Parents, what's your top tip for surviving Glasto with a baby?

[Weasel08]

Been to Glasto many times and know the lie of the land, but this year for the first time we have our 1 year old baby daughter with us. many people seem to think we're mad taking her but we have no childcare alternative for that length of time and we were gutted missing last year because we had a newborn.

So. We've all seen people ploughing buggies through the mud - looks like a nightmare - so I've borrowed one of those baby-carrying rucksack things, but I guess we need the buggy anyhow as several hours with that weight on my back will make me good for nothing! What else is essential to bring? How does everyone cope with little ones? What are your top tips for survival and enjoyment?

Any help/advice much appreciated!

[kabailey]

Been to Glasto many times and know the lie of the land, but this year for the first time we have our 1 year old baby daughter with us. many people seem to think we're mad taking her but we have no childcare alternative for that length of time and we were gutted missing last year because we had a newborn.

So. We've all seen people ploughing buggies through the mud - looks like a nightmare - so I've borrowed one of those baby-carrying rucksack things, but I guess we need the buggy anyhow as several hours with that weight on my back will make me good for nothing! What else is essential to bring? How does everyone cope with little ones? What are your top tips for survival and enjoyment?

Any help/advice much appreciated!

[kabailey]

We took our children for the first time last year - our son was 15mths and our daughter two and a half at the time. Best thing we got for our son was a pair of baby ear defenders from the RNID stall next to the pyriamid stage (cost £15 quid though!). We also took a baby back pack and he loved seeing everything from that level and it wasn't as heavy as we thought it was going to be! Buggy with big wheels coped with Friday's mud, though we did need a stick to flick out the build up of mud in the wheels! Oh, and as for anyone thinking it's mad to take a baby, ours had the time of his life as did I when I saw Syd from Cbeebies in the Kidz Field!!

Edited May 30, 2009 by kabailey

[Laura_Babs]

I don't think your mad! I hope I take my kids when (if I am lucky enough) to have kids! Enjoy!

[sunnyshoes]

we're taking our toddler for the first time and some friends think we're bonkers too but I know he's going to have a great time. Think people dont realise just how much there is on offer for kids & think they're going to be expected to watch bands for 3 days from 11am to midnight. Defo going to get him some ear defenders & hope to get a 2nd hand back carrier in case its muddy.

What sort of buggy copes with Gbury? what types and makes have people taken? if i cant find one cheap enough then Mini-shoes had his first ride in a wheelbarrow today and loved it so thats an option I guess.

Syd from Cbeebies!! thats fab! Mini-shoes is obsessed with Mr Tumble/Justin at the mo & he's going to be at Camp Bestival so im really hoping this means he's a festival-summer & will be at Gbury!

Sorry just realised that I havent really given any advice - probs cos Im not sure either! Ive just bought a 2nd hand ready bed thing as his travel cot is far too heavy to carry, hoping to get some 2nd hand waterproofs - jacket and trousers, as well as some very snuggly pyjamas, need to order the ear defenders. Going to take as many small cartons of drinks & snacks as I can fit in our rucksacks. Planning on having as much as I can fit into our ruckscaks and then having some spare set of clothes in the boot of the car just in case.

will be interested to hear from other Glastonbury Mums and Dads!

[NCTbabe]

we're taking our toddler for the first time and some friends think we're bonkers too but I know he's going to have a great time.

will be interested to hear from other Glastonbury Mums and Dads!

[Josie's Cat]

Of course you're not mad, kids are people too, they'll love a festival, why not? Once when the eldest daughter was a baby and we were camping, I was desperate for a wee, but she had just fallen asleep and I couldn't leave her, or wake her up - so I used one of her nappies!

It was perfect, the capacity of those things is amazing! So that's my tip.

[scappaflow]

I seriously don't think Glastonbury, or any festival, is the place for a baby.

I guess having kids is a choice that involves major sacrifices and I think this is probably one of them.

I know Glasto caters for children, but really I think these kids should at least be of age where they can take care of themselves and amuse themselves unsupervised for a part of the day.

