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I am a first timer at camping and will be going next weekend with my 4 month old baby. Is it too cold for this time of the year and if not where will he sleep ? I have read other threads around this but still unsure. He is now too big for his moses basket and the travel cot does not fit in the sleep department of the tent. Any help would be great.

Thanks

Hi

We have four children and I have taken the two youngest when they were 4 months old and 6 months but it was a bit later in the year, around July or August.  I found it easier with the four month old as didn't need to worry about food etc and she was breastfed.

 I slept with her on a double airbed and put her in a winter sleepbag (grobag) with a fleece sleepsuit and socks.  I also put a cardi on her to keep her arms warm.  Then I used blankets too (although I must admit I was afraid that she would overheat and slept fitfully as kept checking her but she never did!)

We also have an electric heater that we used - I would put in on in the morning before the children woke up (it does have a thermostat but I was a bit nervous about leaving it on all night).

HTH

Lynne

i would advise that you speak to your health visitor before setting off.

am in the same opinion as lynne, and wouldnt worry about taking a baby camping, but later in the year,

i would worry that it is too cold.

can you not wait a month or two? i think you would have a more relaxing time if you do.

HTH XXX

I've taken my babies camping since they were weeks old, in April in Scotland. If you keep them warm (and they have no health problems) they'll be just fine.  Ask the Health Visitor? If they don't know anything about camping they'll say no just in case. They always do when they don't really know.

I found the best way to keep them warm was to have them in with you and that goes x10 if you're breastfeeding. Have an extra wide airbed to yourself and a wide sleeping bag, tuck her into her normal night clothes and snuggle up. You'll need a fleece blanket to slung over your exposed shoulder while feeding though. Of course you have to follow the usual co-sleeping rules ie no alcohol or anything that would make you sleep too deeply. My OH likes a beer so he had his own bed.

Or if you don't fancy that, try and locate a good old fashioned carry cot, which is bigger than a Moses basket. Make sure you use a piece of insullation under it though, like a piece of cellular camping mat. If you get one with a seperate chassis then you can use it as a pram during the day. The Silver Cross ones were a good size. Ask around your friends with older kids...might be one in an attic somewhere.

sorry - i always suggest asking HV advise before commenting on babies' as i have no knowledge on the health background of each baby! (or parents)

i wasnt suggesting that your HV was the camping with babies Guru lol, now that would be handy mind you"!!!!!

4 of my babies have been prems, and there is no way that i couldve taken them camping at too young an age!!! but as soon as i could, i took them!!

xxx

we took our little one camping with us from an early age,unfortunately she didn't like grass,sand etc...but now loves it!!!we will soon be taking our other 9 month old little one for her first camping stint,we like the previous mummy,wrap them up in ,vest,fleece baby gro,cardiagn,thick baby sleeping bag/gro bag,even hat if really cold,and also sleep in with either one of us,mainly me because she too is breastfed.I too though slept fretfully thinking that she was either too cold,too hot etc...byut always slept soundly all night,the first couple of nights were fretfull though,probably ne wexperience etc...

I honestly wouldn't woryy about the cold,as long as they are in with you,getting your comfort and body heat etc...it wont be  a problem,

I also at one point had a small mamas & papas travel cot (around £25),that fitted on top of my airbed when she was really young.it litterally just folded out like a box,about 30cms high,not sure if youve ever seen one,its a good idea though if you really dont want to sleep "with" your baby....hope I've been of some help to you!!xx

Thanks everyone. I will speak with our HV this weekend. If the weather is really bad we won't go but today is nice !

Looking forward to going next weekend, but there are always other weeks if we get a cold spell this week.

Thanks again