Camping with a toddler?

pinkpolkadot · Jan 31st, 2013, 14:35 PM

We would love to take LO on her first camping trip this year but not sure of it will work. I guess she will be 20m + by the time we go. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this with a young toddler and what the ups and downs were, sleeping arrangements etc....

Thanks

louandivy · Jan 31st, 2013, 14:41 PM

We have been going camping with our LO since she was 12 months, she loves it soooo much! We now have a bell tent which is great because they don't overheat in the sun like regular tents do, I'd say that is the biggest downside to camping. Where were you planning on camping? May not work for everyone but we always give in and accept that Ivy will have late nights as putting her down early is pretty much impossible in a tent, never before 9 or 10pm! If you have any other questions let me know, camping is soooo great for kids Ivy always asks when we can go next

pinkpolkadot · Jan 31st, 2013, 15:07 PM

Thanks, those bell tents look fab! Well we are not too far from N.Wales or Lakes so probs one of the two but open to recommendations! Did you cosleep or take a travel cot when you first started going? I would expect the excitement would lead to late nights (and late mornings with a bit of luck

)

louandivy · Jan 31st, 2013, 15:20 PM

Nope we bought Ivy her own special little sleeping bag which she loved and then slept on either side of her so she was all snuggly and warm! I think I am going to buy Ivy one of these for her birthday though: http://www.google.co.uk/products/cat...wBQ#ps-sellers
Campsites are such a great environment for kids because they all tend to make friends and you can trust that they are safe...I really want to go to this one in the summer: http://www.coolcamping.co.uk/campsit...5-fisherground

There is a company called FBA which does bell tents for a really good price - but they are quite small, only would fit a family of 3. Thats what we have, I bought it literally the night before we went to a festival last summer as I couldn't bear the thought of sleeping in a regular tent again!

louandivy · Jan 31st, 2013, 15:21 PM

Also if you want to go further we stayed on a campsite 5 minutes from West Wittering beach which is probably one of the nicest beaches in the UK! Lots of lovely pubs and little restaurants around but not very touristy, and the campsite had loads of facilities and was very family friendly.

pinkpolkadot · Jan 31st, 2013, 15:33 PM

Thank you! The ready bed's a great idea and that campsite looks brill! Will try and talk DH into a nice new tent too with the money we will save by not going abroad

louandivy · Jan 31st, 2013, 15:34 PM

Yesss it is the best investment, honestly I love my tent so much and it means that we are so eager to just go on camping trips at last minute whenever there is a sunny weekend!

lindseymw · Jan 31st, 2013, 16:23 PM

We went camping last September.

The kids loved it! We went to a campsite near Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland which was fab.

We have this tent:

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-...h-tent-p146468

We got it for £150 in the sale.

windswept · Jan 31st, 2013, 17:58 PM

We camped a lot last summer during our amazing heat wave! Archie's first birthday was a big beach party with all our friends and family camping. Our first trip was when he was 6 months. But when I say trip, I mean it was a five minute drive from home on our gorgeous local beach. Highly recommend it! They love it. Enjoy. Cx

pinkpolkadot · Feb 1st, 2013, 04:37 AM

Thanks lindseymw yes I think a new tent is definitely in order!

Windswept, that sounds amazing! I am always wanting to do a big trip to the beach but it's always so hard getting everyone together on a dry day, will try harder this year!

Jan 31st, 2013, 14:35 PM	#1
pinkpolkadot Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,862	Camping with a toddler? We would love to take LO on her first camping trip this year but not sure of it will work. I guess she will be 20m + by the time we go. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this with a young toddler and what the ups and downs were, sleeping arrangements etc.... Thanks

Status: Offline

Jan 31st, 2013, 14:41 PM	#2
louandivy Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Brighton Posts: 11,571	We have been going camping with our LO since she was 12 months, she loves it soooo much! We now have a bell tent which is great because they don't overheat in the sun like regular tents do, I'd say that is the biggest downside to camping. Where were you planning on camping? May not work for everyone but we always give in and accept that Ivy will have late nights as putting her down early is pretty much impossible in a tent, never before 9 or 10pm! If you have any other questions let me know, camping is soooo great for kids Ivy always asks when we can go next

Status: Online

Jan 31st, 2013, 15:07 PM	#3
pinkpolkadot Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,862	Thanks, those bell tents look fab! Well we are not too far from N.Wales or Lakes so probs one of the two but open to recommendations! Did you cosleep or take a travel cot when you first started going? I would expect the excitement would lead to late nights (and late mornings with a bit of luck )

Status: Offline

Jan 31st, 2013, 15:20 PM	#4
louandivy Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Brighton Posts: 11,571	Nope we bought Ivy her own special little sleeping bag which she loved and then slept on either side of her so she was all snuggly and warm! I think I am going to buy Ivy one of these for her birthday though: http://www.google.co.uk/products/cat...wBQ#ps-sellers Campsites are such a great environment for kids because they all tend to make friends and you can trust that they are safe...I really want to go to this one in the summer: http://www.coolcamping.co.uk/campsit...5-fisherground There is a company called FBA which does bell tents for a really good price - but they are quite small, only would fit a family of 3. Thats what we have, I bought it literally the night before we went to a festival last summer as I couldn't bear the thought of sleeping in a regular tent again!

Status: Online

Jan 31st, 2013, 15:21 PM	#5
louandivy Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Brighton Posts: 11,571	Also if you want to go further we stayed on a campsite 5 minutes from West Wittering beach which is probably one of the nicest beaches in the UK! Lots of lovely pubs and little restaurants around but not very touristy, and the campsite had loads of facilities and was very family friendly.

Status: Online

Jan 31st, 2013, 15:33 PM	#6
pinkpolkadot Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,862	Thank you! The ready bed's a great idea and that campsite looks brill! Will try and talk DH into a nice new tent too with the money we will save by not going abroad

Status: Offline

Jan 31st, 2013, 15:34 PM	#7
louandivy Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Brighton Posts: 11,571	Yesss it is the best investment, honestly I love my tent so much and it means that we are so eager to just go on camping trips at last minute whenever there is a sunny weekend!

Status: Online

Jan 31st, 2013, 16:23 PM	#8
lindseymw Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Yorks Posts: 3,096	We went camping last September. The kids loved it! We went to a campsite near Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland which was fab. We have this tent: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-...h-tent-p146468 We got it for £150 in the sale.

Status: Offline

Jan 31st, 2013, 17:58 PM	#9
windswept Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,391	We camped a lot last summer during our amazing heat wave! Archie's first birthday was a big beach party with all our friends and family camping. Our first trip was when he was 6 months. But when I say trip, I mean it was a five minute drive from home on our gorgeous local beach. Highly recommend it! They love it. Enjoy. Cx

Status: Offline

Feb 1st, 2013, 04:37 AM	#10
pinkpolkadot Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Posts: 1,862	Thanks lindseymw yes I think a new tent is definitely in order! Windswept, that sounds amazing! I am always wanting to do a big trip to the beach but it's always so hard getting everyone together on a dry day, will try harder this year!

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password