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Children/Strollers at PAX
krztov
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Was excited that on the 3rd day I would bring my 4 month old daughter, rocking out her yoda sweater, maybe get some pics of her with cosplayers/etc. then we get into the hall, make it 5 steps in and are told NO STROLLERS because its a fire hazard.
the enforcer says it was a hynes thing, but I really wish PAX had sent an email or something letting people know this because NOWHERE was it posted about this. So yesterday for the most part was spent just sitting on those cushions because I felt bad leaving my wife with our daughter while I went to the expo hall to check out more games.
other than that I had a great time this weekend, just sucks that the worst day was the one I brought my little girl to.
the enforcer says it was a hynes thing, but I really wish PAX had sent an email or something letting people know this because NOWHERE was it posted about this. So yesterday for the most part was spent just sitting on those cushions because I felt bad leaving my wife with our daughter while I went to the expo hall to check out more games.
other than that I had a great time this weekend, just sucks that the worst day was the one I brought my little girl to.
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I wonder why you only had a stroller and not some other sort of baby transport device? I saw lots of parents with their little ones in back packs (& front carry packs) and various other types of baby carrying devices. Not trying to be nasty or anything, but we've known for awhile this was going to be packed, the show had been sold out for ages. A stroller just doesn't do as well in a crowded indoor venue.
So yes they could have made sure announcements went out to everyone about every possible thing you should not bring. But in some cases you really gotta help them out and just think.
And really you should cosplay as Luke with your baby dressed as yoda on your back. It would rock.
because the average 4 month old is still learning to hold their neck up, kinda hard to put in a backpack/harness type thing when theyre like that. we have slings and stuff, cant really use them yet. aside from that, a small compact stroller (which we have) takes up less room than the average attendee
Hopefully it won't be as big of an issue next year in the bigger convention center for 2011. I don't have kids myself but I know that a stroller regardless is more convenient because it helps with also toting baby stuffs.
But they do sell those front slung backpacks for infants. Actually its the baby front pack but a special insert for infants. I saw a woman with one on Saturday, I believe it was. Something like:
http://www.ergobabycarriers.com/babycarriers/category/infant_insert/
either way, lack of notice on this sucked, and it caused the majority of yesterday to suck and be wasted.
so am I ok to be annoyed and inconvenienced by bigger people that kept bumping into us, should we tell them to stay home? my daughter cant help the fact that she cant walk or hold her neck up yet.
Just..wow.
just using it as comparison since Vision up there mentioned "350lb neckbeards"
my point is if my daughter has to be moved around via stroller for the most part, and she takes up the same amount of space as some people, how is it any different? I mean really?
You also need to consider that, historically, there aren't that many babies at PAX. Likely, no one thought about putting out a stroller notice because there's never been a need.
I mean, I get it, it sucks, but at the same time, if you think it through, I'm sure you'll understand why.
Just saying...it's supposed to be an inclusive convention. So maybe it means paying a little more attention where you're going and what's around you?
world attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples
of ignorance?" - John Lithgow, 3rd Rock from the Sun
Sure, they could have been more explicit on exactly what you could or could not bring, but in the end, strollers (and rolling luggage, etc.) really have no place at a crowded convention.
You don't have other practical alternatives to a wheelchair. A parent with an infant does.
But like some of the other posters have mentioned, why would you want to bring a 4 month-old baby to PAX? I have a six month-old, and wouldn't even consider it. Aside from the chaos and noise, you need to be worried about sickness.
Last year at Prime there was an H1N1 "outbreak". Why would you want to bring a baby to an enclosed space with 60,000 people and risk them getting sick?
Sure...that doesn't change my overall point that people in general need to be more aware of their surroundings. I know there's lots of shiny sparkly things all around to look at, but I still managed not to bang into anyone or catch anyone's toes (apart from one enforcer Saturday night who had on steeltoes, thankfully and, to be fair, I was being pushed by someone else at the time).
Honestly, if you ever have the chance, borrow a wheelchair from a mall during a busy time (like near X-mas) and try getting it from one end to the other. You'll have a better appreciation for what I'm talking about.
world attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples
of ignorance?" - John Lithgow, 3rd Rock from the Sun
I appreciate what you're saying, but that still doesn't justify making a crowded situation worse by allowing strollers when other practical, less obtrusive options exist.
