by Lucy E. Zahnle

Created on: September 16, 2009

My four children, all grown now, were raised as participants in a medieval re-enactment organization called the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Beginning from a point of total ignorance, I have learned a great deal about how to get children to be safe, to behave, and even to enjoy, SCA events.

Babies (newborn to twelve months) are comparatively easy. Just bring plenty of diapers, food (bottles, breast milk, baby food, cookies and other snacks, etc.), at least one change of clothes, bedding, and you. As long as your baby has all the comforts of home, he or she should be content. You must realize that, with babies, you will probably be sitting with the infant all day unless you bring someone to relieve you. Of course, if the infant is ill or the weather at an outdoor event is likely to be too hot or too wet, you should forgo events until circumstances change.

Caring for babies at feast is also fairly easy. You will probably have to hold your baby or provide an infant seat for him or her while you eat. If your baby is sleeping or is likely to fall asleep during feast, you can bring a portable crib to put the child in and set it up near the feast table at which you are sitting. Of course, you will want to sit at the end of a table or near a wall so that the crib will be out of the way. Be sure to check with the event steward or hall steward before you set up a crib.

Unless you are a shy mother, even breastfeeding at events is not that difficult. I breast-fed all of my children at tourneys. I wore late period Elizabethan peasant garb (chemise, skirt, and belt) because a chemise is easy to pull down from the top. I usually threw a blanket over the baby and myself for modesty's sake, but, depending on the company you are keeping, that may not be necessary.

Children are perhaps hardest to cope with at tourneys during the ages of one to three. They want to explore everything, do not understand danger, and are prone to temper tantrums. At this stage in your child's life, if you wish to attend events, both parents will need to provide childcare unless a third adult is willing to pitch in. Don't count on squeezing SCA activities in while the baby sleeps. Events are too colorful and exciting! With all the new things to see, babies don't sleep that much.

Eventing gets somewhat easier when children reach the age of four. They become more aware and more cognizant of what's going on at tourneys and they understand instructions from adults better although getting

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