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Camping with a one year old - am I mad?


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Hello

My hubby and I were planning a camping holiday to Cornwall in July with our then one year old daughter. I was really looking forward to it but now as its approaching we are getting nervous. A couple of friends have suggested we are mad to take a baby in a tent.

 

Are we mad? Has anyone out there done such a thing? If so can you give us any hints or tips?

 

Cheers

Redhead

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Hi

 

Not mad at all :)

 

I had a holiday in Cornwall when my daughter was 9 months old. I would say that if you stay in one place rather than moving around too much you should be fine.

 

I would go for a campsite with less traffic rather than one of the big ones with all mod cons. Most campsites have some sort of baby bath, but take a washing up bowl which can be used perfectly well instead.

 

If you can take some sort of travelling playpen it might help your peace of mind, as chasing the baby around the campsite is probably not the easiest of holidays, also when you go to sleep it is nice to know they will still be there when you wake up. I do know other parents who have taken a sheepskin for their baby to sleep on as it is nice and soft but warm. Also a good idea is to take enough windbreaks to make a pen in front of the tent to contain them a bit. A push along sit and ride is useful to contain them too.

 

The journey is a long one so be prepared to break it up several times, in fact I would not try to do it in one go, but preferably stop at least once overnight on the way, twice would be better.

 

It is a long time since I have done this - hopefully other people will have done it more recently and will give you their top tips.

 

Have a great holiday :)

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I don't think you are mad at all.. if the campsite has good toilet and cleaning facilities then, other than sleeping outdoors, it will be no different from staying in an hotel or whatever. If you wanna do it, go for it and ignore your friends.

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You'll be fine. For one reason and another we haven't been since cosycub was born, and he is now 2. We will be doing our first camping weekend next weekend with him, and have been assured by loads of friends who took much younger babies that it's fine and fun and worth doing.

 

Tho I have to say, we are doing our first trip as a weekend in the Dales/Peaks so we can find out what we need that we don't have, what might be useful, and how he takes to it - always within close reach of home/CCCs if necessary, lol.

 

As for Cornwall, I do have one warning from my in-laws...when my husband was little they decided to holiday in Cornwall, drove all the way in one day, while my husband snored in the back, as little people will do...got to Cornwall, exhausted and in desperate need of a sleep - at which point my husband woke up refreshed and ready to go for a good twelve hours because of the long refreshing sleep he'd had in the car, and bounced up and down the bed ad infinitum while they failed to sleep.

So either find a way to keep your little one awake for the journey, or as henny penny says, do the journey in stages.

 

If you want some good ideas for travelling with little 'uns, come ask in the Parenting group...many of us have done it.

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Hello you are not mad at all infact you would be mad not too. WE go camping all the time. My kids are 6 and 3 and we have gone since they were tiny. My best advice would be. A skisuit to sleep in and some waterproofs for roaming about in the day. Honestly you will love it. the freedom is totally difrent to being at home. Your little one can roam around on the grass and not have to constantly be told not to touch. As has been suggested a bowl for washing in. Or i take a cheap little paddleing pool. Take a picninc for the drive aswell and maybe even a bit extra so you dont have to start rushing about trying to get something to eat when you get there. The most important thing that you cant forget is a bug pot so you can go exploring hehehe and have fun. x

 

oh and i reccomend the ukcampsite.co.uk forum

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Hello

Thanks for the replies. That has made me feel better. Think I will do a trial run before the big holiday to see how we get on - say in the peak district so we can get home if need be.

 

How do you cope with them crying and disturbing all the other campers? That is what is worrying me I think.......

 

Cheers

 

Redhead

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Hello

Thanks for the replies. That has made me feel better. Think I will do a trial run before the big holiday to see how we get on - say in the peak district so we can get home if need be.

 

How do you cope with them crying and disturbing all the other campers? That is what is worrying me I think.......

 

Cheers

 

Redhead

 

 

I wouldnt worry about your little one crying and disturbing people to much. Most campers i have met are very nice people. A lot will have had there own children so will be very understanding and if not sod them. Babies cry sometimes its one of those things. There are adult only sites for people who would be greatly botherd by it.

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