womad/festivals?

11 replies

ruthydoodles · 08/04/2004 09:56

Hi Mumsenetters,
I would like to know from you whether or not any of you have sucessfully done festivals with small ones. I see loads of people around each year we go to womad, but now I have a 7 month old, it all seems a bit daunting.
Is the family field choas?! We have always gone with childless people and have not got many friends with kids that are interested in music etc.
How dod you find taking a nearly one year old child to a festival? did you find it frustrating to stay around the tent for sleep for baby, or did the routine just go into choas?!
I'm sort of excited to think that I can go to Womad this year, but really daunted about how it will work with my little fella.
Before he was born, I had a sort of "can -do" attitude about it all. Now since he was born - well I'm sure you know all the stuff you worry about - mostly needlessly.
Advice and stories greatly appreciated,
Thanks
Ruth

OP posts:

tallulah · 08/04/2004 17:45

Never done Womad- always meant to. We go to Cropredy every year, but ours were a bit bigger when we started ( 2, 4, 6 & 8). Bit of a pain dragging a pram through a field but otherwise I don't remember it being a problem. (At least you can carry sleeping babies- at 12+ it makes it a bit difficult!)

Manoo · 08/04/2004 19:24

Hi Ruth
Fraid I have no advice - but I'm in the same situation. We have tickets for the Big Chill festival (end of July). My ds will be 14months by then and I've no idea what to expect. I've been loads without little ones, but this is our first year with. Like you, I'm excited but daunted. So I'll be watching this thread! When's Womad?

granarybeck · 08/04/2004 19:38

going to leeds in aug. can't decide whether to take ds(6) and dd(5) with us. dd is already furious with us for getting tickets to chilli peppers and not getting one for him!

linzoid · 08/04/2004 21:02

My ds is not impressed with me either! I got a ticket for chilli peppers too, without getting him one! I am considering going to the Leeds festival with my 2 ( 5 and 8) but i'm not sure. It's the possibility of them seeing things they shouldn't that worries me.

granarybeck · 08/04/2004 21:35

snap

Original poster

ruthydoodles · 08/04/2004 23:28

Womad is last weekend in July I believe. I suppose I won't be quite so worried for an 11month old baby "seeing things he shouldn't". My concern is just camping and routine and whether or not we will end up having to go back to the tent early and then be stuck at the campsite all eve.
Will be interested if anyone has any stories.
I know that they have lots of activities for older kids which always makes Womad a cool place to be. I'm glad Glastonbury is on this year, if there is no Glastonbury then Womad gets very busy and a bit more "edgey".
Well, Happy Easter, we are off to a smaller festival in Stroud tomorrow, so hopefully the little one will get some practice in!
Maybe all this exposure to music will set him up as a rock star later in life!

OP posts:

tallulah · 09/04/2004 10:44

We never went back to the tent early. Ours just went to sleep in the pram/pushchair/on the mat when they got tired.

WedgiesMum · 09/04/2004 13:28

We've done festivals since DS was 9 weeks old. He's now nearly 5 and DD is nearly 3. For summer festivals I would advise lots of suncream, water/juice and either one of those UV tents or a big umbrella and toys to keep him amused. Not done Womad but have friends who do it regularly and their kids love it. We always let ours stay until we leave the field and fall asleep in buggies/nests of coats - oh and make sure you have some warm clothes for the evening as it can get chilly later on. Check the weather before you go so you can take appropriate clothes, oh and loads of wipes then you don't have to worry about finding clean toilet facilities for your littly to get clean in!! I could go on and on (contact me if you think I can be of any more help ruthydoodles).

tallulah - cropredy!! Do you still go?? Are you going this summer???

vivat · 12/04/2004 11:58

we've been to Big Chill twice now with ds now 3.5 - really great fun and we all had a great time. We went in a big group ie my brother wife and kids, my two sisters (great at babysitting!) another family and two other couples, and we all camped together. Basically we spent the days at the festival and then went back to the campsite where we would do a big barbecue, then sit around drinking lots of wine and then took it in turns to babysit while the others went back. Worked really well, but you need a few people.

If you're going to the Big Chill you could post a message on the Big Chill website to try and meet up with other families beforehand ?

Sparks · 13/04/2004 10:39

I have been to Womad a few times with my dd, now 5. The first time we went with her she was about 20 months and she loved it. We are going again this year, can't wait!

Yes, she did get out of her routine a bit, but that's part of the experience. As soon as we got back home, her routine went right back to normal, it wasn't a problem.

I didn't think the family field was too bad. It does get crowded on the Saturday night, but I guess that's true of all the fields IYKWIM. I felt a certain solidarity knowing other parents nearby were also getting up in the night with crying babies. I honestly don't mind staying around the tent with sleeping child - you still experience that great Womad atmosphere. DP and I took it in turns, so I got to see most of the bands I wanted to.

tallulah · 23/04/2004 21:44

wedgiesmum- we were away over Easter so I didn't see your post. Hopefully we will be going to Cropredy this year, but the children are all going elsewhere, so it may all change. It wouldn't feel right to miss it! Do you go?

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