Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Camping

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

Original poster

Camping practicalities and security for small children

30 replies

ElenorRigby · 11/06/2008 20:31

We have no money, so the only possible we could go on is a camping trip. However Im a bit worried about the practicalities and security. I have this fear of the kids being very vulnerable with just material between them and a potential nutter.
So Id be grateful if some MNutters could calm my nerves re security and also reassure me that camping with a 5 yo and an 11 month old would not be hell! Thanks in advance

OP posts:
LaylaandSethsmum · 11/06/2008 20:34

Sounds lovely! Adventure esp for the 5 yo, the experience of this and the memories will be fab, the positives far outweigh the extremely unlikely cons!!

Lucycat · 11/06/2008 20:38

But then equally you are only a piece of material away from them too, not down a landing or even on a separate floor from them. They can sleep in the same bedroom compartment as you if you like and you will all love the 'familyness' of a camping holiday.

iamdingdong · 11/06/2008 20:40

it will be lovely, we have been camping with our twins since they were 8 months adn they love it, we all sleep together for warmth and to avoid midnight howling!

mrspnut · 11/06/2008 20:41

How many potential nutters do you think lurk around campsites?

We've been camping since we were kids and the most exciting thing we've had happen is dropping vital pieces of equipment down the drain.

For your little one, buy a dog spike, reins and a washing line then clear a space for him to roam in a circle. For your older one, give him little jobs to do like helping to fill the water bottle or taking the rubbish to the bin.

He'll make loads of friends and be exhausted every night.

Original poster
ElenorRigby · 11/06/2008 21:04

"For your little one, buy a dog spike, reins and a washing line then clear a space for him to roam in a circle."

LOL!

OP posts:
scanner · 11/06/2008 21:06

We started camping when ds was 11 months with no problems. I have let my dc's have more freedom on campsites then they would normally have at home and have always felt they were safe. It's all part of the adventure.

Original poster
ElenorRigby · 11/06/2008 21:32

Thanks all for your messages of reassurance

Now I just have to convince DP who has never been camping and likes his creature comforts!

OP posts:
serin · 13/06/2008 00:02

Mrspnut........ROFL!!!

ElenoRigby fera not, we are a really wimpy lot and we have never been afraid camping everyone is lovely!! mostly families with children or (if you are in the highlands/Langdale) fit young mountain climbers, non of whom seem remotely interested in stealing children.

serin · 13/06/2008 00:03

Fear not

notasheep · 13/06/2008 00:07

They will be safe in Wales-dd and ds even play out in the street without supervision

nappyaddict · 13/06/2008 11:24

we are planning to go too but i am stressing ds will go wondering out of the tent in the middle of the night.

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 11:29

you can get alarms to go on the zips. I can't remember where I saw them though. The other thing to do is when you zip up your tent is to put the zippers to the top of the door so they are high and hard for a little one to reach.

we camp a lot with our very small kids and its always been fine. I would say most sites are fairly private with people all there for the same reason-to have a nice time and wandering people do stand out.

nappyaddict · 13/06/2008 11:34

do you have to do something to change the zips around? i assumed the zip was at the bottom when it was closed and the top when it was open.

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 11:37

Usually there are two zippers on each zip If that makes sense. They finish up where ever you want them. Have found this on all my tents. Means you can open a gap where ever you want around the door. Plus most tents have a mesh and solid door too.

nappyaddict · 13/06/2008 11:39

oh i know what you mean - like on suitcases?

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 11:42

yep that kind of thing
so if you put one zip slider thing at the top of the door so its open then draw the other towards it it would close and zippers out of arms reach.

SantaBarbara · 13/06/2008 11:55

Tent zips are really noisy too in the middle of the night. Can't escape silently.

nappyaddict · 13/06/2008 11:57

I have to be woken up when ds is screaming in the middle of the night. i can sleep through anything

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 11:58

Its pretty unlikely that you would sleep through a child waking in a tent anyway unless you are a super heavy sleeper. You are so close to them.

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 11:58

oh maybe you would then

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 11:58

the zip thing should put your mind at ease though.

SantaBarbara · 13/06/2008 12:01

Ah! Maybe you can put ds furthest from the door so he'd have to climb over you. Would that wake you up?

Another good thought. Small dcs find tent zips very difficult to move. He might not be able to shift the zip at all.

themildmanneredjanitor · 13/06/2008 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nappyaddict · 13/06/2008 12:43

SantaB - yes him climbing over me would!! good plan.

does anyone know where you can get those alarms from just as an extra precaution?

DartmoorMama · 13/06/2008 13:17

well you can use rape alarms and tie a side to each of the zips but your fellow campers wouldn't thank you if they go off, but the importance of that would vary by where you camp. If you are the only tent in a field on a farm then there is no one to wake. There are also door alarms for hotel doors that may work.I can't remember where i saw the specific camping ones now. The bells thing would work too. Unless you have a massive tent though I think you will find it less of a problem than you are worrying about.