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Original poster

1 month old too young for football?

284 replies

charlottetrip · 30/07/2015 09:26

I don't know if I've posted this in the right place, but any way.
My bf wants to take our 4 week old baby to football match on Saturday. I think this is far to young to be going. However when I expressed my feelings it was if I was being irrational and over worrying for not letting him go.
I'd just like to know other people's thoughts?

OP posts:
Offred · 30/07/2015 13:07

What does the 1 month old get out of a trip to the football?

That's why he is doing parenting wrong. If you're bringing kids along to your hobby they should get something out of it.

firesidechat · 30/07/2015 13:08

I also said it will be much better for him to go when he actually understands what is going on.

Op I don't think that he needs to wait that long. Babies go to loads of places which they don't understand and where they have no idea what is going on. Taking him at a few weeks old will be much better than taking him when he's a toddler.

My daughter and I took my grandson to Longleat when he was a few months old. He didn't have a clue where he was, couldn't really see the animals and slept through most of it, but we had great day.

nottheOP · 30/07/2015 13:10

But a one month old doesn't get much out of anything, it literally has no idea what's going on or where it is. As long as it is fed, can sleep and be cuddled, all should be hunky dory.

I'd take the few hours off, have a mani/pedi/haircut, eat in peace and have a nap.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/07/2015 13:10

A ridiculous idea. Tell your BF he's an idiot.
Of course you both want to show your new baby off (Many Congratulations, by the way Flowers)
But a football match is entirely inappropriate - for both of them!

UrethraFranklin1 · 30/07/2015 13:11

Worst that happens is he misses half the match in the refreshment area jiggling baby around. Which is just being a parent

Er no, worse that happens is he completely ignores the need for feeding, changing etc because he's glued to the match*.
Or a fight breaks out or celebrations get lairy and there is a lot of pushing and shoving and shoutinng around the baby.....

*not an "all men are useless" notion, just saying it happens, and OP clearly has reservations for a reason.

Nothing at all wrong with wanting to show off your baby to your friends, but a football match? At 4 weeks old? I wouldnt. And tbh I'd be very Hmm about anyone calling the mother of a newborn irrational and over reacting for having reservations......

seagreengirl · 30/07/2015 13:16

OP if you are not happy about it it shouldn't happen. The baby is so young that your feeling take precedence at the moment. Stand your ground.

goodcompany2 · 30/07/2015 13:16

He sounds like a proud Dad who is up for hands on parenting. Should be applauded for it. Enjoy a rest for a few hours and knowledge that he is a grown up being a father. If baby gets grisly or distressed (highly unlikely as newborns have simple needs) I'm sure he will deal with it.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 30/07/2015 13:21

I don't see why he shouldn't take him / her if he is confident about what to do with a poonami and is eg willing and able to leave before the end to avoid the worst crush

Wrapdress · 30/07/2015 13:23

If you trust him with the baby generally speaking, then I think it's okay as long as baby has earplugs and daddy doesn't drink alcohol.

redshoeblueshoe · 30/07/2015 13:25

I vote let them go - and you go off somewhere and enjoy yourself.

scribblegirl · 30/07/2015 13:26

I think that sounds lovely! DH is a very big fan of football (as is all of DH's family) and he cannot wait to take DC to a football match - but he'd probably wait until DC were old enough to remember it as he has such fond memories of his own first match.

I have been with the ILs with nieces/nephews not much older than that at the ground (premier league) and I don't know what the 'crush' comments are about - it's like leaving anywhere, you just hang back for a bit if you want to avoid it being busy.

I also don't want to be goady but I do wonder how people would view this if it was the OP who was into football and was asking about whether she ought to take her 1 month old. I don't think there'd be so many suggestions that she wouldn't be able to cope with the perfectly foreseeable scenario of baby crying or pooing...

scribblegirl · 30/07/2015 13:30

All the above said OP, if you're not happy/comfortable with it because you're not ok with being away from baby or have a reasonable doubt over bf's ability to cope, then your views should of course be taken into account.

I would say though that premier league clubs are all very well attuned to families these days and the family/baby facilities I've seen at clubs have all been excellent.

If it is a PL stadium they usually have family seating which is quieter - would you feel happier if he sat there?

seagreengirl · 30/07/2015 13:30

scribblegirl my reply would be the same, one month old babies do not belong at football matches (in my opinion).

LazyLouLou · 30/07/2015 13:33

Whose baby is it?

Who is claiming rights of veto?

There is nothing wrong with the idea, in principle. He may have to do things a bit differently, but as the baby is also his, why not?

Charlie97 · 30/07/2015 13:36

Cabrinha, have you not experienced the surge of everyone jumping up at the same time and jumping around when their team scores/wins in a premiership game? Not sure if I was sitting with a small baby strapped to me I would be that happy in that situation, nor would I want to stand up with all those arms flying round,

I certainly have, but maybe my team scores/wins more than yours! :-)

firesidechat · 30/07/2015 13:38

Unfortunately we can discuss this till the cows come home, but without more info from the op we have no idea what exactly we are discussing. Clueless father/father of the year, local park match/stadium, which is it?

BikeRunSki · 30/07/2015 13:38

I'd make the most of the baby being pretty transportable and placid and go! I regret not going out more when ds was tiny. We've no local babysitters, the 6 years since he got vocal and mobile have been couple evening house arrest.

firesidechat · 30/07/2015 13:39

This is also the op's only post, so we have no idea of the background.

TTWK · 30/07/2015 13:45

Why? Why would you want to take a newborn to football?

So that when they are an adult and following their team everywhere, they can say they attended their first game when they were just a month old.

There was an article in the paper recently where dad took his daughter to the match on the day she was born!

Think it's pretty cool really.

FredaMayor · 30/07/2015 13:50

Think it's pretty cool really.

Yes, maybe if they're refugees or homeless. A baby's not an accessory or 'one of the gang', it's a responsibility and as such he or she is owed responsible parenting. IMHO.

firesidechat · 30/07/2015 13:53

Yes, maybe if they're refugees or homeless.

I don't understand this comment, although I do agree that taking a baby to a football match on the day it is born is not particularly cool or clever.

RonaldosAbs · 30/07/2015 13:58

My DH took one of our boys to the football (Chelsea) at 6 weeks years ago (I was at work, I didn't know this was happening).

He left 20 mins in to the match. All babies are different but mine did not appreciate the trip apparently.

Ask him to wait until the baby can enjoy it, he can make a big deal of it, get them a kit, it can be a really special day for them to remember. 1 month is just foolish and pointless.

ButterDish · 30/07/2015 14:02

I think it's a spectacularly dopy idea which suggests that some kind of meat headed footfall fannishness takes priority over a newborn's comfort. But it's viability comes down to whether it's a five a side kick about in the park or a PL game. Despite a total lack of interest in football, I've been at a lot of PL matches, and took my three year old to a game last season - he's NT but couldn't cope with the sheer volume of noise at all, and we had to retreat to a lounge after only a few minutes. I wouldn't take a baby into that environment without ear defenders. And if you have to put ear defenders on a newborn to take it somewhere optional, why not leave it at home and invite football friends around to meet it?

LazyLouLou · 30/07/2015 14:02

Refugees? Homeless? That really isn't a pleasant comment, however you choose to look at it!

HarrietVane99 · 30/07/2015 14:03

Anyone remember the Cup Final where Wimbledon beat Liverpool? The Wimbledon goalie Dave Beasant's newborn son was there. He was holding the baby when he was interviewed on tv after the match. He said obviously the baby knew nothing about it, but in future he'd be able to tell him that he was there.