Campervan with toddler and baby - anything we should consider/tips?

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We are planning to hire a campervan to drive up to Scotland for a wedding in June. DD1 will be 2, and DD2 will be 10 mo. The van has space for two adults on a double bed, a bunk bed and a small bed for a baby.

We'd have a week to travel up to Scotland from London, and a week to get back. We'll stop and camp on the way. I've never done anything like this before, but love camping.

Is there anything we need to know? Any tips for going away in a Camper?

I would join this forum
www.vwt4forum.co.uk/
Its free, they will happily offer top tips etc, my advice is you will take far too much stuff.

I agree - you will probably end up taking too much stuff!

We haven't had our van that long but we take about a quarter of the amount of clothes we did originally. You just don't have the space to store it or you end up moving bags around constantly so for long holidays make sure you find a laundry for washing what you do take.

Initially we always took far too many shoes too - now we tend to limit to pair of sturdy shoes and wellies for ds if its muddy and one pair for the pub. No more!

And we ditched the buggy asap - we take a ride on bike for ds to play on and for scooting along on for walks.

Thanks both. I think we're going to go for it, I love camping and it will be summer after all.

We took our then one year old in a camper van to the south of France in September. We were colder than expected - needed to buy her a new sleeping bag, she got very grubby as was at the crawling stage and the CV was fairly grotty. The camper van was not very well equipped (Avis - very disappointing service). Other than that it worked really well and even though it was some time ago we still aspire towards doing it again!

One of those all in one waterproof suits for children are really useful for wet days or early autumnal mornings if you're on grass.

And a dustpan and brush. Absolutely essential for getting grass out the van :)

Have you got a travel rail to fit to the bunk and if so does it actually fit? You might find either you or your Dh needs to sleep in the roof bed. Then one adult shares the double with the kids.

I'd definitely take two thermarests or a double thermarest. Or even a sheepskin for the little one if you have one. My little ones hog a lot of tent. I'd also buy a merino sleep suit. When we went camping my little ones got colder then expected. I've since brought merino sleep suits. By the footless ones so they can run round in the morning if its warm. Mine sleep in these in all but summer at home as they are so snuggly and breathable so worth the investment.
Water proof dungarees are fab as they can wear them on warm dewy mornings too.

I'd definitely take two thermarests or a double thermarest. Or even a sheepskin for the little one if you have one. My little ones hog a lot of tent. I'd also buy a merino sleep suit. When we went camping my little ones got colder then expected. I've since brought merino sleep suits. By the footless ones so they can run round in the morning if its warm. Mine sleep in these in all but summer at home as they are so snuggly and breathable so worth the investment.
Water proof dungarees are fab as they can wear them on warm dewy mornings too.

Sorry put this on the wrong post meant it for the lady going camping. ignore thermarests but waterproof dungarees and merino sleep suits still useful.

Ok thanks all... We booked it today - excited. Van is fully kitted out so we just need clothes, food, wine and bucket loads of midge repellent...

Viva
I asked about the Hi-Top and there is something that would act in the same way as a bed rail apparently. I hope it works!

Have fun! Dh made a little flap for our roof bed so it could well be that the van has one. Ours isn't the sturdiest of things but its enough to stop our 3 yr old rolling out.

Just beware though it is addictive ..... :)