All venues have restrictions around age or height when entering the arena. Can you bring your newborn baby to a hockey game?
Babies are allowed at hockey games. There are no age restrictions when attending an NHL game. The child will need to sit in your lap unless you buy them a ticket. Check with your local venue before attending a game to ensure there are no other rules that would exclude your child from being able to enter.
NHL teams do not have an age cut off when attending a game. A few venues that host the game have a height requirement.
Are Babies Free at NHL Games?
Babies are free at NHL games. Most NHL organizations, 22 to be exact, allow children under 2 to watch the game in attendance free of charge. As a reminder, they will not have a seat. Depending on how squirmy your child is, you may want to go ahead and by them a ticket.
There are 5 teams in the NHL that set their age restriction for free entry at 3 and under. Those teams are the Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Washington Capitals. Taking your 3-year-old to the game is really fun, but I would buy them a separate ticket; if you are looking to save money, have them sit in your lap for free!
There is 1 team in the league that has a free pass for 4 year-olds. It might not be the team you are thinking but is indeed the Buffalo Sabers. 4 years of free hockey- sounds like a deal to me! The NHL does not have an official policy on age or height. They leave it up to the teams/ venues to make the decision on ticket policies.
When the NHL starting hosting their special events, they required all fans, no matter the age or height, to enter venues with a ticket in hand. This included the Winter Classic or the NHL Stadium Series, which are games played outdoors, usually in a football stadium of the host city. In a public outrage of forcing fans to pay hundreds of dollars for kids under 2 to attend these games, the NHL overturned their policy noted in this press release on October 18, 2016. The full article can be found here on the NHL’s website.
Which Hockey Venues have a Height Requirement?
Most NHL hockey venues do not have height requirements to enter the area. However; there are 3 teams that have limitations. If you are a Blackhawks, Islanders, or Canucks fan, you might want to check the rules before taking your kid to a hockey game. The United Center and Rogers arena have 36″ height cut off rules. If your child is under that height, you are out of luck. Barclays center restricts kids under 34″ from entering.
These teams do not follow any age restrictions, but only height restrictions that you might find at a theme park ride or water park slide.
Should I Take My Baby to a Hockey Game?
Now that you know you can take your baby to a hockey game, the question remains- should I take my baby to a hockey game? From personal experience, it was great taking my baby to a hockey game. After two months in this world, my wife and I strapped our baby to an Ergobaby carrier and headed into American Airline centers to watch the Dallas Stars play.
Being 2 months old, our son Walker was sleeping 15+ hours a day. Once we gave him his evening feed in the car before the game, he was ready to sleep for a few hours once we got inside the AAC. We arrived at our seat, and he fell asleep with my wife holding him. He did not wake up one time during the game and the experience was great for my wife and me.
I understand this was the experience for our family. Yours may be different. My son is 6 months old now, and I would not take him to a game. We have not had great success keeping him awake way past his bedtime and then putting him down after a night out. We would get a babysitter at this point.
My recommendation is for babies 2-4 months old, a hockey game is great and the child should fall asleep. Any older than 4 months and I would not advise taking them to a game. To risky. The better your child sleeps, the better chance you have to make it a fun night for you and your spouse!
As kids grow older, the NHL does a great job engaging the younger crowd. Outside the arena, before the game, there are activities for kids to engage with the game of hockey and usually have live entertainment set up. Also, check the schedule and try to attend a gmae when they are handing out a souvenir for the first few thousand fans. Any parent loves a free toy for their kid!
How Should I Dress My Baby for a Hockey Game?
With venues keeping their arenas at 60 degrees, you and the baby will want some warm clothes. Remember, if the baby is kept close to you as we did with the Ergobaby carrier the baby will stay warm from body heat. The person wearing the baby will be kept warm as well.
We dressed our baby in socks, pants, long sleeve shirt, a beanie, and headphones. He was plenty warm and made my wife even shed a layer because he was keeping her so warm.
In the picture above, you can see what we dressed Walker in for his first game, minus the socks. It made my wife a little nervous going to that first game, but when we got home that night we both agreed it was a great family experience.
Is a Hockey Game too Loud for a Baby?
Yes, a hockey game is too loud for a baby. However, you put proper ear protection on a baby, the baby will be just fine. How do I know? I have done it before, and my baby not only slept through the game, his hearing is just fine months later. Error on the side of caution, and make sure you cover the kid’s ears with the right protection.
Every NHL game is different, but the Dallas Stars enjoy their rock music and speakers cranked all the way up. They are constantly playing music and videos when possible. Taking friends for the first time, they love the experience, but always comment on how loud the sound was during every break.
I have been to a game at TD Garden in Boston and I remember the experience from the fan perspective being a little tamer. Do the research or hop on twitter for your local team to see about the atmosphere. Either way, bring ear protection for your little one.
Baby Ear Protection
When raising a baby, there are many things you need to protect. Hearing is one area often overlooked by young parents. Everything else you can see your baby doing to ensure they are staying safe. Hearing is a must when it comes to protection.
Here are two good examples of infant headphones that are good for hockey games. Either one should get the job done in protecting your baby’s ears.
BBTKCARE Baby Ear Protection
These are the headphones we used for Walker at his first game. They worked well and are very reasonably priced. Comfortable, and they are a good price. Check the price on Amazon here.
Baby Banz Earmuffs
Baby Banz are known for their adjustable width and comfortable feel. A little more expensive, but worth the cost. Check them out on Amazon here.
Can I Bring Diaper Bag to a Hockey Game?
Most NHL venues are lenient when it comes to baby bags and items needed to take care of infants. When we went to the American Airlines Center, they let us bring a bag in with needed items to take care of our son. I would not recommend bringing in a normal size diaper bag; try to take the smallest size possible.
Check with the arena you are attending on their FAQs page. They will have guidelines on bringing in bags. If you have never been to a game, you want to travel light. You will probably have a jacket or coat on anyway; you will be able to carry some things in those pockets. Any other baby items you need, stick them in a normal size purse.