How To Be the “It Parents” at Juicy Burger Fest With a Baby

So, you’re a parent now, and though you might not be partying till the early hours anymore, and probably aren’t rushing to have any drinking contests with your buddies, you would still like to attend (and enjoy) the awesome festivals that Beijing has to offer. With the annual Juicy Burger Fest just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get your family food fest ready!

We’ve got you covered! Thankfully, there are things you can do to make attending such fests with your babies a whole lot easier while making sure everyone is having a good time! Here are a few tried and tested hacks for bringing the babes to the bashes!

1. Beat the Heat

Nothing has babies (and parents) more irritable than being too hot to enjoy the fun of festivals, and while we grown-ups are better equipped to handle it, here are a few things I wish I’d done for the last festival I attended.

Freeze a few small ice packs ahead of time for your baby to play with and stay cool. Babies love odd little things, and these work perfectly on hot days.

Pro Tip: I always save the mini ice packs from frozen deliveries on Taobao, JD, or HeMa – they’re ideal for this!
If you’ve got space, bring some water play! A mini blow-up pool (like the 50cm ones on Taobao for just RMB 20) or even a few empty containers for splashing can go a long way in keeping your baby both cool and entertained.
Shade is your friend! A small tent, a large umbrella, or anything that creates a cool nook makes a big difference. It’s also great for breastfeeding, nappy changes, or a sneaky nap.
Don’t skimp on sunscreen and sunhats – and don’t forget mosquito repellent.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure what to use, check out our article on baby-safe mosquito repellents!
Pack outfit options for all weather twists – something warmer if it cools down, lighter if it heats up, and always spares in case of spills or messes. Keeping baby comfy is key.

2. Beat the Crowds

It truly helps to arrive as early as possible in order to make sure you can secure a nice spot to settle for the day. Being able to choose your spot early ensures that you can pick a place away from the booming speakers for sensitive little ears or temporary installations that your baby would love to pull over.

3. Beat the Queues

With all our favorite vendors pulling out all the stops to provide you with the most delicious yums, it is inevitable that there will be long queues for both food and drinks. Make sure to pack plenty of food and snacks for the young ones so that they can eat whenever they need, regardless of how long you are willing to wait for that gourmet grub.

The vendors and their dishes are often posted in advance, so a good idea is to take note of the dishes you would most like to have and plan ahead what to queue for, rather than indecisively wandering around for an hour first.

Then, of course, take turns to queue – while one parent entertains the baby bums, the other can grab what is first on your list. It also helps to pack some electrolyte drinks for the grown-ups (especially the breastfeeding moms) since you are bound to sweat … a lot!

4. Beat the Boredom

While these fests always have kids’ activities, there are seldom things that would cater to babies or small toddlers. Remember to pack your little one’s favorite toys and especially things that would make it easier for them to take naps. I’ve been gifted a wonderful backpack that can transform into a carry cot on demand, which works great. Make sure to remember your picnic blanket so that the little ones can play and the family can sit comfortably.

Bonus Tips:

Other than the obvious baby-changing essentials, I like to bring along doggy pee pads for diaper changes as they are disposable and convenient for outside locations to avoid any messes. They come in different sizes, and you only really need one big enough for your baby’s bum and thighs.
Depending on your baby’s age and what or how they eat, I always like to pack our rubber bib to avoid needing too many outfit changes (or stain removals later on).
If your baby is sensitive to noise when it comes to nap time, you can get little ear protectors for them that cancel out a lot of noise. It would be a good idea, though, to start letting them wear it bit by bit, a few days in advance, to get used to it.