To think camping with an 11 month old will be 😩

[Sundancer77]

My oh has suggested we take Dd away camping in a tent for the night (we live in a warm place so weather isn’t an issue) just the thought of it is..stressful! There’s options for a small caravan or should we pay a bit extra and just go for a hotel?

It would be a no from me as the campfire and cooking would be tricky with a crawler / toddler. Not sure there'd be any down time either as nowhere they can safely play.

We took ours for the first time at about that age. Her 3 year old sister was harder to be manage. She slept in a lightweight travel cost next to me. It was fun but we only did 4 nights in Cornwall the first time. We are seasoned campers though. We were skint at the time so it was camping or nothing. Exhausting as she wouldn't nap in the tent but happy memories anyway. My two were difficult whenever we were away from home in whatever accommodation. Probably slept better camping than anywhere else.

We did 3 weeks with a 5 week old and 18 month old and then the following year a month with a 2 1/2 year old and 1 year old. It was fine both times. First time we used wind breaks to contain the 18 month old, second time the 2 1/2 year old would listen to “do go past here”, 1 year old wasn’t walking so was only crawling about, we just kept an eye on him as you would at home anyway! I was going to take a paddling pool with fairly high sides to contain him but it wouldn’t fit in the car in the end.

Both times was abroad in a warm country, we had a great time both times. It’s not that hard really, I actually preferred the camping with the 5 week old to a hotel stay with did when he was 1 week old. I think it’s more awkward in a hotel personally.

Thanks all,
It would only be around a 1.5 hr drive and we’re very familiar with the place. I’m just still a little iffy about the sleeping as the tent we have is fairly small, the price we’d have to pay for a larger one, we may aswell stay in the caravan. I think we may do the caravan as they’re set in a lovely pine forest by the beach, we can cook there or have breakfast on the table outside and there’s a proper bed and it’s about four times cheaper than the places we used to stay(will still miss the terraces, sea views, swim pool etc tho..!)

First camped with my son at six months. Its ace xx

One night trips away with a baby are a nightmare as they usually don't settle first night in a new place.
Other Problem with camping is the time it takes to pack car, put up tent, and reverse is the same no matter how long you are away for. Is it worth it?

My grandchildren have all been camping since they were a few months old and we've had some great times.

It should be fine, but it will be hard work and I don't see the point if you wouldn't enjoy it and she isn't old enough to appreciate the novelty. In a couple of years she will LOVE running in and out of tents and sitting by the fire. Wait until then.

Mu experience is children sleep even better outside. It's all the fresh air.
Last year my daughter slept all the way through a rain storm. It was so noisy it had woken me up and my husband. She slept very contendly withoa care in the world. You can still use a travel cot at 11 months old. Just take extra quilts/blankets. You may not need them but it doesn't hurt.

I’m with @AyBeeCee10

And my own bitter voice of experience, in which everyone but mummy had “fun”

We did this with our 10month old, it's hard work and he woke when the sun went up, so 5am . Walking round a campsite at that God awful hour trying to keep him occupied so he didn't cry and wake everyone else up was a nightmare - don't do it .....Hotel or caravan untill she is 5 😁

Camping is weird. The only way to make it bearable is to buy expensive kit that is a very shit approximation of everything you'd find in a dwelling, put it all in a car, take it all out, live in it uncomfortably for a bit, pack it all back up again and then go back to a proper building. I really don't get it.