Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To take a 3 month old camping?

76 replies

SpottedTiger · 10/08/2018 19:57

DH and I had booked a 2 week camping holiday for next summer before I became pregnant. It's DC1 and so all completely new to us. It's early days, but providing all goes well baby will by 3 months old. We discussed with MIL, who is a seasoned camper and thinks it will be fine as especially if breast feeding, baby won't need much at that age. DH is worried that baby will disturb other people and thinks we should upgrade to a static caravan To minimise noise travel. Money is going to be tight whilst I'm on Mat leave so I'm reluctant to spend more if we don't need to. I may well be completely deluded about the whole thing though and as DH says, by the time baby arrives and reality hits, it may be too late to change the booking. Thanks.

OP posts:

sexnotgender · 10/08/2018 20:00

Where is baby going to sleep? Honestly I think it sounds a bit crazy.

mumofone234 · 10/08/2018 20:02

If it were me, I’d probably go for the static caravan as it’ll give you a bit more flexibility and space. It’ll probably be much easier to camp with a 3-month-old than it would an older baby, as they’re easier to keep an eye on and don’t need solid food etc.

Thatssomebadhatharry · 10/08/2018 20:05

we took a four month old and was fine. I put baby to sleep in travel cot for a few days before to get him used to sleeping in it. We do have a lot of camping equipment a very large tent with porch and trailer to take everything though.

lapenguin · 10/08/2018 20:06

Can you change it to a static and save the extra money now?
It could be done, but it also depends on the baby. Some people also can't feed or decide not to after trying it, so no garuntee you definitely can and will until the time comes. Some babies cry a lot and some don't. It also depends on the weather, we might not have such a hot and sunny summer next year! Though saying that a tent can become too hot when it's sunny...
A static would also give you and dh more room and privacy while baby sleeps, and room for any extra stuff that comes with travelling with a baby!
Also thinking of the poo-plosions we suffered, I'd want access to a sink where people won't walk past thinking 'I wash my plates in there/brush my teeth there' while you dry and wash baby 🙈
Have you camped much? If you have a lot of experience with camping you might be more confident doing so even with a young baby.

MarthasGinYard · 10/08/2018 20:06

I'd re book

Wouldn't entertain it

Caribbeanyesplease · 10/08/2018 20:07

Please please change to the static

Caribbeanyesplease · 10/08/2018 20:08

To be honest I wouldn’t want to go full stop.

But definitely static if I had to

lapenguin · 10/08/2018 20:08

Just saw you said two weeks, definitely saying a static will probably be a lot easier... Unless you have a massive tent

Sunshiness · 10/08/2018 20:08

I think you are a bit deluded tbh... No way on earth would I have wanted to go camping with my three month old.

arethereanyleftatall · 10/08/2018 20:10

I did, didn't have a problem. We didn't go two weeks though. Baby was sleeping through by then so no crying issues. We took lots of blankets!!

Floridasunset · 10/08/2018 20:10

We did it with dc1 at 3 months old and again when was dc2 was a few weeks old. They slept in a chicco next to me. It was fine as at that age they don't need much. However my top tip is that it can get quite cold in a tent in the evening so take more blankets than you think you'll need for baby and extra socks to put over their hands at night.

Congratulations on your pregnancy OP

Singlenotsingle · 10/08/2018 20:11

Sounds like madness to me! Trying to change nappies and bath a baby in a tent! And you're very weather dependent in a tent. Where are you going? Have you heard about the campers in the south of France who got flooded, and their tents washed away into the Ardeche,?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 10/08/2018 20:12

If you had a baby that didn't cry much and settled after feeding etc you could be ok but if you have a screamer then I think it would be very stressful.

arolam · 10/08/2018 20:12

I took a 4 year old, 2 year old and 4 month old on my own last year. Baby in Moses basket next to me. All was fine, just fed in the night as normal and carried about/sat in buggy/wriggled in tent in the day. His cries in the night were not really loud enough to wake anyone and didn't last long enough either as they were for milk which I was able to provide quickly. I find mine always sleep very well outside though. I never use blackouts at home so perhaps they're more used to natural light and dark cycles..?
Anyway, i would say you'd be fine and just go.

MaryShelley1818 · 10/08/2018 20:12

There is no way I could have survived a camping trip with DS at that age - you’ve no idea what sort of baby he/she will be.
I had to mix feed so sterilising bottles, DS also had colic and reflux and although he was a fantastic overnight sleeper, he screamed non stop for 4-5-6 hours every evening. Absolute hell. You cannot subject other people to that.
Upgrade to a static if you absolutely have to.

Howhot · 10/08/2018 20:13

100% change to the van. I took my 3/4 month old away in a caravan and it was fine. Home away from home. But camping sounds like an awful idea, sorry! Also 3 months in you might not be feeling great yourself and will want some comforts around. I had an episiotomy and I couldn't sit properly until about 3 months pp.

YupThatsMe · 10/08/2018 20:14

Shocked at these replies. Loads of people take their babies and it works out very well. Do what you fancy! Look on camping groups online for some answers.

QueenCuntyFlippers · 10/08/2018 20:14

I wouldn’t want to go at all. Could you change the dates?

Kpo58 · 10/08/2018 20:14

Go for static.

If for any reason you end up not BF, making up formula with a little camp stove and lack of instant (non bottled mineral) water will be a nightmare. Also you'd struggle to sterilise any bottles.

If you BF a large corner sofa or proper bed will be much more comfortable to feed from. Also you would have the advantage of a TV of tiny person is a slow feeder.

Also check where a nearby launderette is for just incase.

Lazypuppy · 10/08/2018 20:14

I'd quite happily go. My LO slept so much at that age. I was breastfeedig so no bottles or anything.

FlaviaAlbia · 10/08/2018 20:14

I considered it, DS2 is 5mo, bf and a very content baby but he still cries from teething or overtiredness sometimes. I didn't think it would be fair on the other campers.

welshweasel · 10/08/2018 20:15

It may well be possible but depends on the baby! If you end up formula feeding and have a colicky baby then probably not, if you’re breastfeeding and have a settled baby then probably ok! I’d pay the extra for the static then you can relax a bit⛏

Jenijena · 10/08/2018 20:16

Some babies - fine!
My babies - ones who cried loudly, lots, all night. But I did take #2 to France in a static at 11 weeks old as it was the last out of school holiday we’d be able to afford.

Lazypuppy · 10/08/2018 20:17

@Howhot i had an episiotomy and was fine within a week so everyone is different.

I also felt like my normal self within 2 weeks, again everyone is different.

OP, you're not gonna know how you feel after birth, its 50/50. Do what will stress you out the least amount

AppleKatie · 10/08/2018 20:17

You absolutely can.

Whether or not you’d enjoy it is a different question.

I love camping but I have come to the reluctant conclusion thag below about 2.5years there’s just no point- the child survives but it’s loads of extra stress and they don’t get a huge amount out of it...

Flip

1 2 3 4