Taking a Baby to Football Games: What Actually Worked for Us

I've spent five football seasons cheering on my husband from the sidelines. But this season looked a little different. Instead of standing on the sideline, following every play and catching up with coach-bae during quarter breaks, I spent most Friday nights sitting in the bleachers with a baby in my lap. I still watched the games, celebrated the big plays and waited afterward to see my husband, but I did it all while managing bottles, diapers, naps and a very curious baby girl.

Eden was four months old when the regular football season began and nearly seven months old when it ended. She had already attended a few preseason events and 7-on-7 competitions when she was just two and three months old. So we weren't completely new to bringing a baby around football. Still, an entire season of Friday night games was something entirely different.

Before the season began, I worried about everything: germs and keeping well-meaning people from touching or kissing her, disrupting her bedtime, managing the long commute, and figuring out where I would feed and change her. And because my husband was beginning this season at a new school, I was also navigating an unfamiliar stadium, parking arrangements, seating and game-day routines.

Now that the season is over, I can say that taking a baby to football games was much more manageable than I anticipated. It wasn't always convenient, and I certainly didn't get to experience the games the way I had in previous seasons. But we did eventually find a rhythm that worked for our family, and I learned a few things that I wish I'd known before that first Friday night.

Why Bringing Our Baby to Football Games Mattered

Being a coach's wife has always meant spending a considerable amount of time around football. I enjoy attending games, supporting my husband and being part of the community that surrounds his program. More importantly, coach-bae likes having me there, and I know my presence means something to him.

This was especially important this season because he was starting at a new school. We were getting to know a new community, learning new traditions and figuring out where our family fit into it all. And so I wanted to be present for that transition, even if being present looked different with a baby.

Also, I didn’t really consider leaving Eden at home. My mom is our only babysitter, and she usually attends games with me. So if I was going, Eden was going too!

That didn't mean we attended every game. Unlike previous seasons, I skipped quite a few away games because Eddie and I agreed that some trips simply weren't worth the disruption to Eden's schedule and my well-being. He was always understanding and even encouraged us to stay home when a game was particularly far away or the weather was especially cold.

And interestingly, I think I had to make peace with that more than he did. I've always liked attending every game because being there makes the sacrifices that come with football season feel worthwhile. But this year, I had to accept that supporting him didn't necessarily mean attending every Friday night, especially when doing so wasn't the best decision for our baby.

What Our Friday Night Football Routine Looked Like

Our home is about an hour to an hour and a half from Eddie's school, so game days required some planning. Around 3 p.m., I’d start getting ready, packing Eden's bag, showering and getting dressed. I also tried to make sure she got one good nap before we left because I knew we had a long evening ahead of us.

My mom would usually arrive around 5 p.m., and we'd stop at Starbucks for drinks and snacks before heading to the school. By the time we arrived, parked and gathered everything we needed, it was usually close to kickoff. We'd make our way to the bleachers, find our seats and settle in for the evening.

At halftime, I’d often take Eden back to the car to prepare another bottle, change her diaper and sometimes put her in pajamas. We always stayed through the entire game, which usually ended around 9 or 9:30 p.m. Afterward, we'd wait to greet Eddie, talk with parents and other members of the school community, and eventually head home.

Most nights, we were back around 10:45 p.m. It was a long evening for a baby, especially one who ordinarily went to bed much earlier. But troubleshooting my routine in those first few games helped me feel more prepared. I knew what needed to happen before we left, what I needed to bring and when I could expect to take care of her needs during the game.

The Stroller Was My First Big Mistake

At our first game, I brought Eden's stroller because it seemed like the obvious thing to do. I assumed I would be standing near the sidelines as I had in previous seasons, and I figured the stroller would give her somewhere comfortable to sit or sleep while I watched the game.

Instead, I found myself standing near a gate waiting to be let onto the field. I wasn't familiar with the new school's game-day procedures, and I kept expecting that eventually I'd be able to go where I ordinarily stood. That never happened, and I spent much of the evening feeling awkwardly in the way.

The stroller made everything more difficult. The field had turf rather than grass, which made it cumbersome to push, and getting it into the bleachers was inconvenient and exhausting. Eventually, I took Eden out and held her, which meant I was now managing a baby and a stroller that I didn't really need.

That was the first and last time I brought the stroller to a game at Eddie's school 😂 .

