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Original poster

Festivals with a toddler?!?

29 replies

peacelily · 08/04/2008 15:18

Would like to brave one and test the water by taking dd to one this summer, in fact I'm determined!!

Was thinking of camp bestival or big chill for family friendly factor (obv not leeds/v!!)

What do others think? Have other mns been to festival with their dcs that have been great/best avoided??

And what about accommodation? Would a campervan be a good idea (dps have one) or would hiring one of those "boutique" yurt/tippee/podpad things be a good idea??

Please give me some advice because we really want to do this!

OP posts:
Original poster
peacelily · 08/04/2008 15:19

dd is 19m now so will be between 22 and 24m prob when we go.

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Sparkletastic · 08/04/2008 15:22

Am watching this with interest as was thinking of taking our 2 DDs (5 and 2 yrs) this year or next. Have heard Bestival is good. There was a great guide to lesser known and family friendly festivals in the Observer travel section on Sunday just gone...

Original poster
peacelily · 08/04/2008 15:26

Yes I saw that in the observer sparkletastic it said Bestival was the best. It has a little sister festival called camp bestival which looks good, even more family orientated.

My little sister wnet to bestival last year and whilst she in her single childless free situation loved it it sounded a bit of a mash up for us with dd.
I'm sure everyone would be lovely but just a bit nervoue about being around lots of mashed up people with dd. Would prefer something a LITTLE more contained!

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Sparkletastic · 08/04/2008 15:29

Let's just have a chat until some one useful comes along! Would you keep DD up really late? If not I reckon going with other friends with kids might be the only way to get to see any music, have some company etc etc...

Sparkletastic · 08/04/2008 15:30

Oh lordy - DDs wanting to go outside to play in the mud-bath that is our garden. I'll be back as Arnie would say.

Original poster
peacelily · 08/04/2008 15:32

TBH we've just been to mallorca and dd did stay up til 10.00pm so we could have an evening. I'v got no objection to it when on holiday/special occassions and she's old enough now to cope with it, her routine just shifts back a few hours.

Would probably like to see SOME music but also get involved in the other things festivals have to offer comedy, dance,kids activites, liev theatre etc and give dd a chance to meet other toddlers.

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Spaceman · 08/04/2008 15:34

I think it'd be great; we think about bringing our DC's in the future, but I would make it a family friendly one (not Reading or V festival for instance). When I went to a couple last year I just looked around at the families and felt lonely that I'd left DD behind for the weekend (until the serious partying started of course!)

I think you need to be really prepared and accept that DC's have to come first (bed times/food etc). I would've LOVED it as a child so long as my parents weren't off their heads.

aDad · 08/04/2008 15:43

Have been to big chill with toddler age child twice - would highly recommend.

Camp bestival seems really good too.

And in a campervan is ideal - great to be able to fit everything in, minimal packing up, fridge and cooker etc...

Go, it'll be great!

aDad · 08/04/2008 15:52

if you search for 'big chill' on mumsnet there have been threads on it previous years.

Really is v family friendly and they do more kids stuff every year. HUGE family camping field with hot showers.

Original poster
peacelily · 08/04/2008 15:56

I'm happy for us to relax in the eveing with a glass of wine or 2 after dds gone to bed not so bothered about the nighttime shenanigans anymore!

Big Chill sounds the best so far just have to convince dps to let us have the camper...

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queenrollo · 09/04/2008 13:32

there's also wychwood which i'm taking my nearly three year old to.

and shambala

both are smaller festivals and very family friendly.

beautiful days is quite good for littlies too....

i took my ds to Glastonbury last year.....and the mud made it hard work, but mainly because the site is so damn big.

Renaissancewoman · 09/04/2008 13:42

We just bought an old fashioned bell tent. Loads of room in it for a family and a lot easier to erect than yurt but it looks nearly as good. The kids absolutely love it and we used it for my 5yr old DD's party at the weekend. We decorated it with flowers and bunting and her and her friends absolutely loved it. I think we will get amazing value out of it over the next 10 yrs.

I was thinking about festivals this year as my sister has a VW camper I can borrow. But I'm pregnant and I did V a few years ago when pregnant and came home after the 1st night as I could not hack the portaloos!! But we are going camping - v exciting. My DH does not share this view - so leaving him behind and going with 2 other Mums and kids. Is it just more are women just more up for adventure with kids.

queenrollo · 09/04/2008 13:47

my new partner is very excited about taking my ds to festivals and camping this summer (he has a campervan)......and ds dad loves camping with him too, but my son is really at home at festivals and doing the whole camping malarkey......

cmotdibbler · 10/04/2008 19:59

We've just decided to go to Wychwood on the Sunday with 2 yr old DS, esp as we can easily go on the steam train from Toddington. Should be a good first experience for him - and I get to see Rachel Unthank, which is fab

booge · 10/04/2008 20:05

We went to the Big Chill with DS when he was 3 months and again last year with DS 2.3 and DD 10 months. Both times we had a great time and last year so did DS. We are hoping to go again this year.

OverMyDeadBody · 10/04/2008 20:05

I'd second the Big Chill, I've done it twice with DS now and it is fantastic, once when he was 2 and again when he was 4.

Really good facilities for children a wonderful magical atmosphere, clean loos, good food, bliss! We just stayed in a tent but he is used to that anyway as a seasoned camper.

Have you been camping with your DD before?

sophiewd · 10/04/2008 20:08

Oh come to Camp Bestival, we are going, with DD 2 and 3 week old baby, although I must fess up that we live in the village so can go home every night, but really looking forward to it.

mrsflowerpot · 10/04/2008 20:19

ooh, we are toying with camp bestival - ds is 7 and dd will be just 3 so I think they would really enjoy it and it looks utterly fab.

just need to convince dh that I'm not just having a mid-life crisis.

sophiewd · 10/04/2008 20:33

Where Camp Bestival is taking place is great, very enclosed and very child focused, childrens farm, play area etc plus they are doing stuff like egg and spoon races etc.

gingerninja · 10/04/2008 20:38

There is also the Latitude festival in Suffolk that is supposed to be family orientated. Not just music but literature, poetry, theatre etc. Looks really good.

chunkychips · 10/04/2008 20:44

womad is supposed to be child friendly. Friend went last year with her two kids (who were 4 and 3 months at the time). Loads of families there and a very relaxed atmosphere. If you have a campervan that would be best prob.

ranting · 10/04/2008 20:46

Womad is definitely the most child friendly and toddler friendly festival by a mile.

Original poster
peacelily · 11/04/2008 13:14

I think camp Bestival wins it. Wychwood and beautiful days clash with dates for other stuff. TBH I've checekd out the Big Chill Websute and it looks like it's gone a bit commercial and corporate and there's loads of pictures of people mashed off their heads so doesn't really appeal.

Will check out latitude festival info too though.

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peasholme · 11/04/2008 13:17

Bestival looks fab! We did Green Man last year in a tent in considerable rain, and it was still fab. (with dd 3.2) We are buying a camper this year and doing at least 3 festivals. Lots of kids at Green Man, lots of family friendly stuff.
May I be the first to propose a festival meet up?

sophiewd · 11/04/2008 14:17

If my parents disappear for the weekend we could meet up round their swimming pool for Bestival

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