OK so it's only just January and it's pouring down with rain but I'm thinking about warmer weather and going camping! Our first trip will probably be in May when our baby will be 7months, unless we have really nice weather earlier.
We have always been camping at least half a dozen times a year and we want to carry on but it's going to be a different experience with a baby. I'm not sure where to starting in finding good sites with babies and how to fit all the paraphanalia in the car!
Do any of you have any advice? Can anyone recommend how to find good campsites with good facilities for babies? Or are no particular facilites really needed? What space saving tips do you have? What stuff is a must/ waste of space to take?
We have an estate car, but I'm wondering about whether we need to get a roof box or other equipment. We have a Robens Cabin 600 with extension so I'm hoping the tent will be plenty big enough.
We camped at the Eskdale Club Site with a 1 year old (12 months) last year and found it all quite easy. Luckily the weather was fine when we arrived so he sat in his highchair whilst we pitched. There was a family shower room on site with a baby bath that we could use so bath time was no problem. For sleeping we took our travel cot and he went to sleep in a grobag as usual and we just added a couple of blankets before we went to sleep. We did take 2 cars but only because we have a huge mountain buggy that fills the boot on its own!
I go camping with a friend who's OH doesn't like camping and since she had her two (now 4 and 2) they come along - never been a problem (for me anyway - one was sick in the night once)
most campsites cater for families eg family bathrooms. Welsummer was particularly lovely
When our boys were babies, having a family bathroom on site was really handy but if not, we carry our shoes in a plastic crate so just emptied that out and bathed the babies in there! It's all quite easy when they're that small. We used a travel cot, grobag, remember favourite bears!, buggy for feeding times, got a flask of hot water ready at night to warm up milk if needed, batt-op camping light on 'low' as a night-light (we don't have electric) and did plenty of laps of many sites with the buggy trying to get them off to sleep!!
It's a great idea to get them used to camping from an early age because they soon get used to it and little kids just love it...as much as we all do!
that's so true jom1904 - Katie (aged 4) asked when we are going camping again just before Christmas! I suggested going to a YHA as I am NOT going camping in the winter
If you all ready camp regularly I'm sure have have a couple of favourite site you have been to, ( a baby that young doesn't need loads of swings slides etc. ) I always think if the parents are at ease then so will the child, just have to try for a quieter part of the site.
Jom1904 makes great points.
No need to buy special items for baby just adapt what you have ie does baby really need a new sleeping bag, when you already have blankets etc..
Good luck and enjoy.
------------- Thank you Donnod123
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Coleman Evolva (might have more than one shhhh)
And now a VW T25 high top.
Tilley Titan
Tilley Trio
Cobb BBQ
Years ago I was camping and a family nearby had a young baby.
Remember that sound carries well! We were fine with it, but some folks didn't like babies crying in the night/early hours.
Other think I witnessed was making milk up in the night, it took a long time, but I don't think it helped as the dad didn't help, so mummy was sorting out a crying baby and trying to make a bottle then cool it down.
My dad is moving house so I've gained a box of old photos . When I get round to it I'll scan them but how it links to this Is amongst the hundreds of photos there's a photo of our youngest at 5 months camping with us . Photos of me and my brother camping as babies transported in a motorbike and sidecar and a photo my dad as a baby in 1949 camping transported on a motorbike and sidecar. It's easy the biggest mistake you can make is thinking you need all the gadgets that seem to come with babies these days !
I took my son camping from 13 months (he has Down's Syndrome & wasn't anywhere near walking then). A folding cot can also be used as a playpen, and a buggy doubles as a feeding chair. If you're worried about mealtimes do a practice run; try cooking "camp meals" at home and see what works for you. Take a couple of favourite toys. At that age, cardboard boxes & wooden spoons are great fun.
Our biggest problems came later on when he discovered he could wander off and hide under next-door's caravan!
