Baby at BM, experience? preparation? what? where?

[thirt33n]

save your money
get your child the education you never had
people naturally self categorize
you can't hide from the truth

slap yourself and wake up

GEEZ

[shmalerie]

you should just take the time to let them get older, and for you to get more prepared.. there just isn't much time left at this point..

[Elderberry]

It wouldn't be the first time.

She can keep that baby in and ice chest all week for all I care.

yes we know....


i think you are mistaking libertarianism with heartlessness...i find your viewpoint myopic and dead wrong.

[junglesmacks]

..and I'm thinking far from the last, too..

It wouldn't be the first time.

She can keep that baby in and ice chest all week for all I care.

yes we know....


i think you are mistaking libertarianism with heartlessness...i find your viewpoint myopic and dead wrong.

[Boijoy]

There are even brine shrimp-like eggs that hatch in the wet season and swim in the playa lake.

Okay, has anyone, ever recorded a problem with the brine shrimp? I know there are some really nasty infectious parasites that will inhabit your skin in the grossest possible way, but I have never heard of Brine Shrimp being among that number. And I can't help thinking, California being what it is, that if brine shrimp did it, endangered Fairy Shrimp would be accused of it if it meant that they could bring moral pressure to build in an ephemeral wetland.
I am not going to endorse taking an 8-month old to the playa, but brine shrimp are not one of the problems.

I could have sworn I saw a family of Sea Monkeys in 2007.

[theCryptofishist]

There are even brine shrimp-like eggs that hatch in the wet season and swim in the playa lake.

Okay, has anyone, ever recorded a problem with the brine shrimp? I know there are some really nasty infectious parasites that will inhabit your skin in the grossest possible way, but I have never heard of Brine Shrimp being among that number. And I can't help thinking, California being what it is, that if brine shrimp did it, endangered Fairy Shrimp would be accused of it if it meant that they could bring moral pressure to build in an ephemeral wetland.
I am not going to endorse taking an 8-month old to the playa, but brine shrimp are not one of the problems.

I could have sworn I saw a family of Sea Monkeys in 2007.

How much sleep had you had in the preceding 24 hours?

[BabyRocks]

is here anyone who acutally has experience with bringing an infant to bm???

all i read is mostly from people who not even have kids or who dont have experience with babies there and its just rediculous to read then stuff of them (no offence). i remember when i havent had a kid and i aw parents traveling with a 3 months old and thought, what bad people. but guess what, i turned pregnant and opened my ears and all people who traveled with kids said, as youner as easier and better and if u mind a few things its good on the baby too and to have a perfectly relaxed happy parent is good on them too. people who never traveled with kids scared me off to wait till she is 1 or better 2. and guess what, i started with 4 month and yes, as younger as better. normally they say u can start with 4 weeks, as till 6 months they dont care about surroundings and as long as they dont growl its the easiest. traveling with a 1 or almost 2 year old can be hell on earth for parent and kid. back to the subject:

I AM NOT TAKING DRUGS, NOR WILL I DRINK, NOR PARTY MUCH. GOSH. AND I HAVENT SEEND A TOILET BY MYSELF FOR MONTHS. SO WHAT. I AM NOT LETTING HER ONE SECOND ALONE. NO WAY. I AM TRAVELING WITH HER SINCE $ MONTHS AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE NO KIDS OR NEVER TRAVELED WITH ANY OR THE ONE WHO MOSTLY KEEP THEM IN THE HOUSE WHERE THEY CANT SEE ANYTHING AND CANT MOVE OR SEE MUCH OTHER PEOPLE, IS THAT BETTER? WANNA CALL THE CHILD SECURITY ON ME? I WOULDNT DO THAT IF SHE WOULD MIND. BUT SHE IS HAPPY, RELAXED, smiling all day long, can crowl and stand up since 6.5 months and a lot of people tell me, wow, she develops so great and is so more relaxed and happy then other babies and interested. where does it come from, from not watching her? from keeping her quiet at home? this is why i am critical regarding some answers, cause i am very glad that i did the last few months like i did, for her too and if i would have waited till she is older it wouldnt have been good. and its not all the time like it looks. especially for people without any experience on that. thats why i am asking for people WITH EXPERIENCE.

