Worrying about the weather while camping

[theclampits]

Due to do our first ever camping trip this weekend to the east coast and the weather not looking great, it’s not so much the day it’s more the night worrying me as it’s saying it’s going to drop to 4 degrees ! We don’t have sleeping bags but duvets and blanket, have got alot of floor insulation ready like foam mats with foil backs, picnic blanket with foil mats etc.
I’m worrying about the little ones really, they’re 1 and 2. I’ve got them fleece pjs and they’ll be in with us, do you think it’ll be okay?
Really worrying

We're away next week, it looks like it will be wet in the Lakes. We've been lucky with dry sunny weather for the last 5 trips we've taken this year. It might be our first trip in a downpour. We have heaters with EHU and winter sleeping bags although we will be taking our 2 season sleeping bags this time. Earplugs for night rain, hooded coats and slip on shoes for toilet trips and a hot water bottle and warm layers.

Are you using airbeds? You could put a teddy fleece fitted sheet on them. We use sims on folding camp beds and put a fleece fitted sheet over them and it really helps

I have woken up in the night from the cold many times while camping. My kids never have - despite rolling out of their sleeping bags and off their seeping mats!

Take a small fan heater. It was an absolute Godsend for us. We needed one every trip we did even in the height of summer and particularly if you pitch in a shady spot.

Sleeping bags, not duvets which will be drafty.

I wouldn’t take them at that age in bad weather. It really needs to be warm. It just sounds like you’ll be worried the whole time.

Toddler Readybed with the 'bumpers' down the side was great for ds2 as he stayed put. As soon as he outgrew it he just couldn't/wouldn't stay on the airbed/sleeping mat - still can't in his teens, he's just a very wriggly sleeper!
I find duvet/blankets much better than sleeping bags personally, find them warmer plus easy to kick off if you're feeling hot.
Always sleep in a hat, beanie type thing. Not only does it keep your head warm you don't have to worry what your hair is doing when you trot off to the loo block first thing On that note, some kind of lidded bucket for middle of the night dc wees is a good idea.

Yes we have got a bucket with a seat, it’s actually for me though 😆 toddlers still in nappies! My bladder is terrible and didn’t fancy walking over the field 20 times a night !!

Thanks for all the tips - having major anxiety this morning! We’re used to two abroad holidays a year but trying to save money and thought camping will be cheap breaks for us

We've been camping with DS since he was 2 and we all absolutely love it, rain or shine. For nighttime you're best to be prepared with layers as the temperature can vary so much. On one trip we had a night so cold that I was shivering and couldn't sleep (DS slept through and was fine!) and the next night it was really mild and comfortable.

The foam mats under the beds make a huge difference and we line the airbeds with a blanket with a fitted sheet on top. Then a duvet, then blankets on top as you can add these or take them away as needed. I would suggest normal pyjamas in case it's not as cold as expected, but pack the fleece ones in case it's particularly cold. Take extra shoes for kids as well. Wellies are essential for walking across damp grass but I often find a spare, dry pair of trainers is helpful to keep in the car. Pack warm hats for the evening as well. Have fun!

We are also off camping next week with little ones.
We camp every year and regardless of when we go there is usually rain😂
Hot water bottles, lots of layers, sleep in hoodies and joggers.
If you get a cheap fan heater from Argos and leave it on low all night, the tent stays nice and warm...we never camp without!
I love listening to the sound of rain when I'm in my bed in a tent!

Base layers - mountain warehouse do them for kids - you can wear them under a fleece onesie - my two also sleep in woolly hats when it's really cold.

I’ve just bought a double SIM for the toddlers to sleep on, I haven’t just wasted my money have I? Worrying they’ll be rolling all over the place on an airbed

I think all you can do is try. Are they usually wrigglers? Ds1 slept like the dead, he'd be in more or less exactly the same position in the morning as when we'd said goodnight, ds2 very much not! When he'd grown out of the Readybed we just made sure there was either soft stuff or nothing next to him. He had his own pod in the tent at that point so once he was zipped in he couldn't go far

We have always had the kids in onesies for camping. Even when they were bigger I bought them ones made from sweatshirt materials. Really snuggly and great for getting up in the morning too

Yes both little wrigglers but the youngest more so !!

Ds will be in a onesie so I’m not too worried about him plus the fact he’s 11 lol

Onesies are a nightmare for toilet trips. Especially in a cold toilet block.

I’ve ordered a fan heater, thank you for the tip! Also going to buy a couple of newer hot water bottles today

SIMS are much better than airbeds overall.

If you've got hook up, have you got room for a mini electric heater. Funnily enough it's my feet that get cold if it's cold, so them to bed with socks on. If they've got loose tracksuits bottoms/sweatshirts, they could go over their pjs, in not, a tshirt underneath.

Worth taking extra socks and a spare pair of shoes as I find they often get wet/maybe some wellies, if the grass has mildew in the morning.

Overall, have a great time!