Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
butlerswharf · 10/08/2018 20:17

I'd go for a static too.

Espoleta · 10/08/2018 20:18

My daughter is a pretty seasoned camper at 8 months. We took her the first time at 4 months. We taken her in both tents and our campervan. We’ve just come back from a two week camping trip.
It’s super easy for us- but we have a super chilled baby who happily sleeps pretty much anywhere.
Light layers are key in my experience.

youokhon · 10/08/2018 20:18

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?

Jeez stop being so dramatic!

If course you can change a nappy in a tent. You can change a nappy on one leg at that age

3 month old babies do not need baths!

3 month old babies are often quieter than most toddlers and young children, campsites are incredibly noisy and nobody will mind about a crying baby.

A static is a bit more luxurious obviously - but nothing wrong with camping with a baby. I'd stick to a few days though, and keep an open mind about jacking it in and heading home early if it feels like hard work. Even a week in a luxury villa can feel like hard work with kids!

Lisabel · 10/08/2018 20:21

For a three month old hygiene is really important so you'll need access to a sink and soap- sharing a campsite loo block with others isn't ideal. Also nappy changes might be tricky.

Static caravan or a holiday home would be better!

JennyBlueWren · 10/08/2018 20:22

Could be fine, could be awful. You won't know until nearer the time how settled your baby is or if they are a screamer. Probably best to go for caravan or a pod if they have them.

Howhot · 10/08/2018 20:22

Lazypuppy - yes I understand that but as you say, everyone is different. A C-section would also take longer to heal. Personally i wouldn't want to take that risk and end up uncomfortable and in pain while on holiday if I had the choice to make myself more comfortable. What a waste that would be.

ivykaty44 · 10/08/2018 20:23

Congratulations

I went caravaning in France when dd was 6 months, just travelled around and it was great - but probably easier in caravan. Didn’t need to worry about milk as back then at 6 months babies could have cows milk.

So you go camping often in a tent? How big is the tent ⛺️

If you can get carry cot and travel cot in it and have plenty of comfy chairs etc I’d go

Will it be abroad or uk?
I’d definitely go for abroad but uk dependent on weather..

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 10/08/2018 20:24

I'm d be thinking carefully about DH's annual leave (assuming he's working). Will he get paternity? Might you want to use some of those days when the baby is really little? I think it's a lot of leave to have ring fenced personally, so maybe think about whether you might want him to be doing, say a couple of four day weeks after his paternity then work back and see if that means keeping 10 days for a trip at 3 months is the right thing for you all.

Merryoldgoat · 10/08/2018 20:25

I just don’t see how this would be a holiday in any way. Ignoring the fact that the weather could be utterly shit, 3 months post partum is no guarantee of being in the right frame of mind for all that upheaval and activity.

Personally I’d cancel, stay home and do nice things locally. I went away with a 5 month old and I’d never do that again.

Plus, if you are not breastfeeding then you’ll need to take a steriliser, bottles etc and need and electricity supply etc.

You also have no idea what the baby will be like. An inconsolable colicky baby is hard to deal with at the best of times let alone away from home in a tent.

BertrandRussell · 10/08/2018 20:26

Camping with tiny babies is a breeze. It's a nightmare once they are on their feet-then becomes progressively easier from about 5 til surly teenager, when it becomes a nightmare again.

IfYouDontImagineNothingHappens · 10/08/2018 20:28

That is lunacy.

LlamaPyjamas · 10/08/2018 20:29

I wouldn’t take a 3 month old camping. I’d be worried about it being too cold, insects, difficulties bathing the baby with campsite facilities, disturbing other campers during the night with crying, etc. 2 weeks after giving birth you’ll probably still be having midwife visits and checkups etc. If you have an unexpected c-section you probably won’t be fit to go camping.

BertrandRussell · 10/08/2018 20:31

Honestly- camping with babies is easy. Camping with toddlers is hell.

