How do you holiday with 2 under 2?

[CroutonCrouton]

Hi,
I currently have a 20 month old and a 6 month old and am thinking of booking a cheap caravan type holiday this summer as we haven't had a holiday in a few years now. Kids will be just 2 and 1ish when we go.

Thinking about the logistics of it though, I'm not sure if it's worth bothering this year so I'm hoping to get some advice on what other people have done.

How do sleeping arrangements work? I could put them both in the twin room with beds, but we only have 1 bed guard at home (the summer infant one) which I'm not sure is portable? Don't really want to have to buy another one when it's hardly needed as it is.
Or - we have 2 travel cots (1 each at our parents) and sleep them in the lounge?
Or - invest in some ready beds?

We only have a standard 5 door car, average size so by the time the double buggy is in there (luckily it's a small fold) plus bags of stuff etc we really want to travel as light as possible.

I know this is really a non issue and plenty of people either manage or don't bother, but we have had a hard couple of years with no luxuries so would love a little cheap holiday if we can manage it.

Pack around the children, buy food when you get to destination or as a friend did had supermarket delivery to holiday van. Go for the ready beds, will be good fun for the kids.

Could you put the twin beds together use the one bed guard and let them share what would become a small double?

Even with 1 under 2 / 2 under 4 it's not a holiday, it's parenting with less space and resources... would prefer a staycation going to parks, swimming, other local attractions to being in a caravan thinking about the beach in the pouring rain!

Very good suggestions thank you, hadn't thought of pushing the beds together at all!

I realise its not really a holiday as such with young kids, but at least it would be a change of scenery for us and if we pick a family fun park there should be stuff for the kids to do.

Haven resorts have cots, bed rails and highchairs. Ring up when you book to make sure they’re available for when you go and ring up again the day before to make sure they’re in your caravan when you arrive.
Their Mini Markets have baby food and you can do your full food shop there as well. However, they all have restaurants (most have kids menus) so you don’t have to do any cooking.
Some of the larger Haven sites have free activities for children aged 6 months and above. Primrose Valley has free Tots splash sessions, arty tots and sensory play, and gym tots sessions which costs a little bit extra.

I’m trying to think back to that age:

We packed everything into the cube shaped reusable shopping bags which could be wedged into every space we had in the car.

Ring and ask what can be provided. I think we brought our own travel cot and a hang-off-the-table-high chair but these things are often available or cost a small fee. Ditto sheets and towels.

Traveling light with dc is a massive challenge but start by cutting back on adult stuff. 1 pair of shoes only! Most campsites have washing machines so if you don’t mind doing a load, that can reduce what you need to pack.

Inflatable toys, especially a ball, crayons and paper, bubbles all pack up very small.

Are you thinking of staying in the uk or going somewhere sunnier?

We didn't do caravans, simply not enough room for all the baby kit, travel cots etc. I would not put a 1 year old in a ready bed or bed. 🙈

We rented holiday cottage and baby slept in Moses basket with toddler in normal bed.
Sling +back pack type carrier+ umbrella fold cheapie buggy covers everything. Babies clothes don't take up much space but if you have to take bedding that does impact packing. Buy food/ nappies at your destination.

Yep push the small single beds together. Take some cable ties with you and fasten the legs and frames together though otherwise they just slide apart!

You can get your shopping delivered to your caravan. So much easier and save loads of car space.

Take the travel cots. My dd and nieces are very close in age we just took the travel cots everywhere. My dd loves hers happily slept in at when necessary until she was three one of my nieces fit in hers until she was six as she was so tiny.

Hire a bed guard and travel cot. Will cost you about £25 and that's sleeping sorted! Haven are awesome for that age group, free morning activity and a swimming pool, perfect. You can even get a Tesco shop delivered to your van! Go for it :)

As long as your happy with same shit different location and less space, I would suggest that you book at least a silver apartment at a Butlins resort. You will have more room than in a caravan and you will also have lots of fun stuff for the kids to do (swimming, character shows and beach). They will put a cot in the room and I’m sure you can hire a bed guard.
We went on several Butlins holidays when my dcs were little, we have even done the half board option so that we didn’t have to cook.

We loved our caravan holiday at that age,we needed the rest so much.

Travel stair gate worked somehow to keep them in the lounge area. We tipped one bed on its side and jammed a travel cot in there as well so they both slept in one room (we had originally planned to leave it in lounge)

Fantastic ideas thank you!

Never been on a haven or butlins holiday before so will definitely be looking into those.

Quite looking forward to it now!

we did Haven Weymouth Bay when mine were that age but had both sets of parents there to help out!

It wasn't my kind of holiday but the kids loved it.

We had everything we needed. You could easily travel light. Food in the on site supermarket and restaurant was reasonable so you wouldn't have to worry about shopping and there's a chippy and a pub nearby.

I second anyone who says go for the best standard of accommodation you can afford at Butlins or Haven though. We had a cheaper caravan than my parents and it was cramped an uncomfortable. Theirs had a patio area and proper furniture and it makes a difference.