I did bring it to another stadium where I was able to stand on the track, and it worked beautifully there. So I wouldn't say that strollers are a bad idea for football games. I’d say that whether a stroller is helpful depends entirely on the stadium, where you're allowed to sit or stand and how easily you can move around.

After that first game, I started sitting at the end of the bleachers with my mom and brother. I brought a baby carrier to a couple of games but never actually used it. Holding Eden turned out to be the easiest option, particularly because I could pass her to my mom or Ava whenever I needed a break.

And with that, next season, I'm definitely investing in a bleacher chair.

What I Packed in My Baby's Football Game Bag

I quickly learned that having the right supplies made a much bigger difference than having the right equipment. Once I stopped bringing the stroller, I really only needed Eden, her backpack and a comfortable place to sit.

I tended to overpack because I'd rather have something I didn't need than discover halfway through a game that I'd forgotten something important. There were a few games when I forgot socks or toys, and those little mishaps helped me gradually refine what belonged in her bag.

Here's what I typically packed:

• Diapering: Several diapers, a package of wipes and a padded changing mat.

• Feeding: Two bottles, water, premeasured formula in a dispenser and an extra bib.

• Sleep: A pacifier, pajamas and a blanket for holding her while she slept.

• Clothing: Extra socks, a beanie and additional layers as the weather got cooler.

• Entertainment: A few small toys, although she rarely needed much entertainment.

• My essentials: Wallet, keys and lip gloss, so I didn't have to carry a separate purse.

The padded changing mat was particularly useful because I often changed Eden in the back of my car. I was surprised (and irritated!) by how many schools didn't have changing tables in their gym bathrooms, which made the car a much more practical option.

Feeding was easier. I could give Eden a bottle while sitting in the bleachers, and preparing formula ahead of time meant I wasn't trying to measure everything in the middle of a crowded stadium. I usually used halftime to take care of whatever required a little more space or privacy.

Next season, I may leave a small stash of supplies in Eddie's office so that I have backups when I inevitably forget something.

Dressing a Baby for Friday Night Football

One of the fun parts of having a baby at football games was dressing her in school colors. I had custom onesies made with the school's logo, and early in the season, I usually paired them with leggings. It was warm enough that she didn't need much more than that.

As the season progressed and the evenings got cooler, I started adding jackets, socks, beanies and fleece sets in school colors. I also packed pajamas so I could change her into something more comfortable before the ride home.

The biggest lesson was to prepare for the temperature at the end of the game, not just at kickoff. An evening that feels perfectly comfortable when you arrive can be freezing by the fourth quarter. I liked having options rather than dressing her in the warmest outfit from the beginning. That way, I could add or remove layers as needed without making her sweat or shiver.

How My Baby Handled the Noise, Crowds and Excitement

Of all the things I worried about before the season, Eden's reaction to the football environment turned out to be one of the least concerning. Because she loved it.

She is a very curious and active baby, and football games gave her plenty to look at. She’d watch the people around her, babble, smile and eventually even clap. She enjoyed having people talk to her and make a fuss over her, which happened quite a bit as the season went on 😍.

I was also surprised by how unbothered she seemed by the band, announcers and cheering crowds. She could fall asleep in the middle of all that activity and stay asleep!

That said, I wouldn't assume every baby will respond the same way. Her temperament made football games easier for us than they might be for a baby who is more sensitive to noise or crowds. Her apparent comfort also didn't eliminate the need to be mindful of loud sounds and protect her hearing.

One of my biggest takeaways was that babies don't necessarily need a bag full of toys to be entertained. I brought a few things for her to play with. But most of the time, the environment itself held her attention.

What Happened to Her Bedtime?

Sleep was probably my biggest ongoing concern throughout the season. Eden had a bedtime routine at home, and Friday night football meant keeping her out well beyond her usual bedtime. Fortunately, she slept at every single game.

Sometimes she’d fall asleep around halftime and wake up when the game ended, only to fall asleep again in the car. Other nights, she'd fall asleep during the fourth quarter and stay asleep for the rest of the evening. It wasn't predictable, but she generally managed to get some rest.

The games did interfere with her normal bedtime, and I accepted that Friday nights were going to be different. On Saturdays, I tried to leave our schedule open so she could rest as needed and we could return to our usual routine.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend abandoning a baby's bedtime every week, particularly if disrupted sleep is already a challenge. But I learned that one unusual evening didn't have to derail our entire routine. For our family, the occasional late Friday night was a compromise we were comfortable making.

