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AIBU?

To sleep in campervan with 5 month old baby?

29 replies

SuperLoveFuzz · 13/05/2014 16:15

DP and I have been planning to visit his parents with 5 month old DD for a few nights in the next day or 2. He also has wider family and friends in the area. We were going to be staying with his parents but have since found out that DP's brother is staying there. DP and his brother don't get on and as his brother has been violent in the past he isn't keen to stay there, especially with DD. There isn't anywhere else we can stay and we can't afford a b&b or hotel.

We're planning to drive down in a campervan which is basically a large car which the seats fold down in to make a double bed.

It would be a bit of a squeeze with DD's pram (off the wheels so like a large Moses basket) but I think it would be fine for 2 or 3 nights. I'm just concerned if it would be too hot or cold as I've never actually slept in it before (belongs to my parents.

We would be able to store stuff in his parents house and use their shower etc during the day.

Could this work or are we being totally unreasonable?

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parakeet · 13/05/2014 22:31

I love camping with my children - but wouldn't do it with a baby. Have you thought about where you will nappy change and how you will wash your hands afterwards? What about if there is an explosive poo after a feed in the middle of the night? Will you leave the plastic bag of dirty nappy and wipes in the van with you? Could be whiffy by the morning.

And I don't know about you, but we still had disturbed nights at the five-month stage so really valued having a spare bedroom (a) so my DH could sleep while I breastfed and (b) so I could lie in of a morning while my DH took over.

If your BIL has been violent, yet your PILs want to see the baby, I think it's up to them to visit you or ask him to stay in Travel Lodge for the weekend.

SuperLoveFuzz · 13/05/2014 22:30

I've managed to persuade DP to just stay in the bloody house!

Really glad to have all the advice for future though. I can see some lovely little camping trips happening over the summer now that I'm reassured DD won't freeze to death/get eaten by a bear!

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wearenotinkansas · 13/05/2014 22:20

We spent 4 nights in a very cold featherdown farm tent when DD was about 6 months. it was raining cats and dogs and a blowing like billyo through the tent flaps. But she still slept! She was cold though, even with lots of layers and baby sleeping bag so I ended up putting her in with me to keep her warm. Agree with the person who mentioned gloves.

On other hand, you will probably want some ventitlation as it might get warm with 3 people sleeping in one campervan!

BrokenToeOuch · 13/05/2014 21:59

YANBU! My cousin and her DH are campervan crazy and when their DS was born, they took him away from about 4 weeks! Small babies are incredibly portable. They still go away most weekends and he is now 2 and she is pg again!

Strange setup though as presumably you'll be in the house socialising within the house itself, why not just sleep in there too?

MezleyM · 13/05/2014 21:44

Apparently my parents first took me caravanning when I was 11 weeks old. I appear to have survived, although I have been left with a lifelong loathing of them!

Billygoats · 13/05/2014 21:26

Can the parents not have dd in with them for the night if your concerned? Or is she BF?

I would be telling my DH to stop being silly and just sleep in the house. You mentioned showering in the house so I'm also assuming you'll be eating, toilet etc will in the house so you will see the DB. Infact the only time you will be away from him is when you will be sleeping when you won't even see him? Seems odd to me.

waterrat · 13/05/2014 21:15

we went camping in a van for a month when DS was 3 months old, it was very warm - france in summer - but so cosy all in a double sized bed space together - really not sure why anyone would advise against this! Its one of my happiest memories of him being a baby - you can have lots of extra blankets for warmth - and your body will keep the baby warm. It's unlikely in the UK to be too hot at night but even so, you can just strip down the covers etc.

have to say I wouldnt be keen on parking on a street or car park myself though! any old drunk could bang on the window etc - can't you park in their drive?

Paq · 13/05/2014 21:12

Yes of course you can, we've brought DD away in our camper since she was 4 mo. It was fine.

DustyCropHopper · 13/05/2014 21:08

We camped when dd was 3 months old, in a trailer tent. It was fine (infact easier than when she was on the move a year later). As long as you make sure she is warm enough or cool enough it would be fine.

MsFiestyPants · 13/05/2014 19:14

couldnt DPs parents ask the vrother to sleep in van and then you could use his room?

colleysmill · 13/05/2014 18:28

We took ds2 camping in our campervan earlier this year and he was 6 weeks old.

