Hi All, we're looking to take our young family camping this summer, we have a 4yr old, and what will be a 5mth old by the time of our first trip in June (have a week booked near Ilfracombe). I'm just a bit worried about how to keep baby both safe and warm, being well aware that temps overnight can drop significantly, especially so on the nice clear nights following lovely hot and clear sunny days! (It'll probably chuck it down now! )
At home we currently cosleep with baby sleeping in a sidecar crib, and sometimes end up bedsharing where baby has come into bed for a feed (currently breastfeeding) and then we've both drifted off. So for camping I'm planning on me sharing a double camping mat with baby (Vango ShangriLa 10 - the hubby will share another with the toddler), I was intending to use whichever of my existing mummy-style sleepingbag best fits the conditions for me, but what about baby? I have a sleeved 3.5tog sleepingbag which will fit him, do I just layer him up with bodysuit and sleep suit, and maybe pop a hat and mittens on him? Would that likely be enough (or should we look to incorporate something like open-cell blanket/s too), or too much (risk of overheating) etc etc? Any advice and experience would be fab!
We weren't quite as early as you, our youngest went camping as they turned 1.
We have a tunnel tent with 3 pods as the back. We took a folding cot and baby went in one pod with us in the middle and the oldest on the other side.
The pod to baby was open internally to ours so the air heat would be shared and for easy access. We dressed in long sleeve sleep suit, in a baby sleeping bag (no arms) and covered with a lose knit granny made woollen blanket on the colder nights. We have a polycotton tent so were able to keep the vents in the sleeping area mostly closed and allow the tent to breathe rather than lots of cold ventilation. A lot of heat is lost into the ground so maybe think how you can get maximum insulation. Fleece blankets under the SIM etc.
We were also on hookup so we had a low wattage (600W) ceramic electric fan heater in the main part of the tent which we did leave on low heat and thermostat ~12C on a couple of the colder nights. I heard it run for a few minutes every now and then.
The ceramic fan heaters run at a much lower temperature so there is a lower risk of ignition, it also has a tip over cut out and we had a smoke alarm just for good measure however a small 600W oil radiator would be preferable for overnight use.
We had no real issues and baby only woke up to feed. We were busy in the day so lots of stimulation to drive sleep/ Babies were fine back when houses only had a fire in the front room and you woke up with ice on the inside of the windows so a sleeping bag and blanket or two I'm sure would be fine. Better to wake up a little cold and need a cuddle or a blanket than be too hot and as I'm sure you know, coldish hands or feet is quite common.
I'd be a little nervous of them rolling over as SIM and / or tent divider / ground sheet or even the fabric of your sleeping bag may not be a breathable as a proper baby mattress so I'd prefer some type of cot or enclosure to contain them. Could you still use the moses basket or do you have a three way pram where the bassinet can be used for sleeping.
Our cot is like this Cot, we were donated it but it takes quite a bit of space when camping though we'll probably take it again this year at 2 as it's a often play pen when we have our hands full for a few minutes.
These look cool Alternate Cot and there are lots of similar designs which may pack smaller and cheaper Alternate 2. In my view, enclosed sides will help with warmth as it minimised drafts.
I'd recommend you take a really useful box ~ 18 litres for some of your gear. It makes a great baby bath with a towel in the bottom to stop it from being too slippy. The posh campsites we've been to with a bath want to put 200 litres in it, which is no good to a baby. I just take a folding bucket to the wash up area, fill it with hot water then carry it back to the tent for the bath, adjusting the temp with some cold.
Quote: Originally posted by Bogwoppit22
At home we currently cosleep with baby sleeping in a sidecar crib, and sometimes end up bedsharing where baby has come into bed for a feed (currently breastfeeding) and then we've both drifted off. So for camping I'm planning on me sharing a double camping mat with baby (Vango ShangriLa 10 - the hubby will share another with the toddler), I was intending to use whichever of my existing mummy-style sleepingbag best fits the conditions for me, but what about baby? I have a sleeved 3.5tog sleepingbag which will fit him, do I just layer him up with bodysuit and sleep suit, and maybe pop a hat and mittens on him? Would that likely be enough (or should we look to incorporate something like open-cell blanket/s too), or too much (risk of overheating) etc etc? Any advice and experience would be fab!
Why not take bedding / duvet from home and bed-share as usual?
Decto - thank you for your response, we have a Hauck travel cot/playpen very similar to yours, but I think I'd have even more concerns re keeping baby warm then given we'd not have a chucky SIM insulating from underneath. You do raise a very valid concern re breathability of material of SIM and my sleeping bag though, he's a non-roller at the moment, but will nail it soon enough so is something to consider... gah, a Mothers worry never stops!! Genius idea with the 18l really useful box as a baby bath, I love a good storage box anyway, so I'm confident I can find a multitude of uses for it, will be sure to pick one up!