I Didn't Get to Watch as Much Football

One thing I hadn't fully anticipated was how much less of the game I would actually see.

Before Eden, I could stand near the sidelines and pay attention to what was happening on the field. This season, I was often feeding her, holding her, responding to her babbling or helping her settle down. I still caught the big moments, particularly when everyone around me started cheering, but I wasn't nearly as focused on the game as I ordinarily would have been.

That was an adjustment because I genuinely enjoy watching Eddie coach. Being there has always been part of how I participate in his career, and sitting in the bleachers with a baby felt different from standing on the sidelines.

I also felt less connected to the program initially, although I think that had as much to do with being at a new school as it did with having Eden. As the season went on, the parents became increasingly welcoming, and people started recognizing and remembering her. Slowly, we began finding our place in the new community.

When Ava attended games, she was a tremendous help. She could hold Eden while I made a bottle or gathered our things, and we still had our usual conversations and jokes while watching for Eddie on the field. My mom was also a consistent source of help, although most nights I had one or the other rather than both.

I don't think I would have enjoyed the experience nearly as much without that extra pair of hands.

Seeing Her Dad After the Game Made It Worthwhile

One of my favorite parts of the season happened after the games ended. We’d wait for Eddie to finish his responsibilities and come over to see us. By that point, Eden was often asleep. But he was usually so excited to see her that he'd wake her up to talk, laugh and take pictures with her.

Toward the end of the season, she was beginning to actually recognize him when she saw him. Watching her respond to her dad, even after a long evening, was one of those little moments that made bringing her feel worthwhile.

There is something special about having our children be part of Eddie's coaching life. Ava has grown up around football, and now Eden is beginning to have her own experiences with it. I know she won't remember these games. But I will remember seeing her in her little school onesies, watching the crowd and smiling at her dad afterward.

What Taking a Baby to Football Games Taught Me

Looking back, I don't think taking Eden to football games necessarily became easier or harder as she got older. It just changed. Her needs, interests and sleep patterns shifted throughout the season, and I adjusted accordingly.

I also learned that I had been worrying about some things that ultimately weren't as complicated as I expected. Eden didn't need a stroller full of entertainment or a perfectly timed evening to enjoy herself. She needed to be fed, changed, comfortable and close to people who cared for her.

At the same time, I had to let go of my expectations for what being a coach's wife should look like. I didn't attend every away game. I wasn't on the sidelines every Friday night, and I didn't watch every play. But I was still there, supporting Eddie and participating in the community in a way that worked for our family.

And that was enough.

My Tips for Taking a Baby to a Football Game

If you're planning to bring your baby to a high school football game, these are the things I'd recommend based on our experience:

• Overpack the essentials. Bring more diapers, wipes, feeding supplies and clothing layers than you think you'll need. I'd much rather carry an extra bottle than run out during the fourth quarter.

• Research the stadium before you go. Find out where you'll be sitting, whether strollers are permitted or practical, where you can change your baby and how far you'll need to walk from parking.

• Plan for noise and weather. Bring properly fitted infant hearing protection for loud stadium environments and clothing layers appropriate for the forecast.

• Be flexible about bedtime. If attending a late game works for your baby, expect the evening to look different from your normal routine and allow time to recover afterward.

• Bring help if you can. Having another adult or a responsible older sibling available to hold the baby while you prepare a bottle or gather your belongings makes a difference.

• Keep feeding and diaper changes simple. Prepare what you can ahead of time and identify a clean, safe place for diaper changes before you need one.

• Give yourself permission to miss a game. A cold night, long commute or particularly difficult day may not be worth disrupting your baby's routine.

• Try to enjoy yourself. You probably won't watch every play, and something will inevitably go differently than you planned. That doesn't mean the evening wasn't worthwhile.

Ultimately, I wouldn't tell every parent that they should take their baby to football games. If you have childcare and would rather enjoy the game without managing an infant, there's nothing wrong with that. If you want to bring your baby because football is an important part of your family's life, there's nothing wrong with that either.

For us, taking Eden to football games was a way to keep participating in something that matters to our family, even as our family changed. It required more preparation, more flexibility and a willingness to experience Friday nights differently than I had before.

Next season, Eden will be older, more mobile and probably much less content to sit in my lap for three hours. I imagine we'll have an entirely different set of challenges to figure out. But at least this time, I'll know to leave the stroller at home 😂 .