We took the moses baskets and extra layers and a fleecy sleepsuit. We also used a fan heater overnight which we perhaps don't normally use with just ds 1 who's older.

arethereanyleftatall · 13/05/2014 18:23

Campervan/tent/barge all absolutely fine for new borns.
My only concern would be if you were parking on a road.

Igggi · 13/05/2014 18:12

Should be fine but I do feel nervous at the thought if you just parking up on a road somewhere - is there not a campsite you could use? (Or a Premier Inn!). Get a thermometer to measure the air temperature for nighttime.

poorfoxyloxy · 13/05/2014 18:11

my daughter was at a festival with me staying in a van at 4 days old, normally i roughed it in a tent but a friend lent me a van to sleep in- relative luxury, (had a double bed in it)!! We've gone to loads of events and gone camping from that age, staying in various caravans, camper vans and tents for her whole life, she's 9 now. Have to say it's almost easier when they're babies! We are too coddled in modern life. It's not like you'd abandon the baby in the van and go off somewhere now, is it,, so you'd always be keeping an eye to see if baby is ok. :) Go and have fun.

dancinggerald · 13/05/2014 18:00

I took my youngest camping at 7 weeks - it was all fine and dandy. If it reassures you, she has a heart condition which means she doesn't keep herself warm as easily as most children, and she was fine (disclaimer: in case anyone starts telling me how irresponsible I am, we did check with her cardiologist before we went!).

sleepingdragon · 13/05/2014 17:11

does the van have heating that yuou can use when you ate parked up? if not make sure you take a couple of layers more than you think you will need to sleep in overnight (for all of you). whenever I have gone away in my campervan this time of year with other people who are not seasoned campers they have always been taken by surprise at how cold it gets overnight- vans tend to get colder than tents too. if you have sleeping bags they would be better than duvets at keeping out the cold draughts. last year my sister was still breastfeeding my nephew overnight when we went away in may- and needed to wrap herself up in various blankets to keep warm while doing night feeds. don't be put off though- you will have a great time!

NinjaLeprechaun · 13/05/2014 16:58

I took my daughter tent camping at two months, and we used to travel all over in either the tent or the trailer when she was small and not so small. Some friends of ours had their little boy out in a motor home when he was a week old, although only overnight and they did have a heater.

One of the delightful things about babies that age, in my opinion, is their portability.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 13/05/2014 16:56

Ds 2 slept for 4 nights in a camper van when he was 5 weeks. He slept beside me in his Moses basket.

It was great!

SuperLoveFuzz · 13/05/2014 16:51

There are some gaps where the seats join up and at the sides so wouldn't want to do it without the basket.

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Squirrelsmum · 13/05/2014 16:47

My eldest was 8 weeks only on his first camping trip, it will be fine, if you don't have room for the Moses basket can your babe sleep in with you for the night?

SuperLoveFuzz · 13/05/2014 16:45

I didn't know there was a camping board! Brilliant, I will check it out

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SuperLoveFuzz · 13/05/2014 16:44

Shatners I totally agree and wish they could put their differences aside. DP won't consider it and I think it is more to do with him feeling uncomfortable around him which would ruin the trip for him.
Haven't fully considered where we would park, somewhere that DP knows well and knows to be quiet I suppose. His parents have recently moved so it wouldn't be beside their house as we don't know the area at all.

3bunnies that's really encouraging to hear! Thanks for the advice.

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3bunnies · 13/05/2014 16:41

Oh and if you think we're extreme look on the camping board for more tips - some of them have taken tiny babies camping in tents.

3bunnies · 13/05/2014 16:33

We camped in a tent when dd1 & dd2 were only 5 months, ds was positively ancient being 10 months when he first camped. Bring layers so you can adjust as necessary and make sure that you have sufficient ventilation even if it then means you need an additional layer. Bring gloves too as we found hands get particularly cold.

ShatnersBassoon · 13/05/2014 16:31

The brother isn't likely to barge into your bedroom during the night is he? Just avoid him as much as you can and sleep comfortably indoors.

If that simply isn't an option, where would you park the van? Do they have a flat, secluded driveway?

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