Olympia seating with a baby!

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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Olympia tickets go on sale tomorrow, yay!
I'm booking for puissance night and my baby will be a year old when we go. For anyone who's been with a little one before, are we best going for front row seats so I have more leg room and a better view for her whilst she's on our lap, or shall I go further back?
 
Honestly, I'd go further back on an end seat so u can both move out if u need to and do if she squeels in excitement it won't effect the horse in the ring (it's very close at Olympia) the front row doesn't really have more leg room. You get a better view further back as well (when I was at the front it was slightly too low to see everything) enjoy!
 
And I am a Mum so please don't take this as a discriminatory post but lots of babies and small children spoil it for the people who have also bought a ticket but have to listen to screaming/whingeing/moaning etc. etc, so near the stairs would be good perhaps.
 
Thanks, I did think about her making noise but she is a very good baby, but in another 6/7 months time she may be more vocal! I was planning on getting an isle seat anyway, but il go a bit further back now, especially if the view is a bit better.
 
There is a row of seats on one side that has a wide walkway in front of them. Ask at the box office which row it is... I sat in the same row two yrs ago. You could move freely at least 5 ft in front of you.
 
Clodagh said:
And I am a Mum so please don't take this as a discriminatory post but lots of babies and small children spoil it for the people who have also bought a ticket but have to listen to screaming/whingeing/moaning etc. etc, so near the stairs would be good perhaps.
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Well said.
 
You don't get much room at Olympia (not even for your shopping) so unless you get a front row seat or one where there is a walk way I wouldn't be taking your baby. It is also very noisy (not so much through the jumping) but between acts and during the dogs, Shetland grand national etc. So not sure your baby would like the noise.

Could you not find a babysitter? :o
 
Sorry but could you not leave your baby at home. When I went last year, I had a baby near me screaming the whole time and quite frankly I was very peed off!!!!!!!!!!! not a place to take a baby and distrupt everyones viewing. Don't take offense but I think it is rude of people to take a baby to something like this especially when people have paid money to go.
 
BBH said:
Double well said :D

Also can't imagine it'll be much fun for a baby with all that noise, disruption, crowds etc etc

There are some occasions where a babysitter is your friend.
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This.

I'm sure you'd have a better time not spending the whole time looking after your baby and trying to keep her quiet and occupied - and so would everyone around you who are likely to get irate if your baby is crying or shouting, or you have to keep getting up and down to look after her needs.

If you absolutely insist on taking her then I'd go for a seat a little further back, right at the end of a row by the stairs so you can easily get up and take her out without disturbing anyone else - but in all honesty I think you'd be better off arranging a babysitter.
 
I remember being at the British Open one year and someone the other side of the arena had a baby which screamed. They made no attempt to take it out, let it scream and pi££ everyone off, not to mention how off putting it must be for the riders and horses who are in the ring.

By 1yo surely you won't mind leaving the baby for one evening, with grandparents or family? I really don't think it's fair on the baby to be expected to stay up all night (friends of mine who have kids get to a point where they have to take them home, even the babies, because they don't sleep properly away from home and get grouchy). Unfair on the baby, unfair on the horses and riders if it screams, and unfair on the other spectators who've paid a fair bit of money to watch.

How would you feel if your baby starts screaming during someone's Puissance decider jump?
 
A one year old is different from a small baby- much more active and it would be very hard on the child to expect him to stay sitting in yout lap- he will want to crawl about and will become frustrated if confined except for the time he is asleep.
 
SNORKEY said:
Olympia tickets go on sale tomorrow, yay!
I'm booking for puissance night and my baby will be a year old when we go. For anyone who's been with a little one before, are we best going for front row seats so I have more leg room and a better view for her whilst she's on our lap, or shall I go further back?
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Nowhere near me please!
 
I'd personally leave the baby at home and have a well earned rest and evening out without any baby to worry about. Taking a pushchair around the shoppping area is going to be a nightmare for you, at best. Go and enjoy yourself I'm sure you deserve it :):)
 
I cant imagine anything worse than having to take a baby/young child to anywhere you have to be quiet and sit in the same place for a few hours!! My daughter is four and I still wouldnt dream of taking her, be boring for her and a pain for me and other people trying to enjoy it.
 
SNORKEY said:
Olympia tickets go on sale tomorrow, yay!
I'm booking for puissance night and my baby will be a year old when we go. For anyone who's been with a little one before, are we best going for front row seats so I have more leg room and a better view for her whilst she's on our lap, or shall I go further back?
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She will be one, she won't be viewing the horses and marvelling at their scope.
 
