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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go camping with a non sleeping baby?

49 replies

onemumtwocountries · 12/07/2017 08:17

DS is not a great sleeper. We had a good month or so just before our holiday so we decided to go for it. He slept amazingly the first night, but had a couple of bad nights next. The campsite is not too busy but we have people quite close to us. DS is loud in the night. Are we being unreasonable, inconsiderate twats or is it just one of those things? We're moving quite often so no one will be too affected, but I still feel bad about it.

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 12/07/2017 08:19

Why does he get 'loud', and is there anything you can do to stop that?

FeckinCrutches · 12/07/2017 08:20

Loud for how long? I wouldn't be best pleased, imagine if it's going to be your only holiday and your sleep is being disturbed every night Sad

Tiptoethr0ughthetulips · 12/07/2017 08:21

One night is just one of those things, repeatedly is unreasonable. It's bad enough to have to be up with your own DC in the night but to be repeatedly woken by others is really annoying.

daimbar · 12/07/2017 08:22

Is he old enough to run around? All the fresh air and exercise will probably help him sleep. Can you camp far away from other campers?

acquiescence · 12/07/2017 08:49

I think it is quite unreasonable to stay in a communal campsite if you have a baby who cries in the night for more than a few minutes or so. Hopefully this phase will pass before too long then you can enjoy camping again.

WheresTheEvidence · 12/07/2017 08:52

Yabvu

Fine to disrupt your sleep and your holiday but those who are using their previous holiday days/trying to relax it's not fair.

Original poster
onemumtwocountries · 12/07/2017 08:52

He's nearly 11 months. Starting to walk and we're doing we can to tire him out. I think he might be teething, not sure. He's in the double bed with us so he can be seen to instantly. The first night he was amazing. Second night he was only up for a few minutes. Last night he was a disaster - nothing would console him, including Calpol. We're in a motorhome so there's a reasonable amount of soundproofing but not sure it's enough. We're in Scotland and are planning to wild camp quite a bit but we do the occasional night in a campsite to have some facilities available.

OP posts:
Original poster
onemumtwocountries · 12/07/2017 08:53

*all we can

OP posts:
AnathemaPulsifer · 12/07/2017 08:57

Personally I can tune out crying babies as not mine and not their fault, but loud adults give me the rage. And adults who let their kids play v noisy games early in the morning.

Wild camping sounds best bet but when you need to stay on campsites just try to get more remote pitches and do your best.

DesignedForLife · 12/07/2017 09:01

Try to get a spot away from other people. We are taking 10 month old camping soon, but he only wakes in the night for a feed, so it's a couple minutes grizzling and then he settles down. I'll be driving around in the car if he doesn't sleep! Confused

AuntieStella · 12/07/2017 09:11

You thought he's sleep well enough. He had other plans. You couldn't do anything about that (it's not as if you took a known overnight noise- producing torture implement).

That said, you know it's very likely to be having an impact on your neighbours. Can you try to change your pitch so you are further away?

And talk to the people around you, to explain (apologetically, despite it being non-deliberate) that he usually sleeps well but is unsettled, that you're trying everything to get him back in rhythm and/or move to a greater distance, and offering them Wine.

Most people are friendly, know this just happens sometimes. And can be way more sympathetic to parents who show they are trying to deal with the stuff that impacts on people nearby (compared to those who don't seem aware of nuisance)

funkybum · 12/07/2017 09:12

Took our rubbish sleeper to a festival last month, 5 days. He slept through every night! He did have much later nights though. He hasnt repeated ot since getting home.

DancingLedge · 12/07/2017 09:17

Every sympathy with your situation.

Do you have any sympathy with mine? I camp a lot. If I sleep badly enough, which sadly will happen if there's a baby crying/making lot of noise in night, for a couple of nights in a row, I will have a migraine, a proper lying down being sick, 24hrs job.

dreamingofsun · 12/07/2017 09:43

i remember one camping holiday where we were all exhausted (apart from husband who sleeps through anything) because the family over the other side of the small field got up at 6am every morning and talked loudly. That was bad enough. To be woken during the night would be even worse. People go on holiday to rest and recoup, not come back more tierd

Pouncival · 12/07/2017 09:47

We got stuck next to a crying baby last year, we were so relieved when they moved on. I know we've all been through that stage but it's frustrating for other campers when sleep is constantly disturbed.