We tuck my granddaughter when she was 3 months old we do have electric so making bottles was just the same as at home with electric kettle we used a large plastic container with lid to sterilising bottles with sterilising fluid and the site we were on had a large sink with changing area for bathing babies but if not would just have had an extra washing up bowl. We had an electric heater in case it got a bit cool. We had a lovely holiday and no problems she is nearly 4 now and loves camping.
Our middle son had his 1st birthday away in the tent 30 years ago. Didn't have anything special in the way of family bathrooms and changing facilities then.
We took the pram and used the body on the ground for him to sleep in. That worked well as we had a 6 berth tent with the bedrooms all in one with just curtains between. We also had a 6 year old with us.
Didn't have EHU but used a pan of water to heat the bottle and tins of Johnson's baby food.
Luckily I had built a camping trailer so managed to get it all in but also much on top of the trailer.
We went to Swansea near where my father lived so had we been blown away in a gale we could have gone to his place.
Would highly recommend south lytchett manor they have family bathrooms, kept very clean with good baby changing tables. They also have a microwave which may help with warming food/milk. Loads to do in the area and not too far home if your in Surrey.
If your little one cries at night, yes people will hear it, but they will get over (heard people snoring louder!). Guarantee you will worry more than the people around you, so don't.
Good Luck and enjoy
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
We have Camped /caravan, since our youngest was about 6 month, can honestly say it's been great, we packed lightly for us so so he had all the gear he needed.
It's so nice to see your kids playing in the fields just taking in what's going on, without a care in the world.
I think it's a great way to set kids off, gaining social skills as they go.
As you will know they just need to be warm at night, but with electric hook up its not a problem, No electric, just pick decent comfy base layers, never complained about being cold.
My youngest was about 6 months the first time we took him camping, we'd only been twice before then, but it was brilliant! He was breastfed so didnt have to worry about bottles and sterilising (but i would take Milton for that if you need it) he slept right next to us but if he woke in the night he just came in bed with us. We did all sorts of things to keep him quiet in the evenings that we would never do at home lol, i don't really think people mind a crying baby if they can see or hear you are trying to calm and settle them. Most campers have had children themselves and im sure none of them would say their babies never cried!
We didn't look for extra facilities at all, but in truth i think that depends on what type of parent you are. My friend wont leave home without the kitchen sink! So she wouldn't go somewhere without a dedicated bathroom, changing room, all singing all dancing facilities. We bath our kiddies in a big tub, bring them in the shower with us, or if its just a weekend and they arent that grubby then they holiday with just a quick wipe down wash!
A pushchair (or booster seat of some kind if you use a sling) is great for keeping little one still for eating and playing, and out of harms way while cooking etc but at 7 months they might not be that mobile. We did buy a littlelife travelcot, it packs up much much smaller than our traditional travel cot and it came from ebay for £40. Its been used for our 2 youngest children so def worth its weight in gold! Also doubles as a playpen and can be used outside, as well as being options to buy sunshades and insects nets so they are well protected.
We have 3 children and get our gear into an old style 5 door ford focus - lol travel light and pack well and it can be done!
Space saving, well we squash and squeeze everything into gaps, rolls clothes and towels, and pack lightly! Seriously, don't take so many clothes! Most campsites have a washing machine so if you really get caked in dirt you can just wash what you already have. Warm pj's are a must. My eldest is a really hot sleeper but the littlies are always cold. In June they were sleeping in thick socks, a vest, a thin sleepsuit, a fleece sleepsuit and a 2.5 tog baby sleeping bag, with one or two thick blankets or a cheap childrens sleeping bag. I didn't buy a special baby one, i put an elastic band over the middle of the sleeping bag so he couldn't slip down under the covers (feet to foot essentially) and then tucked that excess back under his travel cot mattress which held it in place.
Baby wipes!! You can buy them from any shop i know, but we use them for everything when camping! lol
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 7month old baby
Sorry for the essay, hope some of it was helpful! 
