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Mrs. Couch 'em is due to pop out Couch 'em Jr. in late May. This is our first. Can anyone give any advise on what age I can reasonably expect to bring the kid to a game and make it all the way through? How young is too young for the gameday heat?

Man up and buy Club Seats

my youngest experienced his first football game...SEC championship game...at 7 months. He did okay. Cried when the crowd got loud. By next football season (16-20 months), did a little better. Sucked more for mom & dad b/c of the no strollers allowed rule...be sure you get a papoose. By three years old, made it through 2 and a half quarters. Following season, three quarters. Since then, the whole game. And now, when riding in the back seat with his older brother-who because of older brother's extended family is a ut fan-youngest picks up the little red plastic SMU megaphone, and chants "S-M-U" until older brother tires of it, then sings Pony Battle Cry followed by Peruna. No kidding.

Took Longtime Jr. to his first game when he was less than a year old. It was more than just the heat. At that age, loud noises (band, pa announcer, crowd, etc.) are no fun for little tykes. He did NOT like it.

Don't forget the sun, if it's a day game. You wouldn't believe how many people drag infants to sporting events with little or no sun protection. Or enough to drink. It's a lot to ask a little kid to sit through a three-and-half hour game.

But really, it boils down to your individual child. Some kids can sleep through all that, no problem. They're sometimes easier to take to games when they're tiny. When they get a little older, i.e. mobile, they usually don't have the patience to sit through a half, much less a whole game.

At one point in his toddlerhood, Longtime Jr.'s patience started to run out after a quarter. And that was with a backpack full or toys, books and a portable video player to entertain him. I think it helps if you have other children or other kids nearby for your child to interact with, but a toddler is only going to last so long anywhere you take them.

At whatever age, it comes down to your kid and what they can handle. As dads, we dream of being able to sit in the stands with our kids and share our love for sports. But most young kids couldn't give a hoot about watching a game. Just look at the crowds of kids in the south end zone playing in the bounce houses and touch football mosh pit.

Babysitter?

And to answer your point more directly, mine was able to last through a whole game after he turned 4. But that required a certain amount of entertaining and bribes from the concession and souvenir stands.

Longtime wrote:And to answer your point more directly, mine was able to last through a whole game after he turned 4. But that required a certain amount of entertaining and bribes from the concession and souvenir stands.

$5 all ice Cokes?

To answer your real question, I have been taking my kids (now 5 and 7) to games since they were born. Lot of times, just to the blvd, and then Mom and kid would leave while I went to the game.

I started taking kids to games by myself when the oldest was 2. A big thing of cheerios, water, juice and milk and a handful of Thomas trains and I was good to go for about a half. Now, it was easier then because me and my boy could take up a row ourselves and the kid could play where he wants.

I would say that it is only been recently that I can take both kids and we can sit through the whole game with them (with a handful of snack and bathroom breaks).

No idea as there is no Junior Junior (or Junior, Jr.?).

smupony94 wrote:

Longtime wrote:And to answer your point more directly, mine was able to last through a whole game after he turned 4. But that required a certain amount of entertaining and bribes from the concession and souvenir stands.

$5 all ice Cokes?

If you tell them no ice, they won't give you any ice, and you actually get about $1.00 worth of coke for $5.00.

My son brought my grandkids to the game and brought along a portable DVD player. They were 3 and 5 years old and everything went fine. They would watch the movie and then the game and watch the movie and then the game........

My grand daughter was 6 months old last year and had been to 28 Ranger games.
Football is a little more crowded. I say leave the little ones home with the wife. ha ha ha

Mestengo wrote:My grand daughter was 6 months old last year and had been to 28 Ranger games.
Football is a little more crowded. I say leave the little ones home with the wife. ha ha ha

I can't remember - Is Mestengo the nice one or OTP?

Congratulations to you and your (presumably) better half, couch 'em!

Bring "jr." and the wife to the tailgate, then go your separate ways at kickoff....everybody wins.
My 3 year old is good for about a half now, good times.

Season tickets for basketball were key with a toddler. He loved going and I loved taking him.....and I never missed any of the action cuz we stunk. It was inside and cool, plenty of loud things for him to watch. I never minded leaving at half cuz we were bad. If we get good, might be trickier.