Taking toddler to the football

[Jack1234]

ADMIN - Can this be moved if in wrong place please?

I'm a young dad of a 22-month-old toddler. I really want to take him to a football match with me at my beloved Brentford. It's at a relatively large stadium of 12,000 but not massive by any means.

They have a family stand and staff said I would be best sat there. I am happy for him to sit on my lap and would bring plenty of toys for him. He likes football and has already got all the Brentford gear he wears a lot.

But his mum is completely against the idea and says he is too young.

What do you think?

 

[T.A]

What's the point? I don't understand why people take kids that young to football/rugby they have no idea what's going on. You'll spend more time entertaining the kid than watching the match. Wait a few years when he actually knows what a football is.

 

[Aber gas]

ADMIN - Can this be moved if in wrong place please?

I'm a young dad of a 22-month-old toddler. I really want to take him to a football match with me at my beloved Brentford. It's at a relatively large stadium of 12,000 but not massive by any means.

They have a family stand and staff said I would be best sat there. I am happy for him to sit on my lap and would bring plenty of toys for him. He likes football and has already got all the Brentford gear he wears a lot.

But his mum is completely against the idea and says he is too young.

What do you think?

I take my 3 year old daughter to rovers sometimes and she enjoys it. Might not completely understand what's going on but enjoys the atmosphere. It helps that a few people I know also take young kids. Give it a go, if he doesn't like it then wait a few years and try again.

 

[KevinMcallister]

who is Todd Ler?

 

[Jack1234]

The point would, I hope, be a cool father/son bonding experience. He likes football and yeah I get I'd have to entertain him as much as watch the game but I am comfortable with that. Has anyone else has experience in taking their children, especially if they are my lad's age?

 

[tiltontrev]

I started taking my lad when he was 3, he's 10 now, with 40+ away games and 15+ away grounds visited, a trip to Madrid to watch Real, Wembley to watch England, and hundreds of home games including all the European games.

It's fair to say he's got the bug bad!!!

 

[TomPNE94]

I first went before I was 2, had a season ticket since I was 4. Definitely take him!

 

[Jack1234]

Thanks for the advice all. I'm considering it the more I think about it, for the Fulham game - last home of the season. I know it is a rivalry but I doubt they'll be any trouble really.

He'll get the bug, like TomPNE and titltontrev's son I hope.

I've convinced the missus I'll leave if he gets too restless or cries constantly, which I will do. She's also now worried about nappy changing, but I expect they'll be baby changing facilities, especially in the family stand. I'll check with the club I guess.

 

[tiltontrev]

Enjoy the next 2-3 years of missing goals and pivotal moments taking him to the toilet, their timing for it is uncanny!!!

 

[roversfan2001]

I went to my first game when I was 4, I didn't go regularly and enjoy it til I was 8. If your lad shows interest in footy now then deffo take him; if he loses interest at games, might be better holding off for a couple of years.

 

[Jack1234]

It is reassuring to read good experiences with little ones and some experiences as little ones.

I have to say when I've been to games with the lads I've seen dads alone with their kids, some as young as toddlers and babies at times.

I have decided I'll see if the missus wants to come with us to Griffin Park, suggest it'll be a good family day out. That way she can see the atmosphere, see I can manage alone with him and if he likes it. And she can see the facilities herself and that they'll be a concourse to soothe him, and change his nappy and that.

Ifmy boy likes it and his mum is happy with the atmosphere and me coping with him, I'll go again alone with him, regularly hopefully.

If we go, it will be a week Saturday so I will be sure to feedback on here.

 

[Ciderup]

ADMIN - Can this be moved if in wrong place please?

I'm a young dad of a 22-month-old toddler. I really want to take him to a football match with me at my beloved Brentford. It's at a relatively large stadium of 12,000 but not massive by any means.

They have a family stand and staff said I would be best sat there. I am happy for him to sit on my lap and would bring plenty of toys for him. He likes football and has already got all the Brentford gear he wears a lot.

But his mum is completely against the idea and says he is too young.

What do you think?

I tried taking one of mine at 4 and it was a nightmare! I hardly got to see any of the game as he just wouldn't sit still. Once he was about 6, he understood what was going on, a bit, so enjoyed it. If you want to actually watch the game, I would say he's too young. Maybe try a pre season game?

