Taking a baby to the Olympics - help!

[babybouncer]

We're offloading the toddler at his grandparents, but my 4 month old is ebf, so has to come with us (and no we weren't planning this when we bought the tickets!). I am terrified - I've never really been to London, haven't done any big trips yet with DD, haven't done much bring in public (except for baby friendly places or with other bfers).

Has anyone been to the Olympic park yet? Are there many babies? If I bring the pushchair (just a maclaren not a travel system) will I still be able to get around London/the site? (I also have sling and babybjorn, but if it's really hot or tipping it down with rain, I'd like to have the pushchair when we're not in the actual venue).

Hi,
I'm a breastfeeding mother looking for info about going to the Olympic Park. I'm leaving my 4month old with relatives but will need to express. I was worried that they might not let me in with my electric breastpump but it seems from this thread that they are quite accommodating. It would be good to know how you all get on getting through security and finding somewhere to express. Thanks

Hi all, Well I had a great day at the Park yesterday and successfully expressed 3 times!!

Had no problems going through security with my electric pump.

On arrival I did ask the info point if there was anywhere to express and they said no but use the baby changing facilities.

There was a security guy hanging around the facilities and as I did try to enter he did say that the facilities were for babies so I explained about expreasing! The joy!

The cubicle was a bit grim, no where to sit etc however was a cubicle on its own with a lock so was able to express in peace!

I did also try the baby changing facilities opposite the live park which were busier and had to Q as there were ladies with babies needing to use these.

I probably would recommend the facilities by the large McDonalds as there were more facilities and no Qs so no pressure!

Hope this helps

Xx

Thanks! Looking forward to it now, just got to work out how to encourage little one to take a bottle!!

Yes, thanks, that's really helpful.

I went to Eton Dorney last weekend and security didn't even look at my pump (was quite looking forward to explaining!), or my stock of expressed milk. We took 4mo dd to that (she's fed exclusively on expressed milk) but are not taking her to the stadium tomorrow.

Hi all, expressing update. At Westfield i used a changing space / loo within the ladies upstairs. Quieter than downstairs, no bother. There were big changing / parent rooms next to some sets of loos but unisex and wouldn't have wanted to lock a whole one (if that's even possible).

Olympic stadium, good number of changing rooms, amongst the accessible toilets, about every tenth cubicle is a changing room. Nowhere to sit except on nappy bin but could lock the door. Did mean I was occupying it for a while but there were others close by and not many babies in the stadium. (Pleased we didn't take dd, too noisy and cramped. Children were having a great time though).

St Pancras station on way home, used changing room by main toilets. Couldn't sit on toilet lid as kept triggering flushing, so stood. Fine at night with few or no babies around. Wouldn't feel able to lock this for 20 mins in the day as people would need the changing facility.

My big reservation about expressing out and about is the need to lock a changing room for a long time (or occupy a loo, could cause inconvenience too and be more uncomfortable). As a full-time expresser I have an efficient double pump and can express in 10-15 mins, even so, I felt lucky not to be inconveniencing people very much. The alternative would be never to leave the house for more than four hours though.