last year i came pregnant. so, what would have u said about going as a pregnant person? i was scared to go. but i am so glad i did. and i know some people do drugs and drink while pregnant. i never did. and so i didnt on bm. i walked around, talkd to ppl, looked at the art, danced a bit to the music, went to bed early, rested a lot, drank plenty of water, ate what i brought to be safe. thats it. not more. and i was happier than ever. and btw, e.g. there is a statistic that that being stressed is worse than smoking for pregnant ppl.

i breast feed btw. and i would bring bottles with water, cups, liquid food for her and wet towels.

is the dry heat very more uncomfi for a baby than wet heat?? we were in a heat wave in new york city and she was just fine. sure i fed her more often and gave her water the whole day and put water over her head and wet towels. but with that she was ok. she just hated it at night but there it will be cold anyway.

yes she cries when she is thirsty.

single parent is still easier than with a partner who doesnt help, then u have 2 kids in the worst case.

and no, my freinds have no time to search and my family doesnt know me better on that and dont know bm, so thats not an idea.

breast feeding when id rink 3 gallons a day would work i guess woudlnt it?

i thought big stroler with this huge beach sun umbralls over it.

and no sitter, she doesnt like being without me for longer than 5 min.

thank god misnave for ur posting.

did u do anything about the dust?

googles? mask?

did u experience a dust storm?

did she crowl?

anyone else experience?

[BabyRocks]

Fact here is, that here are plenty of people writing (thanks for that) and telling no, but none of them have any experience with it, some are not even parents itself and the only person who did it said it was good.

so, any more people here with any experience?

[Bob]

There are even brine shrimp-like eggs that hatch in the wet season and swim in the playa lake.

Okay, has anyone, ever recorded a problem with the brine shrimp? I know there are some really nasty infectious parasites that will inhabit your skin in the grossest possible way, but I have never heard of Brine Shrimp being among that number. And I can't help thinking, California being what it is, that if brine shrimp did it, endangered Fairy Shrimp would be accused of it if it meant that they could bring moral pressure to build in an ephemeral wetland.
I am not going to endorse taking an 8-month old to the playa, but brine shrimp are not one of the problems.

I could have sworn I saw a family of Sea Monkeys in 2007.

Indeed. Might be a problem for someone with seafood allergies.

[Savannah]

Have you contacted the links to Black Rock Kids and the Kids Camp Yahoo Group I posted on page one of your thread yet? There is a reason you're not getting a lot of advice here. It's because:

1) Most of us think this is a bad idea.
2) Most of us have not tried bringing a baby to the playa, and have no advice.

So, use the links instead.

Using caps locks because you're angry about it will not turn us upside down and shake the advice out of our pockets. We're not holding out on you. If we had advice, we would give it. While not everyone gets along with you, no one really wants to see a baby suffer.

There are dust storms almost every year during that week, to answer another one of your questions. You should expect one. No one can tell you if there will be one this year, but I have experienced them up to 7 hours long.

[Bob]

We only took our 2yo out for two nights, and we plan on sticking to that until she's taller than the dust drifts. Only people we know with infants lived in Gerlach, or used RVs. We've both been going since the mid-90s, just tent camping, and we know when to fold up and go home.

I'd email someone with the kid camp, if anyone.

[NellieX]

Basically what you want is to hear the "right" answers, which, in your mind, is "YES! BRING YOUR FRAGILE INFANT TO BURNING MAN!"

You have a lot of maturing to do before you even think of trying to take care of yourself and a small baby in the middle of the desert for a week.

[OregonRed]

Fact here is, that here are plenty of people writing (thanks for that) and telling no, but none of them have any experience with it, some are not even parents itself and the only person who did it said it was good.

so, any more people here with any experience?

