Has anyone tried camping with a 9 -12 month old baby?

[kate1516]

DH and I used to go camping before we had DS who is currently 8 months old. We were wondering when we could go camping again or whether to avoid entirely whilst DS is little. My main worry is the cold and keeping him warm but also how do I entertain him!

Has anyone done this or is this a case of just avoid doing it for a few years?

DON'T DO IT! dd was 12 months old, we co-slept for the trip, with dd in between us. She was very uncomfy and cried lots in the night, either too cold or covered in sweat from being stuck between me and DH. It was plenty of fun in the day going for walks (dd loves trees - so was occupied!)- but just dreaded night time, and that was good weather - would have been worse if it was all. Not much opportunity for her to crawl though which was frustrating for her.

I think you could try, because your ds might be an angel and find it easy. We are thinking about having another go just for a few nights once dd is 3 - but i'm still nervous about it.

Do it! We camped with dd from 3 months old. It's fine - being outside is the best entertainment. Just be careful about camping stoves if dc are mobile!

Yep, done this a few times now. Kids love camping. We love camping. Win win. No sleep though. Dd2 took her first steps on a beach in south wales a few weeks before her 1st birthday. Its already one of those family history moments! It might depend on your equipment how you manage it, eg co-sleeping or travel cot etc. Proper baby sleeping bags look quite good, but I always take our duvets! We have survived some awful weather, and not great nights sleep. We're going euro camping this year for our first abroad trip, cheating I know, but three under 6 means it needs to be easy. One weekend we drove 11 miles to a pub campsite camping is the easiest way to socialise these days. Piss up but no need for a babysitter!

The has just reminded me- the bit that is the hardest bit we found is putting up/ packing up at the same time as keeping a little one happy. Might be worth having a plan.

Oh and waterproof all in one suits are a must for damp mornings/ crawling in mud on grass etc.

Do it. We went when DD was 4 months old and she loved it. Keeping them clean and warm is possible! I found it hard when she was crawling but such a happy toddler when camping. People about all the time, lots to see and do.

Camped with DD who must have been 11 months old and was crawling. We were in very wet, windy and muddy Northern Ireland, and went to a few different places. It wasn't really a holiday and if we hadn't been so far from home, we wouldn't have stuck it out.

Top tip: buy some cheap second hand clothes for DC and at the end of each day of crawling around on muddy grass, throw them out!

We went to playgrounds and found some nice big pubs with big lounge bars so she could get around in safety, but it was not easy. (We went to a friend's wedding at the start of the trip and most of our budget was blown on the hotel, ferry etc. So not regret that part one bit, but a long weekend or just one week would have been enough for us.)

We did it last year when DS was 9-10 months and DD was nearly 4. They loved it. The only downside for us was dealing with early rising, but it would have been the same problem in a 5-star hotel room, to be honest.

We had a travel cot (and will again this summer) and used his pushchair if we had to contain him while we cooked. He was bottom shuffling then, but not walking. He loved the tent - had to be extra safety conscious with equipment and tidying.

My first ds's camping trip took place when he was 6 wks old! Was summer, warm, he was bf, so no bottles to worry about. Was wonderful! He's now 7, and a hardened camper! Do it.

Our tent had 2 xompartments and a middle but, so we put DD in her travel cot on her own 'room' which, after the first night she did actually like and we did get lots of sleep. It was the evenings which were hardest.

I think crawling is a difficult stage for camping tbh.

We camped before DD was mobile, and then again when she was quite a bit older eg 2.

Can be tricky if they want to be mobile but have absolutely no brakes or sense of danger.

I'd only recommend it if you have a huge tent which can provide plenty of crawling space or if you are going when/where you have some guarenteed sunny days, not a total washout.

We took dd a few times last summer when she was between six and eight months. It was great. The best thing about it was that we went with a group of friends who were happy to play with dd for a while, and in the evenings when she'd gone to bed we could sit around the campfire close enough to our tent to hear if she cried.

She wasn't crawling then which probably made it easier.

We kept her warm by putting her in lots of layers - two baby grows, sleeping bag, blankets - and we had one of those pop up travel cots.

We've gone with both kids at 6 months and later with DS at 10 months. We use a pop up tent style travel cot which kept them warm even when we froze in the bell tent. Waterproof all in ones for dewy mornings or rainy days. Plenty of layers for warmth including hats and fleece pyjamas- I'm going to buy myself some too. We were by the fire in the evening till they flaked out. We took a highchair (one of the old style ikea fold downs with a tray) which made eating easy as plates or picnics tended to get mashed around a bit too much then.

I have a 10 m old and we're hoping to go camping when it's a bit warmer. We have a travel cot but not sure whether dd would be better off sleeping on a single air bed next to our double?
She usually sleeps in her cot but ends up in our bed half way through the night.

We were fine. But we were in a caravan. Breast fed ds2 and he slept like a trooper.
Why not give it a go. One or two nights. And talk to dh and say if the worst comes to the worst your'll come home. May turn out fab.