The 10 Best Concert Essentials for Kids & Families
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If you put the words “with kids” after any activity, it instantly adds a layer of complexity. Grocery shopping with kids, driving with kids, cooking dinner with kids — suddenly all your tasks require a bit more planning to accomplish. Attending a concert with kids? “No thanks!” your rational brain might say while you settle in for another episode of Bluey. But rest assured, with the right gear, you can pull off this feat and introduce your kids to the wonderful world of live music — and perhaps return to it yourself.
Festival season is upon us, and now is the perfect time to build or fine-tune your concert packing list. Whether you are taking the crew to a family-friendly fest such as Newport Folk Festival or just bringing them along to a summer concert in the park, having the right supplies on hand will make any experience go smoother.
Safety and comfort are top priorities when bringing your whole family to a show, and the following items will help keep everyone protected — from the sun, from the sound and potentially from meltdowns. Just remember that every concert has different rules about what is allowed through its gates, so make sure to scan the venue’s list of rules for entry before you show up with your fully loaded bag. Here are the top 10 concert essentials for kids.
HEADPHONES
Muted Kids Noise Canceling Ear Muffs
Although your little ones won’t likely be up against the speakers, it’s still a good idea to protect their ears from those high decibels, even in the cheap seats. Muted’s adjustable over-ear headphones fit kids ages 0 to 14 years, come in a variety of patterns and can reduce noise by 27 decibels. They offer cushioned ear cups as well as some cushioning on the headband, which means they won’t be as irritating to those little noggins. You can’t underestimate the importance of comfort with kid headphones, because the best kind of headphones are the ones your kids will actually keep on their heads.
BABY CARRIER
Tula Linen Explore Baby Carrier
The Tula Explore carrier got me, my husband and our then 1-year-old through Newport Folk Festival. While some carriers felt breathable but too soft or structured but too hot, the Tula Explore was comfortable in both temperature and fabric, and it offered a variety of positions to keep my baby happy, whether that was front facing out, front facing in or a back carry. The carrier comes in a host of colors and patterns, and while I went with cotton, there are six other fabric types from which you can choose. Even better: At each day’s end, there was no back pain to report.
WAGON
Radio Flyer Convertible Stroll ‘N Wagon
The range of wagons out there is astounding, and perhaps for good reason, as you often get what you pay for. The Dollar Store beach wagon will go easy on your wallet but might stall out in sand, while the VEER will glide across any terrain if you have the $700 to spare. Somewhere in the middle is the trusted Radio Flyer. This model comes with cup holders and a canopy, plus the adjustable handle gives you both push and pull options. Some Phish-going friends swear by this model and especially love that the sides zip down so as kids grow, they can swing their legs over the side and use the wagon for more traditional bench seating.
SUNGLASSES
WeeFarers Polarized Children’s Sunglasses
Sunglasses for babies are not just an adorable accessory — they offer important sun protection. A friend gave me a hand-me-down pair of durable, baby pink WeeFarer sunglasses when my kiddo was born, and I’ve been a loyal customer ever since. Reminiscent of your favorite pair of adult Wayfarers, WeeFarers offer polarized and non-polarized styles, and 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Sizes range from 0 to 12 years, which means kids can stay in the WeeFarer family for a long time, and with a host of colors to choose from, they can switch up their look with each new pair.
RAINCOAT
L.L. Bean Infants’ and Toddlers’ Discovery Rain Jacket
Nothing like the rain to dampen your enthusiasm for spending a day outdoors at a concert, but the light, packable raincoat from L.L. Bean is the perfect just-in-case item to bring with you. Though there are many raincoats for little kids on the market, not all of them are properly waterproof, but this one is. It has taped seams for extra security, and the reflective fabric keeps children safe in low-visibility situations. Plus, if you like it enough, you can grab the adult version for yourself.
FOLDING STOOL
ZTMT Collapsible Folding Stool
Silence cries of “I can’t see anything!” with a collapsible stool. While younger kids might get by sitting on your shoulders, a friend with a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old swears by these stools, which his kids use as perches to get a good view of festival stages when they’re not using them as seats. There are no guardrails on this stool, so you will want to spot kids as they stand, but it sure beats tired shoulders.
CAMP CHAIR
REI Camp Chair
If your kiddo is too little to use a collapsible stool and just needs a comfy seat, go for the REI Camp Chair for kids. It’s strong and sturdy, weighs only four pounds and has a shoulder strap for easy hauling. It holds up to 125 pounds, so it will be with your family for years to come. It also has a cup holder, so kids can go hands free with their beverages, cups of Goldfish crackers — you name it.
WATER BOTTLES
Contigo x Ally Love Jackson Chill 2.0 Stainless Steel Water Bottle
I typically use a stainless-steel water bottle for my toddler, but on concert days, I go with the lighter, plastic Contigo. It’s BPA free, the straw spout easily locks in place, and it’s top-rack dishwasher safe. The lid is easy to screw off and on, so hitting the water refill stations is a breeze. Most importantly, it’s never leaked in my backpack, whether the valve spout is locked or accidentally unlocked in transit.
SNACK STORAGE
State Mini Rodgers Snack Pack
After seeing lots of kids with cute, colorful lunch bags at daycare drop-off, I bought into the hype and got my kid a State lunch box. It took up too much real estate in our concert bag, though, so I sprung for the smaller snack pack version. The insulated 5-by-7-inch bag has a polyester main body, a sturdy zipper closure that has never gotten stuck and a clip-on handle that you can attach anywhere. It also holds up to four silicone snack containers and a flat ice pack.
FIRST-AID KIT
Johnson & Johnson First Aid To Go Portable Mini Travel Kit
Festivals typically have a medical tent where fans can go to seek help, but it never hurts to have your own supplies for minor scrapes. This mini first-aid kit measures right around 4 inches by 4 inches, and while it comes with Band-Aids, gauze and hand-sanitizing wipes, it’s easy enough to swap in a travel-size Aquaphor, coreless toilet paper and your child’s favorite Paw Patrol or Pixar Band-Aids.
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