camping with 18 month old. give me your best TIPS please (owmns)

[kalo12]

(Oh wise mumsnetters)

I am an experienced camper but never before with a toddler. What do I need to know?

[kalo12]

bump

[snickersnack]

Baby wipes. Ideally a whole car full!

[snickersnack]

And suspend all normal rules re bedtime and food and hygiene. They will have a terrific time and sleep soundly when they finally go to sleep

[wonderingwondering]

Tent with a built in groundsheet so they can't escape through the gap between it and the tent side. Failing that a travel cot! Which is a good idea anyway for emergency playpen when boiling kettle, or otherwise distracted.

[gigglewitch]

do layers for bedtime, with a grobag thing on top (stops them running off)
take reins and an extending dog lead (and I am not quite joking here) we used them on sites where there were rivers/ponds/large dogs
or use your travel cot as a playpen for the times when you need to put the kettle on / go for a wee!

use bottom door zips as a tenting baby gate

take blow up beach ball and a bunch of blow up toys, keeps them entertained for ages and packs small and light

we use a small booster seat for meals - the sort that you're supposed to put on a dining chair, with its own tray.

other than that, we loved it and so did they - gawd they sleep well

[kalo12]

he's a bf non sleeping co sleeper. will i be hounded off the campsite?

[gigglewitch]

another thought. If your tent's design allows - Zip bedroom door zippers to the top, not the bottom as you normally would. that way the tot can't reach to undo em

[gigglewitch]

nah you will probably be in good company

[FlappyTheBat]

will 2nd everything that gigglewitch has said!

we did consider buying a groundscrew to attach dd2 to, but thought that might be taking things a bit too far

don't worry about what they eat/don't eat, you are allowed to eat food you wouldn't normally when camping.

most of all, they really seem to enjoy the whole camping experience!

one tip, we took a small buggy with us and strapped dd2 into that whilst we were pitching our tent, she didn't seem to mind too much and gave her something to laugh at watch instead of being stuck in the car.

[LadyOfWaffle]

don't under estimate how cold the nights get - trscksuits make better PJs, and socks.

[gigglewitch]

flappy, I heart you
and ditto what she said about the buggy - we use our old wreck spare one for just that too. carton of ribena, buggy, mum and dad dropping tent poles - how much entertaining does one kid need

[kalo12]

good tips. thanks, keep 'em coming

[animpartialposter]

oh god we did this with our 2.5 yr old hyper ds - yes defo remember a duvet extra and also dotn attempt bedtime till its dark and quiet - go as late into august as you dare so nights drawing in more. Have fun and lots of coffee to keep you awake next day.

[HighOnDieselAndGasoline]

Took DD (16 months) away for a long weekend a few months ago and she loved it! We are going again this weekend - can't wait.

My top tip: An all in one waterproof suit, so they can toddle/crawl around to their heart's content without getting wet.

I also brought my Antilop high chair as the legs come off, was invaluable for sitting her in while I was pitching the tent/cooking, but a buggy would work well too.

Agree with the gro-bag suggestion - I had her in an vest, an all in one, a fleece suit and TWO gro-bags and she was nice and toasty.

Squeezy yoghurts and those Ellas Organics pouches are good for quick snacks when they are grouchy.

Also agree about keeping them up later than you would at home. The best night was when we took all the kids (was in a group of friends) to the pub for dinner, they fell asleep on the way home and we put them straight to bed. Bliss!

[lisad123]

hehe glad i read this thread, im off on friday with 6 year old and 2 year old demon child!

[kalo12]

what about bathing? do you put them in the dirty shower?

do they need a uv suit?

do toddlers wear wellies, or do they just fall over/kick them off?

[melrose]

Pack big plastic box with essential stuff. At bath time take empty box to the shower, stand it in the running shower for a few minutes then add child!

Take travel cot if still in a cot at home it is worth fiting it in the car!

Waterproof all in one fab, even if not raining as it is wet on the grass in the morning

[lisad123]

we out dd2 in wellies for farm, she falls over more than in shoes, but shes fine

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Took ds camping at that age last year and he loved it. My two recommendations are sweetcorn on the BBQ and those Ainsley Harriot couscous packs - nicer than they look.
We put him in a grobag and travel cot and he was toasty. This year he's on an airbed, probably with DH as I will have 4mo dd to look after!

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Good one melrose - DS hates showers so a mini bath sounds good even at 2.6