Sleeping Bags for kids - DD1 - 3 years DD2 - 12 months - worried they'll be cold!

[Dotty38]

All your recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I'm so nesh and feel the cold that I'm worried the kids will be freezing as it is so cold in England even in the height of bloomin summer (usually). Husband thinks I'm being fussy and thinks the youngest would do fine in just an extra blanket with her 2.5 tog grobag and the oldest can manage with one of our crappy old sleeping bags we had as students, am I being fussy? I think hes trying to penny pinch!!!

You are being sensible. You need a good insulated mat underneath, and I would suggest a sleeping bag OVeR her grobag. Also warm pyjamas and ideally a woolly hat. I don't feel the cold and I slept out last may with duvet and blankets and I was frozen! Night temps can really drop, especially if it is a clear night.

You are being sensible.

What your dh has suggested is nowhere near warm enough IMO.

What your DH says to do isn't going to be warm enough at all. Before DCs, DH and I went camping in the summer and night temperatures dropped dramatically. Think about it, at home, you're in an insulated house - how can your DCs be warm enough with the same bedding?

You need to get proper sleeping bags for the outdoor temperature (even then you need to wear warm pjs underneath). A sportswear store should be able to recommend. Otherwise, some sleeping bags zip together to make a double, sleeping together may help your DCs keep warm.

Having a cold night is no fun at all.

I agree will use these messages as ammunition as he thinks I'm looking for reason's to buy more stuff!

I've just read some old post and the Kampa airbed for kids looks good and comes recommended plus it can be lined with a blanket for insulation as it has a dip in the middle. I've also seen some bargain outwell bags on ebay and they have a fairy on which DD1 will be only too chuffed with. So have started this mission now! Your so right a cold night/s is just no fun and can completely mar the holiday.

If your DH is worried about additional spending, it should be possible to keep the DCs warm by using bedding brought from home. When our DD was a baby (8 months and older) we put her in a vest, babygro/pyjamas and socks, fleece all in one (cheap from Primark), gro bag and a selection of blankets (added or taken away according to how cold each night was). She slept on a travel cot mattress with a sheepskin from IKEA on top for extra insulation (though a fleece blanket would probably be fine too).

For really cold nights a hat (or fleece all in one with hood (Trespass do one)) kept DD toasty (this was how she slept when we camped at Easter this year - she is now 2.5). Interestingly, she was fine the first night with the hooded all-in-one but woke cold the next night when the only difference was that she didn't have a hood, and had to come in with us. So I do think head gear is important on cold nights.

Next time we go we are going to take her duvet from home and extra blankets but that is because she hates being restricted in bed and won't use a gro-bag or sleeping bag. This could be an alternative to a sleeping bag for a 3 year old if you have the car space.