Bringing babies to sporting events

Bmlopez3054 · January 2014

What age would you bring baby to a professional game? DH and I are big Yankees fans and I'm just not sure if we'd be able to go to a game this year or if baby will be too young.

daizijayne · January 2014

We took DS to his first NFL game back in November. We just made sure to have lots of toys and snacks for distractions, and--most importatntly--ear protection. Would I take a newborn to a big sporting event? Probably, if the weather was agreeable and I thought it would be a reasonably safe environment. I would also make sure both DH and I were prepared to leave early if LO wasn't mostly content.

DaisyTortilla · January 2014

Not sure, but I took DD to a HS basketball game, and she screamed bloody murder when the horn sounded! So I had to run out and basically leave every time it was going to go off. She was 6 months old then.

jenb_99 · January 2014

DS has always been great in crowds. We went to church events, shows, etc., and could've easily taken him to a sporting event even from the very start.

MrsT2008 · January 2014

DD went to her first Red Sox game at 6 months old. I may have brought her as young as 3 months but probably not before that. More from my own comfort level than anything else.

Mamazon2014 · January 2014

I plan on taking ours to Tigers games this summer.

hatrats · January 2014

It would probably depend on the baby and how they react to loud public places.

mileswithmyles · January 2014

DH and I are big Dodger fans and plan on trying to bring the baby to a day game with us this summer and sit in a shaded part of the stadium.

busterbeagle · January 2014

We took DD to a college football game at 7m and a professional baseball game at 17m. The first time was an epic fail because she broke out in hives from the sunscreen, but she definitely would have been okay otherwise. She has a blast at the baseball game since we went with a group that included a 2.5 year old. Barring extreme weather, I think it's fine. If noise is a concern, they sell sound blocking headphones for babies/toddlers. We used them when we took her to an outdoor concert this summer and she thinks they are an excellent fashion accessory.

CVislo · January 2014

My son's first baseball game was when he was 4 years old. He attended a NASCAR race at age 3. My husband went to his first baseball game when he was 2. It was a very well documented trip and I've been forced to look at the photo book several times now.

bumpuser9353653 · January 2014

To be honest, I'm not a fan of bringing babies/toddlers to sporting events. We went to an evening rugby match in November, the stadium was right near the water and it was 40 degrees with 15mph winds. There were so many tiny babies there it made me so sad. We were all bundled up and still freezing and got wind burn on our faces, so I can't imagine how the little 4 month old felt two rows behind us. It was past their bedtime, freezing cold, and loud. Ok, off my soapbox.

But IMHO, find a babysitter for a kid under 3 unless they are a newborn that can sleep through the whole thing if it's a temperature controlled place.

MrsT2008 · January 2014

I will say that the two games we took her two as an infant (6 months and 9 months) were FAR easier than the one we took her to this year at 18 months. Being unable to walk made a huge huge difference. It was nearly impossible to get her to want to sit still for more than 1 batter at a time this summer. So we took turns walking with her up and down the concourse and therefore, missing chunks of the game ourselves. So if you're going to take baby, take him/her this year and then I'd probably skip next year! I'm not even sure DD will be able to sit through a game this season (she will be 2y4m around opening day)

Bmlopez3054 · January 2014

Thanks for all the advice/ past experience!

rainydayluck · January 2014

Assuming the temp isn't extreme, probably as soon as we feel up for it. DD loves baseball games and we live in a big baseball town, so we will definitely be going when the season starts. If the weather is good, I would just wear new LO. DD's first game was when she was like 8 months old. Based on my due date here is our baseball plan: Will probably take DD to games when the season first starts and the weather is good (April) and when the temp gets too hot, no games (June, July, Aug), so probably Sept/Oct when new LO is 4-5 months old.

Bmlopez3054 · January 2014

Yeah I'm thinking in September so she will be about 4 months old and we'd go to a game where the Yankees play in Florida so I'm thinking the weather would be nice.

MinaE01 · January 2014

We took DS to a Cubs game this summer at 8 months. He was great. I wore him in an Ergo and he fell asleep during the game. The game was rather dull (as most Cubs games are), so there were like 2 big crowd cheers that didn't really phase him. We're lucky; he's a pretty laid-back kid. I would recommend feeling your baby's personality out a little bit before you commit to going. 2-3 months may be a little young, imo. I'd probably wait until a fall game to make the attempt.

ckandi007 · January 2014

We took our son to see the Red Sox when they were in TX when DS was a month old. I wore him in a wrap, made sure all his skin was covered and that he had a big hat. He slept the entire time.

arrowmama · January 2014

We've been taking niece to concerts (her daddy is in a band) probably since she was 2-3 months old. She has kid size ear protectors and would sleep through most if it in a baby wearing thing.

