Camping with a toddler and newborn?

[jollybobs89]

Thinking of going on a camping trip I've got a two year old and a 12 week old at the moment! Would we be mental thinking that it's a good idea? Haha

We love camping been a few times took our daughter before but then two of them I just think is it worth the stress haha

Thoughts and any camping tips welcome

I think you could do it. When I called with mine as toddlers and babies the babies were older but it was still hard work! The main issues were:

sleeping arrangements, mine would only sleep in fire so I had to take the travel cot and squeeze the toddler next to it!

Too light early morning, we hung blankets round the sides of the travel cot and over it. Now I have a blackout tent....best thing I ever bought!! I'm thinking with a 12 week old they're more likely to sleep in random places and light would be less issue.

Too hot in tent to put yo bed at reasonable time do you end up with kids up all evening and get no adult time.

Other than that loved it! So easy to entertain little ones who can just enjoy the outside with a few toys. These days I have sulky teen and preteen and a 6 year old who wants entertaining. We have to go places a lot more and take bikes and all sorts with us! (No tech allowed though!)

Ultimately our solution has been to invest in caravans, (we're on our second) this gets rid of those problems and gives us a separate space in the awning once the youngest is in bed. It also helps with bedtime wees!!

My babies would only sleep in bed...not fire!!

Oh god so many typos...sorry!

I've camped twice with 8 week olds and toddlers, no problem if you choose the right site for you x

Depends on the kids, really. Ours were both 'good' sleepers, so we went when they were quite small, though not as young as yours. That said, when we first took DD around the time she was 2, she managed to talk through the entire night (although apparently asleep for some of it), thus denying me any sleep at all.

And to add insult to injury, in the morning she gaily declared 'I sleep well! Mummy sleep well!'

No, Mummy did not sleep well!!!!

Would you inflict a whole campsite to the sound of your 12 week old crying at night?! Haha.

Fuck no.

No. Unless your baby sleeps through.

If your toddler can sleep anywhere and the baby is happy, then it's doable, as long as your partner pitches in and will take over, if needed. I've camped next to very unhappy young children, who've cried constantly, the Parents have bickered because camping can be hard work, if you are cooking etc, from around 6am. It's no fun for anyone.

We did a lot of weekend camping trips with a baby and a toddler. It was lovely. We didn't go terribly far from home, but babies are so portable... It kept the toddler occupied with new surroundings and 'exploring'. We all still love going camping now that they're teens

I think it depends on the camp site.
I have been camping several times and been woken up by screaming children/ babies in the middle of the night and I think it is very selfish, as you might end up ruining other peoples holidays. One occasion the parents shouting at the baby to shut up was worse than the actual crying.
I love camping but certainly wouldn't be taking my two year old and he is a good sleeper.

I have done it with a 3 year old and 6 month old - it’s fine but you need to have extra bits for baby

Why would you want to inflict staying in a tent with two young children on yourself 12 weeks after giving birth?
No bathroom
No where to take the baby to if it wakes during the night
It is Too bloody hot at the moment And trying to get children asleep would be a nightmare.
No washing machine so you would need piles of stuff
I could go on but I think you would be mad to even consider it.

Abeokuta madness

I would & will. We love camping mine always sleep better outdoors.

Absolute madness

I’m firmly in the ‘fuck that’ camp.

I don't think it would be a holiday honestly.
The amount of stuff you'd need to take for the baby and toddler and the general camping annoyances like other tents being noisy, long walk to the loo when your kid needs a wee, shower block with a baby or bathe them in the sink goodness no.
Go when they are older.

Sounds absolutely horrific.

No - unless you know the site very well indeed and it has absolutely everything you could possibly need and no mosquitoes.

Nah, nice quiet site in the middle of nowhere. Babies don't need that much stuff!

Me and my husband are both keen campers. We've been camping with a 20month old and 4 month old (and the same age difference since).

Its fine. Neither of us are bothered about bedtimes and my youngest (now 2.5) was end and still feeds to sleep so no faffing with nighttime crying or bottles despite him not sleeping through at that age.

I know plenty of parents for whom it would be a nightmare but we loved it and so did/do the kids

We camped with our two dc around that age and it was nice.

Maybe try camping in the garden first and see how that goes?

I think this is doable. I have been camping with tot and baby.