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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a French campsite holiday with a crawler is a waste?

33 replies

Lightbulbon · 13/05/2016 08:09

Dp & DCs want to go to a French campsite type holiday.

I think that given the youngest is a crawler and into everything it would be no holiday and would rather stay home and go on day trips?

(I'm willing to be told iabu)

We have never been on such a holiday before so it's all guess work.

Ironically I'm the only one who likes the sun. None of them like the heat or beaches.

OP posts:
DoreenLethal · 13/05/2016 08:19

If they do not like the heat then do not go to France.

Last summer it was 42 in the shade. And in campsites there is no air con.

elQuintoConyo · 13/05/2016 08:21

Sounds hideous! And scratchy in the heat-Doreen is right, ladt year was an absolute stonker heat-wise and this year is supposed to be hotter Shock

fieldfare · 13/05/2016 08:23

Sounds far too much like hard work and not a holiday for you if no one else likes the heat especially.

Mishaps · 13/05/2016 08:24

I don't know about a waste - but it sounds like a nightmare! I am sure you would be the one whose mental alert system would be on the baby's safety all the time - what kind of rest is that for you?

ChippyMinton · 13/05/2016 08:26

France is a big country - it's unlikely to be 42 in Brittany!
Tent or mobile home?
We've always taken the DC to mobiles, and, if booked through one of the UK operators, can be well equipped for young DC. Get one with decking and stairgates so the crawler can be contained.

BillBrysonsBeard · 13/05/2016 08:30

I thought a holiday in cornwall in my inlaws lodge would be fine, I know the place and it's pretty child safe etc. We went with a just walking toddler and it was hard work! The beach was awful, lodge had ponds all around it and we were worried about him damaging furniture etc. It's a beautiful place but it wasn't a holiday, it was just transferring all the hard work 300 miles away. I'm willing to leave it for a few years and just go on day trips!

EponasWildDaughter · 13/05/2016 08:31

I wouldn't go anywhere hot with a crawling baby. Hard enough in this country at home keeping them comfortable and out of the sun. The whole day revolves around the youngest on holiday i find. This is the reason DH and i keep putting off ILs pushing for us to go to Cyprus with them.

I'd wait a bit. Or do somewhere cooler.

SirRodneyEffing · 13/05/2016 09:40

Depends on the age of the DC. Also how close are you to the south coast for ferries?

I've taken kids on a few summer trips to Devon in recent years and ended up spending hour upon hour on the m5.

I'm not sure I could stand the thought of doing that journey to get to the ferry terminal in Plymouth only to have many more hours journey in front of me.

honeylulu · 13/05/2016 09:44

My youngest is 2 and we haven't been on holiday since she was born.could easily afford it but like you say - I feel it would be no holiday at all. Husband and son(11) like the idea of it but I know it would be two weeks of sprinting after her (she is a bolter), shovelling down our dinner at the rate of knots and getting indigestion as she can only sit still for 20 mins max. The plane journey wouldn't be fun either. Can't see the point in spending thousands just to get stressed out in foreign country. I love holidays when they are a bit older but at the moment, no.
People I've mentioned this to think I'm bonkers btw. There is very much an attitude of "we must have a holiday at all costs". Er, no thanks.

Original poster
Lightbulbon · 13/05/2016 10:10

We would be flying.

I didn't expect everyone to agree with me tbh.

OP posts:
parrots · 13/05/2016 11:00

We did Eurocamp trips in France when the dc were little and had some great holidays.

Whitedoor · 13/05/2016 11:12

I think any holiday with a crawler will be hard work and possibly a nightmare. Let's face it, it's the same as being at home (minus work if applicable) with all the same jobs but with less equipment / facilities and all the things you normally rely on. Well that's just my view anyway!!
That said, we did eurocamp with an almost 2yo and it was really good as they provide tons of toddler equipment, stair gates, gates for the decking, bed rails, off road buggy etc etc. The sites have lovely little splash pools and sometimes other stuff for littlies. I liked that you can self cater to avoid the aforementioned bolting down dinner in 5 mins, if you can feed and put you toddler down early you then have a lovely deck and BBQ area to enjoy in the eve. Or if you are lucky and they sleep in the buggy you could even go out!

AndTakeYourPenguinWithYou · 13/05/2016 11:17

If you go on holiday having decided it will be a nightmare, yuo'll find it will be. I've brought all of mine on this type of holiday, since they were born. It's great fun. There are loads of specifically toddler friendly eurocamps in France, with enclosed decking, baby equipment, special play sessions for small kids, babysitters, all kinds. Its what you make it, if you're not even going to try and enjoy it then why would you bother?

