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Original poster

Camping worries with small children

22 replies

louiseoldfield14 · 04/05/2015 17:32

Hi everyone, not sure if anyone has any advice but my husband just bought a tent and wants to go camping with our 3 and 6 year old children. I'm terrified that it won't be safe as there is no door to lock and I think I feel vulnerable with just a bit of canvas around us! Am I just being completely paranoid and over protective? Feeling a bit like a party-pooper but I am a worrier when it comes to my babies :( thank you xxx

OP posts:

Bert2e · 04/05/2015 17:38

You do sound very over anxious - are you normally that worried about things? Children love camping and axe wielding mad men aren't very often found in campsites! Let you children get muddy and stay up far too late and they'll have a fabulous time. Try and relax and enjoy the time together.

Pico2 · 04/05/2015 17:39

What are you worried might happen? You won't have valuables to pinch and your DC will be with you the whole time.

Original poster

louiseoldfield14 · 04/05/2015 17:40

:) unfortunately I am a worrier! Just don't like the thought of not being able to lock a door and just being under a piece of canvas :( x

OP posts:

headlesslambrini · 04/05/2015 17:42

Honestly once you have been you will be fine. If you take anything valuable then keep it locked in the boot of the car.

cece · 04/05/2015 17:46

Valuables left in the car when out.

At night zip up the tent so the zip is at the top. Small children therefore are unable to reach it and are unable to escape.

I go on my own with 3 DC and have never felt unsafe. Campers are a friendly bunch and look out for each other generally.

headlesslambrini · 04/05/2015 17:48

It will probably take a leadt a couple of nights to get used to the sounds around you but book into a good campsite and ask for a pitch between the kids play area and the toilets. Tell them that its your first time camping and chances are they will make sure someone is around to help you. If you havent already got a tent yet then get one with a sewn in groundsheet and one you can stand up in. The tunnel tents are easy and quick enough to put up. I used to put an 8 berth one up on my own. As long as the guide ropes are secure and tight then you should be ok.

NotCitrus · 04/05/2015 17:51

I have same age kids and planning to camp with them for the first time.
I'm not worried about that, but am worried about how the kids will cope with getting to toilets and out of sleeping bags. And if the 6yo will be cold/uncomfortable/scared of the dark etc.

Any tips for dealing with small children?

FeckoffandDie · 04/05/2015 17:52

How big is the tent? If it's big then you can all sleep in the middle, feels safer that way

I worry more about my toddler running off and getting lost. We are looking for a campsite with very good fences.

overmydeadbody · 04/05/2015 17:52

Are you scared that your children will escape or that someone bad will harm you all in your tent?

In most campsites you are pretty close to other campers, all who are also only under a bit of canvas, which means you can hear everything. A campsite full of campers is not an ideal place for axe-wielding baddies to hang out.

Your children will be fine!

overmydeadbody · 04/05/2015 17:53

Children generally love camping.

Best tip is to let them stay up late and get really tired, don't try to get them to bed at the normal time when it is light and they can hear all the other kids still having fun.

At night if they need a wee just take them in the nearest bushes, don't treck all the way to the toilet blocks.

Take crocs for easy shoes to put on and take off.

SnozzberryPie · 04/05/2015 18:01

Dd is two so my worries are probably different but I make sure we camp well away from any water or roads through the site. If there are two parents you don't ever have to leave your kids unattended in the tent.
Don't try to put the kids to bed till it's dark, this may mean a very late bedtime if you camp in June.
Pack lots of warm clothes even in the middle of summer.
Don't watch the movie sightseers before you go

Original poster

louiseoldfield14 · 04/05/2015 18:07

thank you everyone. Think I'm just over paranoid about them being taken or something! Its a big tent so hubby could sleep one side and me the other but we are heavy sleepers so think that worries me that I wouldn't hear anything! :)

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 04/05/2015 18:12

We started to camp when DS was 3. Plan ahead. Try pitching tent at home first so you know how to do it. What will kids do whilst you put tent up? (We used to stick a DVD on!)
Zips at top of doors.
Torch near where you sleep.
Fun times!

