bringing a 2 year-old to australian open

[Cindysphinx]

I used to hang around on a travel web site. Every now and then, someone would post a question similar to OP: "What are the best toys to bring along when I bring my toddler on a hike through the Amazon jungle?" Folks would freak completely out and grab one another by the throat while the troll would sit back, laughing.

Ah, good times . . . .

[VaththalKuzhambu]

On second thoughts, I am with Suresh on this issue.

Bringing children to tournaments is permitted and should be utilized. If opponents are not disturbed by the grunts of Azarenka, Sharapova, Williams, Nadal and Djokovic, they should not be disturbed by a 2-year old either.

Professional players in other sports are required to concentrate on their game despite tens of thousands of hooligans trying to distract them. If basketball players are expected to score free throws beyond these distractions, tennis players need to get tough - http://guycodeblog.mtv.com/2011/02/1...in-basketball/

As for the fans seated nearby, if they have a problem with the children they can opt to watch the match on TV from the comfort of their couch. No wonder interest in tennis is on the decline among children.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I used to hang around on a travel web site. Every now and then, someone would post a question similar to OP: "What are the best toys to bring along when I bring my toddler on a hike through the Amazon jungle?" Folks would freak completely out and grab one another by the throat while the troll would sit back, laughing.

Ah, good times . . . .

Most of these tours have age and height restrictions, and make you sign a waiver. I have been on rain forest hikes in Hawaii and no one bought toddlers.

I think large fat people should be banned from tennis events. They obstruct my view. They should also be banned from all flights.

When watching a movie in a theater, I try to sit as far as possible from people who bring food and drinks. I can't stand the noise and smell.

We should also get rid of old farts in tennis clubs. They can't hear well and shout at each other, and crack dirty jokes. Very disturbing if you are on the next court.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by sureshs

She already said it was for night matches.

Children can be pushed around in strollers.

If the baby cries, it can be taken out for some time and brought back.

If bringing a baby is allowed, "poor fans" can either boycott the event or suck it up. No need to bear the expense of a baby sitter. A family that watches AO together stays together. Irritated fans are free to complain and then leave. It is called living in a society.

No, she said MOSTLY night matches which means some day matches.

Yes, I know all about strollers as I have two boys.

As for fans being bothered we're also talking about tennis professionals being bothered and they have their entire careers on the line as well as AO prize money. They're entertaining us but they're also doing their jobs.

If a baby acts up it's not like you can whisk the kid out of the stands in a few seconds. If the kid is screaming bloody murder you're going to disrupt the match as thousands of people in the stands, millions of TV viewers, the umpires, and the players wait for you to haul your stupid, incosiderate a** out of your seat, gather up your kid's stuff, and meander out through the seats, to the isle, and eventually out of the stadium.

Just look at the relatively silent process of removing an adult heat stroke victim from the stands, something that happened on several occassions this year at majors. The match came to a stop. Those were unusual incidents. Anyone who has had kids knows that it WILL happen if you subject a two year old to a three hour match under the hot Australian sun.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by TimothyO

No, she said MOSTLY night matches which means some day matches.

Hey now. We don't know if OP is a she.

Proposing to take a 2-year-old to a hopelessly inappropriate sporting event has "Dad" written all over it.

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I think large fat people should be banned from tennis events. They obstruct my view. They should also be banned from all flights.

I agree, as long as the weight limit is just beyond what I am packing into my levis.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

I think it is a terrible idea, frankly.

Remember, the AO is the best attended tennis event on earth, every court is packed, even out on court 22 at 10 am (ok, so Rafa was practicing, but still )

However, if you MUST, here are a couple of things you might be able to do to make it bearable fro all concerned.

1. forget about taking her to Rod Laver. People will hate you.

2. the outside courts are actually pretty accessible via stroller, if you get there nice and early you can find a good spot and enjoy the day. There is shade and grassy areas nearby
(down behind showcourt three especially)

3. The 'tag-team' idea for the night matches is a pretty good one. The area with the tables and the fountains etc right outside Rod Laver is good for kids as it's nowhere near any of the courts and has plenty of space. (and a big screen)

4 The showcourts (including Margaret Court) are usually PACKED, and once you leave you won't be able to get back in fro a while, usually, so forget those as well.

in short, terrible idea, but you can probably manage a good time by haunting the outside courts (where you see some great matches and can be right up close to the big guns practicing quite easily) and keeping your child out of teh arenas

good luck

(Melbourne has some excellent commercial child minding/stroke nanny services, just saying..)

