question for the peeps who take kids

[scaryclaireyfairy]

given we all turn into big kids when we see the colours and flags and massive flowers and stuff of course kids love it too!

[Festy Lover]

There's a really useful thread on the Questions forum, not sure how to link here but just do a search for "Parents" and look for the one started by Weasel (my husband). We got loads of useful advice from people.

I agree with pp and reccommend fairy lights for your buggy, get the battery powered ones, you can buy them cheap off ebay. Chunky 3 wheeler buggy, trolley or one of those bike trailer style ones is essential for smaller kids. We also found the toddler ready bed and a toddler sleeping bag really useful. Big tent too, completely agree, we got one big enough to fit the buggy in and for us to stand up in (ours is a Vango 500 I think) but it was really heavy carrying it on site.

Then it's the obvious, waterproofs, wellies, suncream, hat, anti-bac wipes and hand sanitiser etc, etc.

There's soooooo much for kids to look at, play with, explore. We spent one afternoon letting the little one toddle around the green fields whilst we just followed her round and chatted to the people she befriended on the way.

A friend commented today how much she has changed in a week, she's so much more confident, stable on her feet and sociable. We put that down to Glastonbury.

[russycarps]

What is a child of that age going to get from glastonbury anyway?

Is that a genuine question? It's the most amazing place for kids. I do agree about the ear defenders though an absolute must. Our one year old enjoyed the Pendulum gig from the back, ear defenders on, waving and flirting with everyone around us, pointing at the lights on the stage, clapping to the music, it was brilliant, we all had a ball.

[Josie's Cat]

My 6 yr old didn't like the bands much - but the 10 year old loved Lady Gaga and Pendulum, and I wanted to see a couple - we didn't go overboard, and having spent most of the time doing stuff she loved, she had to accept an hour or so doing what we wanted. I thought it was an excellent life lesson.

She moaned a couple of times but I told her she should be lucky she wasn't making carpets in Bangladesh.

[rock n roll star]

The amount of times random people came up to us and said how cool it was having our 4 year old boy with us was amazing. He loved the kids areas infact it was a struggle to get him away later in the day when we wanted to see a band. I think it could of been alot different if the weather had been poor all weekend, But kids love mud anyway

[lme]

I meant the people who had their kids at the main stages watching the bands. I dont think when I was 5 or 6 I would have enjoyed watching music with my mum and dad all day.

Maybe that was just me though!

[Festy Lover]

I think it all completely depends on what you and your kids like. I saw 2 boys at the pendulum gig with their blow up guitars having an absolutely amazing time, I did a bit of headbanging and air guitar with them myself.

I wouldn't personally take my nipper to watch bands if she wasn't happy with it, but she genuinely likes music (already at the age of 1) loves flags and lights and adores all the attention she gets.

Most people I met were very positive towards me about taking my baby to the festival and I only had one person scowl at me and raise her eyebrows when I said how old the little un was. She (the baby) was fast asleep in the buggy, ear defenders on, I was taking her back to the tent for the night and I'd had one pint of beer during the day.

I suppose it's all about balance and as long as you are all happy and safe, including the kids, then surely that's OK isn't it?

[wweerr208]

I took my 3.5 year old, he loved it and keeps talking about it - i have very sensitive hearing and the only place that caused my ears to really hurt was the outdoor circus stage

i went on my own, but did meet up with friends who gave me the day of (minded him) to have a drink. he'd never camped before and was crying for his mum and to go home, but decided against going home once he saw the site and the people

small tip, going through fields of chairs was a serious pain although i took a 3 wheeled pram, one with big tyres. I found having 3 wheels great for going through crowds of people who where laying down, because they saw the front wheel first then they moved out of the way for the back two tyres.

[DevilMadeMeDoIt]

I'm taking my 6 year old to her first festival at the end of July (Womad). Its a test festival for her to see how she gets on. If all fine i think we will take her to Glastonbury next year.

Going to be a strange experience for me as Glastonbury has always been a full on event for me.

But on the other hand i think it will be fun to have her there and show her the sights.

[krazyangel]

thanks guys

after reading all your comments im excited about taking her now,,

i have a very long list of what i need to buy ,,any excuse

think im gonna start doing some running tho, looking at how far away cocksmill meadow is from the west car park

do any off the efester familys camp together??

[dvjj]

I have been going to Glastonbury since 1992 in that time all of my friends at some stage have had children and stopped coming to Glastonbury except one, Claudia, she brings Ewan every year (until this year when he had two weeks out of school in May/June for a wedding in Jamaica and therefore thought she might end up in court if he had any more absence, boy was he annoyed he wasn't going to Glastonbury!) Heres my advice as her other half as such we drive down and share a tent (The 3 of us)

• Fabric conditioner bottle to pee in at night.

• Wet Wipes and more Wet Wipes.

• Cheddar Biscuits.

• Biscuits (nothing with chocolate)

• Suncream.

• Waterproofs.

• Hat's (You will always lose at least one!)

• Hi Viz waistcoat with you and your friends mobile numbers on the back of it.(Great for spotting your child in a crowd)

Ewan knows the rules...Breakfast before playing in the kidz field and a sleep in the afternoon imperative.

[eggbanjo]

I took my 9 yr old and 4 yr old to glasto this year,there first festival and they loved it .We usually go abroad the same time as glasto but the 9 yr old has put paid to that by saying she wants to go to glasto every yr.One thing i must say is that a bike buggy which we brought of ebay for 70 quid is absolutley essential and worth its weight in gold while there.