New parents - how to continue the fun with baby

[Pen]

My wife and I had our first child about a month ago and are thinking of possibly hitting Rockygrass.  We both have enjoyed the fesivals for years as a couple - but are a little concerned now that we have William to take care of!

Any parents with advice or experiences is greatly appreciated as we decide if & how we hit festivals.

Do the crowds freak out baby?
What should we make sure to bring?  Are strollers too cumbersom? 
Can we expect to be able to stay a full day - or might baby get fussy and force us to leave early (we live in Denver and hope to maybe just go up for a full day).
Do we have to buy a ticket for baby?

Thanks for the help.  Being a new parent is pretty cool - but overwhelming!

 Listening to: My newborn cry.........

[Auntie Hope]

You Will Be Just Fine Dad!

Do a dry run and plan an afternoon (about four hours, or longer if all is going well!) in an area park one weekend. Remember those silicone ear plugs for the little one (see General Discussion or Telluride Bluegrass areas on this forum) and just have a good time.

You do live close enough to Rockygrass if you need to leave, but I don't think that will happen at all. Children, especially the teeny, teeny ones, pick up on Mom and Dad's vibe, so if you're a happy camper, the baby is a happy camper! 

Word is we have a four week old on the way to Telluride. Same experience except for the daily flux in the weather. The only other thing I could add right now would be to pack some plain old corn starch to prevent heat rash on the little one's backside, and start using it (every diaper change) at least one day before you head out to the fest right through the day after the fest.

As for the stroller, if you normally use a stroller, take the stroller, if your youngin' is used to being held, then pass that child around! Everyone loves to dance with the Newbie Festivarians!

Just go and have FUN! Your wife will love you more for it, it's a good healthy way to start that child off in the music business and you'll never know how it will go unless you give it a try!  Right!

Congratulations to all three of you!    I'd say you're off to a great start because you're not afraid to ask questions.

Good Dad!

'Auntie Hope'

[wyomingfestivarian]

As the parent of the said four week old that Hope mentioned above, I'll let you know how it goes!

[Auntie Hope]

As the parent of the said four week old that Hope mentioned above, I'll let you know how it goes!

Ohhhh, you'll be fine too! 

'Auntie Hope'

[Matt and Becky]

We'll be bringing our 6 month old to Telluride and Rockygrass.  It'll  be our first time at a festival with a child, so should be intersesting.    I'll let you know how Telluride went when we get back. 

As for a ticket for the child, you don't need to worry about that.  Children 12 and under are free. 

I second what Hope said about the earplugs.  They are essential.  We go to a lot shows and we always use the silicone ones. 

Matt

[Redknuckles]

My oldest girl, 6 has been to 21 festivals and camped for 90%. She went to Telluride at 9 months and hasn't looked back. Her Birthday is on Labor day weekend and thinks the festival in Pagosa Springs we go to is for her. My 3 year old has been to about 9 festivals, she also loves it. Oh, and 12 and under, no ticket needed.

 The best advice I can give you is the foam ear plugs (QUIET PLEASE, Brand) are what I use, warm them up in your hand, squeeze them flat into a circle, then with scissors trim the diamoter down just slightly. After cutting them they will want to stick the way they were cut, use a lighter and wave the earplug over the flame lightly, and it will regain it's original shape. To use them, again warm them in your hand and install them, we use half a strip of white medical tape crossing the ear to keep them in, if you do it right they will last all day. Our Dr. told us to imagine anything we were listening to twice as loud, and asked "are you comfortable?", this is what baby hears, keep that in mind.

  At Rockygrass keep to the left side of the stage, under the trees. Shade is your friend.
I'd find a friendly camp onsite (with kids) and see if you can use them as home base for gear or a place to get out of the show, or rain if needed, which you likely would. I'd be willing to bet almost any camp you wonder into would gladly help, and maybe a tent for naps.

The rest is up to you keep them warm, or cool, dry, feed and your all happy!

 My sister said to me when my first daughter came along "so I guess you'll have to give up the festivals now huh?".

 It never crossed my mind, my first responce was "no way.  It's just a matter of lagistics", and I was right. We haven't missed this festival in a decade.

[Daniela]

You Will Be Just Fine Dad!

Do a dry run and plan an afternoon (about four hours, or longer if all is going well!) in an area park one weekend. Remember those silicone ear plugs for the little one (see General Discussion or Telluride Bluegrass areas on this forum) and just have a good time.

You do live close enough to Rockygrass if you need to leave, but I don't think that will happen at all. Children, especially the teeny, teeny ones, pick up on Mom and Dad's vibe, so if you're a happy camper, the baby is a happy camper! 

Word is we have a four week old on the way to Telluride. Same experience except for the daily flux in the weather. The only other thing I could add right now would be to pack some plain old corn starch to prevent heat rash on the little one's backside, and start using it (every diaper change) at least one day before you head out to the fest right through the day after the fest.

As for the stroller, if you normally use a stroller, take the stroller, if your youngin' is used to being held, then pass that child around! Everyone loves to dance with the Newbie Festivarians!

Just go and have FUN! Your wife will love you more for it, it's a good healthy way to start that child off in the music business and you'll never know how it will go unless you give it a try!  Right!

Congratulations to all three of you!    I'd say you're off to a great start because you're not afraid to ask questions.

Good Dad!

'Auntie Hope'

Love you, Auntie Hope...

