Childproofing at Center Parcs

[Mumofb0y]

Hi Everyone - we are going to Center Parcs with our 19month old son. We are super excited but I'm worried about child proofing as he is into EVERYTHING. We are staying in one of the self catering lodges, so I'm worried he will be opening all the cupboards, taking out plates, trying to open the oven and get into the fireplace! Has anyone else had this problem? Is there any way to avoid the chaos? Thanks! x

Unfortunately taking a child of that age out your own home is hard work , as they just need to be constantly watched ! Old relatives houses are the worst with their ornaments at child height.

My own DS was found trying to insert the holiday property keys into a wall socket at that age!

I can only suggest hiring / taking baby gates to isolate him to one area. Centre Parcs may have them available as it's a family place.

You can hire a stair gate (we used to take our own) so they can’t get into the kitchen. The rest of the lodge is fairly sparse so pretty toddler friendly. Mine loved being able to reach the light switches at that stage so spent a lot of time running round putting them on and off. Also do lots of swimming, walking etc and they will be exhausted by the time you get back to the lodge.

We went with 16 month old, they had already put a taut gate on the bottom of the stairs when we got there. It’s quite open plan, however, and the back patio bbq area was open too. We didn’t spent much time in the lodge anyway.

*stair gate

Take a playpen or travel cot to use as a playpen.

If you say which center parcs site you are going to and what lodge type ie woodland or executive then lots of us have been and can help you out. We took the children when they were toddlers. The main one to keep them out of would be the kitchen area. All plates/glasses/cups are in the high wall cupboards. I assume you are putting them in a travel cot or the cot that comes in the villa.

Thanks very much. We are in a 2 bedroom executive lodge at Woburn forest. X

@Mumofb0y right so here is the site map. Have you booked an area like central or just a 2 bed executive?

www.centerparcs.co.uk/content/dam/centerparcs/maps/download-map/Woburn-Forest-Village-Map.pdf

The only reason I am asking is because we have done every CP except Longleat over the past 18 years. Woburn was ridiculously hilly, as in we cancelled our bikes due to gradients. We were also in a 2 bed exec this summer, where the E is on the map, the lodges are coloured in salmon pink. We were in 910. The gradients are 12% to 14%, there are even signs to say dismount. We were recovering from Covid and it was a killer walking the hill to get back to the villa. We normally love CP.

If you were in the central area then it is completely manageable with a pram or a trailer bike. This is why the reviews on TripAdvisor are so mixed. For some it isn't hilly and for others it is. If you look at F6 on the map, the broken yellow path line is steps because it is so steep. The centre bit is in a valley, everything else is a climb out. The car park walking route is 15% gradient. I just want you to be aware. I thought Woburn was fantastic in lots of areas, for reference our favourite is Elveden and it is not our closest CP either.

In terms of what CP offers, loads for toddlers, swimming etc amazing setting and wildlife. Restaurants have play areas and menus for children. It is expensive but a great holiday. As I said we have been going for 18 years. I would contact them and ask about child gates for the kitchen.

Thanks for the detailed reply. That's super helpful! We have paid to be in a central area. I think it's just next to the falconry centre. Thanks for the heads up on gradient as we weren't sure about bikes!

We have booked soooo many toddler activities as our little boy is super active. I think we're doing music, football, balance bikes, mucky pups... 😂 so hopefully that will wear him out!

I rang CP and they said they won't provide a stair gate and they aren't sure whether it will fit in the kitchen if we bring our own.
That's the main thing I'm worried about is him trying to open the oven when it's on or drawers with knives in. And he's too old for a playpen as all he wants to do is explore. So I think I'll have to bring some oven and drawer clips (hoping the sticky peels off ok) and just barricade the kitchen as best we can! Wish us luck! 😂

Hi, we were at cp longleat with 14mo last week. We had a 2 story lodge so they did provide us with stair gates for stairs. Not one for kitchen though and I agree with cp saying one might not fit.

The cupboards were quite deep so we pushed plates etc back as far as they could go. Moved everything sharp to the top draw and just let him play with the non sharp items in the lower drawers. We also left one cupboard empty which he loved putting his own toys in. We only bought a couple of car toys with us but he didn’t need much as we were out most of the time. When the oven was on we just had to physically block him from the kitchen and entertain him elsewhere. Wasn’t an issue though.

We didn’t book any activities, just let him walk everywhere and went swimming. There were lots of parks and a soft play as well but I’ve not been to Woburn so not sure what they have.

Are you using the cot they provide? We didn’t but I’ve heard they are on the smaller side.

Could one of you just do bathtime while the other has the oven on for the evening meal? So he is literally occupied for the duration?