How to Survive a Louisiana Football Tailgate with Kids: A Mom’s Guide to Game Day
There are two types of people at a Louisiana football tailgate: the people who packed a cooler, grabbed a chair, and showed up ready to have a good time…and the moms.
We packed sunscreen, snacks, extra snacks because somebody won't eat the first snacks, wipes, Band-Aids, water bottles, a change of clothes, portable fans, chargers, and approximately 47 other things nobody will appreciate until they suddenly need them.
Whether you're headed to an LSU tailgate in Baton Rouge, a Saints game in New Orleans, your favorite college game, or Friday night high school football, tailgating with kids is an entirely different sport.
And in Louisiana, we don't exactly do football halfway.
So if you're brave enough to bring the children along, here is your unofficial Louisiana Mom's Guide to surviving football season.
1. Dress Them for Louisiana Weather — Not Pinterest
I love a cute game day outfit as much as the next Louisiana mom. Actually, probably more.
But September football in Louisiana is basically summer with a football helmet on.
It can be HOT.
If your kids are going to spend hours outside at an LSU tailgate or walking around before a Saints game, lightweight and breathable clothing is your friend. Comfortable shoes are also non-negotiable.
And here's the trick: bring an extra outfit.
Not necessarily because they'll get dirty — although they absolutely will — but because Louisiana weather can go from 94 degrees and sunny to sideways rain in approximately seven minutes.
Cute + comfortable + prepared wins every time.
2. Pack More Snacks Than You Think Any Human Could Possibly Eat
Your child can go six hours at home without acknowledging the existence of food.
Take them to a tailgate?
Suddenly they're starving every 14 minutes.
Pack the snacks.
Then pack some more.
Crackers, fruit snacks, chips, granola bars, cookies, sandwiches — whatever your kids will actually eat.
Because nothing will humble you faster than standing next to a table full of jambalaya, gumbo, boudin, fried seafood and enough food to feed an entire SEC offensive line while your child announces:
"There's nothing to eat."
Ma'am. Just give him the Goldfish.
3. WATER. WATER. WATER.
This deserves its own section.
Louisiana football season starts when Louisiana still thinks it's July.
If you're tailgating outside, especially for an afternoon LSU game, everybody needs to stay hydrated.
Bring more water than you think you'll need, freeze a few bottles the night before, and make the kids drink before they tell you they're thirsty.
A small insulated water bottle for each child is also worth carrying around.
4. A Portable Fan Is Basically Part of the Louisiana Mom Uniform
Phone.
Keys.
Wallet.
Portable fan.
If you know, you know.
A rechargeable handheld or neck fan can make the difference between a happy little Tiger fan and a child lying across your lap dramatically declaring that this is the worst day of their entire life.
Bonus points if you bring a portable charger, because that fan dying at 2:00 p.m. is not the kind of adversity we need on game day.
5. Sunscreen Them Before You Leave the House
Do not wait until you get to the tailgate.
You will forget.
You'll start talking to somebody, somebody will hand you food, the kids will disappear with their cousins, and three hours later you'll notice everybody's cheeks are pink.
Sunscreen before you leave.
Then throw it in your bag so you can reapply.
A hat is also a good idea, especially for younger kids.
6. Establish the "What If We Get Separated?" Plan
This isn't the fun part, but it's important.
Football crowds can be enormous, especially around LSU's campus or in downtown New Orleans on Saints game day.
Before you get into the crowd, make sure your kids know:
- Your real first and last name.
- Your phone number, if they're old enough.
- Where they should go if they can't find you.
- Which adults are safe to ask for help.
For younger kids, write your phone number on a wristband, card, or something they can keep on them.
Take a quick picture of your children before heading into the crowd, too. You'll have a current photo AND you'll know exactly what they're wearing.
Hopefully you'll never need it.
7. Don't Expect the Kids to Tailgate Like Adults
Adults can sit under a tent for six hours discussing football, eating, and visiting.
Children cannot.
Bring something for them to do.
A football to toss around, coloring supplies, bubbles, small games, cards, or even a tablet for downtime can buy everybody a little peace.
And if you're tailgating with other families, congratulations.
You have accidentally created a pack of feral game day children who will entertain each other for hours.
Just count them occasionally.
8. Bring the Mom Emergency Bag
You don't necessarily need a giant diaper bag, but you do need what I lovingly call the Bag of Things Nobody Needed Until Mom Didn't Bring Them.
Think:
Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, Band-Aids, hair ties, sunscreen, bug spray, portable charger, small fan, extra socks, a plastic grocery bag for wet or dirty clothes, and whatever other little things your particular kids tend to require at the least convenient moment possible.
Will anyone thank you for carrying it?
No.
Will six people ask you for something out of it?
Absolutely.
9. Have a Bathroom Strategy
Nothing tests a mother's patience quite like:
"I have to pee."
"Okay, there's a bathroom right there."
"I don't have to go anymore."
Twenty minutes later, when you're nowhere near a bathroom:
"I HAVE TO PEE REALLY BAD."
If you have young children, take advantage of bathrooms when you see them.
You don't ask if they have to go.
Everybody goes.
This is not a democracy.
10. Lower Your Expectations and Enjoy It
This might be the most important one.
Tailgating with kids probably isn't going to look exactly like it did before you had them.
Someone may spill something.
Someone may complain about walking.
Someone will probably need to use the bathroom at the exact moment something exciting happens.
You might leave earlier than you planned.
And that's okay.
Because one day those little kids in their purple and gold, black and gold, or hometown team colors are going to be grown.
They're going to remember walking through the tailgates.
They're going to remember hearing the band.
They're going to remember everybody yelling at the TV.
They're going to remember the food, the noise, the traditions and being surrounded by people who took football entirely too seriously.
Because in Louisiana, football isn't really just football.
It's Saturdays in Baton Rouge.
It's Sundays in New Orleans.
It's Friday nights under stadium lights in small towns across the state.
It's gumbo when there's finally a cold front, jambalaya for a crowd, somebody's uncle yelling at a referee who absolutely cannot hear him, and children growing up knowing exactly which colors they're supposed to wear on game day.
So pack the snacks.
Bring the fan.
Apply the sunscreen.
Take the pictures.
And take the kids.
Even if they complain half the time.
Because you're not just surviving another Louisiana football tailgate.
You're teaching them how we do football down here.
And that's a tradition worth passing along.