Any young parents care to share any tips? Our first born is about to turn one month, so will be 2 months old at beginning of the season. How doable is it for those that have done it? Best section/area to sit? I've always sat in young alumni or student section but changing a diaper in a porta-potty just seems like a nightmare.

I even joked about going to the UT game while we're both still off work and wife seems open to the idea, but not sure how rowdy or good of an idea that would be with an infant, haha. I would just love to be there.

Excited to raise my son a Golden Bear!
Go Bears!

Hey that's awesome that you are bringing your little one! I don't have any little ones, therefore, I can't offer any sound advice but, to "just roll with it" bring snacks for sure! I usually sit in DD section and the fans are really into it regardless of our on field performance! First time I would try to find some seats where it may not be as crowded that way you can give your little one some room to move around as he may get a bit restless...good stuff! Hope you and the family can enjoy some games this year!

I'd say be prepared to leave the game early, in the event you have a diaper situation or something.

Also, I'd opt to sit towards the back seats

My advice is be prepared to leave early and to walk around a lot, depending on what your baby is like. Unit2Sucks Jr. at about 7 months old had fun smiling at our neighbors and receiving feedback from great and patient Cal fans in ESP at the UW game last year, but didn't love the loud noises or sitting still for more than a quarter. Perhaps Shaq and his fumble return TD was partially to blame. Don't expect to spend 3 tear-free hours at the stadium. I actually think changing diapers in the bathroom, even outside of ESP is the least of the difficulties in bringing a junior bear to the game.

I'd recommend sitting on the shady side with infants/kids. I, like you, mostly sat in Young Alumni until I started bringing little ones, and there's no way they would have lasted very long in the sun. And the Season Opener against Grambling on Sept 5 is a perfect time to bring babies/kids since it won't be too full.

As much as Austin sounds like fun, I'd sit this one out personally if I had to drag the little one in tow. But if you are one of those people who just roll with it no matter the situation, then all the more power to you. You're a better man than I!

Congrats on the Bear cub. Definitely sit on the Westside under the shade and near the new facilities and skip the Eastside. Also you can easily take a short walk in the concourse. Go back to the young alumni section when the kid is out of diapers.

I agree with the above responses. It has been years since our kids were infants at the Cal games (and it was during the end of the Holmoe era and beginning of JT's era so there was plenty of space to spread out). I do recall looking for shade and walking around Memorial's shady, quieter spots several times (my wife more than me, to be honest).

Great memories for you, if you can pull it off. Go Bears!

ferCALgm2;842521411 said:

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Any young parents care to share any tips? Our first born is about to turn one month, so will be 2 months old at beginning of the season. How doable is it for those that have done it? Best section/area to sit? I've always sat in young alumni or student section but changing a diaper in a porta-potty just seems like a nightmare.

I even joked about going to the UT game while we're both still off work and wife seems open to the idea, but not sure how rowdy or good of an idea that would be with an infant, haha. I would just love to be there.

Excited to raise my son a Golden Bear!
Go Bears!

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Please make sure that your child's hearing is protected. While an infant will sleep during a noisy event (like a football game) I learned a long time ago that this is a typical response to a noisy environment. Even so, the infant's hearing needs protection.

When my oldest was but an infant, we put him in a sling and took him into his first game (the 1993 game vs. UW). I made sure that I was absolutely sober the entire time.

We had a diaper bag with us and took formula that we mixed with pre-measured amounts of both formula and tap water. We used bottles with lids so that we could shake the water and formula to thoroughly mix, then poured into a feeding bottle with plastic liner.

If you can sit in any section with access to the Main Concourse, you should have access to restrooms with changing stations.

Unit2Sucks;842521422 said:

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Don't expect to spend 3 tear-free hours at the stadium.

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Is that just for him, or all of us?

Great tips, everyone!

Unit2Sucks;842521422 said:

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My advice is be prepared to leave early and to walk around a lot, depending on what your baby is like. Unit2Sucks Jr. at about 7 months old had fun smiling at our neighbors and receiving feedback from great and patient Cal fans in ESP at the UW game last year, but didn't love the loud noises or sitting still for more than a quarter. Perhaps Shaq and his fumble return TD was partially to blame. Don't expect to spend 3 tear-free hours at the stadium. I actually think changing diapers in the bathroom, even outside of ESP is the least of the difficulties in bringing a junior bear to the game.