Quote: Originally posted by Bogwoppit22
At home we currently cosleep with baby sleeping in a sidecar crib, and sometimes end up bedsharing where baby has come into bed for a feed (currently breastfeeding) and then we've both drifted off. So for camping I'm planning on me sharing a double camping mat with baby (Vango ShangriLa 10 - the hubby will share another with the toddler), I was intending to use whichever of my existing mummy-style sleepingbag best fits the conditions for me, but what about baby? I have a sleeved 3.5tog sleepingbag which will fit him, do I just layer him up with bodysuit and sleep suit, and maybe pop a hat and mittens on him? Would that likely be enough (or should we look to incorporate something like open-cell blanket/s too), or too much (risk of overheating) etc etc? Any advice and experience would be fab!
Why not take bedding / duvet from home and bed-share as usual?
The 'bedshare as usual' is the current plan, but I have concerns how to keep baby warm enough whilst doing this in a camping environment - our bedroom is always 20c, whereas I'm expecting overnight temp well below this whilst camping. When bed-sharing baby isn't actually covered by the duvet due to the risk of overheating and suffocation (and would be totally against safe cosleeping/bedsharing guidelines), he wears a body-suit with a sleep-suit and a sleeveless sleepingbag; and I sandwich the main bed quilt between my knees with the top of the quilt no higher than my tummy, and the corner tucked underneath me, so he can't be accidentally covered by it, all whilst sleeping in what's known as The Cuddle Curl portion (which forms a protective physical space around baby so baby can't be squashed etc), hence the need for a different solution whilst camping.
Quote: Originally posted by Decto on 25/4/2019
I'd be a little nervous of them rolling over as SIM and / or tent divider / ground sheet or even the fabric of your sleeping bag may not be a breathable as a proper baby mattress so I'd prefer some type of cot or enclosure to contain them. Could you still use the moses basket or do you have a three way pram where the bassinet can be used for sleeping.
Post last edited on 25/04/2019 23:38:41
You've given me an idea there... a nest (like a Sleepyhead) would tackle both these issues. I can hear my husband groaning about having to purchase another item right now...
Quote: Originally posted by Bogwoppit22 on 26/4/2019
Decto - thank you for your response, we have a Hauck travel cot/playpen very similar to yours, but I think I'd have even more concerns re keeping baby warm then given we'd not have a chucky SIM insulating from underneath. You do raise a very valid concern re breathability of material of SIM and my sleeping bag though, he's a non-roller at the moment, but will nail it soon enough so is something to consider... gah, a Mothers worry never stops!! Genius idea with the 18l really useful box as a baby bath, I love a good storage box anyway, so I'm confident I can find a multitude of uses for it, will be sure to pick one up!
Hi,
It's surprising how much heat is lost to the ground even through a chunky SIM. The cot has an air gap underneath so can only be as cold as the air in the tent. Worth taking a digital thermometer too so you get an idea of the real night time temp.
2.5 Tog sleeping bag recommended for 16C so 3.5 Tog and suitable blanket should be fine.
Quote: Originally posted by Bogwoppit22 on 26/4/2019
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 26/4/2019
Quote: Originally posted by Bogwoppit22
At home we currently cosleep with baby sleeping in a sidecar crib, and sometimes end up bedsharing where baby has come into bed for a feed (currently breastfeeding) and then we've both drifted off. So for camping I'm planning on me sharing a double camping mat with baby (Vango ShangriLa 10 - the hubby will share another with the toddler), I was intending to use whichever of my existing mummy-style sleepingbag best fits the conditions for me, but what about baby? I have a sleeved 3.5tog sleepingbag which will fit him, do I just layer him up with bodysuit and sleep suit, and maybe pop a hat and mittens on him? Would that likely be enough (or should we look to incorporate something like open-cell blanket/s too), or too much (risk of overheating) etc etc? Any advice and experience would be fab!
Why not take bedding / duvet from home and bed-share as usual?
The 'bedshare as usual' is the current plan, but I have concerns how to keep baby warm enough whilst doing this in a camping environment - our bedroom is always 20c, whereas I'm expecting overnight temp well below this whilst camping. When bed-sharing baby isn't actually covered by the duvet due to the risk of overheating and suffocation (and would be totally against safe cosleeping/bedsharing guidelines), he wears a body-suit with a sleep-suit and a sleeveless sleepingbag; and I sandwich the main bed quilt between my knees with the top of the quilt no higher than my tummy, and the corner tucked underneath me, so he can't be accidentally covered by it, all whilst sleeping in what's known as The Cuddle Curl portion (which forms a protective physical space around baby so baby can't be squashed etc), hence the need for a different solution whilst camping.
I breastfed and bedshared with all of ours, from the day they were born (both at home and when camping). So long as baby is term, healthy and mum isn't a smoker or under the influence of alcohol or drugs it's got to be the most natural sleeping position for an infant (IMHO).
From La Leche League:
'Breastfed babies orient themselves near their mother’s breast in bed. Dr Helen Ball’s research shows that mothers who sleep in bed with their breastfed babies adopt a protective position, making overlaying difficult and smothering by pillows or bedding unlikely. This has been referred to as the ‘cuddle curl’ position...
Overheating. If bedsharing, keep your baby lightly dressed and avoid heavy bedding. Swaddling increases the risk of overheating and reduces a baby’s ability to move and make you aware of his needs.'
Obviously you have to do what you're comfortable and confident with.
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: Keeping Baby Warm When Camping...
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via mobile 26/4/2019 at 5:30am
