Glastonbury 2025 with a Toddler in tow

[Someoni]

Hey everyone,

 

So this isn't my first Glastonbury, but it most certainly is my partners. While we all know, a festival child free is usually how it goes, let go and lose yourself for 5 or 6 days on the farm...

 

However, not only am I a little older, but also I now have a lovely little guy who follows me everywhere and it's not feasible for us to hand him off for 6 days.

 

We will be in a motorhome, in one of the CV fields ( once tickets come out) and would like to know of any others that have taken a little one to Glasto? 

 

The big man is very well travelled, I think he's been on 11 flights and 3 continents, he will be a couple of weeks off being 3 if that makes any difference..

 

Obviously things may change when the line up comes out, plus my sister is coming for her and her partners first Glastonbury too!

 

 

[Lucy92]

Haven’t got a lot of advice but I’ll be taking a toddler too! 

[Someoni]

6 minutes ago, Lucy92 said:

Haven’t got a lot of advice but I’ll be taking a toddler too! 

We are not sure if we're brave or foolish, but I've got an idea of where is and isn't suitable to take him. I worry about the morning after I have a wild few hours in the south east corner.

 

That aside il going to see if I can pull up our motorhome near to a fence as it gives that extra bit of space for his freedom 

[Daimo]

We took our two year old in 2023.

honestly was the best time, it was a totally different festival for us who generally go hard. The kidz field is brilliant for them and you get free juice!!! Great when it was boiling. We had no bother.

[Someoni]

9 minutes ago, Daimo said:

We took our two year old in 2023.

honestly was the best time, it was a totally different festival for us who generally go hard. The kidz field is brilliant for them and you get free juice!!! Great when it was boiling. We had no bother.

Oh that's fantastic. I know in years gone by I've been in two minds whether it's the right place for a young one, mainly because I was a proper sesh head. Now though I think it will be such a unique experience for him, and also us! 

[Blownimpression]

We took our (then) 18 month old boy last year. He got on fine, apart from having heat rash before the festival started, then having a cold and ear infection on the Weds/Thurs/Fri, but during the day he was fine. We stayed in Worthy View, which worked pretty well.

 

We’ve managed to get tickets for next year, so he’ll be coming again in 2025, so he’ll be 2 and a half by then. Going to risk it in general camping this year. We’ve got a big wheeled running pram and a backpack carrier if it’s busy, which worked well. But any older than 3 and I think they’ll be a bit of a heavy lump to be carrying around on your back for a few hours.

[Ayrshire Chris]

1 hour ago, Someoni said:

Hey everyone,

 

So this isn't my first Glastonbury, but it most certainly is my partners. While we all know, a festival child free is usually how it goes, let go and lose yourself for 5 or 6 days on the farm...

 

However, not only am I a little older, but also I now have a lovely little guy who follows me everywhere and it's not feasible for us to hand him off for 6 days.

 

We will be in a motorhome, in one of the CV fields ( once tickets come out) and would like to know of any others that have taken a little one to Glasto? 

 

The big man is very well travelled, I think he's been on 11 flights and 3 continents, he will be a couple of weeks off being 3 if that makes any difference..

 

Obviously things may change when the line up comes out, plus my sister is coming for her and her partners first Glastonbury too!

 

 

What a lovely photo!

advice? Pace yourself, take plenty treats and fav toys. I’ve a friend who takes a toddler and they love it. Of course you will miss a lot but I’m sure you will see some acts . The kids area is great and the walkabout acts, circus field are great for kids. 

Edited November 20 by Ayrshire Chris

[itsfomas]

You're braver than me. Our little man is going on a 'very exciting' holiday to see his nan for a few days whilst I pretend I am young again. I would love to know how it goes though because I think we will drag him along to the next one (He could be 18 by then, who knows!)

[Dan190984]

Our boy was born in October 2018. He came for the Wednesday of 2019, the Wed and Thurs of 2022, and Wed - Fri morning of 2023. We missed out last year but he’ll be coming this year and we’re currently weighing up at what point the grandparents come to get him but likely it’ll be Friday morning again. 
 

We go with my wife’s cousin and her husband who have a kid the same age (and a littler one who will be having their first Glastonbury this year) and the kids absolutely love it. 

