (a month ago) to both an all day gym comp and an all day karate comp both of which were very noisy ie loud music/cheering and tannoy. I guess this will be a little noisier! I have seen babes in the audience for the rugby when it's been on TV. I wonder where Gwynnie got her headphones/muffs for Apple for Live 8?

I also seem to remember that it has 'parenting rooms' with baby change facilities. You will just need to check that they allow babies at the football matches.

Can you not get a babysitter for the baby and the rest of you go?

We took ds (at the time 4 months) to a concert at a a huge venue in london and he loved it..he was grinning and loving all the attention he got, then fell asleep...
though we knew we could go backstage to change/calm him if neccesary so that's a bit different.

If you're serious about ear defenders like the ones that that Gwynnie had for Apple, you can get them \link{http://www.safetysupplies.co.uk/trolleyed/4\here} - scroll right down to the bottom.