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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.

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Original poster

Camping with an 18mo?

33 replies

Hayls · 09/08/2005 11:00

Just wondered if anybody would consider (or have been on) a camping holiday with an 18mo? Not necessarily a long stay, I'm thnking more along the lines of a weekend break nearby. Dh's colleague has offered us a tent cos his children are teenagers now but dh doesn't hink it's a good idea...I disagree

ANd if we did go, any advice? Where would be the bes place for dd to sleep? Air bed?
There are so many fantastic places nearby but we'd struggle to afford to go to them all and pay for accommodation as well!

OP posts:

Original poster

Hayls · 09/08/2005 19:14

Thanks Janh, I had a look at that but wasn't sure of distances from here. Sounds lovely!

OP posts:

oooggs · 09/08/2005 19:28

My BestF & her DH have just gone camping with a 6yo & 18mth old. Last night was their first night, so I will let you know

hercules · 09/08/2005 19:34

I've been camping twice this year with dd who is 2 in Oct and it was great. She shared an air bed with me and a duvet and was snug and warm. Defintely recommend it.

Frizbe · 09/08/2005 20:06

We've been taking dd camping since she was 6mths old and she loves it, always crys now when the tent is packed away! She's now 21 mths
We stick her in the travel cot at the mo (still just fitting!) and pop her in a grobag with a blanket over the top and if it gets colder later, we drop a fleecy blanket over her too.
Have found if you keep the kids up an hour or so past usualy bed time, they tend to sleep until normal get up time the next day, and come the following night, are that exhausted by fresh air and fun, they sleep thru to say 8am!! whooo hooo (in fact weekend gone ss outslept dd by half an hour!! unheard of!)
Just remember to take lots of good snack food, as I found dd and ss didn't want 'normal' camping food with the adults to start with, but has gradually gotten into this (now happy with sausage sarnie for breaky! and will eat stew for tea! and by this I don't mean I was trying to feed a 6mth old adult food, before you all jump on me, this comment refers more to ss aged 6 at he time!)

slapheadsrock · 09/08/2005 21:37

We took youngest ds on her first trip at 7 weeks of age with a four and five yr old. In France. Have been every year since and drive for two days to get there. Everyone has a ball and I would highly reccommend Eurocamp to everyone. Not as expensive as you might think if you go term times, and they provide everything down to the travel cot and high chair. The kids play with all sorts of nationalities and no-one knows what anyone else is saying, but they have such a great time. My kids know loads of French now, although all of it is related to ice cream flavours strangely enough......

Thomcat · 09/08/2005 21:54

I just got back from camping, she's 3 but has Down's syndrome so not yr average chilkd, ie not walking etc.
I think the younger the easier it is really and there is no reason you won't have the best time. I love camping.

I found taking a slep inflating air bed, so it's not a big pumped up bed, really good. It's then just a thin mattress and lay down her duvet over that for her to sleep on and then put her in one of those baby/kids sleeping bags, the ones that they wear, not a mini adult sleeping bag.
Make sure you take a long slv vest and a all in one romper suit to sleep in. No matter how hot the day is as soon as that sun sets it's freezing and doesn't get hot till well after little kids have woken up. I also put Lottie in a towelling hooded sweater over the vest and romper.

A tent that you can stand up in in the central area is nice, esp for carrying DD/DS in and out of tent.

Make sure you take cereal and stuff they can eat instantly when they wake up, waiting for you to try and toast is no laugh when they are hungry and want breakfast NOW!

It's FAB, camping is great, we love it and Lottie adores it, it's just so exciting for her.

blondehelen · 09/08/2005 22:05

We started camping when ds 15 months and dd 4. The wandering was the only real problem issue but I think that it is an issue anywhere on holiday with an 18m old . Took dd on hotel holiday at 18m and it was a nightmare cos not only was I conscious of the wandering but loads of other stuff as well, ie food to eat, noise my dd made in the restraurant etc. With camping everything is much more chilled!!!

PeachyClair · 09/08/2005 23:36

We're going Friday with a 4 yr old, 2 yr old and a 5 yr old who has AS. not sure if it is a good idea, but only way we could afford a break, so well worth a shot!

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