I love camping, like I love it. I've been camping since forever and I couldn't wait to start bringing my own kids camping but my 2 year old HATED it when we went camping in Nanny and Grandad's back garden last night.
My 5 year old takes after me and absolutely loves it and he always has. He was always a cautious baby so we never had to tell him to keep away from the fire/not to touch the gas/not to wander off but my little girl just does not give a sh*t and every time we had to tell her 'ah ah' she literally threw herself on the ground in a strop and had a meltdown!
Bedtime was a whole other story and I had to bring her into the house to sleep before she completely lost it :( I had the travel cot set up in the tent for her but I tried letting her sleep in her brother's sleeping bag and in with me and her dad but it was a no-go.
We went camping in the 'rents garden as a trail run because we haven't got the chance to bring her since she was born due to some of my own health issues but my son's 6th birthday is coming up and he really wants to go camping and I'm so worried that she's going to ruin it for him!
I know I could leave her with her grandparents for the camping trip but we're going camping next to an open farm and I don't want her to miss out on the entire trip..
Camping is such a big part of my life, it's where I find peace and tranquility and I love hill walking too but she's just having none of it.
You've done the first camp somewhere that's familiar to her, so she naturally wants to go into the house she knows, and especially at bed time.
I reckon that, when you do a 'real camp', she'll be interested by the new surroundings and the fact everyone is in tents and not in houses etc. Plus, after a day in the fresh air and new activities, she'll likely be ready to sleep anywhere!
Maybe do your first camp with her at a campsite near home, so if things are truly terrible and she won't settle, you could always bring her home again? I very much doubt that'll happen, though!
PS Does she have a favourite blanket, or something? Take things which she associates with bedtime and set them out on her bed in the tent. And try not to make a fuss about bedtime when you're camping, or make her go when she's not tired.
I honestly thought she'd be like my little boy and once she saw the tent she wouldn't want to leave it but the poor thing was just so disoriented and confused!
Thanks for your advice and encouragement though lidds0! :) We'll be trying again soon!
Hi, I feel your frustration and desire for her to like it and enjoy it as you and your son do.
OK, so, how about having 'play tent' time with her (buy one of those little ones if you have the funds to spare?) ... to familiarise her with being in a different space. Do this in the garden, daytimes, and make it a game like a Wendy house. Or,pretend camp with her toys, using things from the home/toybox (old fashioned clothes horses were great for this!). Perhaps, just perhaps, she will begin to like it and then, as Lidds has said, try a site close to home so you can go back if she doesn't settle or, have the grandparents take her home whilst your son enjoys his little adventure. Mmmm, but that last option brings lots of issues too...
Good luck, and hope you manage the birthday break without friction.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Thanks for your comment bridgeywidge :) this is what surprised me though! We have a couple of play tents here at home and the kids are always asking me to put a sheet over the kitchen table so that they can make a den so I thought she'd be excited by real camping! We're going to try it again this week on a campsite nearby. I'd love to take them to a haven place bleper bloke but I think we'll have a couple more trial runs first :)
Dens under the table are safe, maybe it's the overnight thing that's scary. Have you managed to ask her about her experience, as much as you can with one so young?
Did she have her same pillow or blanket etc, that might help?
Or were night noises frightening????
I'm only trying to find a way so you can all enjoy what you like and want to share, certainly no expert. Best wishes with it all. You may need to wait until she's a bit older. We're all different aren't we?
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Poor mite she's only 2 - you're making it sound like because she freaked out once you'll never be able to camp again !
We took our two when they were toddlers and then didn't again for a couple of years - not because they were afraid - quite the opposite they were so excited they bounced off the walls and didn't sleep at all. We were exhausted and so left it a couple of years and it was the right decision. We've all been camping together for years and they now go happily camping with Guides and doing their DoE.
I think sometimes when you have kids you worry about them and push them into stuff when actually with time and space they'll be fine. I remember getting so het up about potty training (which looking back was ridiculous) and having a nightmare with swimming lesson - my girls were so naughty I had to give up on the lessons for a few years - felt like a failure at the time but they swim fine now and I wonder why I worried.
I would take your son camping on his own for his birthday he'll have a fab time and your daughter will have a lovely time with her grandparents.
We're all different - having a challenging toddler is not always a bad thing - my girls have always been a little wilful and question everything and into everything - they have grown into really smart, interesting young people who think for themselves and don't take no for an answer - I'm really proud of them.
Went camping when the youngest was 1 and a bit. At home he was in a cot bed with sides. When camping used a winter weight gro-bag (2.5 Tog)which we used at home in autumn and winter.
He slept on a roll mat with a cot sheet over the top - though obviously not long enough. Then the gro bag and a blanket beside him in case we needed to put it on.
No he didn't want to go to bed but he eventually crashed out. Did take a while and lots of stress but he and we loved it (as did his older brother and sister).
Having a pushchair when we walked to the beach was great to load up. However he had to stay in it or it tipped up.
If she's anything like my daughter was at that age then she'll want to do anything that her big brother does.
I'd ditch the travel cot and take her shopping for her very own special "grown up" sleeping bag like her brothers. My daughter had a Tweenies one.(she's 17 now!)
Poor thing probably still thought it was a game and was confused that it was for real. Give her lots of time to get used to the idea that everyone is going to go to bed in the tent. Get her to help make her special place where she is going to go to bed. Explain up front exactly what is going to happen when. You know the sort of thing.....
We're going to have a special camping tea of... and then because we're camping we're going to have a treat and go outside and run around til really late and then a special hot chocolate and lots of stories all together in bed.
Don't expect them to go to bed at the same time as at home or to go to bed without you.
We went camping again in a nearby campsite on Tuesday night (much quieter mid-week!) and we had a much better time..
We brought her actual mattress from home, duvet, pillows, sheets, teddies, night light.. The whole shebang! Needless to say it was a tight squeeze in the car but it was only a short drive so we survived.
We arrived early so that we could set up and let her have a long time to get used to the idea of sleeping in the tent! We put her in the same pod as her brother and we ran the little legs off her throughout the afternoon!
We settled the kids into their beds later than usual at about 8.30/9pm, read a story, had a cuddle and I tried to leave but she wasn't just ready for that so I lay down with her for quite a while..
Come 10 o'clock or so, she finally went to sleep with minimal fuss! Progress!
She woke in the night though at about 2am and was very unsettled (maybe overtired?) and it was hard to lie with her to settle her again as I was on the cold, hard ground next to her mattress She was getting more and more unsettled so we spun the 5 minutes to home so as not to disturb dad and big brother (and other campers!) and came back to the campsite at about 8am to the boys cooking breakfast
Unfortunately for the rest of the day she was a bit of a demon due to lack of sleep (trying to pack up with a grumpy toddler was a challenge!) but I'm happy that we persevered and we're going to go camping again in another few weeks to have another go. But I think I'll have her in my pod on the blow up mattress with me and the boys can bunk in together so that it'll be easier to settle her in the night without bedhopping!
Great to hear you are persevering, and have found ways that work for you and your daughter. I'm sure your post will be of interest and value to many more parents.
Happy camping!
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: My toddler hated camping ðŸ˜
and question everything and into everything - they have grown into really smart, interesting young people who think for themselves and don't take no for an answer - I'm really proud of them.
She was getting more and more unsettled so we spun the 5 minutes to home so as not to disturb dad and big brother (and other campers!) and came back to the campsite at about 8am to the boys cooking breakfast 
