Can kids live in a van?

[Vanbamthankumam]

Ex partner has become a fantasist over the years since we broke up, about things he's going to do and places he's going to live. He could easily rob a bank because he knows where the vaults are. One day he's going to build a house fully under ground and live there like a mole. That sort of crap.
The one tamer idea that has really stuck is that he's going to live in a van. Not to save money or anything, just to be some cool living on the road guy and travel the world.

We have one child and while half of me thinks he's full of crap the other half worries about my child having her overnight visits in some cold van parked on the side of the road. If he really goes down this route would it actually be allowed? If I go through legal proceedings would they let him keep her in a van or could I insist on some other arrangements?

When I say van I do mean campavan really. It will have beds and heating.

This probably sits in the file “bridges I will cross when I come to them”
however, I’m sure he’s not thinking of a paint spattered transit. A properly fitted out camper sounds like a dream for a child.

Well, my daughter sleeps in a camper van a lot... she loves it.
Have you seen some of the amazing vans out there now?
I would say as long it has heating, black and grey waste he should crack on.

He sounds barking.

I met a Swedish family in Australia a few years ago who'd been travelling in a van for 2 years, but they were seeing the world, not just living in a van in their home town. The kids were about 12, 10 and 8, had lessons every morning sitting round a table outside, and in the afternoon were off down the beach surfing and swimming - great in Australia, perhaps not so great in Urmshaw.

How secure are these top of the range vans? I have images of flimsy doors and her being stolen in the night, or driven away!

One of my neighbours has a converted school bus made into a camper van that the inside looks like Elvia tour bus!

It’s fabulous and more luxurious than some houses!

However, if he’s just going to chuck them in the back of a transit then I don’t think that would be much fun.

It depends on the van. Has he mentioned what he'd like to buy? A Crafter maybe?
No, you can get amazing security now (My phone app can stop the distributor on my van for instance).
Is he planning on camp sites or wild camp?
Honestly, go on Instagram and look for kinging it. Their van is ace!

Travellers have babies and children in caravans all the time.

My brother lives in a narrow boat with his wife and 2 children 4yrs and 18months.

How old is your child? If she finds it uncomfortable and she's old enough, she would be allowed to choose whether or not to stay the night with her dad.
Traveller children grow up in caravans which is surely very similar to what he's thinking of?

Oh god he sounds like my ex. If so he'll never actually do it so don't worry!

Clearly I don't know my vans very well. If they have these fancy ones then I'm sure she'll have a great time and I'll grow to be okay with it.

Thanks everyone!

Although I may be back in 2 years saying it's a paint splattered transit. You just never know with him.

I used to teach a child who spent a lot of time with the EOW parent in a camper van and he hated it because of the restrictions on how much of his stuff he could have there and the tiny amount of living space. Wasn’t an adventure for him after the initial novelty.

I was just coming to say this. It's hardly unheard of for children to sleep in a van!

Agree with with poster who says he's barking mad. However, saying that there are a few families on Tiktok who live in the kind of camper vans with kids, and it looks fascinating.

The word 'van' in this thread means an actual van, not a caravan.

I wouldn't worry about it until it happens. Mattress in a transit on the side of the motorway - no.

A kitted out van with beds, cooker heating- I'm sure it'll be great! Lots of fun.

They also have a lower life expectancy than the general population.

Of course children can live in a van, as long as they are warm enough. Caravan, camper van or insulated van conversion.

Yes, and a lot of travellers (especially new travellers) live in vans, not caravans.

I have two friends with experience of this. One, her exh had two kids in the van and one of them went wandering, he didn't realise. She didn't feel it was safe. Not sure how they negotiated that.

The other is a mother taken to van life and her DC chose to live in house with her their Dad. Broke her heart but they are getting along some years later.

It's so subjective, and as PP say, wait to cross that bridge when it appears.

We did for a year. DD 4-5 and DS 1-2 ... But it was a motorhome type of van. Fully winterised and off grid power.
I would do it again in a heartbeat if my DH can get EU residency.

People live full time in vans. Not my idea of a lifestyle but there's lots of families who live on the road, from traditional gypsies, fairground folk, new age types and the latest vanlife types. As long as he can keep her warm and safe, his home having wheels won't be an issue

My stbx is the same.. He actually has a camper van, and the novelty of living in one wore off after one summer. Don't worry too much. These guys are all talk and little substance..