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1. Dress your child in Cal gear (that will win over your seat neighbors)
2. Bring lots of water, food, diapers for your child.
3. Be prepared to walk them around if they get fussy. (But there are plenty of good views of the field from all around Memorial. )
4. Remember they take their emotional cues from you. If you are happy they are happy. If you are angry they get upset. So hold back any angry screams at the refs
5. Pay attention to them and involve them. Hold them in your arms and bounce them up and down to the Cal fight songs. (You will be surprised how quickly they learn them. And they will remember them for the rest of their lives.)
6. Remember that most can sleep through a typhoon if they are fed and warm and tired.
7. Be persistent and follow the same ritual for every game. Kids like doing the same thing over and over. Home football games mean......

It might seem a pain some times but when you look back after a few years you will remember them as the best days of your life. (My kids are in their mid-30's and started coming to Cal games as infants.

Go!Bears;842521436 said:

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Is that just for him, or all of us?

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HAHAHA. Hopefully this year just for the little ones.

Stroller check in is on the Northwest side of the stadium, in the concourse area. Be prepared to spend limited time in your seat

BeggarEd;842521452 said:

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Stroller check in is on the Northwest side of the stadium, in the concourse area. Be prepared to spend limited time in your seat

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Anticipate the cannon shot and cover your babies ears! My son was 9 months old when we brought him to his first game, and every time that cannon went off he freaked out (and hopefully it goes off a lot this season).

I wouldn't even try lol.

My Wife and I took my now 8 month old to the Spring game when he was 4 months old and he did not have a great time. We made it about 20 minutes into it before he wanted to go.

But if you don't mind leaving early (maybe even super early) then its worth a shot. I'm the kind of person who hates being late and hates leaving early. For the spring game I was okay with it but I'm not sure I would be too happy if it were a real game.

Although as a positive the Women's LAX team loved my son.

Pay attention to the weather. Rainy night games with little kids can be fun, if you are relatively warm and dry. If the kids are cold and wet they are a nightmare.

Good advice thus far. Be ready for walks. Be ready for the cannon.

We brought our kids o every home game from infancy to junior high school. Great times.

We took our first daughter to her first game when she was one month old. Well, it was the Big Game. We were moved from I to I think DD, but alumni side. She slept most of it - changed diapers in the changing area in the bathrooms - alternated with Mom on the diaper task - no bottles,as she was nursing. But, the tip on bottles is a great one. However, I had her on my lap for the final exciting play (not THE Play) and I missed it visually but could tell what was happening from the sound of the crowd. So at two months - you should be okay. The biggest problem was the next season with all of the stuff - stroller, diaper bag and other junk - and once she started walking, it was walking up and down the stairs and around the interior and up and down the stairs.

ferCALgm2;842521411 said:

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Any young parents care to share any tips? Our first born is about to turn one month, so will be 2 months old at beginning of the season. How doable is it for those that have done it? Best section/area to sit? I've always sat in young alumni or student section but changing a diaper in a porta-potty just seems like a nightmare.

I even joked about going to the UT game while we're both still off work and wife seems open to the idea, but not sure how rowdy or good of an idea that would be with an infant, haha. I would just love to be there.

Excited to raise my son a Golden Bear!
Go Bears!

---

1-2 months seems a little early, though I did take my son at one month to that Real Madrid soccer game last year. We treated it as a dry run for Cal football. By 3 months, I think you're fine.

I was in your boat last year - my son was born late-June. The most important thing is you're going to need to be in the shade. Strike that. The most important thing is you need a supportive wife who will take the baby when necessary. But get in the shade, the baby cannot be in the sun, even if covered, it is just too hot.

We sit in EE, covered by the overhang of the press box. The sun is rarely a problem. When it is, or if the baby needs to be fed/changed, you can just pop down and do your thing (or have your wife do her thing). The grassy tables out above the SAHPC but inside the stadium are a nice place to feed the baby.

Also, introduce yourselves and your baby to your seat mates. Hopefully your kid is as cute as mine (), because then everybody around you will like the baby and not get annoyed if/when the baby cries. And dress the child in Cal gear, of course. Our baby was mostly good during games, but there were a couple times my wife disappeared with him for a quarter and then I might get a text asking me to bring her food/drink.

