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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to feel uncomfortable taking a baby camping in a tent?

77 replies

strawberrypip · 21/07/2020 20:34

hello,

partner really wants to go away with a group of friends for a few nights in the next couple of months (obviously staying in separate places and meeting outside at the beach etc. when there) our baby will be 8 months old around the time he is thinking.

a getaway is great, however as can be expected at such short notice a lot of places are booked or fairly expensive. so conversation has turned towards getting tents and camping. I feel really uncomfortable at the idea of this with a young baby.

firstly, because the temperature changes in this country and how quick it can suddenly get cold. secondly, I will have no access to electricity, so no hot water to make up her food and no way to charge phone in case of an emergency. thirdly, I just dont like the idea of sleeping outside with my baby just doesnt feel very protected. so on the basis of all this it would not be very relaxing for me at all or my baby I don't think.

my partner has now got the hump with me and says I'm ruining the plans.

i dont want to be a spoil sport but I dont like camping anyway let alone with an 8 month old to worry about too.

what do you think?

OP posts:

Sparklesocks · 21/07/2020 20:35

YANBU, I wouldn’t want to do it. I know some people are seasoned campers so may not blink an eyelid but I completely understand your reasoning!!

JacobReesMogadishu · 21/07/2020 20:37

How about if you booked a campsite with EHU and got one of those cables you plug in the pole and then have sockets in the tent? I’ve done that before....you’ll have electricity then.

PinkFondantFancy · 21/07/2020 20:37

I would and have happily done it. But I'd been camping before so knew what I was doing. I probably wouldn't do it for the first time with a baby to be honest. Send him with his mates and have a chilled weekend at home

YeahWhatevver · 21/07/2020 20:37

I'd definitely not participate in that, taking a baby on hols anywhere is tough and not at all relaxing, can't imagine how shit it would be with the added stress/hassle of doing it in a tent.

I'd also be anxious about the other campers on the site, any noise yous baby makes overnight will be heard by everyone, I'd feel very self conscious about waking the campsite up.

Sounds like DH is just after a fun few days away......

JacobReesMogadishu · 21/07/2020 20:39

Dd was 8 weeks when we camped for the first time. She slept in the same bedroom bit as us, inbetween us. I was breastfeeding so at least that was easy.

hannonle · 21/07/2020 20:39

I work at a camp site. We're fully booked until 2nd week of September, so you might not be able to book anywhere anyway.
BTW people camp with babies all the time, but you need to watch them like a hawk if they're mobile (crawling/walking). But, as with all things, if you don't feel comfortable doing something then you should say no!

HavelockVetinari · 21/07/2020 20:40

You can bring a camping stove to heat water/cook food, and you can get camping sleeping bags/cots for babies. However, the biggest problem we had when camping with a baby was the early morning sun causing 4am wake-ups, and the other children on the campsite staying up late and consequently keeping DS awake till late. We've since bought a blackout tent, but we can't block out the noise unfortunately and DS is a crap sleeper.

IdblowJonSnow · 21/07/2020 20:40

I wouldn't fancy that either (,but I'm not a camper!) Can't he just crack on and you stay at home?

BalanchineBallet · 21/07/2020 20:40

I would and have done. Presumably you’ll be driving there, so can charge your phone from the car? Similarly, you can get a charging power bank.

Or EHU as above.

If you’re thinking about milk, and formula (I’m assuming from the boiling water comment) then buy ready made for the trip.

labyrinthloafer · 21/07/2020 20:41

I did, but yanbu at all, for all the things you say.

Leaannb · 21/07/2020 20:43

YABU...Camping os.great.fun. Even with little ones and the extra work

DappledThings · 21/07/2020 20:44

We took DS for the first time when he was 8 months and that was to a festival. It was great. Was into September so cold at night but he slept in vest, sleepsuit, fleecy pramsuit and a load of extra fleece blankets in a blow up dinghy type bed and was fine. Our first night there was actually his longest sleep he'd ever done at that point.

I was bf so didnt have to worry about bottles, that might have been a bigger issue but he ate bits and pieces of what we did, a good few rice cakes and a few more pouches than normal. All good!

CupcakesK · 21/07/2020 20:45

YANBU Agree with pp that might be fine if you’re a seasoned camper but I wouldn’t be doing it.

Not just it getting too cold or hot but rain makes camping absolutely miserable. Mud everywhere and how are you going to settle your baby crammed into a tent if it pours down?