I take my 3 year old daughter to rovers sometimes and she enjoys it. Might not completely understand what's going on but enjoys the atmosphere. It helps that a few people I know also take young kids. Give it a go, if he doesn't like it then wait a few years and try again.

You cruel bugger! What has she done to you to make her watch that?

 

[Richard Cranium]

Don't do it, He'll hate you in 15 years

 

[ag8]

waited for all my kids to ask to come,about 4-5 years and worked out fine

 

[Dazza]

I personally would wait until he is older. Mate took his 2 year old to a game and he spent the whole first half crying and didn't like the noise. (Should have taken him to the Mad Stad where there is no noise) He ended up leaving the game at half time.

 

[You Orns]

I was taken to my first game at 4 months (shows that I was literally forced to be a Watford fan from birth) and was used by my godfather to taunt the Chesterfield fans after we scored.

I didn't start going regularly until I was 3/4 though and even then didn't properly get into it until my mid teens, but the reason why I got into Watford in particular rather than glory hunting like all my friends did was because of my early indoctrination so I'd say go for it.

 

[Jack1234]

Hey

I went to the game at Brentford with my boy and missus today so thought I'd feedback, as suggested.

It was a lovely day, a good family experience. As understood I didn't see the whole game, with taking Leo away when he was upset and having little walks etc, but I could tell he enjoyed it and his mum did. I think it reassured here it was fine for me to take him alone as the atmosphere was not hostile, it was fun and we were in the friendly family zone.

We arrived in plenty of time and there were plenty of activities going in the family stand, most of which were a bit too old for Leo but that was still cool. I had told the ticket office lad my son would sit on my lap when buying the tickets but you have to pay for youngsters of all age so he had a seat, but we spent most of the time on our feet and I made sure we were on the aisle.

I made sure I was entertaining my boy as much as watching the game so the missus could see it was a great dad and son experience. He was a bit scared when the teams came out, what with the noise and he cried once but I took him away to soothe him. He liked the rest, me and the partner could tell, and there were plenty of mums and dads and dads alone with their kids, including toddler's Leo's age. We bought plenty of toys for him so that's important.

He needed changing in the second half. To reassure the missus, I took him away to do the nappy. But the changing facility was in the ladies' loos in the family zone and there was no disabled loo or quiet concourse area I'd hoped to find.

But I wanted to change him to show my missus I was able to in future. I asked a steward and, credit Brentford to be honest, the young lad suggested I use the changing table in the ladies' and he would stand in front of the door to ensure no one would come in. So I changed him there and missus was happy. To be honest, he'll be out of nappies soon, certainly I'd hope so by next season, so that's less a concern.

So overall, it was a really fun experience. We all enjoyed it. The family zone is really good, we bought plenty of toys for Leo and, despite a couple of upsetting moments, he was pretty engrossed. I was happy to miss bits of the match and take him on walks and that. I think the missus was cool with it all — and though she's not said so yet, I'm sure she's convinced enough to let me and Leo go alone soon.

Thanks for the help guys

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

If anybody believes this is still legit and not a weird wind up after that then they need a word with themself.

 

[JJH]

If anybody believes this is still legit and not a weird wind up after that then they need a word with themself.

What about it is a 'weird wind up'...?

 

[StevieEvansRedNWhiteArmy]

What about it is a 'weird wind up'...?

Well by sounds of it he did everything but sit in his seat and watch the game (if it is real that's a fucking hinderance).

Literally every problem that he mentioned he might encounter before the game, he ended up having to overcome, right coincidence.

Language used was over the top and despite him crying at numerous times and needing walks and toys, he was engrossed in the football!

Think about it.

You've all fell for that hook line and sinker, your responses have all been used in some students coursework.

Do you really believe that somebody stumbled across this site and needed opinions from dozens of randomers?

 

[JJH]

Well by sounds of it he did everything but sit in his seat and watch the game (if it is real that's a fucking hinderance).

Literally every problem that he mentioned he might encounter before the game, he ended up having to overcome, right coincidence.

Language used was over the top and despite him crying at numerous times and needing walks and toys, he was engrossed in the football!

Think about it.

You've all fell for that hook line and sinker, your responses have all been used in some students coursework.

Do you really believe that somebody stumbled across this site and needed opinions from dozens of randomers?

 

[johnnytodd]

I first went before I was 2, had a season ticket since I was 4. Definitely take him!

100% LIE

 

[TomPNE94]

100% LIE

Erm, okay?