Teaandcrisps · 10/08/2018 20:34

I would cancel or static. What I do definitely know is that you will be tired tired tired. The first 6-months with a newborn are times to be really gentle with yourself and baby - not camping away from home comforts.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 10/08/2018 20:35

What if they were to scream for hours BertrandRussell? That's the bit that would worry me.

Original poster
SpottedTiger · 10/08/2018 20:35

Thanks for all the replies. Our tent is big with plenty of room for Moses basket/travel cot and changing mat. We have electric hook up and take electric kettle and removals (small electric cooker) We have relaxer chairs that we take with us that recline too. The site we stay on has good facilities, laundrette, family bathroom with bath and sink and baby change facilities. There are some families who live there in touring caravans whose children have never lived in houses.

OP posts:
Foodylicious · 10/08/2018 20:36

Camping could be Ok, however I would recommend changing to a caravan now if you can.
Your back may not be in great shape and a double bed will be so much more comfy for you.
You can much more easily and safely put baby down on the floor/carpet in a caravan
If you are breastfeeding, a sofa will be much more comfortable, and you can spend cosy evenings sat comfy with tv or books much easier than if you were in a tent.
You will have your own toilet.
Having to navigate going for a mid-night wee in a toilet block is not too easy with a baby- you may be happy to leave baby with DP, baby may not be so keen.
You can all eat, shower/bathe so much easier.

donajimena · 10/08/2018 20:37

With my first child it would have been impossible. My second would have fitted in to the camping scene from the word go.
I love camping. Love love love it! I also agree that babies under the age of 6 months can be carried anywhere. But I would go for a static because you don't know how your little one will be.
However to a pp that said no to going anywhere? A static is perfect you have everything you need.

MarthasGinYard · 10/08/2018 20:37

'There are some families who live there in touring caravans whose children have never lived in houses.'

I'd ask the Gypsies for some tips then.

Skinnyjeansandaloosetop · 10/08/2018 20:40

We took our DD camping at 3 months in a static caravan. Was a lovely holiday - no issues/no dramas !

applesisapple5 · 10/08/2018 20:40

I have a three month old and the biggest problems in a tent would be regulating temperature, and getting from being v low down (sleeping on the floor) to being upright. Most of the day I'm sitting on a comfy sofa or decent high backed chair, and my back isn't that great (no core strength after pregnancy) so lack of comfort in a tent would be a big issue.
Also at night you would be tied to the baby's sleep time as you can't hang out in a tent with a baby sleeping very easily.
My baby is easily entertained by staring at anything, and is a good sleeper, but two weeks would be daunting to be away from home at all TBF, maybe I'm a wimp tho!

lapenguin · 10/08/2018 20:41

Also think about noise. Not just the noise your baby will make, but the noise of a campsite. If you have just got baby (and possibly) you down for a nap or early bed time and there are kids outside screaming and playing they might wake baby (and you)

TheFallenMadonna · 10/08/2018 20:43

I took DS and DD as babies. No probs at all. Breastfeeding is pretty straightforward anywhere. They slept in a travel cot and I fed them as soon as they stirred at night so no wailing. BertrandRussell is right. DD at 5 months was much easier than DS at 2 on the same trip.

Beamur · 10/08/2018 20:45

We took DD camping at 4 months old and it was fine. I was well, she was bf, but it was just a weekend.
Your camping set up seems fine. I think keeping a baby clean, dry and warm is the main thing. The only age that defeated us camping with her was the crawling stage.

NicoAndTheNiners · 10/08/2018 20:45

I’m suprised at some of these answers.

Took dd camping for the first time at 9 weeks. Then when she was 4 months old we camped in Switzerland for nearly 2 months. No EHU either. But I am very used to camping. Dh wasn’t working st the time and I was on maternity leave, we had a great summer hiking and climbing.

A friend gave up a plastic fold down Moses basket from the 1970s and she slept in that inbetween me and dh. She was a good sleeper and I was breastfeeding so didn’t have to worry about bottles. Friends who had a toddler were with us In Switzerland for some of the time and I think it was harder with the toddler.