Do you not enjoy regular life with a crawler?

blackteaplease · 13/05/2016 11:19

I have been camping with a crawler and will be again this year. It's no more a nightmare then any other holiday.

Where in France was 42 last year? We were on the Atlantic coast and it was average 25 mid August.

tinyshinyanddon · 13/05/2016 11:22

My 3 have been camping in the heat from 3 months old. Yes the crawling stage is tricky. You just have to be comfortable with the baby getting dirty. And as a bonus, when you get home your house feels like a palace.

Whitedoor · 13/05/2016 11:23

Agree, if you go you just have to accept it for what it is and all muck in.

OP I have also refused to go to France this year with an 11mth old but only becAuse we would have been driving ( from north ) and it's just too long in the car.

Lovewineandchocs · 13/05/2016 11:37

We went to Brittany and Vendee last year with a crawler-it was fantastic! We brought a tent and put a groundsheet and little play tent down outside. The campsites are so well equipped with pools and playparks and it wasn't too hot either. We are going back again in August. PM me if you need details of campsites

MountainDweller · 13/05/2016 12:04

Don't know where it was 42 but it was late 30s here for a lot of the summer last year and we are only about 2/3 of the way down!

jollyjapes · 13/05/2016 12:10

We took ours on all kinds of holidays. Would imagine the crawler will also spend sometime sleeping during the day, sitting in the buggy, being in the pool with you, go to bed early etc..

Yes its still day to day life but with nice weather and swimming pools and with both parents around to share the load.

Love holidays and the change of scene, day trips wouldn't cut if for me at all (perhaps because they always involve the M25).

longestlurkerever · 13/05/2016 12:16

Camping = some people's idea of nightmare. Others love it. Can't see why a crawler makes it more of a nightmare, except in the sense that they're hard work generally - but that's the case if you stay at home, surely? Daytrips are trickier too, and you've got the travel to bother about too. Going away with an older baby is generally not that restful, but still worthwhile imo.

GnomeDePlume · 13/05/2016 13:08

Eurocamp type holidays allow you to book extras like high chairs, baths, travel cots.

Campsite holidays are like staying at home but with better weather (hopefully), paddling pools, play spaces, other children/parents. Lovely thing about campsites is that nobody but nobody judges you if your child is head to toe in a blend of sand and ice cream (I do remember the crawling stage).

There is no 'got to' about that sort of holiday. All you have to do is remember to make sure that everyone has enough to eat and drink. That's it. You can eat out doors so it doesnt matter if food gets dropped on the floor. Everybody else has children so nobody minds if yours decides to spend an hour (or an evening) screaming. You can put the travel cot on pitch so that your baby can watch all the people go by (mine turned into great people watchers)

There isnt a 'perfect' time to holiday with children. You go this year and at the end you can think 'next year will be easier' and it will be.

Original poster
Lightbulbon · 13/05/2016 13:48

Littlest one is a crawler who is into everything (especially anything that looks dangerous!) so I'm worried how to contain him in a different environment.

I can't imagine relaxing by a van/tent with a bottle of wine when we'd be having to hold/chase him the whole time.

It's not like he can go in the pool for long either.

Plus he doesn't like bright sunlight (or wearing Sunhats!)

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 13/05/2016 17:35

Eurocamp is what I am familiar with as we have been holidaying with them for years. They certainly do consider the needs of parents with small children:

www.eurocamp.co.uk/holiday-types/party-types/baby-and-toddler-friendly-holidays/paradise-parcs

Mobile homes come with toddler gates so you can corral your crawling baby in the Mobile home. Alternatively go to one of the even more child friendly parcs such as the parcs in the links above and you can have decking gates as well.

I cant see why you think that days out will be easier. That just seems to be all the hassle with none of the differentness of holiday.

There are loads of places to stay in France, you dont have to head all the way south. We have stayed at this campsite many times:

www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/paris/pa012-la-croix-du-vieux-pont/ataglance.html

I have frequently recommended it as a good 'first go' at a campsite holiday. Plenty to do on site for all ages but not too unfamiliar.

It is only a 2.45 drive from Coquelles or 1.10 from Paris, Charles De Gaulle Airport

GnomeDePlume · 13/05/2016 17:36

By the way, I dont work for Eurocamp it is just that they are the company I am most familiar with. There are a number of other campsite holiday companies.

Original poster
Lightbulbon · 13/05/2016 17:51

Bumping for evening traffic.

OP posts: