5 replies to this topic

[mj2004]

Hi I haven't posted for ages but I need some hints and tips about happy festivalling experiences with babies and children. We are looking to go to Latitude, camping, with our daughther who will be 15 months old at that time. Is it doable to take a child of this age to a festival camping?
Can anyone help?
Thank you!

[Simpson family]

Perfectly do-able (ours went to festivals from 10 months - easier than at age 6 when too big for the push-chair and wanting to go to bed early).  A few thoughts:
- We tended to get him changed for bed at the normal time, but let him nod off as he wanted in the push chair; he seemed to regard all he could see as a giant version of one of those mobiles you hang
above the cot for them to watch while going to sleep!  There's always the chance it won't work and you'll have to give up and take him back to the relative calm of the tent.  We more or less gave up on washing him for the duration.
- An off-road pushchair is far easier on a rough site; take some flashing LED lights so people can see it at night in crowds, and don't forget both rain cover and sunshade.
- Take the high chair (if old enough for one) or feed in the pushchair; far easier than feeding at ground level with all sorts of unhygenic stuff to grab!
- I'm not over-fussy, but we did take sterilising fluid and a big bowl as so much ends up dropped on the ground.
- We were also fairly careful with any water he drank (Puritabs or boiling it) as the last thing you need when camping is a baby with an upset stomach!
- A small sleeping bag is useful as it's less likely to fall off in the night and wake her up cold, or at least plenty of blankets (it's far colder at night in a tent than indoors).
- If you can find one, a camping cot is far better than the huge "travelling" ones you normally get.  You'll still need a fairly big tent.
- Be prepared for her to wake very early (tents let in the light far more than do curtains) and if she has a long crying fit in the night or first thing, it's kind on your camping neighbours to take her somewhere else until she settles.

Have fun!

[gratedenini]

This question raises its head every year of course...and instead of wondering if the kids will be ok--- the question to ask is--- will you be ok!!
A lot depends on how "fussy" you are tbh... would you be happy bathing yer bairn in a plastic container in the middle of a field?
It all boils down to attitude... as long as you go with the right attitude.. its great.
Its a very different ball game than going alone (obvious) and if you do simple common sense things, it`ll be ok.
I suggest getting a different boagey to what you would use at home.... sturdier the better...buy a cheap one off a market or something.. they can get absolutely minging esp if its muddy etc.
Bottled water for us---our lass wont use owt else. Baby wipes. We`ve always had the bairns in those modern sleeping bags... best thing we ever bought (regardless of fests).
I think a younger child/baby is actually easier than say a 4/5/6yr old--cos they just disappear in the blink....
From experience-- we`ve had King Larmer at fests since he was 1month and Hendrix was only 6days old when we went to Rythmn Fest and its been nothing but a pleasure... sometimes hard.. when you`ve had a skinful--and they still wake up etc etc, but having your kids there give a different vibe to your fest.
Also... its important to choose the right festival of course.
Just get yersell there.... dont make anything (more) out of it than necessary... you`ll have a ball mate.
good luck

[redcardi]

Im looking at Vintage at Goodwood this year... they have lots of kids stuff going on,  with a retro theme!

[sarahcotgrove]

redcardi, on Mar 9 2010, 03:41 PM, said:

Im looking at Vintage at Goodwood this year... they have lots of kids stuff going on,  with a retro theme!

Hi there - I'm going to Vintage with a big group, theres about 6 kids coming -  and are clubbing together to get a TEEPEE to camp in for the boys!!! and treat it as our holiday instead of camping in cornwall this year. they aregoing to be super child friendly apparently and have got like all the old toys and stuff, retro arcade games, and a retro fair etc... and even a creche!!! They will be able to check out all the stuff we used to play with lol!!! anyway, know loads of people who are going with kids so must be v.child friendly as they usually go to womad but said theres more for the kids to do here. Hope that helps! x

[mj2004]

Simpson family, on Mar 5 2010, 03:12 PM, said:

Perfectly do-able (ours went to festivals from 10 months - easier than at age 6 when too big for the push-chair and wanting to go to bed early).  A few thoughts:
- We tended to get him changed for bed at the normal time, but let him nod off as he wanted in the push chair; he seemed to regard all he could see as a giant version of one of those mobiles you hang
above the cot for them to watch while going to sleep!  There's always the chance it won't work and you'll have to give up and take him back to the relative calm of the tent.  We more or less gave up on washing him for the duration.
- An off-road pushchair is far easier on a rough site; take some flashing LED lights so people can see it at night in crowds, and don't forget both rain cover and sunshade.
- Take the high chair (if old enough for one) or feed in the pushchair; far easier than feeding at ground level with all sorts of unhygenic stuff to grab!
- I'm not over-fussy, but we did take sterilising fluid and a big bowl as so much ends up dropped on the ground.
- We were also fairly careful with any water he drank (Puritabs or boiling it) as the last thing you need when camping is a baby with an upset stomach!
- A small sleeping bag is useful as it's less likely to fall off in the night and wake her up cold, or at least plenty of blankets (it's far colder at night in a tent than indoors).
- If you can find one, a camping cot is far better than the huge "travelling" ones you normally get.  You'll still need a fairly big tent.
- Be prepared for her to wake very early (tents let in the light far more than do curtains) and if she has a long crying fit in the night or first thing, it's kind on your camping neighbours to take her somewhere else until she settles.

Have fun!

Thanks for that. We don't have an offroader sadly, I'm thinking I might take the sling unless she is too big. I use baby sleeping  bags so I know she will be nice and warm, would just layer her up. also we have a camping cot but again not sure if she will be too big for it!
I'm not worried about her being a bit grubby, we always use baby wipes for cleaning at festivals so would do the same for her, thanks for mentioning about the sterilizing tablets for water not something I would have thought of!

gratedenini, on Mar 5 2010, 11:19 PM, said:

This question raises its head every year of course...and instead of wondering if the kids will be ok--- the question to ask is--- will you be ok!!
A lot depends on how "fussy" you are tbh... would you be happy bathing yer bairn in a plastic container in the middle of a field?
It all boils down to attitude... as long as you go with the right attitude.. its great.
Its a very different ball game than going alone (obvious) and if you do simple common sense things, it`ll be ok.
I suggest getting a different boagey to what you would use at home.... sturdier the better...buy a cheap one off a market or something.. they can get absolutely minging esp if its muddy etc.
Bottled water for us---our lass wont use owt else. Baby wipes. We`ve always had the bairns in those modern sleeping bags... best thing we ever bought (regardless of fests).
I think a younger child/baby is actually easier than say a 4/5/6yr old--cos they just disappear in the blink....
From experience-- we`ve had King Larmer at fests since he was 1month and Hendrix was only 6days old when we went to Rythmn Fest and its been nothing but a pleasure... sometimes hard.. when you`ve had a skinful--and they still wake up etc etc, but having your kids there give a different vibe to your fest.
Also... its important to choose the right festival of course.
Just get yersell there.... dont make anything (more) out of it than necessary... you`ll have a ball mate.
good luck

Interesting, second person who has said it is easier taking a baby than an older child!
The pushchair issue and sleeping at night are the only things that really bother me, keeping her clean and fed isn't a worry as I know she will eat anything.
Thanks for your reply