Oh man I hadn't even thought of that, and there was an announcement prior to PAX East about a break out of the Norovirus in the area. And unlike H1N1, hand sanitizers won't even help against the Norovirus.
and I brought my daughter sunday at the risk of being sick (which really is anytime we leave the house), because it was the shortest day and I didnt want to miss day 3 and have her with a sitter all day again.
at least the intelgameon guy took a pic of her hanging out with me and my wife on the beanbags wearing her yoda hoodie and holding some intel gear:
http://twitpic.com/1bl4ok
I NEVER heard about needing an escort in wheelchair from anyone (and I was in one the whole time, apart from early morning late night after picking it up or dropping it off at the First Aid room), unless I was trying to go someplace generally not supposed to go (like being escorted up to main theater a few minutes before doors opened or somesuch. If that was an actual rule, it was never enforced and I'm not sure how they remotely could, as if they did, they'd have a lawsuit pretty damned fast, methinks.
world attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples
of ignorance?" - John Lithgow, 3rd Rock from the Sun
maybe the enforcer that was telling us this (yesterday around id say 9:30am right by the rockstar booth doors to hall) was full of crap? not sure.
My guess is maybe they meant what I was saying...before show hours or somesuch. Otherwise, I'm not sure what they meant.
world attaching the electrodes of knowledge to the nipples
of ignorance?" - John Lithgow, 3rd Rock from the Sun
no conditions, so no worries there.
but its a matter of we wouldve had to pay to check the stroller and our bags to carry her, and considering theres a long line to do pretty much anything at pax, it wouldve sucked. if they had said outright no strollers, we probably wouldve either skipped sunday or had the babysitter watch her one more day. i spent maybe 5 mins in the expo hall on sunday because of this
most of those dont work well when your child still cant maintain neck stability still, aside from that, why buy something for an expo when I havent been told I cant use a stroller?
But why would you even bring a baby that young to a convention in the first place? I understand that you'd like to visit, but exposing an infant of that age to the common cold, flu and the more worrisome norovirus that has been floating around Boston is a really terrible idea.
That aside, it's really a very common thing to have a "no strollers" policy at conventions of all types, regardless whether it's a comic/gaming convention or something more mundane like a home expo or whatnot - it's just really dangerous for all involved.
- Strollers definitely shouldn't be allowed.
Uh, if you look at those they specifically explain that infants without head control face the wearer.
problem solved
I already agreed with you that not getting the info out is a problem. That doesn't change my strong opinion that strollers don't belong at the con.
I'm not trying to be an asshole here, but it seems common sense to me that you wouldn't bring a stroller to that kind of environment. You'd been there the previous two days so you KNEW it was crowded. From my perspective it seems like you just expect everyone else to deal with the inconvenience you (and other parents if strollers are allowed) would inflict on attendees.
It's right there in the name. Strollers are for Strolling. Not Convention Crowd Shuffling.
yeah it couldnt have to do with paying for a sitter, way to make up facts. we had a sitter for friday and saturday which is how we were there all day + kotaku party friday, and there for most of the concerts saturday, so dont assume what you dont know.
I have two kids. I've missed many events due to this. I know where you're coming from, but dude, any way you slice this, you're breaking Wheaton's Law. You're a dick to everyone else by pushing around the stroller, and you're a dick to your kid for exposing them to all the noise and germs. Don't be a Dick. Father up. Other cliches.
unwilling? when did I say I was unwilling, THERE WAS NO NOTICE, I'm not going to leave pax to go shop for a carrier and come back because there were no notices anywhere and I was informed after getting there and getting 5 feet into the hall itself. My daughter doesn't really mind noise, hell, on the T she falls asleep pretty quickly. I spent the most of the day hanging out with her on the beanbags since we couldnt go in. As for the whole dont be a dick mentality, look at this thread. everyone here has been a dick. I just wanted to voice a complaint about lack of notice or signage about something that ruined pretty much 1/3 of the pax weekend for me and my family.
I would think as a parent that you'd already have a chest carrier for situations where a stroller isn't a good choice.