[Someoni]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:47 PM, Blownimpression said:

We took our (then) 18 month old boy last year. He got on fine, apart from having heat rash before the festival started, then having a cold and ear infection on the Weds/Thurs/Fri, but during the day he was fine. We stayed in Worthy View, which worked pretty well.

 

We’ve managed to get tickets for next year, so he’ll be coming again in 2025, so he’ll be 2 and a half by then. Going to risk it in general camping this year. We’ve got a big wheeled running pram and a backpack carrier if it’s busy, which worked well. But any older than 3 and I think they’ll be a bit of a heavy lump to be carrying around on your back for a few hours.

 

Our boy will be very close to being 3 so I'm not quite looking forward to the shoulder stance dance for extended periods, I'll start doing some training for it!

 

I can't wait to see what sort of experience it is being centralised around the boy and his fun. 

 

I also think a motorhome allows us to get him away from it all if and when he needs it.

[Someoni]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:58 PM, Ayrshire Chris said:

What a lovely photo!

advice? Pace yourself, take plenty treats and fav toys. I’ve a friend who takes a toddler and they love it. Of course you will miss a lot but I’m sure you will see some acts . The kids area is great and the walkabout acts, circus field are great for kids. 

Thank you, what a special week away this will be. Hopefully he will fully get into it or at least allow us to 🤣

[Someoni]

On 11/20/2024 at 7:41 PM, itsfomas said:

You're braver than me. Our little man is going on a 'very exciting' holiday to see his nan for a few days whilst I pretend I am young again. I would love to know how it goes though because I think we will drag him along to the next one (He could be 18 by then, who knows!)

I think if we had that option we would thoroughly consider it. The week after we get home I think we're off to see grandad, who lives abroad in warmer climates

[Someoni]

On 11/20/2024 at 8:42 PM, Dan190984 said:

Our boy was born in October 2018. He came for the Wednesday of 2019, the Wed and Thurs of 2022, and Wed - Fri morning of 2023. We missed out last year but he’ll be coming this year and we’re currently weighing up at what point the grandparents come to get him but likely it’ll be Friday morning again. 
 

We go with my wife’s cousin and her husband who have a kid the same age (and a littler one who will be having their first Glastonbury this year) and the kids absolutely love it. 

They can take another with them Friday morning! Being serious though I think we have to experience it for ourselves to find out where our cut off point will be in the future 

[CardiffWanderer]

We never took our lad to Glastonbury when he was little, but I've a hunch it will be a great experience. We did take him to a few other festivals, and we had a blast at Womad, whereas we found Camp Bestival quite annoying. Our conclusion was that it's better to take a young kid to a great festival where activities for children are add-ons, as opposed to a super family-oriented festival where it just didn't feel like a proper festival and 'have fun!' felt like it was being continually drummed into us. (Plus there were far more annoyingly precocious kids at Camp Bestival.) 

[GlastoEls]

Also contemplating taking our daughter who will be just two next June… following this thread and appreciating the recommendations!

[Diamond Solitaire]

We’re going to be bringing our toddler to next years festival as well. She’ll be 4 by then, but luckily she’s tiny so not too difficult to walk around with her on my shoulders if she insists

 

My parents live nearby so we’re thinking we get them to drop her off on the Sunday rather than taking her for the whole thing 

 

We took her to latitude when she was 2 and she absolutely loved it. We bought her a bubble gun and that attracted all of the toddlers over to where we were standing so she made a few friends to dance with

 

We had an off roading buggy for it as well and it made getting about really easy. Looked much easier than the trollies other parents had their toddlers in

 

 

[dirtysteve]

Hello. I've taken both my boys since they were 4. The Kidz Field is fantastic, there's loads there for littl'uns to do (although you'll need to keep a close eye on him as it gets very busy with kids going berserk and easy to lose sight - there's loads of stewards in the field, though, and they won't let kids wander off on their own into the festival). Green Kids is great, too, more chilled out/less manic, although he won't be allowed to climb up onto the top of the Pirate Boat.

