A few festivals this year - just me and 16 month old DS. What do I need?

[duke748]

Hi all. I hope you can help me as I haven't camped since I was about 10 ahem a good few decades ago.

I am planning on a couple of local(ish) festivals this summer, just me and (currently) 16 month old DS.

What do I need to buy/pack?

I was thinking of getting a 2 man pop up tent on the cheap (£35 ish) and having a double inflatable mattress in it with lots of duvets and blankets (of which I have bloody loads in the loft) for us both to sleep on.

I was thinking of not having any cooking equipment at all and just a cool box with some milk and a food box with cereal and snacks for both of us. Then just buying from stalls etc.

Then - wet weather gear, good weather clothes, suncream, sling, loo roll, ear defenders, nappies, bag for during the day.. and em, that's it. All in a backpack I can sling over my shoulder to take from car to campsite.

I'm a confident 'babywearer' so I can do a number of carries in the wrap. I'm hoping he can sleep on my back, but if not and we only end up seeing stuff during the day and heading back to the tent at 8/9ish, thats OK with me too.

Am I oversimplifying it? Have I forgotten anything important? Anything that will make life easier? Does he need any kind of toys, or will festival and other kids provide enough entertainment?

I'm planning on writing my number on his hand, any other security/safety type stuff I'm missing? Do people use a padlock on the tent?

I am confident with pitching a tent, but not so sure about keeping DS occupied long enough while I do it. Do I need a porch, extra room etc? Am hoping to only sleep in the tent and am happy to sling valuables in with us. Is this feasible?

Any tips from experienced people will be gratefully appreciated!

A 2 man tent will only just accommodate a double air bed. I took mine once with DS and assumed I could just put bags at his feet, unfortunately small children just don't understand about not pushing the bags into the side of the tent! I would suggest a 3 man for 2, either that or a porch that will fit your bags in. Look at the weight, there is quite a difference and if it's just you carrying it, you want to keep it down. A SIM is much lighter than an airbed.

I think you will need to freeze the milk before you go or some other frozen stuff in the cool box.

No padlock, it would only encourage anyone snooping to cut the tent open. They usually provide arm bands for kids with phone numbers on.

Not sure how easy it would be to make more than one trip with your stuff, it is usually a fair trek from car to campsite and you will have to take your DS with you. Either try to get everything together so you can carry it in one go or consider hiring a trolley. Maybe it would be worth buying a trolley if you think you might get good use out of it, also useful for putting DCs in at night.

Thanks so much for your quick response.

Would something like this be better?

It says 5 mins pitch time, which seems fine. 5kg though, which is not super light but definately carry-able fear I may be making up my own word now after one too many vinos

I guess as DS will only get bigger - something like this might offer us a few years of use. What do you (and others!) think?

[(www.amazon.co.uk/doghealth-TC1805M-Wagon/dp/B003CGDGOQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1336518593&sr=8-6)]

i'd get one of these, he can nap in it while you are enjoying the music, and good for transporting all your gear to the campsite

www.amazon.co.uk/doghealth-TC1805M-Wagon/dp/B003CGDGOQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1336518593&sr=8-6

Thanks for the link Toads.

I've been looking at 3 man plus pop up tents. What do people think of this?

I would not recommend the wagon, it's a pain in the arse to drag behind you and not that comfortable for lo over bumpy ground.

I would think about buying a cheap second hand three wheeler buggy.Much more comfortable and you will be able to strap him in if you have to spend time sorting out tent ect.

My first festival was when dd was about this age and I had wagon(cause they're cool)she kept climbing out!Sling and buggy,only ended up using buggy and only took buggy on subsequent trips.

We bought a wagon when dd was too big for her buggy, but have hardly ever used it because it has been so wet the last few years at the festival we go to! They are awful in mud.

If ds is in a sling, the buggy can be good for the car to campsite trip with 'stuff' in.

Re: toys, it depends on the festival. Ours has a 'bookswapping' stall, so we could borrw lots of kids books. I would probably take a few small things such as cars, blocks etc, just for those odd moments when you want to sit and relax a bit.

Food: gets very expensive and, depending on your child, not always child friendly. We often struggle with getting much balance with veg. Last year, with ds (1.5) we took a few pots of organix/ plum baby toddler meals. He will happily eat them cold and then I didn't care how much crap eat ate for the rest of the day, If he had one for lunch. Avocados are good as well. Second the freezing your milk suggestion.

Be prepared for the fact that it may well rain the whole time so you will be very cold. All in one waterproofs are essential as well as thermals.

Definately a tent aimed at 3 or 4 people. Personally I would want one 'pod' inside for us to sleep in and one for clothes/ food so it's out of reach of little fingers.

Have fun! Which ones are you planning on going to?

We have that tent. It's very roomy inside and easy to put up and down but you do need to practice, especially putting it away.

I'll be honest with you I think you are going to find it very stressful without another adult to watch your DC while you set up and put away - especially at 18 months. Pop up tents are great but an absolute nightmare to put away (they are selling a 4 man pop up for £39.99 in Lidl right now BTW). I can't see how you will get all you need to be comfy into a backpack either. Can you find a friend to come with you then drive and maybe do a couple of trips from car to tent to get all you need?

Hi all.

Thanks so much for your replies so far.

I'll look out for a pop-up tent for 3/4 people with a little porch - good point about little fingers poking and prodding!

I've thought about the wagons but I'm not keen. I can't see what it will do for me that the sling and a backpack won't (apart from look cool, but I'm well past that!)

