camping with 18mo

[StarMeKitten]

We're taking DD camping for two nights but cannot fit the travel cot in our tent. As she is not yet in a bed I have serious doubts as to whether she will settle. My idea was, she has one of those tunnels that goes into a little tent & I thought if we took that small tent and put it inside our tent for her to sleep in, then at least she'd be a bit more enclosed and might settle.

What has everyone else done in the same situation & any more tips for camping with a toddler?

All that fresh air and exercise, I bet she takes no time at all to get used to a camp bed or whatever it is you'll be sleeping on.

We got one of these sleeping pods. It's like a mini pop up tent with an inflatable mattress underneath. DD (15mo) loved it and slept really well. She spent the mornings crawling around our airbed, then diving back into her bed. We got the larger size which should last a few years.

We bought an airbed for our 18mo that looked a bit like a raft. Can't remember the brand but if you google toddler air bed you'll find it. It was the same size as his cot bed but with small sides around it like a raft. Enough to prevent him from falling out and make him feel secure. He settled straight away the very first time we used it (unusual for him in strange places). Also a lot cheaper than the sleeping pod, circa £30 if I remember.

We have a pod thing like the one linked to above, but tbh he quite often just sleeps in with us

Ooh, are you going camping this weekend, Star? I am wondering if you're camping at the same place we are....

We are borrowing a roof rack so we can fit the travel cot in the car (it will actually fit into the rear footwell). DD is 18 months and will be in her own 'room' of the tent, in the travel cot.

Hopefully the late-night drumming and fire-dancing will send her off to sleep! :)

Thanks all, sleeping pod looks great but a bit pricey. Think I'm gonna go for the toddler air bed.

NotGeoffVadar no, we don't go for a few weeks. Have a good weekend - hope your DD sleeps

In that case, I will give you feedback on how we got on. Taking a 'proper' sleeping bag for DD plus her normal sleeping bags (like dungarees but a pouch instead of legs). Weather looks as though it'll be fine this weekend, but we'll see.
Had a far better night last night, which is something. At least if she doesn't sleep, there will be entertainment running.

I reckon we'll do the toddler air bed next time, so you can let me know how you get on with it, Star :)