Single parent camping with a toddler

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a bit of advice please! I'm an outdoors person and love camping. But I'm totally useless with poles etc I just can't ever work out instructions for tents. So I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for easy to put up tents for 2 people, roomyish but not huge that isn't ridiculously expensive.

I want to be able to take my daughter camping but I'm scared about doing it on my own. Plus I'm a bit scared of gas stoves, are there any alternatives? x

Why not stay in a caravan? No poles, proper kitchen, but you still get the campsite holiday. Or some campsites might have tents ready pitched, or yurts.

Modern gas stoves are much safer, particularly if you get the little suitcase ones which run on a canister of gas. Much safer and really easy to use. Look out for campsites which gave camping pods as you get the camping experience without having to try and pitch a tent on your own. If you fancy the Lake District I can recommend a FANTASTIC site.

Khyam Igloo is really easy to erect. The poles are already in the tent and you just click them together at various points. Takes about ten minutes to put the thing up.

Never use a gas stove in the tent. Get a little table to put it on outside and you're good to go. Go Outside do a low table for about £15 that packs flat. If rain is and issue you can get a camping tarp for about £30 that makes a tent shape shelter without the sides IYSWIM and you can cook and sit under it. Alternatively you can buy an event shelter but they are £££.

Thanks everyone I'll look into it! Very helpful x

I'd rent one of those little camping pods on a camp site for the first time. You won't need much more than sleeping stuff, and something to cook on, and they tend to have EHU which will make things easier.

While you're there have a look at the tents on site and see what you fancy. The decathlon range of tents are pretty good and cheap, and easy to put up.

Have a look on Groupon if you want to go for a pod, there are often offers on there

Thanks everyone, I've done a lot of camping in the past, just not on my own or with a toddler! Good advice. I don't think I really need anything huge, but would be nice to have a canopy x

www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-family-41-id_8378237.html

This one's good. It's light and easy to put up, good space for the two of you, and enough room to sit in the front. Packs down really small as well.

Watching your post. I'm the same but with DD slightly older. I gave been camping with her as a toddler but never on my own but would like to now. I could never put my tent up on its own, need 4 person tent with canopy just I case someone comes with us that's really easy to put up. I think your be fine with the gas as you have to watch toddlers all the time anyway. Have a great holiday X

Thanks that tent looks great, but a night mare to put up 😬😬😬 I see lots and lots of poles!

Thanks that tent looks great, but a night mare to put up 😬😬😬 I see lots and lots of poles!

It's easy. Loosely peg four corners. Lay put all the poles on the floor in order. Push through middle pole and secure. Do front and back poles, front and back guys, done. :)

Like this.

Easier with the quechua, it's a lighter tent and goes up more easily than the one in the video.

Aww thanks so much 😊 Really helpful if you to send through the video! X

😀 🎪

What about one of those new-fangled blow up tents? One of my best ever holidays was me & my nearly 3yo DD when I was a lone parent. BBQ's, fish and chips, amusements, beach etc in Cornwall. So relaxing. I had a tent like this - m.gooutdoors.co.uk/freedom-trail-sendero-4-tent-p396808 - which I got up and down alone xx

I bought a robens fairbank tipi tent for this reason. Singular pole through the middle, job done. Sleeps 4, it's roomy, packs down fairly small. Was about £350 if a recall correctly.

Google inflatable tents.

When just DC and I go away we take this tent Here it pops up and is easy to put away by yourself once you've practised. There's space enough for me and 2 dc with the stuff we need.

Thanks guys 🙏 Blow up tents sound AMAZING.

We have an inflatable tent and it's very easy to put up and I can do it with just me and DS (and some huffing and puffing). It is however a pain to take down and roll up and it's pretty heavy.

i am a single mum and have a blow up tent - which got when my son was about 3 or 4. It is quite big but there may be smaller ones but Wanted a separate sleeping area as he gets older

they are good particularly if you invest in a high pressure pump that can run from the 12v in your car

Inflateable tents are bigger and heavier as they have reinforced tubes that are filled with air (instead of poles) and more expensive

www.decathlon.co.uk/air-seconds-family-41-xl-id_8384152.html

That air version of the tent is great. Perfect for 2!