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Original poster

So we're going on our first family holiday........................

33 replies

vickitiredmum · 06/09/2005 18:37

Has anyone got any tips for essentials, practical things to take with us.

We are going for a weeks caravan holiday in Devon with our 2.5yr old DD and 5 month old DS.

Ta in advance.......

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 06/09/2005 18:40

Valium

Mogadon

Two pint glasses

Two Straws

Litre of Brandy

SherlockLGJ · 06/09/2005 18:40

Seriously are you driving ??

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 06/09/2005 18:44

PMSL Sherlock!

My DP is doing the driving................

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 06/09/2005 19:01

Just try and bring some familiar toys and dole them out piece meal.

We went to Spain last year and that was our biggest mistake, we brought some bed time books and that was it. BIG Mistake

Tortington · 06/09/2005 19:35

take a tea towel

nothing more rubbish than drying your pots on a bath towel.

take something for the 2.5 year old to scoot around on.

take something large like a large blanket for 5 month old to roll about on while your sipping wine with your feet up

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 06/09/2005 20:32

Good idea for tea towel - hadnt even thought about that. Reminded me to sort DD's child size cutlery too!

Will take a box of toys and use the plassie box to bath DS in. (Has to have oilatum baths). Im assuming caravans dont have excellent bathing facilities.......

Thanks for that custy & Sherlock. What about for the long car journey ..... we've been given the offer of a loan of portable DVD player - has anyone had the use of one of these?

OP posts:
Tortington · 06/09/2005 21:00

dont know if your kids would be too young.

for young ones i always think of those write n wipe boards the ones where you peel the plastic back and start again that way no pen all over

also things like can you see a red car

music tape with wheels on the bus etc. and you MUST get your dp to join in at top voices that way it makes it funny.

the daddies on the bus go " whinge whinge whinge"
with arms outstretched in a fake surprise tone " the daddies n the bus go " im lost, lost, lost"

also i would keep everything quiet for as long as you can - leave them to it until the kids whinge rather than go in all mother hen like trying to keep them occipied from minute one

you may even get 45 mins - you never know. let them find their own level of sound

books to read to them in the car.

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 10:24

going to get a write n wipe board today....!

Wheels on the bus is my DDs fav song - apart from the bob the builder theme tune. Could see it turning into a parental slanging match but that could be fun - i usually win .

Is it better to take basic provisions with us (bread, milk etc) or try and find a reasonable shop down there? I have a funny feeling thet site shop will be a little expensive on basics....

OP posts:
bubbaloo · 07/09/2005 12:39

We go on lots of caravan holidays and are actually going on our first family one on Saturday(ds is 12 weeks old).
We always take cereal,long life milk,tea,coffee and a couple of black sacks,to put our rubbish in.They do always have a shop on site which can be handy if you run out of things,but seeing as we only eat breakfast in the caravan its usually ok.Hope this helps and you enjoy your hols.

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 12:40

thanks bubba - where are you off to?

OP posts:
Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 12:40

thanks bubba - where are you off to?

OP posts:
bubbaloo · 07/09/2005 12:45

We're going to Great Yarmouth.Went to Devon in November,before we had the baby.Where in Devon are you going?

serenity · 07/09/2005 12:47

At that age you might find that they sleep for a large part of the journey. We've got a portable DVD player and it's great for long journeys, but mine are older (5 and 7). DD (22 mths) doesn't seem that bothered by it in the car, she tends to look out the window, throw all available toys on the floor so DS1 has to pick them up and so on! She liked watching a DVD 'winding down' to bed time though.

I would say take loads of breaks in the journey, let your DD out to run around for 10 minutes, have a drink etc. It will be easier on you two too.

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 12:50

devon cliffs, exmouth. Im really excited but a bit nervous because its the first holiday as a family alone (went away last year to spain with my parents, my brothers and their DPs with our DD before i got pg with DS - DD developed chicken pox while we were there!)

Yarmouth is cool! Been up on the boats up that way.

OP posts:
bubbaloo · 07/09/2005 12:54

You'll be fine-you'll love it!
We went to Woolacoombe in Devon last year which was also nice-haven't been to Exmouth,yet.We decided on Yarmouth as it's only a couple of hours in the car from where we are,and didn't want to go too far with ds.

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 13:19

Yep - the car journey im definitely not looking forward to even tho we only live in london.

OP posts:
bubbaloo · 07/09/2005 13:21

It took us about 6 hours from what I can remember,and that's from Essex.It'll probably take you about the same.

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 13:26

Cheers thanks. my SIL lives in Bristol so in an emergency we can always stop off there. We've been looking to move out towards Essex or Kent (would love to move to the SWest but its not feesible at the mo) what parts of Essex are nice?

OP posts:
bubbaloo · 07/09/2005 13:30

Depends what you mean by nice.
We're near Romford which isn't too bad,but Chelmsford and Colchester are rather nice-hoping to move further out that way eventually.

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 13:33

We've been looking at chelmsford and great baddow (colchester is a bit far for my DP to commute and he is adamant about not changing jobs at the moment because they are just about to put him on a training course for 2 years fixed). Romfords not far from us - we're in enfield.

OP posts:
Bozza · 07/09/2005 13:44

The caravans we have been in have all had showers not baths. Not sure if your 2yo would be happy with showering or fit in the box but I bought a universal plug from Lakeland which fits over the drain and you can get a couple of inches of water in the bottom of the shower tray.

Would try and break journey at park and have a picnic (possibly purchased from supermarket) and run around/play rather than at a cafe/services. Exercise more important than food for the 2yo (can always eat in the car). Beware of reading in car if travel sickness likely to be an issue.

What are your sleeping arrangements? Have you hired any baby equipment for the caravan?

Original poster
vickitiredmum · 07/09/2005 14:09

Ta for that Bozza! Bit late for getting plug now but im sure my DP will be able to improvise.

OP posts:
Bozza · 07/09/2005 14:13

I have improvised with the top of a round tupperware container IYSWIM. Did this when inter-railing to wash my clothes in the sink!

Thomcat · 07/09/2005 14:15

Ahhh, have a lovley time.

tips - well it might help to remember, so#'s your not too dissappointed, that someone once said that once you have kids there's no such thing as a holiday, just washing up with a different view!!!

Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!
PMSL.
i'm cruel.

Have a lovely, lovely time

TC x

bubbaloo · 07/09/2005 14:20

Vickitiredmum-We've got friends in Enfield and DH works there too.

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