Also, if you need to heat breast milk/water for formula, be warned that it was extremely difficult to find hot water in the stadium. The concessions did not seem to have any. One lady gave me "hot" water from the tap, which was barely warm.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Took L'il 2th to her first game at 12 days old....Basketball....Feb baby.
First Football game at 7 months.
The first game was a joke....wifey had us bring the entire tool and toy boxes.
Game 2 was different....no wifey.
Lean and mean diaper bag, pumped milk bottles. wipes and 5 diapers, 3 gallon size zip lock bagss.
Changed right at the seat.....had an extra one...no wifey.
Stroller got locked to Haas Bus bike rack.
Never looked back.....
She went to every home game until age 7......damn soccer.
Have fun........
and remember......Lean and Mean.

great thread

going4roses;842521476 said:

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great thread

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+1 I'm applying the same logic (shade, near restrooms/refreshments, easy escape for a walk) to a game I might go to with out-of-town alum/friends who aren't so much into football. I'd only bring the hardcore fan or sun-lovers to the Westside.

You are a hero, seriously mad respect.

Bears2thDoc;842521467 said:

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Took L'il 2th to her first game at 12 days old....Basketball....Feb baby.
First Football game at 7 months.
The first game was a joke....wifey had us bring the entire tool and toy boxes.
Game 2 was different....no wifey.
Lean and mean diaper bag, pumped milk bottles. wipes and 5 diapers, 3 gallon size zip lock bagss.
Changed right at the seat.....had an extra one...no wifey.
Stroller got locked to Haas Bus bike rack.
Never looked back.....
She went to every home game until age 7......damn soccer.
Have fun........
and remember......Lean and Mean.

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And if you can't sit on the shady side then bring a 24"x36" piece of cardboard - fold it and use it as a shield for the baby. Sunscreen will not prevent them from getting hot. Umbrellas work too but likely have been banned.

The first year isn't so hard. It's the 3-4 after that. My son rocked a LOUD Cal-Stanford basketball game at 3 mos, then easily made it through the "Tiger Woods Big Game" at 11 mos. Then he needed a break for 4+ years, which seemed right to me (no fun for kid = no fun for Mom/Dad). Effective this past basketball season, he's back in the mix. He may disturb those around us, but it's because he's yelling for Cal, which I can handle.

Big C_Cal;842521661 said:

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The first year isn't so hard. It's the 3-4 after that. My son rocked a LOUD Cal-Stanford basketball game at 3 mos, then easily made it through the "Tiger Woods Big Game" at 11 mos. Then he needed a break for 4+ years, which seemed right to me (no fun for kid = no fun for Mom/Dad). Effective this past basketball season, he's back in the mix. He may disturb those around us, but it's because he's yelling for Cal, which I can handle.

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I found that my kids at years 2-5 were very enjoyable as long as they had plenty to eat and drink and as long as you involved them in being a fan.

Sing the Cal songs (little kids love to sing the same songs over and over again especially when an adult is participating) put some action into your efforts ("So then its UP [jump up or point up] with the Blue and Gold and DOWN [sit down or point down] with the red red red red") make it fun.
Point out what is going on around them.
Explain to them what is happening on the field.("See that man. He is Cal player and is running away with the ball. Say 'Touchdown California'. Now put both hands up. Now say 'Go Bears'.")
You are making it fun and entertaining for them to go to the game.
We had one little ritual to keep them interested. We had a small Cal flag. When Cal made a good play the kids would take turns waiving the flag. Each of my three kids couldn't wait for his or her turn to waive the flag.

You cannot act like you did before the kids. When you carried on long adult conversations with the fans around you or when you focused only on the game and what play was going to be called next.

Few young kids know how to entertain them selves at a football game. If you don't make it fun for the kids. They will make it not fun for you.
Don't worry by age 5 they will be well indoctrinated.

GivemTheAxe;842521670 said:

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I found that my kids at years 2-5 were very enjoyable as long as they had plenty to eat and drink and as long as you involved them in being a fan....

You are making it fun and entertaining for them to go to the game. We had one little ritual to keep them interested....

You cannot act like you did before the kids....

Few young kids know how to entertain them selves at a football game. If you don't make it fun for the kids. They will make it not fun for you.
Don't worry by age 5 they will be well indoctrinated.

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Your game-day will be different. We had our rituals that broke the game up into smaller bits that better held their attention. It was easier back in the day when there were more empty spaces. We usually sat in a different spot every quarter. Moving always included seeing something in the stadium (Oski, the Band) or going to buy food. You gave up part of the game to get them recharged to watch a bit more and if you were lucky you had a good seat and pliant kids for the fourth quarter.

I have always wondered if it was not bordering on child abuse, however. Not the Game-Day experience - but developing in them a love of something that I knew would lead to a lifetime of pain and heartbreak - not the least part of which is the possibility that the thing they love will reject them. Oh well, it's done now and I have someone who will share with me at Memorial whatever comes. For me, it was worth the investment. Probably do it to the Grandkids, too...

