Bringing Your Baby To Petco Park

This is a subset of our Kids & Family Guide, which has a lot of useful information and is worth checking out. This guide is devoted specifically to parents bringing a baby to a San Diego Padres game.

Babies Get In Free

Petco Park offers free admission to children under 36 inches tall, as long as they are accompanied by a ticketed adult. Free-entry children must sit on a parent’s lap and cannot occupy their own seat.

Baby Carriers & Strollers

A front or back baby carrier is the best way to navigate Petco Park. Stairs, tight seating rows, crowded concourses — a carrier keeps your hands free and your baby close. Strollers are allowed inside, but if you have assigned seats, the stroller must fold up and fit completely under your seat so it doesn’t block the aisle. If yours is too big for that, you can check it at any Guest Services Center — there is one on every level. You can also park strollers near section 116 on the first level.

Diaper Bags & the Clear Bag Rule

Petco Park has a strict bag policy — most bags must be clear plastic, 12” × 6” × 12” or smaller. But diaper bags are exempt from the size and clear-bag restrictions. They will be searched at the gate, so pack only essential infant supplies and you’ll breeze through. Don’t forget: Petco Park is a cashless venue, so bring a card or digital payment method.

Changing Stations

Changing tables are available in all men’s, women’s, and all-gender restrooms throughout Petco Park. Private Family Restrooms are located near sections 109, 202, 219, 310, and 311.

Nursing

The Sharp Mary Birch Nursing Lounge in Suite 32 on the Toyota Terrace level is one of the best nursing rooms in all of Major League Baseball. It’s air-conditioned and includes rocking chairs, a couch, bottle warmers, breast pump outlets, a refrigerator, a private restroom with changing table, and — the best part — a field view so you don’t miss the game. A staff member monitors the door, and there’s space to park your stroller outside.

Ear Protection

This one is non-negotiable. Stadiums are loud — sudden crowd cheers, PA announcements, walk-up music, and occasional fireworks can all startle and potentially harm an infant’s hearing. Bring baby noise-canceling headphones or ear muffs. Put them on before you enter.

Sun & Weather

Day games can be brutal on infants. Check a shade map before buying your tickets, and bring a hat and non-aerosol baby sunscreen regardless. Evening games are generally more comfortable, but San Diego evenings can get surprisingly cool — bring a light layer. See what else you are allowed to bring.

Where to Sit with a Baby

Gallagher Square is the go-to for families with babies. It’s the grassy area behind the outfield wall with a large playground, a mini baseball diamond, and a big video screen. You can spread out a blanket and let the baby crawl around. The Padres invested nearly $20 million renovating Gallagher Square in 2024, including an expanded playground designed for a wider range of ages and abilities. Lawn tickets typically run $30–$65 depending on the opponent. Any ticket to a Padres game gives you access to both your assigned seats and Gallagher Square, so you can move between them freely.

Food, Drinks & Re-Entry

You can bring one factory-sealed water bottle (1 liter or less) and soft-sided juice or milk containers into Petco Park — helpful for formula or toddler drinks. Outside food for individual consumption is also permitted. And here’s a big one for parents: re-entry is allowed. Get your ticket scanned on the way out and you can come back in. Perfect for when you need a breather or a trip to the car.

Padres Baby Gear & Merchandise

Stock up on some goodies in advance.
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The Exit Strategy

Make sure your baby wants to come. Baseball games are loud, long, germy, complicated events. The weather is sometimes scorching, sometimes chilly. There are 40,000 people, many of them drinking, and the occasional pyrotechnics. No judgment — most babies do great at the ballpark. But have a backup plan. Walk the concourses if they get fussy. Leave early if you need to (re-entry means you can always come back). And remember: lasting nine innings with an infant is a long shot, and that’s totally fine.