Hi, I'm new here so I'm sorry if I'm posting in the wrong area. Anyway, im planning to get a tent for my family. There are 4 of us in total; 2 adults and 2 babies (one is almost 2, the other is 6 months). I'm looking to buy a nice big tent that will last a few years and looking at the Hi Geat Sahara 6. The only thing that worries me (and this is what I want advice on really) is how do you keep the babies occupied whilst you're putting up the tent. The tent I'm looking at doesn't look the easiest to erect and will take quite a while...so what to do with the babies (especially the toddler) while me and my partner are busy arguing about which pole goes where!?
We have a 3yr old and an 8 month old and Mrs skip looks after and entertains them while I put the tent up, a Hi-Gear Corado 6, which is a big tent, but I've worked out my own way of erecting it so as I can do it on my own in about 1 hour.
Just wondering, is there a paticular reason your thinking of the sahara? the only reason I ask is we were looking at the same one, but after thinking about it a little deeper the other half wasn't comfortable with the idea of the kids being in a seperate 'pod' on their own. The Corado 6 has one large sleeping area that can be seperated into two (or two that can be opened into one, if you like) and a massive living area which gives the kids loads of room to play and an integral porch for shelter outside, We've also got the extra add on canopy which essentially makes the outside space the same size as the internal living room. Go Outdoors have some great deals on the Corado (we paid about £250) if you've not made your mind up. I can't recommend it highly enough.
The sahara is a great tent though, I was pitched next to one at the weekend,enjoy your camping the kids will love it.
Haha I was the same as your other half with regard to the separate rooms. I wanted a tent where they could sleep with us now but also have their own space for when they are older. Then, after thinking about it, I know that it will be hard to get our eldest to sleep if he was in the same room as us :-/ and I'd much prefer the rooms to be close by like they are in the Sahara, rather than at the opposite end of the tent. I absolutely love the living area in the Sahara as its big enough for our double pram with enough room for chairs and still space to move around. Funnily enough though, the Corado 6 is my other option, but with the Sahara being cheaper at the moment on Go Outdoors, that won me over ;) hmmm I wonder if bartering works at Go Outdoors!! Ha! Xx
My first tip would be to get the tent that's quickest and easiest to set up. Maybe you can get one you can do on your own.
I have just got a Quechua pop-up and it is honestly done and dusted in 10 minutes tops. It is my new favourite tent (I have had a few!). We've got the one called Family 4.1 which has 1 bedroom big enough for 4 on mats or 1 travel cot and 2 mats. They do the 4.2 which has two bedrooms and looks plenty big enough for two cots in one bedroom and two mats in the other.
If you can get the bones of the tent up quite quickly, you can just sit the grubbers in their buggy with a tactical snack then one of you can take them for a walk while the other does the finishing touches.
If it's dry you might be able to throw up the travel cot and use that as a playpen while you set-up. A cheap new wee toy could be useful for entertaining too. I think you'll be fine with two of you anyway.
We are a family of 4 with a 28mo and an 8mo. We have been camping with them for about 3mo and they love it!
I agree about getting a tent that's quick and easy to set up. We have a bell tent for several reasons: it takes about 15-20min to pitch and once it's up we can get the babies inside out of the rain. It is a nice big open space so we can always see where the little ones are and what they're doing, we camp in the shoulder seasons quite often but it's hard to explain to babies that it's cold and time to sit quietly in your sleeping bag in the evening (either that or that have to be bundled up so they can hardly move) so we like to be able to have the wood stove in the bell tent. You can also get an inner tent if you want to have rooms when they're a bit older. It doesn't get as hot in the mornings as a nylon tent so we can often have a lie-in as the babies are tired from all the previous day's activities :D
If it's not raining then we put a picnic blanket on the grass and the baby sits on it and is quite happy to just watch the proceedings while the toddler 'helps' us set up. If it is raining, DH pitches the tent, then once it's up I take the babies inside and he throws all the bedding etc in the door for me to set up the inside while he does the awning and finishes up outside. The whole operation from drive up to feet up takes between 1 and 2 hrs depending on how obliging the kids are and how the weather is.
The babies just love camping and they're usually happy to be involved or to just sit and watch. They love the outdoors and don't get bored like they might in the house because there's always something new to see.
Well to keep our 11 month old amused whilst we are pitching we usually give him something to eat in his buggy or high chair....keep the food coming and hes happy LOL Would this work with your 2 year old? Maybe not your 6 month old though.....
Thank you everyone for their tips and advice. I think the Corado 6 is probably the best to go with if it's possible to erect alone, plus, I'm loving the huge windows in that tent. I am a sucker for rainy camping and rain pelting down on windows like that excites me a little too much!! Haha! We're taking the babies to the Just So festival next month so that will be our first camping trip as a family. I think the toddler will 'help' as he loves helping me with hanging the washing out, etc...as for the 6mo...well, she's a lazy one and isn't mobile yet so she'll be happy sat watching in the pram. We've got pram rain covers and waterproof all-in-ones for them if it's raining when we get there...right, off to find if there's anywhere selling this tent cheaper than £300 :) xx
A tent that can be pitched by just one person really is a bonus when you have small children. If they co-operate and let you have a few moments to help then thats great, if not then the tent can be pitched while one of you entertains the children.
Whatever tent you get make sure you do a practice pitch (or 3!)before you go, so that you don't waste time struggling to find out what goes where, and arguing and getting stressed.
Sadly there is no special bit of camping equipment that entertains children while the tent is pitched, it's the same bit of equipment that is used at home.
Haha indeed Sarah ;) and unfortunately, me and my partner could do 100 trial runs and we'd still find something to argue about when pitching the tent. It's just that HE never listens to me!!! And I'm always right of course ;) hehehehe xx
In general, once you have had a couple of goes at pitching a particular tent there are two golden rules:
1. Decide who is in charge and stick to it.
2. See rule 1.
When I was getting used to our tent, with two small people (3 yrs and 18m at the time), there were bits of the work that could be done be me on my own. Laying out the tent, getting poles ready, inserting the first pole into the sleeve, [get wife for 5 mins to raise the first couple of poles and pegs], peg the rest & guy.
The kids really don't need that much entertaining at that age (hey kids, play on some grass, here's a couple of toys!), but your 6 month old will need some looking after (have you considered a front or back sling or a backpack?)
Good ideas there Dave. I reckon our 6mo will be fine sat watching with the occasional attention given to her. She's easier than the toddler to be honest. And being able to run around on grass is my son's idea of heaven, I think I'm worrying over nothing aren't I? But yes, a great idea to let either me or my partner do the main pitching and then call for help when required! I might take one of my son's plastic hammers along so he can 'help' with the pegs :)
Sarah - 26 years!?????? I'm surprised you're still sharing a tent after that long!!! Haha! ;)
Hi, as I said earlier, I pitch the corado on my own. I lay the tent out, peg the front pegging points, insert and assemble the rear pole set and stand it up, then peg the one central guy line to keep it stood up, then just work my way forward one pole at a time. It takes me about an hour give or take (then another hour to fill it!!).
You won't find it cheaper anywhere other than Go Outdoors unless you buy second hand, as it's their own brand and no-one else sells it. If you want one and aren't in a hurry, their doing deals on them all the time, I know it's £300 now, but last week it was only £249 and I got mine in January for £250 but that included carpet and canopy, bargin I think.
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Topic: Camping with babies