To be clear I will have the car, but it will definately be just DS and I (we have way more fun that way). So its really only the walk from car to campsite that will be the issue. And I don't mind making a few trips if needs be.

We're based in Yorkshire and we're doing ones that are within 45 mins of home, so if all else fails - we can decamp back home! Forest of Galtres Festival and Willowman. Both quite small and apparently family friendly. We'll see. Also doing CarFest North, which is further away, but with a friend.

Thanks for all the advice, good and bad. And with all due respect Angry - we spent 6 weeks inter-railing around eastern Europe just the two of us when he was 3-4 months old, so am pretty confident about a weekend in a muddly field in Yorkshire - I just wanted to know which kit would/wouldn't make our lives easier.

Any other hints/tips would be appreciated!

if you can afford it, you could consider buying a macpack or similar, which has lots of space for packing additional stuff, and then having the other packback on your front. this will mean you can take more stuff in one trip and hang stuff from both. And you can easily prop DS up in it while setting up/packing. I put DS aged 2 in this all the time and can fit an enormous amount in it. I tend to use it for all his things when we go camping.

I think it sounds like you have mostly got if covered. I am planning on a few nights away camping with the children (5 and 2) when DH goes to USA for two weeks, might do festi too, so if I think if anything more I will let you know and will read with interest for any more tips myself.

Not sure if you wrote this down, but remember a first aid kit.

oh yes, and toys, we have just been away to a yurt, and DS took a couple of trains, and a book, paper and some pencils. There were toys provided and he played with a puzzle and a cuddly toy!

Pavlov - what's a macpack/packbag? I've had a quick google but not found anything.

Thanks for tips- yes - first aid kit - doh!

I've also had a look at the Lidl tent online - but it says 2 man tent? I'll try to pop in and see for myself - but has anyone seen one in store and can they confirm if its 2 man or 4 man?

Thanks again

We took DD at 11m to 2 festivals last summer - things we found useful:

*HEADTORCH!
*layers layers layers - don't underestimate how cold it gets in a tent at night - DD was in long sleeved vest, fleecy baby gro, socks, hat, cardigan, sleeping bag and 2 blankets, plus 2 underneath her mattress.

• yy to cheap buggy to carry stuff from car to tent, then at night when out and about and she wanted to sleep. *baby headphones so we could listen to headliners when she slept. *def take a few familiar toys and books. As I'm sure you know stickers are your friend! *shedload of wet wipes. *at one of the festivals - wilderness- the food situation was appalling, nowhere near enough stalls for people. I would definitely second taking some fruit, freezing milk, fruit pouches, breadsticks, humzingers etc, the second one we did we took cooking stuff, but it was more stress than it was worth, dd too keyed up to eat much - though nice to be able to make tea/coffee in the morning while lazing with dd in the tent.

I would thoroughly recommend babies at festivals, esp the smaller ones. We all had a really lovely time - though totally different experiences from pre baby days! You're going to have a great time.

i spelt it wrong! this is the one we have, also comes with pillow to rest sleepy heads, rain cover and sun shade, and, which I love, a little mirror in a pocket attached to the bit you have around your waist to check they are ok, like a rear view mirror!

You can fit stuff in the top bit, and also at the bottom, which actually goes right up into the backpack itself so a lot of space. I got mine from ebay for £30, including all the accessories, in perfect condition.

We had a backpack carrier similar to Pavlov's and it was fab. Never brought ds4 to a festival in it but did bring him to football matches when ds1 was playing and it was great in that you could bring him over any kind of terrain.

oh oh oh. i just thought of something...you could take a flask, and little pot of coffee and get a market stall to give you some boiling water, then you have your own coffee facilties! Also, you can use that water to make pasta n sauce, which is a festival requirement I think...

chip its fab isn't it? we use it when we take the kayak down to the beach, makes beaches that are far away from the car park accessible. We have DS in it, all the beach towels, swimming gear, changes of clothes, nappies, first aid, beach toys, floor blanket strapped to the back etc on my back, with lifejackets in one hand and kayak handle in the other. DH has wetsuits in one hand, and kayak handle in another, backpack of his own with picnic in on his back, and DD runs around getting in the way !

Oh, yes, we had a few beach walks with ds4 in the carrier and he loved it! He loved being up so high, especially when dh was carrying him. Not so much me, I'm a shortarse!

A sturdy mud friendly pushchair, there will be so many times you need to have ds safe and your body free, I thought I could manage at a festival with just a sling, I bitterly regretted it, and yy to upsizing tents always get at least one 'man' more than will actually be sleeping in it.

And have a fantastic time.

Thanks so much for all your help. I am even more excited than I was before now!

I have a carrier similar to the one you linked to Pavlov, but I prefer my woven wrap any day of the week. I can wear him on my tummy, hip or back and its very comfortable for hours on end.

I think I will put my old all terrain pushchair in the car too on your advice fuck (!) and use it for transporting stuff from car to tent and then its there if I need it for DS. I am currently researching tents. Current fav is this one

Its a 3 man pop up with a little porch for £80. Any feedback welcome.

Don't forget something for night time tent wees - just in case. Also portaloos with a toddler can be a complete nightmare (if you have a fiddler like I did).

I'd add a sarong (use it as a towel, sheet or to cover up a sleeping DC in the sun) and a waterproof groundsheet in case it's wet, put the sarong on it for a picnic blanket or use it in front of the tent for sitting on or taking shoes off on.