[retsin2000]

This will be our 3-year-old's 4th RockyGrass and my 1 year-old's 2nd. For their first festivals they were 10 and 12 weeks old respectively. I was surprised the first year that we had a 12 week old and there were easily 3 kids younger than her there.They do great at that age since they sleep so much. You can easily get to a quieter spot away from the crowd and noise if you need to. The first aide guys have earplugs for kids if you forget to bring some. We are always way back in the shade tent area so the sound isn't that loud anyway. Making sure you have shade is the biggest advice I can give you. If you have a shade tent bring it and hang out with all the rest of us with little kids. Strollers are no big deal although if you aren't in the back of the crowd make sure it can fold down.

Oh, and the advice about dancing is spot on. You dance - the kid sleeps. What could be better?

[celeste]

welcome to festival life with baby.  i am 43 and mine just turned 2 and 1/2.  we do 5 or more festivals a year.  i found when she was little that about 5 hours was all i could do at festival.  we bring a kelty sunshade(large), a stroller for napping and when i need a chasing break.  i write my phone number in permanent ink on her thigh.(next year).  have a great festival!

[elovgren]

Thanks for all the great tips everyone. This will be our son's first Rockygrass at 10 months  (though he enjoy it last year from the womb). I feel like we're cheating a little, we bought my wife's parents tickets to Saturday just so they could come help out with the baby. All small price to pay for a little mid-festival break. Where can I pick up the ear plugs you all mentioned? Walmart or Target? I think that the whole family friendly vibe at RG is one of the things that makes it so great. i feel like we'll never out grow it, and can't wait to watch my son run around on the lawn with all the other little festivarians. Now I just have to decide what instrament to force on him. Is it too much to think he'll want to pick a banjo with his dad? See you in a few weeks!

 Listening to: The sweet sound of silence from the baby's room.

[Matt and Becky]

we bought my wife's parents tickets to Saturday just so they could come help out with the baby.

= Brilliant!!!  That's about the best thing you can do.  I wish we had grandparents nearby so that would be an option for us.

As for earplugs, we like the orange silicone earplugs from Target.  I think they are called Mack's Pillow Soft earplugs or something like that.  They are smaller than most others and seem to stay in the kids ears better.  If you use some of the other silicone earplugs you may want to use only half of one per ear.

[Redknuckles]

At Telluride this year the first aid tent had kids size ear plugs, small and soft, my kids liked them just fine. Just use a little piece of medical tape to hold it in a babys ears, they will mess with it when your not looking.

[Pen]

OP here.  Last year went great!  Now we're trying it again with said baby a bit over a year old.

My only concern this year is finding a spot for the mid afternoon nap.  We'll bring the stroller and look around for a "quiet" spot.  Anyone have any good ideas?  We have a sun-shade we can bring too.

I remember the good old days of festivals.  Our only concern was at least 1 individual sober enough to drive home after it was over.  Now, I find myself having conversations on the best place to buy diapers.

"Times, they are a 'chaaaangin........"

[mamalaff]

Hey! Great for you bringing the kiddies to the festival! We bring ours every year to Telluride and Rocky Grass. Every single time, we meet so many awesome parents and always say, gee, I wish they lived closer. Most of our friends think we are partly crazy or just brave. They have no idea how awesome the festivals are with kids. They get you hula hooping, creek splashing and rock painting.

As for provisions, most things were covered...here is my take
1. earplugs were available in Telluride at the first aid, but I think that is all run by the Telluride fire department.
2. Massive amounts of sun screen- this is also usually available at the first aid tent
3. shade shelter- for in the back. Otherwise you can attempt for some left side of the venue shade, but honestly, those are the spots that people  who stayed up late and got lotto line numbers grab up pretty quickly. You can always retreat to the Pavillion or near  the kids tent for shade. Shade really is the key to survival in Lyons. It is hot often.
4. creek toys- for kids a little older especially- swim suits, buckets and shovels
5. naps are fairly easy, especially if you invest in a wagon. Transportation turns into a bed. Look for us with the Festival Express wagon! This is how we manage to stay until the wee hours also. Sometimes we have to take a nap break and walk the kids around for a little while in either the wagon or the backpack (or your stroller if that is what works for you) until they fall asleep, them you can park 'em.
6. A good attitude and recognition that close up spots, tons of beer and no worries is kinda a thing of the past. This is, however, replaced with hugs, cute dancing, less intense hangovers, great photos, face painting, creek splashing, and best of all.... meeting the other awesome parents that are there and finding you new best festival friends.
7. How cool that your kids come for free!
8. lots of snacks and water. Kids also love spray bottles or squirt guns. Bubbles are a good call for entertainment. REMEMBER- NO GLASS, which includes baby food jars. I would just bring a small tuperware with baby food or bananas an avacodos.
9. I also write my cell number on my kids bracelet
10. For my older one (4), I get glow in the Dark blinking finger rings and put them in her hair at night. I can see her flashing if she wonders away...
11. check the weather- I have been rained on and was happy to have an umbrella for a sleeping baby and a raincoat for my toddler. Reminds me, I need to check out a forecast. 
12. an appetite for the best dumplings in the world, locally owned and Lyons  made.


I really can't express how much fun the festivals are with kids. They make it a different, but super awesome experience! Don't let your friends or parents make you think you are crazy for coming. See you there!

[TellurideTom]

Oh, one other thing....
The St. Vrain river is "release and catch"....
One parent releases the kids upstream, and the other catches them downstream.