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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Camping in the garden of grandparents with a 2 year old, a 3 year old and a baby - I say fun DH says not.

153 replies

Foreverexhausted · 06/04/2019 17:43

Just toying with ideas atm for fun, inexpensive things to do over the summer with my little ones.

Grandparents have a small but big enough garden for us to camp in and I think our children would love it! DH is saying no way!

We have camped before but never with children and never in grandparents garden :)

My children are so young I can imagine them finding this really exciting and loving sleeping in a tent, having BBQ's, sitting in the garden and playing games long after it's dark, but we will have a toilet/bath/kitchen with snacks etc on hand and will probably only do it for two nights!

AIBU for thinking this could be fun?

Anyone else done this? Did it work or not?

OP posts:
Chocolateisfab · 06/04/2019 17:44

Camping with under 3's ime is not an experience I would add the word 'fun, 'into.

Katinkka · 06/04/2019 17:45

I think your kids are too young tbh. Maybe in a few years.

Nanny0gg · 06/04/2019 17:45

I'm with your husband!

I take it you don't want to do it on your own? And the baby won't enjoy it! Not too sure about the two year-old

StroppyWoman · 06/04/2019 17:47

I think it sounds great!
I wouldn't fancy camping with a baby myself, but honestly, the toddlers will love it, what an adventure!

InterchangeableEmma · 06/04/2019 17:47

It's something that could be fun once your youngest is 2 1/2 or 3. Sounds like hell with the ages they are nowthough Shock

KylieKoKo · 06/04/2019 17:48

I think it sounds fun and I'm sure the grandparents would let you take the children indoors if it turned out to be too much

ElspethFlashman · 06/04/2019 17:48

YABU.

And bananas.

Im sure some hardy soul will come on to tell you they camped at the foot of the Himalayas whilst breastfeeding twins, but I personally can think of nothing more hellish.

Two in nappies? And one barely toilet trained? In an airless nylon tent? Christ.

Qsandmore · 06/04/2019 17:49

Depends if you can retreat to beds in grandparents if it all goes to shit?

Gabrielknight · 06/04/2019 17:49

I'd say currently too young. Wait at least 2 years

KylieKoKo · 06/04/2019 17:49

But they won't really be camping. They'll be staying with grandparents and sleeping in a tent.

GregoryPeckingDuck · 06/04/2019 17:49

Why don’t you do it without him then?

Fairylea · 06/04/2019 17:50

I would rather stick pins in my eyes to be honest. But then I’m not a camper anyway.

Talkingfrog · 06/04/2019 17:50

Maybe camp with 2 and 3 yr old, and let baby sleep inside with grandparents. Try for 1 night and see how it goes.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 06/04/2019 17:50

I’m with your husband- save it for when your little ones are older

SrSteveOskowski · 06/04/2019 17:51

Oh God no! I'm firmly on DH's side. Mind you, the only time you'll ever find me in a tent is if it's pitched in the sitting room.

RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 06/04/2019 17:51

I think it's genius. What a great idea!!!! Esp as if it goes tits up you can go inside (or some of you can) (I am assuming that's the case).

I do quite like camping though. We took DD when she was 9 months old for the first time (and that was because she was a autumn/winter baby!)

But I do know lots of other people HATE camping with a passion, so it would be their idea of hell on earth.

RedHatsDoNotSuitMe · 06/04/2019 17:52

p.s. AAAAAAnd you'd be near proper flushing toilets and probably other mod cons (dishwasher? etc). Maybe even a tumble drier if you needed one.
It's genius!

KatharinaRosalie · 06/04/2019 17:52

My DH and DC (young) sometimes camp in our own garden. As you say - fun and exciting for the kids, but you have toilet/bath/kitchen available. Do it!

QueenBeex · 06/04/2019 17:53

I've done it with a 2 year old, who actually loved it, but we did have the option of going indoors to our beds if he changed his mind. However if you're going to be the one doing it not your DH then it's your choice. If you will be fine with 2 young children and a baby go for it, if you change your mind half way through the night can you all go sleep indoors at the grandparents? If not id wait a few years.

BarbarianMum · 06/04/2019 17:54

Mine both lived camping from the time they could walk. I dont see why you wouldn't try it for a night or two.

BarbarianMum · 06/04/2019 17:54

loved

Original poster
Foreverexhausted · 06/04/2019 17:54

Hmmm maybe DH has a point then :)

Elspeth your reply has made me really laugh.

I know grandparents would be fine if we had to give up and go in if it didn't work out. I guess another option would be for one of us to sleep in the house with baby (she is only 3 months atm so would probably be 5 or 6 months) and the other in the garden with 2 and 3 year olds.

OP posts:
DizzyPhillips · 06/04/2019 17:55

My (almost) two year old would probably escape during the night. My four year old would probably be terrified, cold and unhappy.

It’s a no from me

Singlenotsingle · 06/04/2019 17:56

We used to do this (or at least we tried to) when mine were small, but the novelty wore off after about ten minutes, and they wanted to go indoors.

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 06/04/2019 17:58

mine used to love camping in the garden, but not at three.

I'd get a tent and let them have at it in the summer like a Wendy House...maybe they'll have naps out there and you can sun yourself in peace and quiet

but an overnighter is not going to be fun.