Surviving camping with children- how?

[Tailtwister]

We're just back from a week's camping and I'm more exhausted than when we left!

We had a great time, but no matter how much we did during the day the kids (5 & 3) weren't sleeping until near 10pm (no naps)! They're usually in their beds by 7 at the latest and I appreciate they might be a bit later on holiday, but 10!

Is this just normal for camping? It seemed that the other children were the same, crashing sometime between 9 and 10. We were thinking of making some more long weekend trips over the summer, but not sure if I have the stamina!

Also, we have some air beds which seem to have wrecked my back. Is there something which is a more comfortable alternative? We have a bell tent.

[Mynewmoniker]

Yes. It's normal for kids to be up later as there are no blackout curtains. You may be better getting some 'quiet' games organised for after 7pm to wind things down and give yourselves a bit of a break.

You can buy memory foam overlays for your beds. Perhaps that's what you might find more comfy.

Persevere and you'll enjoy, I'm sure.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Normal for kids to be up late and try an old-fashioned foam camping roll mat instead of blow up mattress. Much more comfortable and you don't roll off in the middle of yhe night. Use 2 if you find 1 too hard.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Like Mynewmoniker and Harriet, I would agree children definitely stay up later camping. Particularly at this time of year when it is light so late. We tend to deal with it by getting DD(3) into her pyjamas and fleece all in one, then letting her sit up round the fire toasting marshmallows until she either falls asleep, asks to go to bed (!) or is starting to seriously droop. We tend to figure it is her holiday too and if she wants to stay up later, why have a battle? We have found the time she drops tends to get earlier each night but we don't really go for more than three nights at a time so that may not be a pattern which continues.

A lot of people (particularly on here) swear by self inflating mats rather than airbeds. They go up to 7.5cm thick I think and it is probably worth getting a thicker one if you have space in your car.

[4yoniD]

A luxury bed is a must for me. I have a 7cm SIM (a cheap one from Amazon) plus a 2" memory foam mattress topper. This makes for a warm, comfortable bed which fills half my car.

[Arcticwaffle]

We could never get our small children to go to sleep on warm light evenings on campsites. If it's rainy and dark it's easier! Try camping end of Aug and the evenings are darker.
We used to get exhausted too, but partly it was our expectation of a child free evening, we had to let go of that and just let them rampage around the campsite rather than trying to keep them in bed/going to sleep.

[hillbilly]

Around 10pm is normal for our kids (8 + 5) when we camp. Especially the first night (we have only camped for weekends so far) and then usually they might drop a little earlier on 2nd night.

[PiHigh]

Yep, between 9 & 10 is normal for our kids when camping. The actual time tends to depend on how much noise there is on the campsite.

We tend to just let them run around while we sit and drink wine until they ask to go to bed.

Aldi do 5cm SIMs for £13 (roughly - we paid that last year iirc) and they're are much more comfy than an air bed. There are better, thicker ones if you have more money to spend though.

[YellowDinosaur]

Gin. That helps immeasurably :o

[YellowDinosaur]

Or amaretto

[YellowDinosaur]

I have the Aldi Sims too and they are great for the price. When its just the boys and I and there is a bit of space in the car we take a double duvet to throw over the top of the 3 of them to make it extra cosy.

[hillbilly]

Wine for me works every time although I may have to switch to amaretto or cointreau like you guys to avoid the 4am wake up in need of a wee!

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

Aah - but that is where the bucket comes in - not nearly so painful to stagger over to a bucket in the corner of the tent than to put on shoes, unzip the tent and stager off to the loos, particualrly at this time of year when it is light so you can't even stagger out in your nightie without fear of being seen.

The bucket has changed my life - bring on the WINE!!!

[hillbilly]

I do also have a potty for when the kids or I get caught short.