what's the youngest baby you've taken camping?

[bundaberg]

was about to book camping for next easter, then remembered I'm likely to be giving birth! so thought I'd book for May half term instead.

baby should be 4 weeks by then, but obv could be late so could be as little as 2 weeks.

am I insane for even considering it? it's my 4th baby, so know what i'm in for, but equally aware that I might not be finding it that easy with such a little one!

what do you reckon?

[4yoniD]

There is no reason why not .... except .... what if it is cold and you struggle to keep a possibly delicate newborn warm? What if baby cries a few hours at midnight? What if you are, erm, bleeding lots still - would you be happy? Also possibly still torn, sore, always the possibility of c-section....
Honestly I'm not saying don't, just giving you a few joyous thoughts to consider.

BTW I went with a couple-of-month old and it was a mild disaster but that was purely us (borrowed inadequate tent, inadequate beds, etc).

[saintlyjimjams]

About 6 months. My cousin went at 2 weeks though - during a cold easter. She was a 4th child so my aunt wasn't very precious with her. They still talk about it now (and she's all grown up). It was fine.

So um exactly like your situation! So do it!

[saintlyjimjams]

No c section though - think that would be tougher

[PilchardsonToast]

My youngest dc was 6 month but that was more due to seasons than his ages.
It really is just down to can you keep them warm so as long as it's not horrible weather it will be fine - if anything they are easier camping the younger try are!

[MyMILisfromHELL]

Ds was 3 months. He settled in really well. I was bfing, so didn't have to faff with sterilizing bottles, etc, which was great.

[3xM]

I took my 5 week old DD camping in the summer, just for one night in my friends' tent. I took her moses basket, and plenty of warm things. She barely peeped. I think the fresh air did her good! It was great, if a bit awkward feeding her at night on the air mattress...

[bundaberg]

yes, the bleeding thing had occurred to me and is one of my main concerns. could be quite manky.

hmmm. i think warmth-wise we'll be ok. Have camped with small baby before, but not quite that small...

I guess I could book it, explain the situation and see if, if i'm not up to it, they'd be happy for me to change the booking to a different week

[Meglet]

My friend went camping 3 weeks after a CS . She was only 21. I was still on the sofa 3 weeks after my sections.

[bundaberg]

wow that's hardcore meglet!

[VivaLeBeaver]

Went for a weekend when dd was 6 weeks.

Then went for a month when she was 4 months old, no ehu either!

Plenty of layers to keep her warm at night and a little baby specific sleeping bag/grobag. We were up in the mountains in Switzerland so quite chilly at night.

Babies are easier than toddlers.

[bundaberg]

My other 3 can be challenging, that's the only other thing. ds1 is autistic, and we rather suspect ds3 is too. hmm

i think i might just go for it

[endoflevelbaddy]

We took our 8 week old for 3 nights for the May Day bank holiday this year, she was fab even though she had a bit of a cold & we had a great time. I'd had a section but was obviously pretty well recoverd by then. We had only paid a small deposit so wouldn't have lost much if I'd wussed out of taking her - do you have to pay for it up front?

[rockybalboa]

I wanted to go camping this summer (DS3 born mid July) but the combo of: comfortably sitting up on an air bed to bf; baby potentially keeping entire site away screaming from 2-5am (if anything like DS2 was for the first 8 weeks) and the fact that I would have to deal with lochia in campsite loos/shower blocks put me off.

[bundaberg]

as far as I can tell you can book online and just pay when you turn up... which seems unusual. but there's an online booking form and it says "cash only payments please"

[hanette]

Sorry but I think you are either bonkers or superwoman
I wouldn't in a million years
If you so decide to though, I hope it goes well!

[MarjorieAntrobus]

We took DC2 camping when she was 3 weeks old. We'd just bought a trailer tent and wanted to test it out. It was June so the weather was fairly mild, and we didn't travel far. I think it was ok, though it's a long time ago now so i may be remembering it with fond nostalgia! I'd suggest you don't go for too long and you have a "get out" plan in place.

Thinking about this, OP, what might be hardest isn't the new baby, but trying to organise all the camping equipment and the other DCs. We didnt take DC3 and DC4 camping until they were a few months old because logistically it had become so complicated.

[bundaberg]

Maybe I'll check out local hotels in case it all goes types up? [Grin]

[dreamingofsun]

what about a mobile home? you get the benefits of a campsite but with a bit more luxury/privacy?

[MsInterpret]

BFing (if that's what you choose to do) in the middle of the cold night isn't fun either. Have memories of wrenching layers up/down to expose boob to the freezing night air, whilst attempting to keep as much of the rest of my body within sleeping bag, brrr!.

[lolalotta]

My mum and dad took us (my twin and I) when we were 6 weeks old. We 're still here to tell the tale!

[serin]

4 months, DS2 developed breathing problems and we came home early. Hmm... Norfolk to the North west in the middle of the night wasn't a lot of fun.

Maybe go somewhere not too far from home!

[Rooners]

I think we went in the summer so ds would have been about 6 months.

It was FiNE

[Rooners]

Oh and I was on my own with my two older ones (6 and 10)

we didn't go far though and only for two nights. First time we have camped away from the garden.

It had some good facilities - which helped - but I couldn't really go swimming as ds1 had to hold the baby by the pool. It didn't seem fair! I had 2 minutes then got out again.