Everything but the kitchen sink

[AppleOrchid]

Hello,

I'm going camping with 18-month-old DD for first time this summer. We haven't got any kit so we're starting from scratch on a tight budget.

What do we need to buy? What should bubs sleep in/on? We haven't got a travel cot and I was about to buy one, but on Kiddiecare they seem to say they're only good until baby can stand. Do you know if this is the case?

We have a few trips planned this summer, so I think it would make sense to buy one as DD not sleeping in bed yet.

Also, what size tent do you think we need?

Thanks a million :)

We were camping a few weeks back with our 18m DD.
We have a travel cot which we use for daytime naps and 'safekeeping' when she can't be left to play without being watched. (Got it at an NCT sale for £7)

We have a 5-man tent which allows us plenty of room. And we bought DD a baby sleeping bag.

I 'lined' the bedroom floors with old blankets and in DD's room I also added some foam mats which she uses to play on. Stood the travel cot on that on coasters (just so as not to mark the mats).

The size of the tent meant that when it rained (as it did whilst we were packing up to go home) we could take out the bedroom 'walls' and let her run around in the tent (zipped in) whilst we loaded the car with everything else.

I am sure that there are plenty of other posters with far more experience of camping than me, though!

(When we went camping before, she was only about 6m old so slept in her moses basket in between us on our inflatable mattress. However, now she fidgets like it's an olympic sport so that's not an option!) :)

Thank you! Just been out and bought a tent. About to get travel cot now. Excited about spending some time in the great outdoors! Have a lovely weekend.

When DD1 was around 10 months old (walking using the buggy as a stroller) we went camping with her to France in a 3 man ridge tent. We took a large tupperwear box in which we sterilised her cups (Milton fluid). We took her milk, food, nappies, wipes. The boot of my car made an excellent changing platform (it had a spoiler so she wouldnt roll off).

We had a camping stove and a cool box.

DD1 is now 16 and waiting for her GCSE results so I think she survived!

I've done loads of camping with kids, it's fine. Make sure you take a couple more blankets than you think you will need. I often pop a cardigan on over the Grobag when I go to bed to avoid being woken up by cold baby at 2am.

My top tip would be get the Milton steriliser tablets which don't require rinsing with boiled water afterwards! A box of disposable steriliser bags are handy (and can be used until they rip)

We always take our Antilop highchair as well. Legs come off dead easily to fit in car and it makes a useful baby-containment device / something to hang a washing line from your tent to / side table etc.

Just one final thing - we didn't bother with sterilisers or powdered milk; just made sure that we had a washing up bowl, kettle and ready-made 'growing up' milk. You can buy bottles of 250ml ready made of various brands. We kept those in the cool box and worked our way through - one bottle of that filled DD's bottle for morning and evening feeds.
Just washed the bottle up normally then plunged into boiling water for 5 mins.

Didn't bother with a high chair - we do have a folding travel one, but we just got her to sit on the floor and eat. :)

Thanks all. Cardigan over grobag such a good idea! I couldn't get my head around how to get extra clothing on without waking DD, so will definitely give it a go.

We have just bought the final bits and pieces in addition to the tent. We now have sleeping bags, an inflatable mattress, travel cot, and even a couple of camping chairs. I feel very grown up! Last time we camped (prior to bubs), it was a total shambles, here's hoping it'll be more enjoyable this time round!