For really young kids we tend to recommend smaller festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival goer. Smaller festivals have the dual advantage of not being so vast that a trip back to the tent for a forgotten dummy takes half the morning, and the stage areas are usually less crowded meaning you can get closer to the bands without fearing your little one getting accidentally trampled on or lost. That said, smaller festivals often don’t have as much budget for children’s activities, so your choice will also depend a little on the level of laid-on entertainment that your family need.

It really is very hard to choose from all the festivals that take place in the UK each year. But if we have to narrow it down, our short-list of the best festivals to take your little ones to goes a little like this: www.festivalkidz.com

Just So Festival – Staffs, 17-19 August 2012
This festival is a chance for adults and kids to immerse themselves in a beautiful world of creativity, arts, stories and children’s fantasies. Super friendly and set in a site of true beauty, this festival is ‘just so’ gorgeous. Breastfeeding tents for relaxing feeding, baby bath times and electricity points for sterilisers. There is no commercialism or TV characters in sight, just plenty of activities and creative adventures to explore and capture the imagination.

Larmer Tree Festival – Wilts/Dorset borders, 11-15 July 2012
Smallish pretty site with lots of shady areas to put your picnic blankets. Larmer Lawns has lots of activities for little ones such as storytelling, crafts, puppets, playsongs and a dedicated babychange tent. The vibe is very relaxed, safe and friendly. There’s a wooden play park on site and peacocks wandering free. Music, comedy, theatre, literature, film, dance, art, crafts, massage and healing – expensive, but worth it!

Shambala – Northamptonshire, 23-27 Aug 2012
Lots of provision for tiny ones: Family Yurt (for shelter, chilling out and bedtime stories with cocoa), toddler play spaces, sandpits near the lake where you can relax with apint on a sunny afternoon! Dedicated early years tent in the main festival with puppet shows, dance classes, workshops and stay and play sessions. This is a festival that maintains a bit of edge in its slightly hippy alternative vibe.