camping with a baby.

cranezoe

Hi,

we bought a tent last year and enjoyed camping with our daughter who was nearly 3 at the time we started. did it maybe 4 times and then stopped when I was about 7 months pregnant (mainly as it got so cold lol!) found it a great way to have a few "get away" weekends relatively cheaply and went with friends twice too.

Anyway, she is asking if we can go this year and we thought it would be nice to start to go again in May/June time. Our daughter will be coming up for 4 and our baby son will be 6 months. we'd only be going two or three nights a time.

would you take a 6 month old camping in a tent? what will we need to think about? already wondering if we'd need to take a travel cot and how we'd fit it all in the car. I do want to go though, we all enjoyed it and I dont want to miss out on it this year!

Apricot

You can buy one of these http://www.mothercare.com/Littlelife-Arc-travel-cot-Light/dp/B0011SADM0/sr=1-15/qid=1268433083/ref=sr_1_15/278-6977685-0580354?_encoding=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42764041&mcb=core - they are a bit expensive but can be used until approx 3 years old so will come in handy if you enjoy camping and plan on going a lot. My friend has taken her daughter camping from 3 months old (she turns 1 tomorrow) and used this, very handy as they fold practically completely flat.

kroome

go for it took our daughter from 4 months lots of blankets to keep warm both kids now camping mad aged 2 and 4 now we all love it now and cant wait for 'camping weather' enjoy.

[Deleted User]

We took all our children camping from 6 weeks old. The only problem we had was when they were aged 12 -18 months and found it difficult to settle the first night or two and would try to crawl out of the tent. Baby went in a sack (with arms) and they graduated to a bag.

Fitting it all in. Well we started cycle camping so were used to being very careful on weight and querying what was essential. In fact we used a very small tent deliberately (although I know it would not be many peoples choice) and it worked well for us. Eventually we needed a roof rack but we had 3 children and a smallish car.

This is my list omitting clothes, towels, toiletries.


tent, pegs, mallet
mats (to sleep on), sleeping bags

stove, matches, pots, sharp knife, peeler, large serving spoon,
plates, mugs, water bottles, kfs

toy box to store food, small plastic food boxes, clips to seal bags of food, disposable barbecue

2 buckets soap powder, washing up liquid, plastic bags, pegs string (for line), rubber gloves, scourer, foil, bin bags, kitchen paper towel, tea towel

radio (for entertainment in tent) torches camera

first aid, baby wipes, suntan

toys buckets kites spades blankets

pushchair potty nappies

One thing about safety. My husband always did the cooking (outside the tent of course) whilst I occupied the children playing games away from the tent or in the car if it was raining.

Put clothes in soft holdalls as suitcases take up a lot of space. Don't take too many clothes. Wash them out by hand or use the campsite machine if you prefer. This saves on space and has the added advantage that you will not have to spend two days catching up on the washing when you return.
No chairs or a table because you can sit on the ground on waterproof jackets or on plastic bags with baby in pushchair.

With a little bit of imagination and resourcefulness you will find you can manage with very little equipment which adds to the fun. ie no bibs used kitchen towel and a peg Our children always regarded camping as an adventure, something different and not the same as home but on a field.

I am sure you will have as much fun camping with baby as you did last year.

sooty&sweep

Hi

Have a look on this website and you'll find lots of useful advice about camping and camping with children.

www.ukcampsite.co.uk

Certainly no reason why you shouldn't take a 6 month old camping

Enjoy !!

Jen

cranezoe

thanks everyone

I'll look at the links and get planning. should be fun!

buyitall

We took our son camping from 6 months. It was an ideal age because he could sit up on a blanket on the grass and see everything around him but couldn't move about!

cranezoe

Im wondering about just using our ordinary travel cot... what do you think? I cant really afford to buy anything ver expensive at the moment! or how about a ready bed that might work I guess. our daughter has one already.

katiejones

cranezoe wrote: »

Im wondering about just using our ordinary travel cot... what do you think? I cant really afford to buy anything ver expensive at the moment! or how about a ready bed that might work I guess. our daughter has one already.

We did this. Just stand it on a blanket so the feet don't damage the flooring underneath.:)

w.dws

We used to use a Samsonite Travel cot for Camping when we had our little one takes up hardly any room at all, cost less than £40.

Debt_Free_Dreamer

cranezoe wrote: »

Im wondering about just using our ordinary travel cot... what do you think? I cant really afford to buy anything ver expensive at the moment! or how about a ready bed that might work I guess. our daughter has one already.

If it fits in your tent, then I would use your travel cot you have now.