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No they need to be inside - they are only 4.  I have had an idea. I have seen an adventure zone. Its like a kids tent and readybed all rolled into one. I thought I could put it inside at night and outside during the day to reclaim the space. Anyone used one of these before.

http://www.outtoplay.co.nz/product_info.php?cPath=171_175&products_id=1980

I have found one in the UK but this is a better description.

I know this sounds like a lot of fuss over nothing.  The problem is that we are a couple and have one son (4) and my friend is a single mum with her daughter (4).

Her daughter is really scared of rain (even inside) and so we cant have them in a single skin tent outside incase it rains. The little girl has to be inside. I cant really put her mum ourside alone and have the daughter in the tent with us - a bit rude.

I cant put the kids outside. I could put us outside but then I would be leaving her with my son which isnt really fair either - makes her seem a bit like a babysitter.

I already have a double airbed and sleeping bag for us, a ready bed if I need it for my son or my friend can use it if he doesn't. My friend can use my spare sleeping bag and her daughter could use her ready bed. I dont mind being left with extra things as they will get used next time. If the ready bed doesnt come with now its fine.

I am not too worried about creepy crawlies. The tent is fairly well sealed and I will put a groudsheet down anyway. THey will have to manage - or I will have a breakdown.

Forget the ready beds. They`re  bulky and not even that warm. Use camping mats for the kids, cut to fit inside the inner of a two-berth inner first tent, and don`t use the flysheet. Or a childs pop-up tent, even. Doesn`t have to be weatherproof after all.

Or bodge up an inner yourself from sheeting, plastic tarp from B&Q for the base and cloth ties on pole hooks. (Any good camping store will have the last item.) If it`s on the tent groundsheet it doesn`t have to be sealed to full SIG level.

My friend is coming with with her daughter - they cant cancel - its a prebooked kinda event. I wouldnt mind but she is completely skint and really stretched herself to do this - you would think she wouldnt be moaning.

Valk_Scot you are right about the ready beds - they are ver bulky - its just that the kids like them and have been practicing. I dont mind not taking them though as they will get used when there are just 3 of us later on.

I like the do it yourself idea but I am think it would realy give me a breakdown given my level of skill - good idea though.

Do you think the kids would be comfortable enought just in sleeping bags in mats ?

Hi, could your friend & the children sleep in the bedroom bit so they're nice & cosy, and you and your husband sleep in the living area? I have a similar sized tent so I think that could work, although you might get a bit chilly in the night so you'd need to wear hats or have mummy style sleeping bags and have plenty of layers underneath you  I've heard that readybeds might not be especially warm for outside use so make sure you have extra blankets. I've only been camping once and I know it can be a bit of a worry trying to make sure everything is right before you go,

Teresa