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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

First time camping with a toddler, tips please!!

17 replies

roofio87 · 30/06/2015 17:30

Hi. So me and dh are braving our first camping trip with ds, 21 months, this weekend. We're just going for 2 nights in the Peak District. Anyone got any tips for how to cope? He sleeps really well at home, sleeps through 7 30-8am, but I'm obviously worried about the light mornings! and he can be very noisy, I'm worries he'll wake at 6 and start screeching!! if anyone has any good tips I'd be very grateful!! Thanks.

OP posts:
Buttercup27 · 30/06/2015 17:32

No tips but looking for ideas, my biggest worry is ds escaping out of the tent !

LexieSinclair · 30/06/2015 17:39

I found with mine, that with plenty of fresh air and exercise during the day, and a later than usual bedtime, he slept in a couple of hours later than he would at home. But maybe take some books and toys etc as distractions just in case

AlpacaLypse · 30/06/2015 17:44

Put tent up while he's still asleep in car after the journey (hopefully...) If not, just keep him tied down somewhere for the bit when you need both adults to push the poles.

If he can somehow reach the zips of the sleeping compartments while you're asleep, you'll need a travel cot.

Sod saving the planet, you are allowed to take disposable everything on camping trips with preschoolers.

PotteringAlong · 30/06/2015 17:46

Take a waterproof all in one to bung over pj's in the morning so he doesn't wet from the dew.

PotteringAlong · 30/06/2015 17:47

Oh, and easily accessible morning food. Things like individually wrapped pain au chocolat that seem like a treat but are available fast for hungry little people!

whathaveiforgottentoday · 30/06/2015 17:52

Close access for water, so you can wash hands etc without having to wander over to the toilets area.we found this when we pitched at a site for a caravan and with a preschooler we found this helped.

vvviola · 30/06/2015 17:55

Nappy changing stuff and wipes very close at hand at night

may perhaps still get flashbacks of horrendous night when dairy allergic DD2 got some dairy on a camping trip. The 3am explosion was awful the principle applies generally though, the last thing you want is rummaging for wipes etc late at night/early in the morning

Bring more blankets/sleeping bags than you think you will need. It can get colder than expected.

We put DD2 in a fleecy sleepsuit even though it was 26 degrees in the daytime.

Quiet games and some non-messy snacks for the early morning wake up - then at least you won't have to leave the tent.

Wipes. Lots and lots of wipes. I'm pretty easygoing about how grubby the DC get while camping (very), but hands and face get wiped plenty to save trecking over to the wash block.

nilbyname · 30/06/2015 18:06

Well I know it's not in the camping spirit but.....

CBeebies on the iPad and a set of headphones.

We used to give ds a small little present to play with in the morning or fAiling that one of us would put him in the car and go and get the papers!

getyourgeekon · 30/06/2015 19:54

are you taking a travel cot? This worked well for me when I took ds away alone recently (stayed in a yurt though!). I draped a blanket over the whole thing at night to keep him warm / keep it dark. He took a while to go to sleep - was just so excited - but slept in til his usual time.

If you a tent to pitch and no hands free use the travel cot as a play pen.

Agree easy breakfast - we had croissants and fruit.

I took a load of his books and some toys from home, but he was pretty happy just enjoying the field and people-watching.

I was at a campsite with a family bathroom so access to a bath. Last year I took him to a few more basic sites so took a large washing up bowl and used that - baths are important in his bedtime routine and helped wash off sun cream/sand etc.

Have a brilliant time Smile

getyourgeekon · 30/06/2015 19:56

And don't worry about him making noise early in the morning. Though maybe don't pitch near lots of other people/people without children!

isambardo · 30/06/2015 20:27

We have camped a couple times this year for the first time with our children (2 year old and a baby). Lots of good advice above, I agree with taking more blankets than you think. Our toddler sleeps in pajamas plus a onesie. Take wellies and a waterproof all-in-one for damp mornings. Anti-bac hand gel and lots of wet wipes. Easy food for breakfast snacking is a great idea.
DS goes to bed later than normal due to excitement/daylight but seems tends to sleep in later. We have (so far) bed-hopped every night, so my top recommendation is make sure the bed you bring for the toddler is big enough for DH, or (like us) you will end up with all of you on one double airbed!
And don't worry too much, it's been way easier and more fun than I expected.

Anotheronesoon · 30/06/2015 20:32

Flask of hot water - if your little one needs milk in the night ( to quieten them!) can add a dash of hot water to it to make it nice and warm.

Original poster
roofio87 · 30/06/2015 20:37

thank you all so much! we are planning to sleep on a double blow up bed and a single right next to us for ds. I really don't think he would escape. if he wakes he will be straight over to climb on top of us!! he'll be in a grobag too so won't escape!! croissants sound like good quiet bribery food for the mornings. We are getting there mid day so he will have to Potter about with us, dh has pitched this tent alone so if it's a nightmare we can leave him to it and head to the playground Grin
Good on the waterproofs, I hadn't thought of that.
Hopefully he'll surprise me and sleep in ok, I don't think he'll go to sleep at night easily so just going to be relaxed about that and make sure he's shattered!!

OP posts:
HolyDrinker · 30/06/2015 20:39

Just got back from camping with a 21mo. One word - stickers! Kept her amused for absolutely ages. did keep finding them dotted around the campsite though

Umbrelladilemma · 30/06/2015 20:43

If he'll still nap in a buggy I'd take that and use it to get him to sleep in the evening. It might mean one of you walking laps around the campsite for half an hour (we've been there!) but it's definitely worth it for extra wine/relaxation time for you!

CatsRule · 01/07/2015 13:49

We've only done a weekend and a week away with ds who was 2 at the time...some great advice here which I'll use for our trip in August.

We had a new tent the first time we took ds so putting it up in the wind was difficult. Ds was playing about inside the car...tip: don't leave a loaf of bread at reach...you car will be a bit crumby! Putting the tent down we learned from that.

I was also worried he would wander but I made sure the bedroom zips were up high so he couldn't reach...he didn't try anyway.

We did take a few toys/books but he hardly used them as was too excited and the fresh air knocked him out.

We also have a double plus a single air bed...ds was fine but we were freezing (need to take more layers!) we did end up bringing him in beside us to keep warm.

nousernamesleft · 01/07/2015 14:00

When you do the zips up on the bedroom at night, leave the ends at the top, and tuck the end of one through the other. Easy enough for you to separate in an emergency, but fiddly enough and slightly out of reach to make it difficult for a toddler to undo.

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