I have successfully raised two children and I know how difficult that can be. I have Burned successfully ten times and I know how difficult that can be. The two together can be incredibly difficult, but it can be done. My concern for your child comes from the fact that you are asking questions you should have been asking in January or February less than two weeks before the event starts. This isn't like traveling, sweetheart. You have to PLAN for this event under the best circumstances, and taking an eight-month-old baby out is not the best circumstances. I know that you went when you were pregnant, but last year was one of the mildest years weather-wise. You only have the one Burn under your belt. You've never been on playa when the temperature reaches 120+degrees. You've never dealt with an eight-hour dust storm. YOU'RE NOT READY TO BURN WITH A BABY! PLEASE DO NOT RISK HER LIFE FOR YOUR GRATIFICATION! Plan for next year. Toddlers are no less difficult than infants, but you would have a year plus to gather information and supplies to make sure that the two of you have the very best Burning Man experience possible.

[Ugly Dougly]

It's possible!

[Simon of the Playa]

+1 dougly.

[The CO]

Fact here is, that here are plenty of people writing (thanks for that) and telling no, but none of them have any experience with it, some are not even parents itself and the only person who did it said it was good.

so, any more people here with any experience?

Ok, here ya go:

We had a under one year-old AND an over one/under two-year old in camp one year. The parents were both 5+ year vets of the burn, and had three (3) additional people there specifically as back-up caregivers. Our whole camp helped out in any way possible, and the babies were an absolute joy to have around.

And the parents decided after that year, that it was one of the worst ideas they had in regard to Burning Man. They decided not to bring the kids again until they were older and the family could bring an RV.

So, to recap: We have had infants in our camp (not biologically mine, but I'm still "Unkle 'Ustin"). A network of five (5) dedicated caregivers including both parents, a backup support group of over 20 people, the resources of a veteran theme camp and experienced burner parents with lots of prep.

THEY FOUND IT WAS TOO OVERWHELMING FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

So there is a voice of experience, just like you were asking. My advice would be not to bring your wee one.

[Simon of the Playa]

yes, honestly babyrocks, to be fair i would have to agree with the CO.

not because you dont have the right or even the ability, but i believe based on my experience on and off the playa with kids (camped in kid camp 2004 and i have 4 myself) that it would be miserable if the conditions are less than pristine.

you cannot bet on that.

even under perfect conditions it's going to be challenging, to say the least.

again, i am not questioning your mothering abilities, but your decision to undergo such potential dangers in order to attend.

best advice i have seen, and with a kind reasonable manner was the one just stated above.

[junglesmacks]

i have 4 myself

[Simon of the Playa]

26,24,22 and 16.

yeah.

its the four things i've done right in my life without any question.

everything else may be up for debate.

[Bob]

Wonder if a baby would sell for more than a ticket at this point, or not.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

since this is the BM board its pretty safe to assume its a white baby, and hence...

[thirt33n]

white babies are NOT radically self reliant and unable to carry their own water...
the mother was once a white baby and she still has never learned to spell an write correctly...
too much traveling and not enough focus?
white babies don't focus too good.
they's cain't even really get too much werk dun...
wudnt sprize me tall iffin these here white folk dint evn make it out they current shelter afore reachin da desert

[Ugly Dougly]

My point with the picture is, you're not a Bedouin, this is only your second? burn and your first? baby and you have no one to help you survive on the playa, much less your precious infant.

I'd stay home if I were you.

[Chiwa]

Don't forget to bring a place to store all those dirty diapers.

[shmalerie]

Don't forget to bring a place to store all those dirty diapers.

oh that's going to be one gnarly-smelling tent.