MishMooshAndMogwai · 04/05/2015 18:17

We took our 2 (then both 3) for the first time last September.

I was a bit nervous about them being able to get out/someone get in and ive camped for years!

We have a 2 bedroom tunnel tent and put the kids in one end filled with blankets and cushions (layered the blankets and duvets on the floor so they were comfy) and they made a bit of a den in there. We left the lantern on in the middle section so it wasn't too bright but still comforting for them.
I went in before we went to bed to make sure they were covered and warm enough.

Also, food wise I was VERY organised! I did a meal plan because cooking can be an absolute ball ache while camping, especially with 2 hungry kids and a tiny bbq!
On the day we arrived we had jacket potatoes with chilli. Id pre-cooked the jackets the night before and wrapped them in foil. They just sat and heated up in the embers, it didn take long as they were already cooked. We also had a small gas stove which I heated the (precooked) chilli on. DP laughed at me but this preparation was all of a sudden very welcome after a long journey and erecting the tent with darkness looming!

We also took hot dog sausages and marshmallows which we cooked over the fire as a late evening snack on 2 nights which they loved.

I was a little worried about the fire especially with clumsy ds but I took a few jars and tea lights and made a fire circle that they had to stay outside of until we said they could come in to help. (They also looked really pretty and made for a romantic evening for Dp and I!)

Ooo and I also took some tins of 'bake your own croissants'. If you wrap them round a forked stick you can cook them over the embers and they're delish! (I filled mine with dairy milk before cooking) bit of a faff though and Dp gave up after 1 but I was determined!

All in all it was a really lovely, enjoyable weekend- it just took a lot of lists and gentle ribbing from Dp in the days running up to it!

MehsMum · 04/05/2015 18:19

Make sure you have a torch to hand ready for the cry of 'But I need a wee!' at 2 in the morning.

As a PP said, let them stay up late and get worn out.

Really, don't worry about it: we first took DC1 camping at 15mo. They all lived camping when they were little but the older ones have gone off it over the years.

RescueRangers · 04/05/2015 18:22

Travel John is brilliant for middle of the night wees.

StarlightMcKenzee · 04/05/2015 18:24

I went camping when my children were 3, and 6, and one week old.

Camping makes the kids so utterly exhausted they will fall asleep and not move until morning.

They don't disappear. Why would they. If you're worried you can put a chair with a load of cutlery on it in front of the door, but honestly, kids aren't going to go wandering about in the dark unknown.

StarlightMcKenzee · 04/05/2015 18:26

'And if the 6yo will be cold/uncomfortable/scared of the dark etc.'

It doesn't get that dark. But if you are worried and you don't mind the expense of some batteries you can leave some outdoor fairy lights on around the inside/outside of your tent.

usualsuspect333 · 04/05/2015 18:27

Take a bucket for middle of the night wees.

SnozzberryPie · 04/05/2015 18:59

Actually we have some solar powered fairy lights which are great to string around the tent entrance

AliceDoesntLiveHereAnymore · 04/05/2015 19:03

I imagine to some extent it depends on the individual children. I took dd camping a few times, at her youngest at 2yo, and enjoyed it (as much as it is possible to enjoy - I'm not really a keen camper ). I'd be terrified to take ds1 and ds2 - ds1 is a runner and up frequently throughout the night and they both have SNs so every little noise would set them off.

Adarajames · 04/05/2015 19:15

We went campin with my parents from literally babies, was only way we could afford to go away, and was in the days of big canvas frames tents and no such luxuries as sewn in ground sheets! We loved it, and never had any major inicidences (apart from my brother who seemed to like landing chin / head first whilst we were on holidays and so soon learnt where local A&Es were!), and I still love going camping and we still go on family trips meeting at a site somewhere
Somewhere that allows fires is by far the best so go to one of use if you can

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