Tailgating/game day with kids
- Thread starter MJ29
- Start date
It was my experience in 2018 and 2019 that with a baby, you can do whatever the hell you want, take in whatever the hell you want. We loaded our backpack/diaper bag full of all sorts of baby stuff, even a few adult snacks in there.
We also got some of those baby headphones but could never get baby to wear them without throwing a fit.
We also got some of those baby headphones but could never get baby to wear them without throwing a fit.
I started bringing my kids when they still allowed clone club member unto the field. They were usually around 4 years old. That made it really special. Otherwise I was not taking my infant or even toddler to a game. But its good to get them started early. My oldest lovers coming to games and can now drive so..........cheers!
We took our kids when they were infants. They each would have been around 4-5 months old at the time of their first game. We had hearing protection for them and we also used a baby carrier, babybjorn I think, and that was super helpful. I'm not sure if we stayed for more than a half though.
Toddler Pro Tip-
Bring in 2 blackets-
Make a Tent- Use one blanket on the seat, covering the whole seat, drapping it to the ground.
Put Blanket #2 on the floor of their "New Tent"...
Give them games, toys, paw patrols, football cards, books, phone games, etc.
We didn't see our youngest for quarters at a time, except when a little hand would showup and sneak popcorn, which we fed like a little gremlin.....
Bring in 2 blackets-
Make a Tent- Use one blanket on the seat, covering the whole seat, drapping it to the ground.
Put Blanket #2 on the floor of their "New Tent"...
Give them games, toys, paw patrols, football cards, books, phone games, etc.
We didn't see our youngest for quarters at a time, except when a little hand would showup and sneak popcorn, which we fed like a little gremlin.....
Wow, If an infant can do all that then they are future ISU engineering major AND MC will be recruiting!
We are going to be bringing our almost two year-old twins next Saturday. Do you think we need ear protection for them?
We started bringing our late June baby that fall & didn't have any issues - I would definitely recommend bringing the baby at least for a couple nice weather games. We did use the earmuffs, think they helped baby sleep at the very least. Also agree with the baby carrier recommendations, those help a lot.
I don't really remember ever leaving any of those games early, she usually slept through at least half of them.
I don't really remember ever leaving any of those games early, she usually slept through at least half of them.
We took several kids with newborns to FB & MBB games. Both mothers were nursing, so that eliminated the bottles and warming equipment. MBB was easy because we just moved up to the top rows so that there was less activity around them. It's a little harder to escape that at football and still see them game. You probably won't get to see much of the games...babies tend to have needs on their own schedules. 
Might be a good idea to get baby used to wearing the headphones at home before going to the game, They're often stressed already by all of the new sounds & sights
The years that granddaughter #5 was a toddler, her parents had season ticket seats next to us, I didn't see much basketball because the little one was a bundle of energy and she liked to run on the concourse. Her favorite game was running through the women's bathroom and coming out the other end to "find" grandma.
Might be a good idea to get baby used to wearing the headphones at home before going to the game, They're often stressed already by all of the new sounds & sights
The years that granddaughter #5 was a toddler, her parents had season ticket seats next to us, I didn't see much basketball because the little one was a bundle of energy and she liked to run on the concourse. Her favorite game was running through the women's bathroom and coming out the other end to "find" grandma.
This is me. My wife has not been interested in season tickets since we had kids so she stays home with our 7 and 4 year olds. My 7 year old is just finally starting to show some interest in going to a FB game but until she can pay attention to a game at home with me she is not going to a game at JT. I don't mind taking them to Hilton with me because the game is shorter, it is indoors, and there is enough at Hilton going on to keep them interested for a couple hours.
I just can't imagine trying to take a kid with me that is still in diapers let alone just a few months old still. Tailgates and inside the stadium just isn't a great place to be dealing with all that IMO, we got grandparents or a babysitter to watch the kids if I have an extra ticket in our group and my wife wants to come along. When the kids get to the point they actually want to watch the game and have fun at it then will probably get the Jr Cyclone club membership at that point. Kudos to those parents that want to bring their kids to everything but for me I don't see the point of bringing my kids along unless they are going to enjoy it too.
We didn't bring our daughter until she was at least 2 (July birthday) and she might have been 3. We were there for tailgating and the game, and she wouldn't have been. None of us missed anything. If it's important to you to have your baby there, be aware that it might not happen the way you hope. Doesn't mean you failed as a parent or a Cyclone fan. You're still great at both!
I suppose it might have been different if CF had been around then and I'd feel kind of shamed that I didn't give my baby all the opportunities possible to be at a game.....
I suppose it might have been different if CF had been around then and I'd feel kind of shamed that I didn't give my baby all the opportunities possible to be at a game.....
None of ours came until they were about 3. The difference for when you and we brought our kids is that sell outs weren't that common. When the stadium is packed, I get tossed around even sometimes after a touchdown/big play/interception when everyone flies up. We had one of our younger ones at the 3 OT Iowa game that was full and that was kinda miserable. Hot, sweaty, kids isn't happy and you can't give them any space. There will not be a bunch of open seats unless you are the top few rows and not one of the big games even then.We didn't bring our daughter until she was at least 2 (July birthday) and she might have been 3. We were there for tailgating and the game, and she wouldn't have been. None of us missed anything. If it's important to you to have your baby there, be aware that it might not happen the way you hope. Doesn't mean you failed as a parent or a Cyclone fan. You're still great at both!
I suppose it might have been different if CF had been around then and I'd feel kind of shamed that I didn't give my baby all the opportunities possible to be at a game.....
Absolutely true, and I neglected to mention the available space. We started in the old section 16, which was farthest to the south on the west side. Even though we had far right seats, there often was no one within several seats of us. Lots of room to spread out, but our daughter wasn't interested in playing with other kids even if there had been more than one in the vicinity.
We eventually moved to section 14, then 12, and kind of settled in 11 for many years. We kept all four seats even when DD went to college and then moved out to get married and live with someone else.
Back to topic at hand, whatever one decides to do with or without their young ones, I will support. I reserve the right, though, to say I never would have done that
There is actually a LOT going on during a gameday for kids to enjoy, ESPECIALLY once they're 3+. Our kids rarely pay attention to much of the game, but they love things like playing with other kids at tailgates, finding/seeing Cy, watching the cheerleaders/band, eating stadium food, and just hanging out with their cool dad. I see it as making family memories doing the thing I enjoy the most - sure, it was fun 10 years ago getting hammered with just me & the buddies, but I have just as much fun (if not more) with the kids there with me.
