How do 2 adults put up tent with free range toddler?

[mrsgboring]

Our tent (Vango Diabolo 600) takes us about 2 hours to put up at the moment, as we're crap and it's new. It requires 2 adults for at least a small part of the whole erecting process.

So what do others do with a toddler while putting up tent? DS no longer naps in the day (he's 2.3 now) and is not the type to just sit in any kind of confining device (we don't even use a buggy)

Any ideas?

give him the tent pegs to play with...he will steal them anyway...

Give him bag of crisps/raisins/chocolate buttons.

Accept that it will have to be a one person job with occassional assistance from the other person, rather than 2 full time people.

Enjoy!

Will the car be near the tent? If in sight and hearing you could let him play driver in the car.

You pray that he falls asleep in the car and doesn't wake up until it's all done! This is why we didn't camp at all last year - the year before the DSes were 1 and 3 and it was bad enough even with DS1 under control in his pushchair!!! We are determined to go this year though, but I am refusing to even think about what DS2 (will be almost 3 then) will be like!! I have a great habit of leaving it all to DH who is fortunately brill at putting up tents unlike me As I type I have just had a great idea - DVD in the car

Yes "helping"
DS loved running in and out of the billowing tent sides and falling into them.

It is the way it has to be...

In general, what Tigana said ('Accept that it will have to be a one person job with occassional assistance from the other person, rather than 2 full time people.') but at various times we have tried sticking her in travel cot (she screams) and strapping her in the car (she may have screamed, but the doors were shut so we couldn't hear her).

You just have to tell yourself that the general brilliantness and fun of camping for a toddler will make up for you being a bit mean to them at times.

Hmmmm, the very reason we ditched the Diabolo- alike tahoma!

Car seat was the only way as it kept ds's safe, but these tents ARE a nightmare to erect in comparison with a tunnel tent (DH can do the Ontario alone- phew!)

My ds was a bit of nightmare at that age - turn your back and he was gone. We too have the Vango diablo and we did a mixture of things. We let him 'help' with the poles and pegs, I took him off and out of the way and we also let him play in the car when both adults were needed. It gets easier as they get older as there is more they can do and they are less likely to run off. Good luck

Thanks for the tremendously speedy replies.

I see there is no magic answer then. [ho hum smiley]

We did a combination of all those things last summer when DS was smaller but less bent on destruction and it was a bit of a nightmare. I also put him on my back in the Ergo for a while, but he probably wouldn't stand for that now and would just grab stuff from over my shoulder.

They change so fast at that age, if he was a nightmare last year it doesn't mean he will be this year

Go on holiday with a friend with older children and another toddler, let the toddlers play inappropriately in your car whilst a 7 and 9 year old "supervise" them! When your toddler runs off, sprint after them, pick them up and return them to the car yelling wildly at the 7 and 9 years olds!!!

Peg him down first

Ah Sandymouth Beach MMJ - was there a few weeks ago with the dog

We've got the same tent and luckily we've got quicker at putting it up. Unfortunately ds just has to stay strapped in the car whether he likes it or not while we put up the dome part and the flysheet/porch (a packet of crisps works wonders at this point).Then I can take him off for a bit of a wander while dh finishes the pegging out. If I'm lucky he'll have pumped up the airbeds as well .

Thanks Pixel. Glad to know someone else has the same tent, too. We love it once it's up.