baby sleeping arrangements

[Ed209]

Give over what's wrong with debate? I'm not telling anyone what to do , just expressing an opinion

[Krazypinkminx]

Well my opinion is that I am sure you know if you should take your baby to Glastonbury, have you been before? But for me I have 4 children, 15,12,9 yo boys and a 2 yo girl, we have done camping with all of them',I recommend a travel cot, for security, you can control the enviroment in it, pad underneath it for insulation, use gro bags, toys, and naps in it, play area, wheel it outside if its hot in the day, give you a safe place for baby, it would be second to my tent for essentials! But I know that it may not be possible for you but I would not take my children to a festival, if our baby sitter pulls out (4 kids remember) then I would not go at all than have to take the younger 2 that would not require a ticket, its not a place they or I would enjoy with them being there, some bloke pulled his penis out and took a piss on someone's mat while they were sat on it at the other stage last time, broad daylight, I don't want my kids seeing that. Obviously your baby would not be aware, but anyway a travel cot is your best bet

[elias]

I don't think it's right for anyone to say who should or should not go to Glastonbury. Surely it's down to the individual parent to decide?

What's next - barring people for being too old? I hope not, I'm 55 and still looking forward to a great festival.

Of course there are certain areas and certain times that could be hazardous to very young children, but I would hope that good parents are sensible enough to be aware of this and avoid those situations.

Good parents are good parents irrespective of the venue.

[Guest]

The number of trolls on this forum in recent months is unreal.

[Wooderson]

A different opinion does not constitute a troll you moron

[Badlands]

Gallery of shame:

This shameless 'mother' sits grinning in carefree bliss, despite her helpless offspring having to suffer the nearby proximity of Other People.

This reckless parent has put socks on her baby's hands instead of its feet. No doubt during a drug-induced frenzy.

This irresponsible harlot is clearly about to sacrifice her child on a stony altar.

This gentleman has hollowed his baby into a bong, and is surreptitiously imbibing marijuana smoke from it's ear cavity.

Moments later, and he has buried his baby in the sand, and wandered off to watch Muse .

[dondo]

We took our kids to their 1st festival last year (Croissant Neuf) as a trial run for bringing them to Glastonbury in the future- they absolutely loved it and we were thinking of taking them this year but given the size and the scale of the site we thought it maybe a bit too big just yet- but they will definitely be there in the future and we'll be back at Croissant Neuf later this year.

I think it's great that people take their children of all ages and approaching it with the right attitude and sensibilities means no problems

[Kizzie]

The number of trolls on this forum in recent months is unreal.

[Wooderson]

Trolls you say....I'd say bordering on the Fascist. No kids at festivals, no kids where there's drugs....I expect drink is ok!!!

I despair, I really do.

[mozzy]

Trolls you say....I'd say bordering on the Fascist. No kids at festivals, no kids where there's drugs....I expect drink is ok!!!

No sex for the unwashed, only squeaky cleans need apply.

I despair, I really do.

Still at least Thatchers dead....waits for sanitised generation backlash!!!!

[ogriff]

My missus is due this summer (last G for a while for me!), we'll be bringing our kids as soon as we think we can make sure that they enjoy themselves. That might be in 2014, it might be later. Each to their own.

The only festival I've felt uneasy about young children being at was Glade, particularly the REALLY muddy edition in 2007. A noisy (ok, not THAT noisy, but still) three day rave where everything was under a foot of mud seemed a bit like hard work for the parents, and the little-uns didn't look to be having a great time.

[mozzy]

Can't believe some of the shit that's been spouted on this thread, rivals some of the drivel on the pissing thread. The hard of thinking who reckon children have no place at Glastonbury should take a look at Nick Roeg and Peter Neal's excellent film of the 1971 festival, noting virtually any shot of the crowd during daytime and the Pink Fairies' children's parade in particular. Then maybe have a gander at the site map for the next "official" festival in 1979 - absolutely tiny compared to today with just the main stage, a few stalls and camping pretty much where you like. Oh yes, something else is on there too: the children's play area, which has been present at every subsequent festival.

[Kareneh]

Trolls you say....I'd say bordering on the Fascist. No kids at festivals, no kids where there's drugs....I expect drink is ok!!!

No sex for the unwashed, only squeaky cleans need apply.

I despair, I really do.

Still at least Thatchers dead....waits for sanitised generation backlash!!!!

Edited April 8, 2013 by Kareneh

[Ed209]

Um I sort of got the feeling she was agreeing with you? Isn't she saying the trolls are facsist? Personally wouldn't have taken my children as babies, purely because I would have been too stressed over it. Wish i had taken them aged 6+ though- I hadn't even been myself until they were 16 though

[Kareneh]

I think wooderson was refering to formed a band, not Kizzie.

[Wooderson]

Upon re-reading I can see the confusion, point was aimed at formedaband alright.

[Wooderson]

Soz Kizzie!

[Kareneh]

Upon re-reading I can see the confusion, point was aimed at formedaband alright.

[Kizzie]

Soz Kizzie!

[redmosquito]

We took our then 10 month old in 2011 and he loved it and we found having him their was a total breeze. It's obviously a very different festival with a young un but we all loved it an he'll be back along with his baby sister again this year.

You can never 100% guarantee their safety anywhere you go but it's easy to take the right precautions and you soon learn. You also find that people are very respectful and helpful when you have kids even drunken idiots were happy to move out of the way when we were trying to pull our cart through the mud last time out.

[formed a band]

The uninformed bullshit you have been spouting on this thread is trolling. I'll have my

kid with me there in June. If you want to call me a moron to my face big boy, try me.

[Sam Crawley]

Hey all, we're taking our (will be) 18 month old daughter this year, and are really looking forward to it. I shall be searching previous forum threads for tips and tricks soon as it's clearly going to be a very different festival to previous years for us. To the "haters", remember that most parents will not be taking their babies into the mosh pit for Arctic Monkeys or Chase and Status, we'll be in the "Kidz" field, up in the Park, wandering the site for most of a full day before you've even crawled out of your tent mid-afternoon! Unless the festival is a 2005/7 mudfest, it will be such a wonderful sensory kaleidoscope - colours, sounds and music, and I'm sure our toddler will love it. If she doesn't, we'll leave - part of having children, for good and for bad, is accepting that your wishes don't always come first any more... Anyway, it''s going to be great and good luck to all with kids, see you there...

[Wooderson]

You would offer me out in front of your children? Maybe you are not a fit parent

[RainbowChild]

Like many parents on here, we were going to glastonbury for many years before our boys were born. I was 6 months pregnant with our first in the mud of 2007 and our boys have accompanied us ever since - our first family festival was 2008 and by 2011 we took all three - aged 3 1/2, 2 1/2 and 3 months.

Like all parents, we made a very informed decision to take our kids. We know the site, especially where to avoid and when and don't take any chances where the safety if our boys are involved. Yes, we accept that people drink and take drugs but we have yet to be affected by them - though last year we did place glow sticks (of which we have many) on random 'sleeping' people so they didn't get trodden on!

We stay sober, spend our days face painting and playing in the kidzfield, watching shows in the circus or learning about the work of charities like oxfam and green peace. Our boys may be small but they tell everybody about the 'pink fairy tale castle', the pirate ship and roundabouts that they love. They eat fabulous food and talk to amazing people.

In 2011 my baby was tiny but he spent all day in a sling on my chest, he might not have been old enough to experience the festival in some ways but he was happy, there's lots to see and hear and at 3 months a baby loves nothing more than being close to mummy. He was clean and safe, he fed well and slept well and was kept entirely safe throughout.

I think the only people who are able to judge whether its 'right' to take a child to glastonbury is the parent and, of course, the child. In my experience my children would be heartbroken if we left them behind. We don't criticise other festival goers (well, apart from those morons who think its ok to wee wherever they feel like) so please don't criticise us. We ask for advice on this forum from other parents so we can draw on their experiences and make sure our children have the best possible time. We don't need idiot trolls making ridiculous accusations about our ability to parent our fabulous children

[mr gumby]

Blimey, I only asked the original question about 24 hours ago, and over a hundred answers. Some useful info, some criticism (which I'll respond to in my next post), some support, even comments on Maggie Thatcher!

Anyway, to those offering suggestions relating to my question about baby sleeping arrangements, many thanks, you've given me food for thought. Look forward to meeting some other Glastonbury parents in the family camping fields and Kidz field in June.

edit - 24 hrs, not 4 hrs!

Edited April 8, 2013 by mr gumby