Bears2thDoc;842521467 said:

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Took L'il 2th to her first game at 12 days old....Basketball....Feb baby.
First Football game at 7 months.
The first game was a joke....wifey had us bring the entire tool and toy boxes.
Game 2 was different....no wifey.
Lean and mean diaper bag, pumped milk bottles. wipes and 5 diapers, 3 gallon size zip lock bagss.
Changed right at the seat.....had an extra one...no wifey.
Stroller got locked to Haas Bus bike rack.
Never looked back.....
She went to every home game until age 7......damn soccer.
Have fun........
and remember......Lean and Mean.

---

I know that i am weird. But my kids were so brainwashed for Cal FB that they wanted to go to all the Cal home games even though it meant that they could not be on the soccer or other sports teams that played on Saturday afternoons in the Fall.

My kids were active in crosscountry and went to races when they were in Jr. High and HS. These were almost always on Saturday mornings allowing plenty of time to get to Memorial.

GivemTheAxe;842521670 said:

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I found that my kids at years 2-5 were very enjoyable as long as they had plenty to eat and drink and as long as you involved them in being a fan.

Sing the Cal songs (little kids love to sing the same songs over and over again especially when an adult is participating) put some action into your efforts ("So then its UP [jump up or point up] with the Blue and Gold and DOWN [sit down or point down] with the red red red red") make it fun.
Point out what is going on around them.
Explain to them what is happening on the field.("See that man. He is Cal player and is running away with the ball. Say 'Touchdown California'. Now put both hands up. Now say 'Go Bears'.")
You are making it fun and entertaining for them to go to the game.
We had one little ritual to keep them interested. We had a small Cal flag. When Cal made a good play the kids would take turns waiving the flag. Each of my three kids couldn't wait for his or her turn to waive the flag.

You cannot act like you did before the kids. When you carried on long adult conversations with the fans around you or when you focused only on the game and what play was going to be called next.

Few young kids know how to entertain them selves at a football game. If you don't make it fun for the kids. They will make it not fun for you.
Don't worry by age 5 they will be well indoctrinated.

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Great ideas: You sound like a wonderful parent. I doff my Cal cap to you, because I took the other approach and bailed for a few years, with no regrets.

Big C_Cal;842522043 said:

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Great ideas: You sound like a wonderful parent. I doff my Cal cap to you, because I took the other approach and bailed for a few years, with no regrets.

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Whatever works for you.

Big C_Cal;842522043 said:

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Great ideas: You sound like a wonderful parent. I doff my Cal cap to you, because I took the other approach and bailed for a few years, with no regrets.

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Around.
Whatever works for you. For me it worked to take the kids to my 3 kids to the game. it gave my wife time to be at home by herself with no kids around.
Instead of complaining about my spending money on Cal FB tix and being gone all day. She welcomed Cal home games.

As someone else already mentioned, bring ear protection. This aint Stanfurd Stadium after all.

My little man's first game was Cal vs UofA in Sonny's first season - our best chance for a win vs a Pac12 team that season. Ha!

My son was about four months old and taking him was actually pretty easy. We had seats on the west side so we had some shade. We also had easier access to the nicer restrooms than on the eastside with all the portable toilets. Cal also made it very easy with a stroller. There's a stroller check which is great...and apparently not available on all college campuses (screw you Texas A&M!). We did not stay the entire game. The crowd noise freaked him out at certain times, like when we scored a TD. It was pretty fun and so much easier than I expected it to be.

pingpong2;842522112 said:

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As someone else already mentioned, bring ear protection. This aint Stanfurd Stadium after all.

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lol

Unit2Sucks;842521503 said:

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You are a hero, seriously mad respect.

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Thanks......but I don't deserve it.
She was a piece of cake.....and my surrounding seat mates were extremely cool.
I'm also a "how hard can it be" kinda guy.
Learned VERY EARLY ON, and this applied to about everything....if she didn't go...I wasn't going.
Took her to board meetings....when she got a little upset......sucking my finger that was first inserted in my Red Hook did the trick.
Took her on the chairlift and either put her in her Bjorn or on my shoulders.
Also learned early on.....women like little babies.....never was hurting for some female to give me a brief break.......wouldn't recommend using that technique in front of your baby's 'mom though, but that's another story.
ENJOY YOUR TIME TOGETHER.........IT REALLY FLYS BY.
Cheers!!!
Go Bears!!

lol only on BI