Young babies at Glasto....

[mj2004]

I have no problem with taking children to festivals at all, I am planning to take my daughter to Camp Bestival in fact. It's set up for families in mind so is a perfect introduction also the site small scale.

I would not, however take her to Glastonbury, certainly not until she is a lot older but thats because I'm not an experienced Glasto-er like some people who have been going for years and years and are used to the site and everything and feel confident in taking their children. Also I think it is too big and overwhelimg for little ones but that is just based on my experience of Glastonbury so far. Also I found the mud in 2005 tough enough so tramping through it with a bump or a baby in a sling would be even tougher.

[Redwinevino]

Not quite sure what you think is going to happen? the most disturbing thing with someone off their head, was a rather sweet girl playing with glowsticks with my kids at the chemical brothers!? Nobody was horrible to them, and what is the risk?? i mean, i wouldn't take them into arcadia at 5am , but then again, i don't think much would happen to them if i did!! apart from them being super tired and grumpy. people e-d up might be exuberantly welcoming to them at worst, helpful, happy...really pissed people are much worse, but they are everywhere anyway

i would have more problem walking around brighton where i live late at night with all the moronic stag/hen parties!

the weather?? it rains everywhere!! i go camping and sitting in a rainy muddy field anyway if we are unlucky. the kids love it! wellies out, stamping in the mud and singing to jummy cliff..oh the horror!! what exactly do they need protecting from? they need to experience life fully, not be wrapped in cotton wool

i would add, i guess in that mud, i would find it very hard to be pregnant, or be carrying a very small baby around ( but i don't judge those who choose to do that so that they don't miss out), but if they can walk and dance and enjoy, then they should be given the opportunity to do so. i'm not leaving my kids musical education to the bloody X factor!

[Clareno7]

I would try to take my baby if I had one, I think it's great. But what I really couldn't get over were the number of young babies and toddlers who had no ear plugs or defenders on, even in front of the speakers at the main stages. There should be more awareness raising about that at the festival.

[acidstorm523]

To be honest my very main issue is with Pregnant people going but I am young and don't have a child so I appreciate I don't know what the hell I am talking about and you seem like you do so I shall leave it there. It's just something I personally would do

[ethelmeaker]

I took my lad in 2007 when he was nearly two. For us as parents it was physically hard work in the mud, but we had a great time regardless.

The last four I haven't taken him as it's been my weekend 'off' and we do lots of other festivals with him through the year anyway.

This year (he's nearly 6) he threw a wobbly when he realised he wasn't coming and has insisted he wants to come to the next one. My time at Glastonbury has changed over the last few years and I feel ready now to bring him again and change the way I do the festival to accommodate him. There are other festivals for me and the hubby to go to on our own for a weekend off.

I get annoyed at seeing parents who clearly don't want to sacrifice their fun because their child is bored. Many a time I've left a band I wanted to see because my son really wasn't enjoying it.

I love to see kids at festivals, from babies to older children, it's a great experience for them in all sorts of ways.

[acidstorm523]

I took my oldest when she was 2. That was my first taste of the different festie experience! Then got pregnant with twins. And that was that for a few years! Twin pregnant or twin babies and a 4 year old would have been way too hectic for me, and I'm pretty up for it!!

Just as an aside on ethelmeakers point, though mine really got in the spirit, and also had eachother to play with, I guess all kids get bored sometimes. They might perk up again 10 minutes later, so I wouldn't be too hard on parents who don't walk away straight away. The overall experience has to be worth it? But I'm sure it's different with an only child who is just waiting around with no one to play with

[acidstorm523]

I watched Coldplay, but my friend who went to see the Chemical Brothers told me about how she saw a four year old girl, sat in nothing but a teeshirt, crying her eyes out because it was so loud and she was so cold. Her parents were drugged up to the eyeballs and simply told her to shut up.

That's horrible!!! My kids had an awesome time at the chems, but we went well prepared, and no drugs!! Poor little girl. That must have been scary for her

I have nothing but respect for any parent who sacrifies parts of their own experiance to give their children such an incredible holiday.

[acidstorm523]

Sorry doing that on my phone I managed to reply in the middle if your post!!!

[Hotfoxy]

My first Glasto i went kid free and burst out crying after i walked through the kidzfield thinking why the hell hadnt i brought my daughter!

Glasto after that i missed as i was heavily pregnant..

This Glasto i took my 11 month old and my nine year old and had the most AMAZING!! time. I wont lie, i was shitting myself about taking the baby but we are a family and we stick together plus im breastfeeding so it would have been hard on us both to leave her at home.

The mud was hard work but we got used to it, i used a baby carrier the whole time which was a godsend as i dont think i would have coped with a pram.

It kind of helped that i wasnt too fussed on seeing any bands, we went for the experiance and what an experiance it was. My nine year old loved walking round sucking in the sites, she got stuck in with everything Glastonbury had to offer.

We spent a lot of time at the kidzfield which i think i enjoyed as much as the kids!

The bands that we did see the kids were great and really got into it, my nine year old is a big music fan so no moaning from her.

And for the baby it was an ultimate sensory overload and the first time she has ever slept through!!!

So yes as a family we really got something out of it, quality time at the most amazing place on earth

[ethelmeaker]

I guess all kids get bored sometimes. They might perk up again 10 minutes later, so I wouldn't be too hard on parents who don't walk away straight away.

[acidstorm523]

We are in agreement then ethelmeaker!

[jengeo]

I have taken kids since 2004 and they love it. Its not all about the music, and people are amazed when I mention all the un-related music venues we go and see. Mud kids love it. Waterproofs just dry them off and off we go again. We try and get the youngest to sleep during the day before having a late night (11 o'clock). We go to bed when the youngest goes to bed. We keep them away from loud noise and crowds when possible and, well, you know your child limits and before people judge a screaming brat, maybe it because they saw the ice cream van and daddy said no, not because they are hating the festival.

Reading and Leeds is a no kids zone for me (never been there mind) as I feel its not a place for kids, but we do take them to the Big Chill festival. Before taking kids I couldn't never imagine them going (more selfish reasons), but now its our family holiday. It is about give and take and you know the bounderies, I wished my parents took me when I was young.