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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:
Southwest12 · 06/04/2019 19:35

My parents first took me camping when I was 4 months old, I slept in the pram in the tent. I must have been okay as we camped every year until I left home at 18!

Hospitaldramafamily · 06/04/2019 19:38

I think they'd get it and enjoy it much more in a few years.

Oysterbabe · 06/04/2019 19:39

Fuck. That.

Collectingcpd · 06/04/2019 19:39

I’m a camper and I wouldn’t do that. I’ve slept in the garden with DC several times. DH never joins us and the whole thing petrifies me because of Sophie Hook, so I don’t sleep a wink.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/sophie-hook-murder-gerry-davies-9679720.amp

Nanalisa60 · 06/04/2019 19:42

Sounds like a good idea to me if you get good weather I think it will be fun!! I’m sure you grandparents will enjoy it as well.

OneDayillSleep · 06/04/2019 19:42

Why not go actual camping... we went away (to France) camping with a 5 week old and an 18 month old and then again last year 12 months older. If you want to sleep in the garden rather than actually go somewhere ok fine, but I don’t really get what the big deal is that you need to consult mumsnet? You’ll be 3 ft away from a house which you can go inside when you no doubt get fed up.

TheClaifeCrier · 06/04/2019 19:43

Wow! I can't believe all the negative comments on here!

OP I think it's a great idea. A camping experience with all the benefits of a house if needed.

I started taking my eldest camping when he was 18months. Then we had another one and we took her when she was about the same age. They're six and three now and we've been loads and they love it. They always have a great time. You just have to accept that their routine will go out of the window but that's fine. Get a travel potty for emergencies and you're good to go.

JuniorAsparagus · 06/04/2019 19:45

I have camped in my own garden with my grandchildren several times. We started when they were about 5 and 3 though. I loved it, and so did they. DH slept in the house as it was quite a small tent (his excuse). They also slept in their own garden with their parents a few times.

daisypond · 06/04/2019 19:52

I think it’s a good idea. The fun and novelty of camping without the inconveniences. Easy to do. Mine would have loved it.

Ginger1982 · 06/04/2019 19:53

I used to camp in my own back garden as a kid and loved it but I was at least 9 or 10. I have a 2 year old and can't imagine anything worse!

wheresmyzebra · 06/04/2019 19:58

Go for it! We've done this lots of times and it's great. I am not a huge fan of camping generally but this way you have everything you need (clean bathrooms, lots of clean dry clothes, a kitchen, wine aplenty) and if it all goes wrong then you just go indoors. The ultimate back-up plan!

We camp in the garden at least a couple of times a year - the first time we did it, DH camped in the garden with DCs aged 4 and 3 and I slept in the house with 6mth old DD3. Once DD3 was about 2 years old we've all slept outside together. They love it and think that it's a great adventure. My sister and I used to camp in our garden (on our own) when we were little too, I can't remember how old but definitely primary school age. We've been to campsites too but I just find that's so much hassle packing a ton of kit for a couple of nights that it's not worth it. Garden camping is the way forward with small children!

GreatDuckCookery · 06/04/2019 19:58

Fuck no!
You’ll be back in your grans house at 1.30am with 3 crying kids Grin

Leave

GreatDuckCookery · 06/04/2019 19:59

Sorry pressed too soon.

Leave it a few more years OP.

Ilikeviognier · 06/04/2019 20:01

I have an almost 3 year old and a 4year old and I’d say wait a few years.

Acis · 06/04/2019 20:04

Pointless, really, the children are too young to get anything out of this.

NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 06/04/2019 20:06

When mine were small we camped in the shed, with one of their friends and the dog. They loved it, until an earwig appeared on my eldest chest at 6 in the morning. Oh how I laughed! They were a bit older tho, but they loved it.

PinkHeart5914 · 06/04/2019 20:11

I’d leave dh & baby inside the house but I’d give it a go with the older 2. If the don’t enjoy it you can always walk them in to the house during the night....

But NEVER EVER camp with a baby, EVER! It will be hell on Earth

mellicauli · 06/04/2019 20:13

Why don't you compromise and do it all...but go inside to bed at kids bedtime.

mathanxiety · 06/04/2019 20:14

Seems like a good idea imo.

You have the house for a bolthole if it pours rain and for the loo. It would be a nice introduction to camping for you as a family.

However, it gets light way earlier in a tent than in a bedroom with curtains drawn and your DCs may be disturbed by the birds' dawn racket much more than they would indoors - maybe leading to a very early morning and small children needing breakfast, loo, entertaining several hours before anyone else really wants to be up.

Oysterbabe · 06/04/2019 20:19

Surely the baby will wake up and cry and wake the other 2?

100Birds · 06/04/2019 20:23

I’ve always found my babies have slept better in a tent, personally. Give it a go op! I loved doing this as a child, with and then without my parents. You can always bail as you’re at your parents, seems like the perfect way to test it out. If it goes well, go for a big proper camping hols next year!

Beamur · 06/04/2019 20:31

Camping with a baby is easy! Camping with a toddler is trickier.
We took DD camping at 4 months, she hooted with joy the whole time and slept perfectly well (despite deluges of Welsh rain)
I don't really see the problem with this? Kids will have a blast and can easily come indoors if they don't settle..
We camped with our kids from DD being a baby (+ 2 older SC's) and the only time it was hard was when she was crawling.

Penguin34 · 06/04/2019 20:31

I think it would be lovely but I'd be tempted to leave the baby indoors with the grandparents.
The toddlers will prob enjoy having their parents to themselves for the evening

BertrandRussell · 06/04/2019 20:32

“But NEVER EVER camp with a baby, EVER! It will be hell on Earth“

Why?

bobstersmum · 06/04/2019 20:50

Too young yet in my opinion.

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