Is 12 months too young to go camping?

[KittenKat]

A long running disagreement between me and my dearest P.
He thinks nay, I think yey, missed a few good camps so far as I conceded that under one might be more worrying, for him at least and agreed I would not pressure him further until she is one. He thinks we should wait until next year when she is two.

Anyway, given the awful awful weather of late, this weekend is looking brighter and a friend has just phoned to see if we would like to go camping at the Plume of Feathers on Dartmoor for a night this weekend, a chance to get together, grab some beer from the pub and have a chinwag round a bbq. All those attending will have children up to 4years old, so not going to be an allnight rave.

I think we should do it. DP is going to say no. How can I convince him? Should I try to convince him?

[dustystar]

Its not too young. I thought that and didn't go until mine were older but i wish now we had gone when they were babies. My sister has taken hers since birth (before birth if you count the fact that she also camps whilst pregnant). Camping is great for children and at least when they are babies you don't have to worry about them running off

I don't know how you can persuade him but i hope you can

[dustystar]

I've thought of one reason that you could use - tell him that by taking her from this young you can start teaching her about the 'rules' of camping before she gets to an age where she can run off. By the time she gets really mobile she will know about staying near the tent, not going past the windbreak etc etc.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

DD was 8 weeks when we went for a long weekend. Then at 3 months of age we went for 8 weeks!!!!!

We survived and had a fab time.

Do it. All that fresh air - she will sleep like a log!

[KittenKat]

I always said nwborn was best as they sleep most of the time!

His fear are - sterilising bottles (no longer bf, shame as that would not have been a prob then!) - only one night so can take already done
cleanliness/hygeine - wetwipes/antibacterial spray
food - make it up before we go
Travel cot - sleep in between us!
Bugs - reppelent
Early start - she has been waking up at 5-6am last few days anyway!
If she does not settle - only 20mins drive away, one of us can stay sober

See I have covered all bases. He wont do it

[KittenKat]

Just spoke to him on the phone. He said
'We can go out there for the evening, but not for the night. Not with our little girl, she is too young.'

Why? I said, Think about it while you are at work and we will talk about it when you get home, just think about it' 'NO! I dont want to' he said in a rather high pitched, childlike voice!
[grrr]

[maisemor]

If you are sleeping in a tent he might be scared of rolling on to her?

It is a shame. We went for the first time last weekend and the children LOVED it, despite the fact that it was raining. We did only sleep there for one night as the parents had had enough.

Can you not at least go and then just not stay the night, if you see what I mean?

[maisemor]

Ups sorry did not read that last sentence of yours now did I .

I do think it sounds like a good compromise that you just go have some fun and then go back home again.

Break him in gently .

[galaxymummy]

I went camping with my ds aged 7 months in hay with my husbands scout group. camped by river. no loo no running water etc.
it can work you just need to plan
ps it helped that we had willing babysitters (about 15 aged betwenn 14-17!)
galaxymummy

[Kewcumber]

I am 42 and IMHO, thats too young to go camping (42 yrs that is). Running water and electricity are much under-rated and being away from them for long is traumatic. Carpets are nice too. And walls. Made of brick.

[KittenKat]

lol galaxymummy!

He has spoken. He just wont be swayed on this. I personally think its more hassle to go for evening than stay the night. Once she has gone to bed and asleep, she could be anywhere. It will be dark, we will have to use torches and disturb her to get her to car, then disturb her again when we get home. and its my turn to drive

[KittenKat]

Kew - i do beleive this is his real reason, he is using dd as an excuse to sleep in his own bed.

[KittenKat]

We went camping lots before dd, and mostly not to campsires but to remote places on Dartmoor, so its not like he is new to it. He even has one of those fancy floor matt/matress things that remember their shape!

[inamuckingfuddle]

we have taken DTs camping since they were 9 months and I have to say 9 months was the easiest trip - the more mobile they are the harder it gets - the worst thing is the early light mornings in a tent without blackout curtains

[merrily]

you don't need to sterilise bottles, or anything, for a 1 year old

if you're only 20 minutes drive away it seems daft not to give it a try

sounds to me like he just doesn't want to go and using your daughter as an excuse

maybe try compromise and say to him: fine if you don't want to camp, but how about we take the tent with us, then if we change our minds when we get there we can stay the night - if not we pack up and come home.

[KittenKat]

ima - yes, the early mornings scare DP. However, LO has been awake early last few days anyway, and its only one night! and its the weekend, and dp has monday and tuesday off (although I dont so he wont get a lie-in!).

I think I might offer him a long lie-in if he says yes. Its also my 30th Birthday next week, so I might just let him know that my birthday week starts today...extended due to the significance of the date!

[KittenKat]

merrily - tried that. He said 'nope, no point, we aint staying' Sterilising - he says 'of course we do, especially if we are camping! she might get poisoning!'

I agree, think he just wants his bed.

[fillyjonk]

at 12 months you don't sterilise!

I took dd throughout the late spring/ summer she turned one. i think she was abot 10 months for her first camp.

wa lot of it i did alone-me + baby+toddler

oh leave him there and go alone!

[merrily]

he is bonkers

oh well - never mind, just go along for the evening, enjoy yourselves - maybe seeing your friends having fun camping with their children will change his mind and encourage him to give it a try.

[KittenKat]

Filly - I am soooo tempted. He can drive back and I shall stay the night!

I have tried telling him we dont need to sterilise bottles anymore!

[fillyjonk]

do you have any friends with kids this age?

it is sooooo not a big deal. 12 months is not tint. if he rolled on her he'd notice.

[fillyjonk]

sorry meant among friends who are there, are any 12 months

[KittenKat]

no, two friends 4 years, they will be there, they love DD to bits.
One friend 2 years old, not been camping but more limited opp than not wanting to, and a friend with an 18mth old, she would not, no way, not ever!

I really dont think its a big deal I think it will be fun, the kids will play, then go to bed, we will eat good food, drink some beer, go to sleep get up early and go for a nice long walk on Dartmoor followed by a good breaky in the family friendly pub.

I just cant get him to see sense. He just says it does not matter what I say, he wont enjoy it.

[Kewcumber]

I am 42 and IMHO, thats too young to go camping (42 yrs that is). Running water and electricity are much under-rated and being away from them for long is traumatic. Carpets are nice too. And walls. Made of brick.

Just feel I needed to repeat myself as YOU OBVIOUSLY AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION

[mummyemmy]

YES!! I have camped every year of my life, mum and dad took me when I was tiny and I was in terry nappies. We've got pics of the washing line full of nappies in front of the tent!

We are planning to take our DD camping in a weeks time, only thing bothering us is this awful weather!! If the weather doesn't improve think we may have to go for a caravan or cottage cos can't imagine it will be too much fun in this kind of rain. Constantly having to tell my DD not to touch the sides of the tent when it's raining may become a bit of a chore!

If weather improves go for it! I thoroughly enjoyed all those years camping with my parents.

[feetheart]

Not sure what to say to persuade your DH but we took DD for first trip at 5mths and DS at 10mths (would have been earlier but he was a winter baby!) They LOVE it and slept like a dream. An early start is usually no problem - DS and I had a fantastic 6am walk last time we went, my best memory of the trip

Agree with what the others say about babies being so much easier as they stay where they are put and don't try to eat fag-ends/up-end other people's coffee/try to get into other tents/have to be restrained whilst cooking/etc/etc - DS was just walking at 10mths - it was fun but 'interesting'!!!

Doubt any of that will help but good luck

Kewcumber - at 43 I was camping whilst 8 1/2 mths pregnant, I slept better than I had done for months!