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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

What age were your kids when you first took them camping?

37 replies

Igottastartthinkingbee · 29/07/2017 22:30

I know lots of people will have taken their kids from when they were babies but what about everyone else? We just had a short (localish) trial run as we've been given a massive tent. Children are 5 and 2. The 5 year old had a ball but the 2 year old was a nightmare! I had to take her home on the first night as she was too wired and then hysterical to sleep. Both kids exhausted the following day. What are we doing wrong?

OP posts:
Original poster
Igottastartthinkingbee · 29/07/2017 22:31

Or maybe my title should be 'what's the best age to take kids camping?'

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 29/07/2017 22:35

My youngest was 2 when we went camping for the first time he didn't go to bed until after midnight some nights but we were on a campsite where most people stayed up around campfires until late so we didn't have any no noise after 10 rules or anything. And the lie ins until gone 10am were amazing.

Original poster
Igottastartthinkingbee · 29/07/2017 22:38

See a lie in till 10am was never going to happen either, 5 year old asleep at 10.30pm and up at 6am. He was too knackered to really enjoy the next day but he definitely had a better time than his sister!

OP posts:
pourmeanotherglass · 29/07/2017 22:39

Mine were 3 and 1. We stayed at a site by the seaside. I think I shared a sleeping compartment with dd2 and went to bed early with her, as she'd never have coped with going to bed on her own in a tent. I think they both enjoyed it, but for us it was the only way to afford a holiday after I'd been on mat leave. DH isn't a huge camping fan, so we haven't been many times since, we prefer to book a cottage and let the kids go camping with scouts instead.

PhilODox · 29/07/2017 22:41

It was far easier when DS was 5mo, as he needed no external food, or equipment. Became more tricky when he was a toddler that never stayed put.

goodbeans · 29/07/2017 22:46

We've really enjoyed camping with our 2 year old. We use a tent with black out lining so the inside is dark enough that you can sleep past sunrise / get them to sleep before sunset. Plus a large airbed that we all share. We bring our duvet too and it's actually more comfy than at home!

SecretFreebirther · 29/07/2017 22:51

Just camped for a week with 14mo and he's never slept better! Ran around so much during the day he fell asleep shattered and slept in late too, as did our 3yo!

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 29/07/2017 22:57

We are taking our 10 month old next week for two weeks camping. I think we might be nuts. Confused
Any tips or things that I might not think to pack?

SecretFreebirther · 29/07/2017 23:17

An all-in-1 waterproof for crawling around in!

WinkyisbackontheButterBeer · 29/07/2017 23:20

SecretFreebirther that is a fab idea that I hadn't even considered. Thank you.
Igottastartthinkingbee sorry for hijacking your thread.

MrsWembley · 29/07/2017 23:54

Years spent camping with DP meant that we were sooo prepared and got the big family tent to take DD just before her first birthday.

She didn't go to sleep at her normal hour.

She was still awake an hour later.

We ended up eating our cold supper an hour after that, with her in her Grobag, sat in her buggy, watching us and laughing.

We were slightly more prepared after that. More experienced, more knowledgeable. DS came for his first trip at 9 months. God almighty, what a difference two years makes...

You'll be fine. Read as much as you can from the Camping board to get little tips and such. Stuff about keeping warm at night, that sort of thing.Smile

MrsWembley · 29/07/2017 23:57

Yy to the all-in-one! Had one for DS and it made such a difference when it came to moments when we just had to let him roam free (setting up/striking camp).

Maryz · 29/07/2017 23:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AtSea1979 · 30/07/2017 00:01

DS was 3 and DD was 6 months. I'm a single parent. I absolutely hated every minute of it. I left early and refuse to do it ever again.
Me and DC love nothing more than a snuggling in a kingsize bed in a hotel room with hot chocolate and citv.

Original poster
Igottastartthinkingbee · 30/07/2017 06:59

Thanks for everyone's input.

Ok maybe we should've stuck it out for another night. The weather was so bad we probably would've come home anyway though. And the 2 year has been difficult at home ever since (but sleeping like a log) so maybe she's having a growth spurt or a bit under the weather anyway. Camping must've been the last thing she needed!

I'll look into tent blackout blinds, had no idea they existed.

at sea I cannot imagine camping with 2 kids alone, enjoy your hotel comforts!

And yes, all in one splash suit things for both kids were an essential!

OP posts:
Thumbcat · 30/07/2017 07:29

DS was 3. He was a child who was a nightmare without his nap and would only nap in his cot, so for my sanity I only took him once the nap was dropped. I also never let him stay up too late. Fortunately once he's ready for bed he can fall asleep with any amount of noise going on around.

Pikachuwithyourmouthclosed · 30/07/2017 07:30

I've camped with all mine from newborn BUT there is a period of awfulness between the time they start crawling to the time they can understand "no" which is really really hard work.

Original poster
Igottastartthinkingbee · 30/07/2017 07:44

Ok that makes me feel better. I have friends who've taken their two kids from when they were babies and I never hear them moan about it being hard work!! We went away thinking we'd have a wonderful time, which we did for some of it, but I do not intend on taking the youngest one camping again for at least a year! When she can cope in less sleep is the plan.

OP posts:
Ohyesiam · 30/07/2017 08:15

14 months and 2.
I think it might depend on the campsite. We've always done "wild " type camping, and it's been great. Fresh air and being outside all day tried then out.But someone from work went to a site with electric hookup, said it was never dark, that her kids spent a fortune and got wired on the machines in the clubhouse. Lots of drunk noise at night.

goodbeans · 30/07/2017 08:17

If you're looking into blackout options then Coleman do various tents where the sleeping compartments have integrated blackout fabric - but I've not heard of separate blinds. The tents aren't especially cheap (but still cheaper than a cottage hire!) - however having one has made camping with a 2 year old very much more appealing!

maamalady · 30/07/2017 08:35

We're going camping next weekend - DC are 3 and 1, we've not been before and I am slightly anxious. They're usually both good sleepers so hopefully will be okay, although they've never shared a room before. At least we are only staying one night and are close enough to home that we can easily bottle it if it turns out to be an awful mistake :)

Gingernut81 · 30/07/2017 09:19

We took DD when she was 10 months and she loved it. She went to bed really late as she was just so nosy but sat with us around the fire wrapped up in her grobag and a blanket. We also wrapped her up overnight so she didn't get too cold and draped a blackout blind over her cot to keep out the light.
I second others suggestions if a puddlesuit as the grass is always wet in a morning but it meant she could crawl around.

blackteaplease · 30/07/2017 09:24

Mine were 5 months, 8 months and 6 months the first time we took them camping. We go every year at least once.

The first night is always a write off, up late and up early but after that they settle into a later routine. It is hard camping with kids but easier than all being holed up in 1 hotel room.

barkingfly · 30/07/2017 09:57

Four months old-in a National Park-with a visit from a bear.

Pengweng · 30/07/2017 10:23

DTs were nearly two the first time we took them and were absolutely bloody horrible. Wouldn't sleep as it was too light out and they were used to black out blinds in their room. It rained so bad our tent leaked both on top and underneath (though not as bad as our friends tent who woke up floating on their air beds!) and DT1 screamed the entire night. We ended up waking the manager up at 5am so we could leave.

We did it again when they were nearly 4 and it went much better. We had got them used to sleeping when it was light outside so they went to bed a bit later then normal but nothing too bad.

This year they absolutely loved it and although it's never going to be an easy holiday it is a lovely one. They enjoy themselves so much running around and sitting around the fire pit that it's worth it.

Please do try again next year. It will hopefully go better.