What a load of miseries Maybe you cannot leave baby behind and to be honest kids make these sort of events. Ok she will be a bit young to enjoy it but a good baby who is enthralled by the noise lights and colour is a pleasure to have around and who is to say she wont be. To my mind if you have to take her get a seat in the second block back at the front where you can get out easily and have loads of room in front of you and close to the stairs
I would guess leaving her behind may be the best option for you to enjoy it though as if she is noisy and disruptive you will feel obliged to go out and you will miss what you want to see and have paid all that money for. Not that I am saying that I wouldnt make her very welcome if she was near me but I do think if possible she would be better off at home in her normal routine
I love kids and as long as they are not constantly screaming love to see them out in public. I am a granny now but it makes no difference I think it is great to see kids with their parents out enjoying themselves
 
Just as a matter of interest, how much do tickets cost for children? If they cost less than an adult ticket would, then please leave them at home if they are likely to cause any problem at all for those who have paid full price for their ticket. Buggies are a nightmare in the shopping vilage, getting in the way, being rammed into peoples ankles, children sticking ice cream, lollies etc out onto other peoples clothes. When the child is old enough to enjoy the experience, then by all means take them, but before then please think of the child and the other spectators and the leave the child at home. I am sure that you are besotted with your child (well I hope you are!) but the rest of us have the right not to be, so please arrange a baby sitter.
 
I would of been just like you ladies before I had a baby! I've booked the second block back next to the stairs. She's free to take, but if by the time she goes she's a little horror then she'll stay with my parents. But we want to take her as she loves dogs and horses and I think she'd love it. We're also staying the night and planning on taking her to the rain forest cafe.
I'd never let her cry and ruin anyone else's enjoyment and hubby will take her out if she does get upset, and we will be leaving the buggy in the buggy park, and hubby will be carrying her around the shops!
 
Booking my tickets later (£53 each :eek:) I am taking my 2 young cousins (both 13) one is Horse mad, the other just wants a night out, she has been before though and seemed to really enjoy it.

I would be quite angry with I was next to a screaming baby all night. The tickets are very expensive. Whilst it would be lovely for you to enjoy it with your child, they don't know whats going on. It will also be stressful for you as the shopping village gets packed!
 
Just out of interest how many of you have had baby's? They don't scream all the time and my baby is very happy and rarely cries.
They don't stick ice lollys over people either! Lol
I'm a sensible mummy and I think about other people more than I think about myself, I'm in block 16 on Thursday night if any of you do want to avoid me! 😜
 
I wouldn't take a baby...it's not going to know what's going on and even the nicest, most well behaved of babies will take paddies when things are different. It's lot of money to listen to something wailing and girning. Might be more fun to just be able to relax and have a nice night. There're many years ahead of you to have fun. :)
 
I took my one year old to an all day horse anatomy lecture (the ones where they paint the skeleton and muscles on a live horse then school it - really interesting) - we was facinated himself for a few hours then entertained with books toys and snacks and I skipped the last hour (looking at photos of confirmation) as he got tired.
all the other people on the day complimented me on how well behaved he was and no fuss at all.
Since he was tiny he's been used to watching me go round and round from a pram, I'm sure there are horrible screamy babies but equally there are lots that are perfectly well behaved (like horses really!)
 
SNORKEY said:
Just out of interest how many of you have had baby's? They don't scream all the time and my baby is very happy and rarely cries.
They don't stick ice lollys over people either! Lol
I'm a sensible mummy and I think about other people more than I think about myself, I'm in block 16 on Thursday night if any of you do want to avoid me! ��
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Im in Block 17 so will keep an eye out for you :D
 
SNORKEY said:
Just out of interest how many of you have had baby's? They don't scream all the time and my baby is very happy and rarely cries.
They don't stick ice lollys over people either! Lol
I'm a sensible mummy and I think about other people more than I think about myself, I'm in block 16 on Thursday night if any of you do want to avoid me! ��
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I have and the main difference is I have had two one year olds and you haven't! I hope you have a great time and it is fine.
 
having made the mistake of taking my daughter to watch the Paralympic dressage last year (she would of been one and a half) id say leave baby at home! my daughter has always been "good" even as a newborn never cried. Loves horses but lasted exactly half a test before she was fed up with sitting still!!

fortunately it was in the park so I took her out to run about and watched the screens but there isn't that option at Olympia.

I know you've said you'll take him out if he crys but you've then paid all that money for a bit of shopping?!
 
Ooh this is always an emotive subject.

To me Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Olympia and children love it. Personally mine didn't go until the age of about 6 by which time they are old enough to understand they must be quiet at certain times eg dressage puissance and can make as much noise as they like in pony club games Shetland Grand National.

Last year the Kur was ruined for us by a screaming baby in front of us. All around were really irritated and there were stage whispers suggesting she should have got a babysitter. The woman rather than taking the child out addressed the crowd with the comment she couldn't afford it. My view on that was rather than a premium seat get a cheaper one and pay a sitter:rolleyes:

Personally speaking my children at a young age at this type of event would have probably alternated between being bored and over excited.

OP give yourself a break leave the baby at home it will be more fun for you :-) and the baby will be way too young to enjoy it.

We will all be listening out for you thursday night now lol.
 
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