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Original poster

Please give me tiips on camping with a baby

13 replies

Cosmosis · 14/03/2011 16:58

We are about to start camping for the year (well April will be our first) as we do a lot of weekends away at sports events - DS is currently 6mo, so I was looking for tips please :)

we have a bubble travel cot thingy with an air mattress for him to sleep in, but was wondering what we'd need to dress him in? and any other general advice as well.

Thanks!

OP posts:
deste · 14/03/2011 21:19

Just remember it could be cold at night, I think that would be your biggest problem. I suppose you could keep him in babygros through the day till the warmer weather comes in. That would cut down on washing and storing lots of clothes.

kalo12 · 14/03/2011 21:23

a sun shade for your pram

Original poster
Cosmosis · 15/03/2011 13:18

thanks, to clarify I meant what to dress him in at night as it can get so cold, but i think layering of vests & grows could be the key.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 15/03/2011 13:33

Does get cold at night. very. had ds1 and ds2 in tent, with sleeping bags , blankets and all sorts. It was cold.

Oblomov · 15/03/2011 13:34

playmat to roll around on ? sling ?
other than that, no different to a childs needs, I don't think ??? Hmm ponders what I have just written !!

Oblomov · 15/03/2011 13:39

definitely fleecely all in ones, sleepsuit. like
sleepsuit
that one, all fleecely with feet. Ds2 is now 2 and still wears them. fabarooney.

goosey123 · 15/03/2011 13:45

we stuck the travel cot tent on a space blanket, thats meant to add insulation. She wore one of those fleecey suits over the top of usual layers, and went in usual sleep bag. And slept in until 8 am! Good luck! we're off at the end of April, dd2 will be 10 months and I'm a bit apprehensive of the cold nights even though I've done it before!

Icoulddoitbetter · 15/03/2011 13:48

I bought a sleeping bag from Kiddicare for DS that had arms. In the end he stayed with granny the weekend we went as he had bad impetigo, and I was really glad as it was freezing at night time (that was June, and DS was 8 months). I think we're going to take him this year though so he'll be 20 months. I'll take the same bag (it's massive!) and lots of blankets, and prob won't sleep a wink worrying about him freezing at night and overheating in the morning. Fun! Grin

3rdnparty · 15/03/2011 13:51

layers are the key get thermals if you can - should be able to get hold of 1yr old ones and cut down if needed or just knot the ends on top of an all in one then I used fleecey suit, grobag type bag then in a buggy bag (have gone completely blank on what they are called Confused) as wasn't sure whether we would do again... if you know you will do more then vango do a kids sleeping bag that you can adjust the length of...and hat ds wouldn't go to sleep with one on so I would just put it on him once he was asleep....Grin I would also put a picnic rug under the travelcot and fleece blanket under the mattress as chill comes from the ground hth

ongakgak · 15/03/2011 13:55

socks on under babygrow
long sleeved vest
babygrow with feet
fleecy baby grow
sleeping bag
extra blanket

I used to warm my DS bed with a hot water bottle before he got in it.

Make sure they are not too hot, check before you doze off. Make the layers easy to get off as the temp warms again in the early hours.

I used to snuggle DS in with us when I felt it was too cold and was worried.

Lancelottie · 15/03/2011 13:56

Ours camped at, respectively, 6 months, 3 months and 9 months. The smallest one was the easiest, as he couldn't go anywhere. Crawling babies and mud are such an unlovely combination!

A cold baby can always be hauled into your sleeping bag for a warm up. Not that YOU'LL sleep if you do that. Grr.

oranges123 · 15/03/2011 17:10

We camped with an 8 month old last summer and she slept in vest, babygro with feet, fleecy sleepsuit with feet and a grobag type thing over the top. We added a couple of blankets for good measure and she slept on the cot mattress with a sheepskin from IKEA and a sheet over it to stop it tickling her nose. I would probably add extra blankets in April and maybe try to warm the tent up before she goes to sleep with a gas heater or an electric one if you have a hook up (obviously turn this off if you are leaving the tent or going to bed yourself).

DD slept better in the tent than at home - all the fresh air I expect. One night we had to go to A&E for DH (long story). We got her out of her cot, into the car seat, drove her there, sat in A&E for an hour with a blanket over the car seat, drove back to the campsite and transferred her back to her cot and she didn't wake - there is NO WAY we would have managed that at home. Camping has a magical effect on babies in my experience. (That said, a friend's baby cried all night in the tent next door, bless her (and them)).

Original poster
Cosmosis · 15/03/2011 18:00

thanks all, some great tips :) lancelottie he often sleeps in with us anyway so I was wondering if that might be a better idea.

lol at hook up, these are sports events, usually a field and a portaloo Grin

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