Let your DP go on his own yo see friends. Or arrange somewhere closer to you so you can visit them for the day

Lancrelady80 · 21/07/2020 20:45

I wouldn't want to do this because am just not a camping kind of gal. But your problems can be overcome if you really want:

Temperature changes = loads of blankets to layer.
Feed = ready made bottles are available. Expensive but perhaps an option, esp as your baby will be weaning then (Actually, the horror that is early days of weaning may be a good reason against going - babyled weaning might be okay though!)

Phone = we all managed before mobiles, but if you're that worried you could buy a power bank/spare battery.

My friends have been several times with baby/toddler/preschooler and have LOVED it. But they are campers anyway.

This is your biggest reason, and tbh should be enough:

I just dont like the idea of sleeping outside with my baby just doesnt feel very protected. so on the basis of all this it would not be very relaxing for me at all or my baby I don't think.

Can your partner not go alone just this once?

MinnieMousse · 21/07/2020 20:45

Yanbu. I took an 11 month old in a campervan once. She slept really badly and I was paranoid about waking everyone else on the site with her crying (usually she was a good sleeper!). And that was in a van with a proper bed and electric hook-up. It would be worse in a tent, especially with all the paraphernalia babies need.

mindutopia · 21/07/2020 20:45

Camping with a baby is no problem at all. Temperature can be easily managed if you plan ahead and dress in layers. Many campsites have charging stations or take a battery pack. There are no wolves or bears, so you’ll all be fine.

But I think doing it as a substitution for a hotel or holiday let because you can’t find one of those seems silly. If you won’t enjoy it, then find another way to meet up with friends. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly relaxing with small children unless you quite enjoy camping.

Harvey3 · 21/07/2020 20:45

My baby is a similar age and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it - don't blame you!

DonLewis · 21/07/2020 20:45

I totally understand seasoned campers doing it. It's likely they have everything they need to make camping properly comfortable and the experience to know how to do it well.

First time campers? Forget it. And it'll cost a bomb to buy a proper tent, decent sleeping bags and mats and stoves and chairs and all the other stuff.

The people I know who enjoy camping take carpet with them for fucks sake. Whilst I understand why and can imagine that camping with carpet is the way to do it, taking my own freakin carpet with me is not my idea of a break.

Lostinagoodbook · 21/07/2020 20:46

Camped with my little one at 7 months at a family friendly festival- but he was sleeping in with me anyway and breastfed. Took cold pouches for food so that was fine. He was crawling so that aspect was hard work......

I wouldn't worry about practicalities but I will say whilst it's fun it's definitely not relaxing at all!!! It doesn't sound like you're keen- I wouldn't do it unless you're sure partner is likely to look after baby too...... or maybe go for 1/ 2 nights at the most?

binkyblinky · 21/07/2020 20:46

YABU! I've taken all three of my boys camping as babies, from 6 months plus. Such a wonderful experience for them! You'll love it! Take plenty of blankets and a travel cot, go have fun! X

tilder · 21/07/2020 20:47

I would and have done. But we camp lots, he was exclusively breast fed at that time. Plus he slept 12 hrs a night (hallelujah!).

8 month old baby, you need to be comfortable they will sleep (and you as well). That you can sort food. That you will be warm enough.

A few months time means Sept or Oct. Weather may be anything. Your baby may sleep amazingly or wail like a banshee all night. Food might be really easy or splattered everywhere.

All easy to sort except how well your baby sleeps, what the weather will be like and how comfortable you are.

chipsandpeas · 21/07/2020 20:48

extra clothes for when your cold
a camping stove or buy ready made formula
a power bar to charge your phone

wouldnt put me off

Lostinagoodbook · 21/07/2020 20:48

Just to add- we took the bare minimum and were not seasoned campers at all........ it was fine! Take a duvet and snugglesuit for baby. We had more trouble being too hot in the day. I certainly wouldn't choose it to "relax" though. You'll need to recover when you get home!

Ragwort · 21/07/2020 20:50

Are you and your DH used to camping? We took our four month baby camping, it was fine (no mobile phones in those days ) but we were both Scout leaders so very experienced campers.

SuperMumTum · 21/07/2020 20:50

I took both my kids camping under 1 year old but I love camping, it was my idea, I wanted to do it and I planned how to manage it. YANBU to not want to go. If your partner is desperate to go camping with a baby he needs to address your concerns and help you feel comfortable with it.

If it helps I think the temperature thing isn't a major issue in the summer. Just take spare layers, sleepsuits and blankets. If you have a camping stove you can warm up a bottle or a jar of food in a pan. Baby can eat finger food or bits of whatever you're eating. There are lots of campsites where you can charge your phone if you need to but honestly, it's nice being free from your mobile for a couple of days.

It just sounds like you don't want to go and that's fine. Just tell him you aren't interested. What about a cabin or a yurt or some sort of glamping experience?

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