Glastonbury with a baby sounds like a nightmare tbh.

Hope you survive the weekend ok, but really I think if you don't have young children then someone has to stay at home with the baby.

[lme]

I seriously don't think Glastonbury, or any festival, is the place for a baby.

I guess having kids is a choice that involves major sacrifices and I think this is probably one of them.

I know Glasto caters for children, but really I think these kids should at least be of age where they can take care of themselves and amuse themselves unsupervised for a part of the day.

Glastonbury with a baby sounds like a nightmare tbh.

Hope you survive the weekend ok, but really I think if you don't have young children then someone has to stay at home with the baby.

[Weasel08]

Thanks for all the top tips folks. And thanks but I'll choose to ignore the opinion about Glasto being no place for babies,...that's something we'll decide for ourselves after we've at least given it a try.

These ready-bed things look a lot easier than the travel cot, but she's only 15 mths old and is a bit of a wriggler. The manufacturers say from 24 months but on various review sites people are saying they've used them no problem with younger kids. I'm strongly tempted to buy one but I'm not sure how I'd know if it would be ok for her to use or not...any thoughts??

[matt2007]

Well doen to ignore the "kids at glasto is wrong comments".

We have taken our kids from babes in arms and each year it is great.

If Glastonbury was not the place to take chilren why do nearly 10'000 go each year, why do their parents take them, why is there a kidz & green kidz field, whyt does Sid come if it is not a good place for children.

In my experince it is a sfae, friendly place to take children who see a new world....we take ours out of scholl each year and would laways do so...teaches them about mud, music and mayhem!

have a great time...........................

[eve & nash]

We took our little one in 2007 age 2. Found it very hard work in the mud. Dont think I would take one so young next time. Cant wait to bring her this year as she is 4 now!

A baby carrier was the best buy in 2007, you dont get stuck in the mud.

[Cheesey]

If Glastonbury was not the place to take chilren why do nearly 10'000 go each year, why do their parents take them, why is there a kidz & green kidz field, whyt does Sid come if it is not a good place for children.

Edited June 1, 2009 by Cheesey

[kabailey]

I seriously don't think Glastonbury, or any festival, is the place for a baby.

I guess having kids is a choice that involves major sacrifices and I think this is probably one of them.

I know Glasto caters for children, but really I think these kids should at least be of age where they can take care of themselves and amuse themselves unsupervised for a part of the day.

Glastonbury with a baby sounds like a nightmare tbh.

Hope you survive the weekend ok, but really I think if you don't have young children then someone has to stay at home with the baby.

[kabailey]

Thanks for all the top tips folks. And thanks but I'll choose to ignore the opinion about Glasto being no place for babies,...that's something we'll decide for ourselves after we've at least given it a try.

These ready-bed things look a lot easier than the travel cot, but she's only 15 mths old and is a bit of a wriggler. The manufacturers say from 24 months but on various review sites people are saying they've used them no problem with younger kids. I'm strongly tempted to buy one but I'm not sure how I'd know if it would be ok for her to use or not...any thoughts??

[sunnyshoes]

Thanks for all the top tips folks. And thanks but I'll choose to ignore the opinion about Glasto being no place for babies,...that's something we'll decide for ourselves after we've at least given it a try.

These ready-bed things look a lot easier than the travel cot, but she's only 15 mths old and is a bit of a wriggler. The manufacturers say from 24 months but on various review sites people are saying they've used them no problem with younger kids. I'm strongly tempted to buy one but I'm not sure how I'd know if it would be ok for her to use or not...any thoughts??

[Funkfarley]

My eldest is 22 months and is a total totzilla....he's not going til hes much much older...the thought of taking him fills me with utter fear!

The little one who is 8 months is the opposite...little kiss ass angel he is. lol

Edited June 1, 2009 by Funkfarley

[Weasel08]

Our son was 15mths when we went last year, we got an iggle piggle ready bed off ebay (which had shallow sides so he couldn't roll out). We just put him in fleecy pyjamas with socks and long vest underneath then put him in his usual baby sleeping bag and used the ready bed cover over the top of that. He slept like the proverbial baby! He also absolutely loved waking up each morning between his sister and me which he thought was hilarious! Also took a spare blanket, but didn't need it as checked and he stayed warm throughout.

