Where: 1 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY
My fiancé is a huge baseball fan. So after we had our son last summer, I knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d make the case for taking the baby to a game. And that day came this season when we went to Yankee Stadium to watch them play the Red Sox. (Yes, we live in NYC, but we met in Boston, and my fiancé is from MA, so we root for the Sox. Please don’t let that deter you from reading the rest of this article.)
Taking a 10-month-old to a Yankees game seemed like a daunting endeavor—especially while wearing Boston attire. Now that we’ve survived, here are some tips for baby’s first trip to Yankee Stadium.
Don’t buy the baby a ticket
Major perk: children under three years old, and under 30 inches tall, don’t need a ticket to enter the ballpark. They must, however, sit on an adult’s lap during the game without obstructing the view of other guests.
Leave the stroller at home, IMO
Strollers are permitted in Yankee Stadium, according to Michael Margolis, assistant director of baseball information and public communications for the New York Yankees. And I really wanted to take our stroller. I’d hoped my son would sleep either on the way there or on the way back, and it’s tough for him to sleep in the carrier. But his dad convinced me to leave the stroller at home and, as much as it pains me to admit it, he was right. The baby was fine in the carrier, he didn’t nap anyway, and I would have been stuck lugging the stroller around for no reason.
For the record, fold-up strollers should go under your seats, provided they can be stored safely without obstructing the aisles for other guests. Large folding strollers and non-folding strollers should be stored at the Guest Relations and Ticket Sales booth, adjacent to Gate 6 in the Great Hall.
Bring a bottle
I nursed the baby before we left, but I wanted to bring a bottle just in case. And it was a lifesaver. No cans, thermoses, or glass or aluminum bottles are allowed in Yankee Stadium (glass baby bottles are an exception). Unopened, soft-sided, single-serve containers of non-alcoholic beverages (e.g., small milk cartons or juice boxes), clear factory-sealed plastic bottles of water, 1 liter or smaller, and empty plastic sports bottles are permitted. We had no trouble taking in our plastic bottle of breast milk.
But if you prefer to nurse at the ballpark, you can. According to Margolis, “A mother may nurse her child in any public location where she is comfortable and authorized to be. Nursing mothers seeking more discreet accommodations are welcome to use the Guest Relations Booth at Section 128, subject to availability.”
Try to avoid the junk food
If this is your one ball game for the year, I can’t fault you for wanting a hot dog and garlic fries. But we were thankful our son can’t speak yet, as we were sure he’d be asking for all the (expensive) food he saw around him. If you need help avoiding temptation, or your child needs a healthy snack, Margolis recommends visiting the fresh fruit stand on field level behind home plate.
Be prepared for weather changes
It was a cool day, but I knew that we’d probably have the sun beaming on our seats at some point. We dressed the baby in layers so we could add or subtract as necessary, and took both a winter hat and a sun hat for him. Both were needed.
Anticipate a meltdown
I expected some tears, and figured that would be our cue that the game was over for us. But once my fiancé felt the excitement of the live game, he didn’t want to ditch mid-way through. We ended up heading to the family restroom, where we changed the baby’s diaper, then we gave him some food, took a walk, and he actually bounced back and rallied. This is your call—you know your kid best, and if you think you can ride out the meltdown to stay at the game longer, go for it.
Use the cute to your advantage.
While going to a ball game with a baby mostly adds more work and reduces relaxation, there are some positives, too. When you have an adorable kid perched on your chest, people are kinder. Everyone smiles at you. During one of our (many) trips out of our seat section, someone actually called from a few rows up, “That’s one way to make friends when you’re rooting for the opposite team—bring a cute baby with you!” Agreed!
Get a first game certificate
Head to Guest Services in the Great Hall, and they will print a lovely first Yankees game certificate for your child. I took my son to get his certificate during one of his antsy times, and it was a nice change of scenery. I think he’ll appreciate having this official document in the future. I know his dad already does.
Take pictures
Dad wanted to focus on the game, and didn’t want to bother the people around us with photo-taking requests. I, on the other hand, cared very little about the game (sorry, babe), and wanted to document the moment for my two guys. I didn’t go crazy with pics, but I’m certainly glad I didn’t listen when he told me to quit it and put my phone away.
Stay safe
While your baby likely won’t stray far from you during the game, Yankee Stadium has a helpful service for keeping older siblings from getting lost. “Guest Relations provides complimentary wristbands for parents who wish to “tag” their children with their seat location,” says Margolis. “You can get wristbands at Guest Relations booths and kiosks throughout the stadium.”
Photo credits: Ilisa Cohen
