Camping

[kaytee87]

Cheekily posting here for traffic.

What age would you take a baby / toddler camping?

We were thinking about taking almost 1yo ds but wondering whether he'd be too cold and it would be better going next summer when he's bigger. Probably be around 9/10 degrees overnight.

Depends on the child as well as the age. We didn't take ours when they were really little for the camping neighbours sake more than ours. We were used to them waking up and shouting for us in the night (they'd settle again quite quickly) but canvas isn't good for soundproofing!

Sorry. Didn't rtft. Didn't realise you were wild camping with no neighbours. My comment is no use! As you were.

youngest I have ever taken was DS at 3 weeks, with Dsis who was 9 weeks, don't think they even noticed to be honest.

However having done a few trips with 1 year olds (I have a lot of much younger siblings) they can be an arse for throwing food in the grass and eating things they shouldn't, after much experimenting a picnic mat or a chair with a mat under seems to be an invitation to throw food but sitting them in a cheap paddling pool keeps the grass off the food, also catches what they do chuck so you don't attract any wildlife.

out of interest, how do you find places to wild camp? its something I love doing but bored of the friends field I have permission to use. or are you in Scotland where the laws different?

We're in Scotland

At 3 weeks I was still getting through industrial quantities of maternity pads and wanted the comfort of my own bathroom. Camping would have been a no from me then.

We took ours when they were little, main issue for us was them waking up at dawn because it was light in the tent. If you can deal with that or solve it in some way, I'm sure you'll be fine.

He gets up at dawn anyway we're all early risers so don't mind too much.

We took ours to France camping when DS2 was 6 months old. He loved it, but it was quite hard work physically. I remember we had a seat thing to clamp to the camping table to put him in, which helped a bit. they do get quite grubby though, would be easier when they are a bit older. it can be done though.

We went with dd1 at 8 weeks, dd2 at 3 months. Both were fine. It was harder when they were toddling as they could escape.

Took our eldest in a trailer tent when he was 1- dead easy. Second baby was 4 months when we took him - he was a big baby and started solids by then so again, easyish, youngest was 10 weeks for her first camping trip. Older two were 2 and 4 by then. All I remember of that trip is sitting there in the middle of the night, freezing cold whilst 'D' H snored peacefully and I'm breastfeeding baby whilst shivering hard enough to dislodge her!!!

Best tip I can give is go to a site which has a family bathroom (heated preferably) which is open at 5am!! If extremely desperate, you can even take youngsters in there and sit and read in the warm while the rest of the world wakes up.

You'll be fine. I see you have camped before so you'll be a pro by now!
It's the routine that goes imo , . Just go with the flow.

Really happy I came across this thread. DP is an outdoors type, im not, this year though Id love to do something different and go camping for a couple of days for the long august weekend. Problem is our dd is 20 months and we thought she was a bit young to take along. Im in ireland so even when the weather is nice night time is always chilly. Can anyone tell me what they would recommend bringing so she wont feel the chill(other than wrapping her up nicely and a nice heavy duvet) Thanks.

6 months here, don't be fooled into taking too much stuff. Had a fan time routine went out of the window went in April. Go have fun

Main recommendation is to change into warm things early - before it gets at all dark. Can do warm milk / hot chocolate last thing but that just adds to toilet visits.

The smaller they are the easier it is, you can put them somewhere and they don't run off.

It's good when they get older (I also have a 6 and in particular a 9) and can go off by themselves a bit eg to the loo, fetching water, playing with other children going feral etc.

Age 2-5 ish is the tricky bit.