[Weasel08]

I've just bought a 2nd hand ready-bed (with Thomas on) from someone selling one on Netmums. Not sure how he's going to get on as he's always been in the travel cot before. he moves around a lot in his sleep too but this ready bed has an attached lightweight quilt/cover which is attached all along one side and then attached half way up on the other side so this will probably stop him wriggling out of it too much. I havent decided whether to buy him a toddler camping sleeping bag as well and just put him in that on top rather than use the attached cover as that alone probs wouldnt be warm off. the sides look to go up a bit too so stop them just rolling off the bed in the night like bolsters. we're going camping in 2 weeks so will try the ready-bed out then and see what happens. they're so light to carry.

does your daughter use a gro-bag type sleeping bag now? you could perhaps use the ready bed and the gro-bag rather than putting her inside the attached cover if you think that the cover might be too long for you if you know what I mean.

Edited June 2, 2009 by Weasel08

[hippyhough]

We took our little ens last year for the first time, aged 2 and 4 and they loved it. be aware you probably wont see many bands but the kids field and circus fields are beyond belief.. We got to see syd from c beebies aswell as slaying a dragon, getting taken back to school by strick headteacher, having bedtime stories read by someone I can only describe as santa claus and had some time playing on a beach!!. And thats just in the kiddies field. The circus and pyrotechnic acts later on in the evening are stunning and a little less crowded for getting your pram around.

The top tips from us is "hand sanitiser(you just carnt get enough) a pram with big wheels and glo sticks.

Make sure on arrival you go to the kiddies field and get a wristband with your numbers put on just incase the worst happens or write your numbers on clothing with maker pen.

Other than that just relax and enjoy yourself you will have one of your best festival experiences ever.

See you in the Kiddies field

[al_coholic]

We took our 4 month old in 2005, and because of the weather it was very very difficult, the ground was muddy everywhere, and i couldnt push the 3 wheeler because the front wheel got caked in mud and jammed under the brakes. We did have a good time but it was very tiring and in the end we left on the sunday afternoon.

You will still have a great time but remember not to try and get too close to the stages and think of the little ones ears, and pray for good weather

[Festy Lover]

It's Weasel's Mrs here, yeah good point about the ears, we bought some ear defenders last year for WOMAD and Big Chill, but this year keeping them on Baby Weasels head will be a problem, as will keeping a hat on for that matter. If anybody needs to get some, we got ours off amazon.

Can't wait for all the fun and games and muckiness, but lets hope for a mudless one this year. We were at the mud fest in 2007 and saw people carrying buggies coz they couldn't push them anymore. Really hoping that's not us this year!

We got the ready bed ordered, a toddler sleeping bag on order, we already have a chunky 3 wheeler and a backpack, but the glo-sticks is a great tip! I've seen people with fairy lights on theirs before - we didn't have any lights on ours last year people just do not see you until they are falling over your buggy, waking the nipper!

Must also put hand sanitiser on our shopping list! Must remember to get her some wellies too.

This is a great thread! I'm really, really excited and can't wait to see her little face when she arrives on Friday!

[Moon Monkey]

Try one of these, fits two kids, toys, bedding and storage at the back for your gear

[sunnyshoes]

loving that pram!!!!!!

Im going to try and get a back carrier too in case (tho its not) its a bit rainy - anyone got any recommendations?

Little chap wont wear a hat either so not sure he's going to go for the ear defenders but he's at the bribing age so a promise of a few ice creams might do the trick.

im really excited - he's going to be amazed at all thats going on - the circusy things, fireworks, all the other kids, being outside all the time - hes not going to want to come home!

looking forward to seeing all of you Mums and Dads in the kidz field - I may be deserted there quite a lot as other half goes off watching bands but never mind!

[Moon Monkey]

Buggy was a god send at Moor music festival we went to last year could actually see bands with daughter all cosy and asleep. Very good in the mud too