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Hey now. We don't know if OP is a she.

Proposing to take a 2-year-old to a hopelessly inappropriate sporting event has "Dad" written all over it.

Seriously? Chloe? It is like Cindy.

[sureshs]

Let us compromise and watch the big TV in the garden, OK?

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Let us compromise and watch the big TV in the garden, OK?

indeed..

[Rjtennis]

It is really hot that time of year, but It's far from unbearable. The evenings will be gorgeous though. The only thing I would really worry about is the flight. That is a long flight even for me and im an adult. I'm sure the hotel would know of daycare services if it's too hard to bring the kid to matches.

[tennis tom]

It appears the OP has wisely departed the thread, perhaps putting her baby up for adoption and arranging to tie her tubes and a vasectomy for hubs. We all owe her thanks for livening up the TT board in preparation for the excitement of the penumbral eclipse. Hopefully she has not gone into hiding and appreciates the valuable role she played livening things up and sharpening folks typing skills--thanks!

Perhaps a solution can be worked out benefiting all. They could hire Suresh as a nanny, buy him a ticket in a nearby seat and he could deal with the future Andrei or Steffi.

This thread reminds me of an endearing family tennis scene I witnessed once while vacationing on Kauai. It was of a lovely family taking a private lesson with mom, dad and two youngins. They had a toddler in diapers who couldn't yet barely walk, doing his role hanging onto the rolling ball-picker-upper contraption for support, gathering up the balls--very cute.

[rigoler]

Being born and bred in Melbourne i can assure you that Melbourne Park is extremely child friendly and very easy to access from CBD Hotels.
The Open venue has a great grass relaxation area with ample shade if you choose to attend daytime sessions and at night they have many activities including a giant screen showing the main arena matches.
Being that the Open dates are during our school break, there is no shortage of teenage babysitters looking for work so should you need to have your 2yo sat then there wont be a problem.
If you want any advice at all on accomodation/restaurants etc. l will be only to happy to offer you local recommendations.
Enjoy your trip.
David

[BlueB]

Don't do it! I brought my 5 year old to Indian Wells last year, wasn't fun...

[chloeToh]

Many thanks to sureshs ,rigoler &VaththalKuzhambu for your support. We are planning to take our daughter regardless of those useless comments.

If you have constructive suggestions, post it, otherwise peace out.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by chloeToh

Very nervous about the trip, any suggestion or recommendation would be greatly appreciated.

Pack a lot of Valium & bingies.

G'luck!

[beernutz]

Originally Posted by chloeToh

Many thanks to sureshs ,rigoler &VaththalKuzhambu for your support. We are planning to take our daughter regardless of those useless comments.

If you have constructive suggestions, post it, otherwise peace out.

In other words, I'd already made up my mind to take her and I just wanted confirmation from the masses on what a good parent I am.

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Originally Posted by beernutz

In other words, I'd already made up my mind to take her and I just wanted confirmation from the masses on what a good parent I am.

^^^ + 1

I did not want to say anything first, because I am fearful of the forthcoming snarky comments.

[sureshs]

Q. What is the minimum age for a child to require a ticket?

Children two years and under are admitted free to the Australian Open but must be nursed in seated areas. Please see Tennis Australia’s child and concession policy for additional information.

Children aged 2 and under as at 1 January 2013 are entitled to enter the events at no charge; however they must not occupy a reserved seat.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by chloeToh

Many thanks to sureshs ,rigoler &VaththalKuzhambu for your support. We are planning to take our daughter regardless of those useless comments.

If you have constructive suggestions, post it, otherwise peace out.

Yeah, I will give you a constructive suggestion.

My kids are now 21, 18 and 15. I am really, really, really glad I did not take them on expensive, demanding, exotic trips when they were toddlers. It wouldn't have been fun for them or for us. Instead, we took cheap trips to the beach and let them dig in the sand.

The money we saved in not taking them to Wimbledon is the money we now use to take expensive, demanding, exotic trips with them.

Deferred gratification. It's a beautiful thing.