This summer we are doing 2 nights each way as a stopover en route to/from the south of France (where the outlaws' cottage awaits!). We are taking our 18 month old daughter with us - she will be sleeping in with mum and dad is in the other end of the tent (Quechua 4.2XL). Anything we need to consider? Are we being crazy?
Before baby we've always camped at various times of year, either alone or together, but we've always just lit a fire and cracked open a beer and things have gone well enough, but now we have a little one to consider...
Post last edited on 31/03/2013 22:20:17
------------- Cycling uphill is like fighting a gorilla, you don't stop when you are tired - you stop when the gorilla is tired.
We camped for the first time with our daughter when she was 18 months and it was easier than we thought.
Make sure you take the potty and keep it in the tent to save early/late night walks to toilet. (we actually kept one in the car until she was completely potty trained, was a real godsend when we got stuck in a traffic jam!).
Take plenty of colouring in books and washable felt tips, also the travel aqua draw things are great too.
Take a nightlight/hot water bottle to reassure her when going to bed. Provide her with her own little torch.
I downloaded some children's stories onto my iphone to help her drift off to sleep amongst all the campsite talk, once I had read her a book.
Take loads of clothes (I totally underestimated this) She loved playing outside the tent with empty pans and a bottle of water, as well as playing with the water tap and mud near to our tent.
Windbreaks create a great barrier/wall around your camp area, if you really feel you need it take a travelcot, this proves useful if you are cooking and want to make sure she isn't near the stove/campfire.
We lit the fire after she went to bed when she was this young, to avoid any accidents.
Make sure you have the nearest NHS out of hours number stored to your phone (get it from the campsite when you get there).
Depending on how adventurous she is (mine could find the front door key and let herself out of the house as soon as she was walking!) So you may want to lock the tent somehow for your own reassurance you don't have an escapee on your hands! (maybe a small padlock on the zips from the inside?)
You know your daughter better than anyone else, so I am sure you have considered all the above.
Make sure you take the marshmallows and hot chocolate, that was always my childhood memory of camping.
Enjoy, they love it.
------------- May 2013 - Shepherds View
July 2013 - Nanctol Waterfalls
2014 - Spain!
May 2015 - Hollins Farm, Silverdale
July 2015 - Petruth Paddocks, cheddar
August 2015 - Loch Ken, Dumfries & Galloway
We have four children and have always camped with them at various ages. My main concern was always keeping them warm at night but this may not be a problem if you're in France.
I always took books, small toys etc into our sleeping area for early morning entertainment. And I always slept with the little one as I thought it was easier than having to get out of the sleeping bag etc to settle them should they wake in the night or very early in the morning.
Keep the zips up high on the sleeping area /main tent so little hands can't reach.
We've always had great fun and I'm sure you will too!
I kept zips up high (still do keep them out of reach of 4 year old, within reach of 6 year old) biggest worry when mine were little were that they were warm enough /not too warm! I took a thermometer to keep an eye on temp but it was always fine.
I'm going to bring my 20 month old on her first camping trip in May. Great idea about bringing the travel cot. I was wondering how I was going to get the tent up without her running off.
That's why we got a pop up tent! A large one, granted, but our logic is that if we can pitch quickly, one of us can set up while the other amuses the little one. Great idea about the zips too!
------------- Cycling uphill is like fighting a gorilla, you don't stop when you are tired - you stop when the gorilla is tired.
We first starting camping when our youngest was 2. The highlight for him was having a glowstick hanging in his pod (well out of reach). He'd just lie looking at it until his eyes closed. We're starting up tent camping again after a few years away from it & the 1st thing he asked for when we told him was glowsticks for night time (he's 8.5 now).
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping with 18 month old