[Turnip]

I am not a mother, but because I haven't squished a baby out of my vagina does not mean I don't have motherly roles in my day to day life. I have several nieces and nephews. The youngest of the nieces (Turned 2 in June) I live with. Have lived with her since birth. When Mommy is at work, it's my turn to care for her. My shifts run between 8 and 18 hours long, as Mommy works weird hours and has to sleep SOME during the daytime to be able to function. It's sad to say, but my niece spends more time with me on a weekly basis than her poor mom.

The fact that I would NEVER bring her to Burning Man and put her in danger so I could have a good time has NOTHING to do with if I actually gave birth to her and more so that I would never put her in any situation that I have a good idea could be detrimental to her safety. And generally, that goes with all people. Undermining them and saying "Well you don't have kids of your own so what would you know" is not going to make you any friends and will just reinforce our impression that you don't know what you're doing. But us telling you "God, please, don't take your baby to Burning Man," Is not a personal insult to you or your mothering. It's us seeing all the potential of harm that could come to a baby (reguardless of how good a parent/support system) even in the best circumstances at BM.

What kind of odds do you want to be told it'll be completely fine and safe? 70% chance? 80%? But even so, are you willing to risk a 20-30% chance of harm coming to your baby? No one can tell you it'll be fine. Shit, an art car might crash into a hippie and there could be a huge propane explosion destroying your camp and badly injuring you and your baby. No one wants that, but it's always a possibility. Of course (similar) risks come with day to day life but it's complicated even more so at BM because of the remoteness of the event.

Or even still, she might develop some sort of un-playa related illness and need help. How many pediatricians do you think are going to be just meandering around near your camp?

[swampdog]

Well, you came here asking for advice and people gave you the best they've got.

This may be politically incorrect, but some of the ways you say things sound like English is not your first language. As a result, some of your word choices come across as awkward and your spelling is not good. If indeed English is not your first language, be aware that some people may be inaccurately assuming you are not educated and are ignorant, stubborn, and unlikely to listen to reason. If English IS your first language, well, perhaps those assumptions stand.

Here are the key survival issues I think you need to confront on the playa.
1. Heat. You think you have that covered. I would guess that even in your hottest travels there have been places you could escape the heat for a while.
2. Dust. I wouldn't consider bringing an infant unless I could protect her 100% in case of a dust storm, or even day to day dust. If I could only be sure of protecting her in camp, I wouldn't leave camp. That's the biggie for me right there. I seriously doubt you have encountered anything like a playa dust storm with your baby in your travels. Everyone reacts differently to the dust in their lungs. It may not bother you at all but it could leave your baby coughing for weeks and could lead to pneumonia. What is the impact of playa dust on developing lungs? Nobody knows. Do you want to find out with your baby the hard way?
3. Hydration and food. You think you have that covered.
4. Dirty diapers - Not hard to handle a week's worth of dirty diapers, but you must be prepared. You must also have clean (non-dusty) places to change your baby.
5. In your original post you ask whether there are earplugs for a baby. I hope you don't intend to take the baby to a big sound camp. Background playa sound shouldn't be a problem, but don't go anywhere where you want earplugs to protect your hearing.

My 2 cents. Would I do it? Hell no.

[Zode]

Someone should call child protective services on this woman the MOMENT they see her.

Ugh.

[thirt33n]

+1

[BabyRocks]

zode, u havewnt got a clue what u r talking about do u.

and ... (sorry page gone), thanks for ur info. yes the dust storm, 1. i will not leave the camp often or far for sure. but in case i am not inside at the dust storm, like i said, putting her under the jacket, closing the jacket and back to the camp. if she can breath throw the closed jacket in the cold, it must be possible in the duststorm ad well as the jacket doesnt loet dust through for sure. thats what the doc said at least.

and oh my, of course i care, thats why i ask here and why i askd a doc etc. my, either some here have no people knowledge or didnt read what i wrote. thats why i put a few things in capital letters to make them read it as i mentioned it before.

just stop thinking about ppl who wanna make party on drugs and alc and walking around everywhere without carying where they r, no sleep for the whole week etc. i didnt do that last year and it is very different.