 

Best advice I can give is get a buggy with big bike wheels on it, much easier imo than hauling a trolley around for them to crash out into. I've used one of these for years: https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-18m-2-seat-child-bike-trailer-kid-stroller-w-steel-frame-door-seat-belt-blue~440-008BU.html You can get ones that have a front wheel attachment to turn it into a stroller.

[Someoni]

10 hours ago, GlastoEls said:

Also contemplating taking our daughter who will be just two next June… following this thread and appreciating the recommendations!

Do it, do it!! 

 

As you can tell I'm trying to convince myself it's the greatest idea 🤣

[GlastoEls]

4 hours ago, Someoni said:

Do it, do it!! 

 

As you can tell I'm trying to convince myself it's the greatest idea 🤣

This made me laugh!

[Someoni]

21 hours ago, dirtysteve said:

Hello. I've taken both my boys since they were 4. The Kidz Field is fantastic, there's loads there for littl'uns to do (although you'll need to keep a close eye on him as it gets very busy with kids going berserk and easy to lose sight - there's loads of stewards in the field, though, and they won't let kids wander off on their own into the festival). Green Kids is great, too, more chilled out/less manic, although he won't be allowed to climb up onto the top of the Pirate Boat.

 

Best advice I can give is get a buggy with big bike wheels on it, much easier imo than hauling a trolley around for them to crash out into. I've used one of these for years: https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/homcom-18m-2-seat-child-bike-trailer-kid-stroller-w-steel-frame-door-seat-belt-blue~440-008BU.html You can get ones that have a front wheel attachment to turn it into a stroller.

I think this is going to be the most likely scenario. You can pick them up quite cheap and we can modify it up and cover it in lights.

I don't use a pram for him now I make him walk everywhere until he walks in front of me and says "shoulders". 

 

Its great that there's whole areas for them to go feral in.

 

Started his training yesterday.....

 

[Someoni]

21 hours ago, Diamond Solitaire said:

We’re going to be bringing our toddler to next years festival as well. She’ll be 4 by then, but luckily she’s tiny so not too difficult to walk around with her on my shoulders if she insists

 

My parents live nearby so we’re thinking we get them to drop her off on the Sunday rather than taking her for the whole thing 

 

We took her to latitude when she was 2 and she absolutely loved it. We bought her a bubble gun and that attracted all of the toddlers over to where we were standing so she made a few friends to dance with

 

We had an off roading buggy for it as well and it made getting about really easy. Looked much easier than the trollies other parents had their toddlers in

 

 

Wow still being able to do the shoulder dance with her being 4 is impressive 

[Another eforum account]

Taken my daughter nearly every year it’s been on since she was 11 months old and she’ll be 9 this year (we even did Worthy pastures), though she only come for part as I volunteer but live nearby. Tried to get normal tickets this year as she wants to come for the whole thing but wasn’t successful.

 

if you can get a bike trailer with the big wheels it’s definitely a good thing. You can always leave it in the lock up to save hauling it back up to the campervan field each day. Used ours till last year to transport stuff and the year before at night as a place to chill out (she had to get out to walk up hills!) got load of lights to go round it and wheel spoke lights so people can see it. 
 

Arcadia before it gets too late and they’ve a junk play ground, green crafts, green futures, the dragon, Woodsies with the tree top walk, the pier as well as green kidz and Kidzfield are all great places to go. 
 

The two Kidzfields have children’s loos where children are priortised and get to cue jump. Also the Kidz field has a great twinkly blacked out tent you can take them to nap in plus a whole host of facilities. 
 

 

My top is to keep them topped up with food and snacks! 

[itsfomas]

On 11/22/2024 at 6:20 PM, Someoni said:

I think if we had that option we would thoroughly consider it. The week after we get home I think we're off to see grandad, who lives abroad in warmer climates

I'm glad you said that because I was getting parent guilt from this thread haha!

[Someoni]

10 minutes ago, itsfomas said:

I'm glad you said that because I was getting parent guilt from this thread haha!

Even my old man said we should go without the boy but I fear he's the reason I will not go on a 6 day bender like last time

[JimboSlice]

I wonder if there's a poster on these boards who have experienced it as a toddler/young child who can share their experiences? Festival started getting a lot safer/more sanitised around the early 2000s so might be a few