Camping with a 1.5 year old

[SplitFountainPen]

We have DC 4 years and 17 months. I'm wanting to go camping just for 2 nights as DC 4 is eager to try it and we used to enjoy camping before DC.

DP is saying its not practical with a 17 month old, that baby will wake other people when waking up in the night with being away from home, and that it will be too cold even in summer.
AIBU to think 2 nights with a 17 month old should be manageable and a brief cry before we can pick DC up shouldn't be an issue?

Oh and I forgot: digging the ditch around the tent to cope with the rain. And there will be rain, there always is.

Oh god do not ask this question on Mumsnet. Everyone will be full of absolute doom and gloom. I posted last year asking for advice about taking a 3 year old and a six month old to a festival (also camping) and 90% of the replies told me it would be awful and not to do it. We did it and it was brilliant. Go, enjoy and have fun! It’ll be great. Kids love being outdoors. And to be honest, what’s the worst that can happen for a couple of nights?

Literally takes me 30 mins to put up my 6 man tent. My 5 and 3 yr old sit with a picnic lunch whilst I do it or run around the tent. Mine sleep through from around 9pm to 6am. It's really not that bad but I was brought up camping and do enjoy it so I think that influences a lot.

Of course it's fine, i took mine from birth and from when dd2 was 18 months we even did a little backpacking, 3-4 day trips without a car. Kids are really portable

Go for it! We did it with all three of ours- youngest was only 10 weeks old for her first camping holiday 🤣🤣 with a 4 and 2 year old! Worst bit was trying to keep them quiet early mornings when they were under 1 . And getting them to sleep - we drove many miles in the car with them again, when under 1 x

clothes wise - pjs and onesies . Wet legs dry easier than wet trousers of any description . Wellies are better than trainers for keeping socks dry

😂 my kids have been camping since they were 4 months old! We find 3 nights is the happy medium and we pick our campsites well!
They don't wake everyone up we just get up and do breakfast then take the dog for a walk. 4 months they were in a bassinet from 8 months til 2ish their own pop up tent (it doubles as a beach tent but also a travel cot). From 2.5 on their own mat and sleeping bag.

Tips I would say would be campsite selection - we pick ones with playground and bar that does food. Also near rainy day activities.
Take the interconnecting playmat squares with you perfect for many purposes including playing whilst setting up a tent, in the mornings and for sleeping on (stops heat loss)

I really want to take my two, 3.5yo and 1yo, but what's stopping me is keeping them warm enough overnight, particularly as you aren't supposed to use blankets and sleeping bags, are you?!

Those that have done camping with young kids/babies, what sleeping bag did you or would you take for the 1yo? They use a 2.5tog in the house, or 1.5 tog.
And the 3.5yo?

Both mine would love camping, I think!

OP, go for it. It's only 2 nights after all. Think of all the memories you'll all be making 😊

We went a couple of times last year when the youngest was 18 months and it was absolutely fine. One of those times was to a festival. We just brought the travel cot and put her to bed when it was dark, about 9.30-10ish. She slept through mostly, but when she did wake I just quickly put her in bed with me so she wouldn’t wake anyone.

I camped with a 12 month old but he was sleeping through the night.

No I wouldn’t. Pre-DC DH and I camped a lot so not anti-camping at all, just wouldn’t have worked with my 18 month old. I am considering 3 or 4 as time to start and even then might do a Eurocamp style holiday first.

I did it at that age, we had a great time!

We brought a playpen for db to sleep in, and contain him if we were doing things and couldn't be right with them. It was 10 days and a really nice time. It was July but cool at night so I put db to sleep in a thick warm fleece sleeper with undershirt and socks.

I’m currently camping with friends and between us we have two 5yos, a 3yo, a 17mo and a 4mo. It’s fine as long as you make sure they’re warm enough. I’ve got the 4mo in 3 merino wool layers (vest, thin leggings and top then onesie) and a 3.5 tog sleeping bag so no need for blankets on top. She’s actually sleeping really well! The kids all love it.

Camping with dc of any age is great... Don't forget their hat and mitts for overnight!
Old scruffy clothes. Cheap buggy for eating /around the camp..
Drove to France with dc when youngest was 6 months. Immobile dc are fantastically easy camping!!

Black out tent if possible, baths in washing up bowls are great for the youngest and make sure that they are warm enough. Small pop up tent inside the inner might work well for the 4 year old .Please do not attach bells to the tent zip, I can assure you that you will wake up if your 4 year old tries to escape. Also do not call your youngest child booboo instead of their name and talk to them in a baby voice (your camping neighbours will appreciate both of these and yes there is a backstory). Go for it and have an amazing time!

We did it about that age with family. His cousins made sure he and his 3.5 yo brother’s feet never touched the ground but we all had a fabulous time. If you’re a relaxed kind of family I think you’ll be fine.

I think I was on your thread (very much in support of you).

It's not bonkers at all. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but it's weird how so many people assume it's a terrible idea when loads of us have done it and enjoyed it.

I never would....it was hellish enough with a 3yo...getting her to bed was a nightmare as she wouldn't settle til we did (might be OK if you had one of the big tents with rooms though I guess) she was up early as the light comes in- having to keep going to and from the toilet block was a pain, and she hated the showers so I had to try and kind of chuck water over her with a jug as she stood right by the door!
Plus she got car sick just before we arrived and it was a nightmare stripping, sluicing and washing her car seat covers/blanket/clothes etc in the laundrette.
Setting up the tent was a nightmare trying to keep an eye on her at the same time.
And it was cold.This was Yorkshire in mid August but I still wore 5 layers and wasn't warm.
She is now 7 and we have a 2yo....I am not planning on camping for a few years yet, and when we do think we will keep it local!

We did it loads with ours, took a travel cot for longer breaks or co-slept. Used a warmer gro bag, we had zero problems. No crying at night as we were all together and able to sooth immediately. My children have grown up with a great love for the outdoors and camp year round with scouts now, even in December.

I have been camping with my two since the first was 18 months.. It's been fine, and they both love it. Two pointers though, firstly the weather has always been fine, if the weather had been bad it would have been a different story, and, secondly, we did camp near a beach one year which was impractical for the amount of wet stuff it generated.

Just to add, you know the temperment of your children, they are all unique! You won't know until you try though, good luck!

Also, I forgot to mention the ladies in the tent next to us talking, swearing, drinking, vomiting...all bloody night.

But each to their own, I will agree there is something nice about the connecting with nature side. I wouldn't take a young baby though as I think it would be too cold even height of summer,and if you wrap them up too much it could be a SIDS risk.

I've done this with my kids when the youngest was 2, and again at 3. Only for one night though and relatively close to home, I'm not really a seasoned camper. I just like to get the kids outdoors, and they sleep so well after a day or two running around a campsite.

You should take your 4 year old, does he have any cousins? I go with my sister then we can have a glass of wine while the kids all run around together. Much more fun than going with a miserable DH

Well....18 months is possibly THE most difficult age to go anywhere with. They can toddle and get into everything, and of course tents aren't able to be childproofed in the way that your house is. I mostly had a holiday hiatus when mine were between the ages of 6 months and 3. But of course it's doable. Most things are. Whether it would actually be enjoyable would be quite another question.

I went camping when my DD was 6 weeks old, you'll be fine. Just be conscious of stopping the crying as soon as possible by any means necessary!!*

*ie extra bottle of milk, kids YouTube etc.