Country0202 · January 2014

We took our son to a concert at six months, but we bought baby earmuffs like the kinds used at gun ranges. You don't realize how loud places like that are until you have a baby. Our son was extremely fussy and he didn't even try to take them off once!

danabsd · January 2014

We brought Beb to a baseball game at 3 weeks old. H wore her in the Ergo the entire time, she slept until about the 5th inning, had a bottle and was ready to leave in the 7th. She went to probably 4 or 5 more games last season?

Taking her to the game wasn't the original plan, my brother was suppose to go with H and my dad but he bailed at the last minute (not shocking) and they had an extra ticket. I was super nervous but it was fine.

When the Yanks came to town.

KatieP71312 · January 2014

My youngest started going to Duck football games at 6 weeks. I wore him in the moby with ear muffs on and he slept through the entire game. He's been to a few games since then but always with ear protection (We are season ticket holders). My oldest also goes frequently (at 6) and we've only now slightly loosened our ear protection rules.

Bmlopez3054 · January 2014

danabsd said:
We brought Beb to a baseball game at 3 weeks old. H wore her in the Ergo the entire time, she slept until about the 5th inning, had a bottle and was ready to leave in the 7th. She went to probably 4 or 5 more games last season?
Taking her to the game wasn't the original plan, my brother was suppose to go with H and my dad but he bailed at the last minute (not shocking) and they had an extra ticket. I was super nervous but it was fine.
When the Yanks came to town.

Oh my gosh she is adorable! I have been looking at little Yankees outfits like that all day getting excited for our little girl!

danabsd · January 2014

Bmlopez3054 said:

Oh my gosh she is adorable! I have been looking at little Yankees outfits like that all day getting excited for our little girl!

Thank you.

I buy just about all our baby sports gear at Baby Fans: https://www.babyfans.com
You can almost always find a coupon code online. And their shipping and customer service is great. I had an issue with one onesie of a set of three we bought and they overnighted me a new set.

MamaLlama14 · January 2014

I didn't take DS to any professional sporting events until he was honestly like a year old. That was just a matter of circumstance, though- we didn't really have an opportunity prior to that. As PPs said, just be prepared with lots of snacks, bottles, toys and diapers- and be prepared to get up and go for walks or to step out if he/she cries.

getitdone · January 2014

We had partial season tickets to the Reds last year with 2 couples that each have a child. One was 15 months when the season started and the other was 5 months. They brought them when it was good weather and it worked out just fine. For the night games, they may have left a little early to get them in bed, but that's about it.

runningyogimama · January 2014

At less than 6 or so months old, DD wouldn't have been okay at any kind of sporting event...before that, she just couldn't deal with the loudness!

Empireceo · January 2014

We brought DS to his first Yankees game when he was 6 months old. He's a pretty chill baby, so he did okay, but three hours was kind of long for him so by the 7th inning he was squirmy. His godparents came with us so it was nice to have two additional people to pass him to. Also, people side-eyed us hardcore. We were way up high behind the plate with no chance of foul balls coming at us, so I don't know WTF that was about.

MIZZOU527 · January 2014

I'm a HS cheer coach in a town with a Division 1 University. We took both DD and DS to HS and Collegiate games as early as 2-3 months. We just had them in a chest carrier and blankets. Both of our kids learned to sleep through noises. Everyone is different though. Maybe start with a pre season one that isn't as loud. Also...games outside aren't normally as loud as inside.

RedInLove · January 2014

I think my sister's DH took their son to a minor-league baseball game in MA when he was 3 or so. I'm pretty sure that was his first. We might do the same. We also have minor league hockey. I'm sure it will be loud but the crowd probably smaller so maybe it's a good place to start.

kristine526 · January 2014

Ginormously huge St. Louis Cardinals fans here. I'm due May 1st, so LO could potentially be at his/her first game by May 12th. LOL

I kid. I kid. Kind of. In all seriousness, the Yankees are in town on my birthday (May 26th) so that series will probably be LO's first game (LO's first game will be the two best teams in the history of baseball... I kind of like that), if we don't make it to one before that. LO can hang out in our Mei Tai, and I fully expect that he/she will sleep through most of it, probably waking to eat and be changed. My only concern will be what the temperature is, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

BuffaloBride06 · January 2014

We have Yankee season tickets and started taking DS to games when he was 4 1/2 months old. He was fine. I would also breastfeed him in my seat (with a cover) during games. My DH was so excited to share his obsession with his son! I just brought him in his Ergo. No problem!