ZoeWashburne · 12/07/2017 09:48

Honestly, if I went camping and someone brought a baby that was a bad sleeper, I would be frustrated. One goes camping for a relaxing holiday. I have every sympathy for your situation, but maybe try hiring a cabin or something with solid walls/ doors. Your baby's cries are going to permeate the entire camp site.

Also, I would be stuck with two young cranky DC who didn't sleep very well because of several nights of a crying baby, which would either force me to cut my holiday short or move to another site. I would not be happy.

I agree that caravan or wild camping would be your best bet. I would not take a bad sleeper to a camp site until I had a solid month of good sleeping habits.

cluelessnewmum · 12/07/2017 10:03

You are being selfish, it sounds from your post you know that deep down but want people to tell you otherwise do you can go without feeling bad.

A campervan will not make much difference to noise as you'll need to have the windows open if it is hot (or even if it isn't, it is too claustrophobic not to have a bit of air) and sound will travel.

I'd be really annoyed if you rocked up, even for one night.

By the way, I've never done it in this country but I campervanned for 7 weeks round NZ and don't remember seeing anyone with a baby, was always older kids, maybe 5-6+.

You can't wild camp every night with a campervan as it needs charging, need to replenish water, empty toilet etc. The only way you could do this considerately is if you plan to wild camp most of the time but ring round some campsites and see how busy they are, if they've got plots away from everyone else they can offer.

Her0utdoors · 12/07/2017 10:20

Wild camping in Scotland? The windows will not be open pp, the op and family will be midged to death! There's way more sound proofing in a motor home than a tent, enjoy the rest of your holiday op.

chestylarue52 · 12/07/2017 10:22

I'm not a parent but I wouldn't stay up all night outside your van making noise. I wouldn't expect if you anticipated making noise all night youd come and park next to my tent.

Yes you're being V V unreasonable. Not sure what else to say.

Her0utdoors · 12/07/2017 10:23

To add, been campervanning with newborn and toddler, no harder/ more noisy than being at home. There are adult only campsites for people who have forgotten they were children once too Grin

krisskross · 12/07/2017 10:31

As a regular camper with a young baby who doesn't sleep yet i think yabu. We have out camping hols on hold til he sleeps.
If you know he generally wakes its very selfish to take him camping.

AsleepAtMyDesk · 12/07/2017 10:35

YABU becuase you know that none of your neighbours will sleep. They will have paid for that holiday, be looking forward to it and there's a good chance you will ruin it for them.

Original poster
onemumtwocountries · 12/07/2017 10:42

Thanks for your opinions. We had the skylight open a fraction last night with a mosquito net over it.

So far we have only bothered people last night. First night we were in a campsite and not a peep from him. Second night wild camped and he made a bit of noise but no one was around. Last night he was bad and we had neighbours quite close. I feel really guilty. I apologised profusely this morning. They had school aged kids so seemed to understand. We have now recharged and refilled everything so can wild camp for the next 3 nights. We have solar panels and a bathroom so don't need much. We're off to the Outer Hebrides so will hopefully only disturb the odd sheep.

OP posts:
WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 12/07/2017 10:47

Yes, I think it's inconsiderate. Everyone else is on their holiday too, and nobody wants to be woken and kept awake by a screaming baby.

But I just read your last post and it seems you'll be Wild camping now so no further harm done.

welshgirlwannabe · 12/07/2017 10:59

Just to add a dissenting voice... I don't think yabu. I've brought my non sleeper camping and just kept him up late and then co-slept with him so that any grizzles could be dealt with asap.

However, camping on a campsite is not a silent undertaking! There are always other families who go to bed later/ wake up earlier than you. Coffee and bacon smells normally get me up earlier than I would at home, not to mention the sun waking me at 5 am.

I'm surprised at all of the posters who expect a good nights sleep on a campsite! I love camping, but you are basically sleeping on the ground metres away from groups of strangers separated by a few bits of nylon and canvas! There is always a chance that it might not be as peaceful ad your own bed Grin

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