Before I had my daughter, I didn’t think my life would change that much. Would it?
We’d still do all the things we did before, like go to festivals - she’d just slot in with whatever we wanted to do. Wouldn’t she?
Then I actually had her (along with a sharp reality check) and the idea of travelling for miles to camp in a muddy field with a baby suddenly seemed about as appealing as an episiotomy. Luckily, we’ve got Bluedot Festival on our doorstep here in the north west - one of the most family-friendly festivals in the UK and only a half-hour drive from home for us, meaning it’s totally do-able as a day trip if you don’t fancy the full weekend experience.
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So off we went to Jodrell Bank to see just how different things would be with a now-toddler in tow. Here are the things I wish I’d known before we went - and a few things I’m really glad I did.
I wouldn’t really get to see any music acts
At 17 months old, my daughter has an attention span roughly the length of one episode of Peppa Pig. Expecting her to sit through a full set, even a festival-length one, was never going to happen. We managed to catch snatches of music from the main stage while she ran around the grass in the afternoon, but the days of cramming into a sweaty tent or squeezing our way to the front row for the headliners are behind us.
At Bluedot though, that hardly matters. There’s plenty to do away from the music stages, with a full programme of family entertainment including science shows and activities, kids’ film screenings, dance classes and discos, plus attractions such as the Actual Reality Arcade, an interactive games zone bringing classics like PacMan and Tetris to life.
Probably the most popular is the Luminarium - an inflatable labyrinth of tunnels and domes that immerses visitors in a dreamlike world of colour and light (get there early or be prepared to queue).
The ear defenders I bought would be a total waste of money
I saw plenty of kids happily wearing theirs, eardrums safely protected. Mine tolerated hers for about three minutes.
I don’t negotiate with terrorists, so in the end we just kept her away from the loudest areas as much as possible.
I may as well have posted the £15 I spent on them straight into the nappy bin.
A camping trolley would have been a better investment
I’d seen kids being carted about in them at festivals before, tucked in with cosy blankets beneath twinkling fairy lights, and thought they looked like a great idea. But for a once-a-year outing (I’m not much of a camper), I didn’t think the cost-per-use stacked up for me.
I’d definitely consider buying or hiring one next time though, especially if we were there for the full weekend.
We borrowed a backpack carrier but in the end we just used our standard buggy. It coped okay on the fields but I did keep having to unclog grass from the wheels - and had it been muddy I would have struggled.
I saw lots of parents far better prepared than me with three-wheeled mountain buggies or bike trailers breezing across the grass. Fortunately a good portion of the Jodrell Bank site is paved and accessible, and there were plenty of other people managing just fine with ordinary prams.
One thing I’m glad I did bring was our SnoozeShade - a blackout sun cover you can drape over the pram. It helped to shut out the sensory overload around us so she could drop off for a nap when she was flagging but fighting it.
A rave is a rude awakening from a nap
Having never been to a Big Fish Little Fish event before, I assumed its ‘family raves’ would be pretty tame.
Turns out there are definitely gentler ways to rouse a toddler from a nap than the blistering acid house blasting out from the Deep Space Disco stage.
We were out of there pretty sharpish when she made her displeasure known even more loudly than the thundering bass. Pity - everyone else looked like they were having fun.
That there was an under-fives play area
I didn’t see it anywhere on the Bluedot website, app or map, but as we were leaving we stumbled upon an NCT play tent especially for under-fives. It’s a shame we didn’t spot it sooner - with a bar nearby, picnic tables and loads of toys and activities, it would have made a great base earlier in the day.
The rest of the festival’s family facilities are much better signposted, including a handy baby-changing and feeding area in the Star Field. As a site, it’s set up incredibly well for kids - compact enough for little legs to explore easily, and being based at a visitor attraction like Jodrell Bank it has the benefit of things like a proper playground too.
The simple joys are the best
Watching my daughter chase bubbles around the Star Field, delight in a ‘choc choc’ ice cream, point at the fluttering flags and gaze in wonder at the Lovell telescope made me remember what festivals are all about - letting your inner child loose and your imagination run wild. I’m grateful to her, and to Bluedot, for the reminder.
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