camping with toddlers

[ethanryan]

hi all, we are taking the boys camping for the first time this weekend. just wondered if anyone else has been with toddlers and can help me with what you need to take. i have the essentials, lanterns, tents, sleeping bags, stove.

can anyone advise?

[poohshunny]

This might be worth a read.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4574_camping-trip-with .html


Hope you all have a great time.

[ethanryan]

thankyou, the takin a large storage tub to use as a bath is a good idea as where we are staying they only have showers and my boys hate showers. thanks

[sleepy1]

hi great fun camping we enjoy it ..my boys love it 14 and 16 years now ...we went when they was small ...have fun x

[ethanryan]

hi sleepy, when did you start takin the boys, mine are 2 and 3, do you think there too young or will they enjoy it

[B00]

Yep, have been camping for years with toddlers, with my friends children and now my own, Mini Boo.

I guess there's nothing new you really need to consider really, except obviously making sure that they secure at night in there own 'bedroom' and warm.

We did find however that we had to make outside the tent escape proof!! This was done with windbreaks completely surrounding the tent and to get out ourselves we had to actually lift out one of the poles.

Can't recommend it enough- your boys will love the whole outdoors life and if they are anything like mine will be in bed by 7pm each night completely zonked.

[B00]

Just seen your 2nd Q, my friend took her little boy when he was four months old and Mini Boo made her camping debut at 7 months old- never too young!

[sleepy1]

we went when my older boy was 2 years he was great ...even when he run in some one else tent and i had to go get him out ...lol then never went for few years then went again when my youngest was 3 i think ....they both love it we got a caravan but they rather go in the tent so the caravan is upfor sale now ....if yours wonder off a lot might be worth taking some big wind breaks to put across the front off tent to help help them in 1 place ...

[sleepy1]

snap boo about the windbreaks lol

[Octavius]

Some good advice here too....

http://www.campinglife.com/output.cfm?id=10949 95

[sleepy1]

ethanryan where are you going ? we hope to go camping this weekend as well ...just hope it stays dry ..

[B00]

Also, dont make the mistake of taking too many of their toys, as if they are anything like my own and freinds kids they just won't be interested in them considering all the new things to see there and you've wasted valuable packing space taking the ruddy things in the first place.

On our last camping trip- we nipped into the nearest town on arrival and bought Mini Boo a cheap little dolls pram and dolly, and she happily wheeled her 'baby' round and round the campsite.

[ethanryan]

were going to a small place called grendon lakes in northampton. as this is the first time we dont want to go too far from home incase it all goes horribly wrong and kids hate sleepin in a tent. they normally like there home comforts too much

[B00]

Aww, you'll have a blast ethanryan- and your
kids will surpise you (I hope). They adore the outdoor life and the almost total freedom they've suddenly aquired.

And lol @ sleepy- yep, windbreaks are a definite must, before we got enough of them to completely surround the tent I was terrfied of Mini Boo crawling off on our first camping trip and seriously comtemplated a string round her ankle staked into the ground (I kid you not!), however Mr Boo quite rightly pointed out she wasn't a dog and we couldn't do that....lol

[sleepy1]

yeah good idea !! never been there ..im in hertfordshire ..

[sleepy1]

lol you need eyes in the back off your head glad mine are older now we can relax more ...as my youngest boy has adhd camping was great for him to just burn all his energy off ...

[B00]

Yeah sleepy, that's why she was always in bed by 7pm each night, all that fresh air completely wiped her out, it was bliss!

[sleepy1]

ethanryan grendon lakes look nice place ...just looked at web page ...let us know how you get on ...we might give it a visit some time ...got fishing what my boys love ..

[sleepy1]

ethan we use to go here a lot with my parents when i was young http://www.billingaquadrome.com/

[annie0000]

We took my two at a similar age and apologies for saying this, it was an absolute nightmare! They were about the same age as yours, but would not stay still while we were trying to get the tent up - we ended up chasing them all over the camp site as they ran into peoples tents, tripped over the guy ropes and generally caused mayhem. They didn't go to sleep until late because of the novelty and noise in the campsite, but then they woke up at 5am and we couldn't keep them quiet. wee only stayed the one night and have never gone back camping again. I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was a bit stressful!

I am sure that you will have a great time even if we didn't.

[ethanryan]

hi annie, thanks for that!! lol
we have already thought about keeping the children amused while we sort the tent and have agreed that the men will put the tent up and me and my mom will take the kids somewhere so not too worried there. as for the wakin up early i was worried about that cause mine are early risers. but mom has said not to worry about it as we are on a family site and that if the other people want a lie in they should stay in a all adult camp. my kids want to play in the garden at 6am and dont realise the time. luckily both my neighbours have small children so they put up with our noise and we put up with theirs