Can You Bring Your Baby to a Music Festival?

by Carrie Hike and Elizabeth Bloomquist

Surviving Postpartum: Tips for bringing your baby to a music festival.

Live music with a baby? Yes! Being a parent does not mean that you have to let go of your love for live music. Especially now that many of us, who once enjoyed the scene so often and so completely, now have children of our own. Some of my favorite memories are dancing with my babies. I love experiencing it with them and seeing the joy as they notice every small note and passerby. Live music is a way for me to connect with my kids while meeting my own needs. 

​Some festivals are definitely more family friendly than others. We are lucky in Asheville to have LEAF, one of the most family friendly festivals around, and also to be within driving distance to many others. However, even festivals and shows that are not necessarily marketed to families can be family friendly with the right planning on your part. 

Here are 8 tips to successfully rock out with your baby.

Pack All the Things 

We recommend overpacking for festivals with your baby. Even if you leave half of the stuff in your car, you have it if you need or want it. These are what we consider the essentials for a festival with toddlers or babies.

• Sunhat and warm hat- even in the summer, sometimes mountain nights are chilly
• Sunscreen (we like this toxin free one from beauty counter)
• Ear protection (We like Baby Banz. You can get them at the Littlest Birds in Asheville.)
• Water Bottles
• Food/snacks/breastmilk/formula/baby food pouches
• Picnic Blankets (We like the ones with the waterproof backing.)
• Camp Chairs
• Diapers/wipes/changing pad
• Hand Sanitizer (we like Thieves essential oil hand sanitizer)
• Stroller or Wagon
• Soft Baby Carrier, like an Ergo or a Tula.
• Layers and extra clothes for you and baby
• Rain Gear- umbrellas, poncho, or rain jackets. 
• Security Bracelet with your name and cell phone number for your toddlers and older children, or simply write your cell phone number on their arm in case they wander off or get separated. 

Have A Plan, But Be Flexible.

Have a plan, but be prepared to ditch the plan. Check out the schedule of events in advance, decide beforehand what bands you really want to see, and give yourself plenty of time to transition between different stages. Also, accept that you will probably miss some of it. Responsibly bringing your children to a festival means that you need to put their needs first, and sometimes that means nap time in a quiet area during your favorite band. Kids have a way of throwing off the best laid plans, and even if you plan everything down to the last onesie, sometimes you are left with a screaming (and not in an excited, loving the music way) baby in meltdown mode. That brings us to the next tip...

Know Your Baby!

You know your baby, and you know when your baby is having an off day. Even the most easy going of babies can have days that are incredibly cranky and filled with meltdowns. Don't push it. If it does happen to be an off day for your child, and your child can not pull it together, know that you may need to leave early (or not go at all), in order to meet your child's needs (no matter how much you love the band!) Babies before bands, y'all!

Set Up Your Space

Find a good space to set up a blanket, and spread out your stuff. Set up your chairs, stroller, and belongings and create a little home base for yourself, your family, and your friends. I like to set up near other families, and create a family safe zone where the kids can play, and the adults can socialize and enjoy the show. Usually, this means more on the periphery and to the back, not close to the front of the stage where people will be standing and enthusiastically dancing. You can carry or wear your baby if you'd like to get closer to the stage and dance with the crowd, or walk around the festival, and then return back to your home base to put baby down and relax. 

Bring a Stroller and a Baby Carrier

Having both a stroller and a soft baby carrier covers your bases, and your baby's moods. If you are going to an indoor show, a stroller is a hassle and unnecessary, but if you are going to an outdoor show or a festival, a stroller is very helpful. In lieu of a stroller, a wagon can also be a great baby bed, and way to carry your all your family's gear. 

It can be hard to navigate a stroller around a crowded festival, but you can use it to carry your gear, set up your home base, and then leave it with your picnic blanket while you walk around to check out other stages or get closer to stage. You can also put some battery powered fairy lights on your stroller to help keep it visible to partying festival goers, and make it easy to find for your friends and family.

Know Your Venue.

You may be pleasantly surprised at how accommodating some venues are, or dismayed by how inflexible some seem to be. This is where advance preparation is important. Find out if your kids need their own tickets, if there is a age limit, if you can bring your own food and drinks, the best parking places, can you reenter the music area if you leave or go to your car, and where the first aid station and bathrooms are.

Plan Your Escape.

Don't forget where you park, and consider leaving before the show is over. Many festivals have shuttles to parking, and thousands of people trying to leave at the same time. I know it can be hard to leave before the encore is over, but leaving a big event can be a huge hassle, especially if that is when your child decides they are tired, hungry, and over-stimulated.  Usually, you can still hear the music as you walk to the lot, and you can still avoid the crowds. 

Have fun, and keep rocking parenthood!

Our doula, Carrie Hike, and her daughter sharin' in the groove at one of the many music festivals they have enjoyed.