3 kids under 4 - would we be mad to camp?

[MuddlingThru]

My parents had a trailer tent and I have very fond memories of all the holidays we had in it. However me and my sister were about 8 and 10 when they got it so didn't need constant supervision.
ds1 will turn 4 next summer, dd will be 2 and ds2 will be nearly a year. If we were to get a trailer tent for next summer I can imagine it taking hours to put up as I try and keep the kids from running off whilst dh has to put up the tent single handed. Also even when the tent is up I imagine that it will still be hard work to keep a constant eye on them and stop them running off in all directions.
Is it worth even considering for next summer? Or is it just not going to be a holiday, just childcare in a less well set up location than home? If so at what sort of age does that lack of a contained area that you would get with a cottage with garden stop being such an issue?

We have always camped with 3 small children. No it's not mad, it can be fun. It't not exactly a relaxing event but IME nor is any other sort of holiday with 3 under 5. Camping was as good as anything, and very flexible - you can vary depending on the weather, there is loads of space for the children to run around. They love it.

Mine didn't particularly run off in all directions. But often DP would put up the tent alone and I'd look after the dds. In fact I still do this though they don't need looking after, I'm just being lazy there.

campsites can be quite safe environments. Avoid ones with rivers next to them, or lakes, also I try and avoid ones with lots of people driving around.

well i have camped since ds was baby aged six months, his sibblings were aged 2 and twins aged 3. I enjoyed being able to be a little bit relaxed and chose my campsites carefully, big fields with not alot of other people. we did have nightmares from time to time but no more so than anywhere else, oh and the fresh air made them sleep well

It's easier than being in a smart place, IME, when you are camping everyone is a bit squalid so a trio of noisy scruffy unwashed kids blends in better than in a smart hotel.

We have 3 kids and camp (not in a trailer tent though).

It will be fine! Most peoples kids play around the pitch while the parents put the tent up. We make sure we can get to bats and balls so the kids play nearby whilst we set up camp, they are a bit older now (7, 4, 1) and the older ones help. If they try and escape we let them play in the car....

I've done it with 3 small children by myself. Tiring but great fun. Take a potty.

depends on your kids! mine just leg it so am running around the campsite the whole time after them.