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Hi There

We have a 5 month old baby and plan to have another one in a couple of years. We have decided to start camping, but cant decide on a tent, do you buy a tent that you plan to use for the next ten years or so, or do you tend to re purchase? At the moment we are looking at the Sunncamp family vario range as like the large living space but not sure if we should start a little smaller or could be pitching through the night!!!!.

Thanks

Julia

We are looking to go away for august bank holiday with our be then 4 month old so any advice on camping with a baby would be much appriciated.

Graham

We haven't camped yet, but have family that do with babies, one thing they said was a camp site with a family bathroom, as trying to wash them in a shower cubicale is a nightmare. Though at this age not too much of a problem.

Good luck over the August weekend, we are planning to go at the end of July so will have to have make a decision soon.

Julia

My friend has an Outwell Montana 6 and used to take the travel cot with her camping - the bedroom pods have plenty of headroom to allow you to fir the cot in easily. It also has a sewn in groundsheet, which not only cuts down on draughts, it will stop any child crawling out the tent.

Hope that gives you something to start on. And welcome to UKCS, you'll find loads of advice here.

Quote: Originally posted by xtinexoop on 04/7/2007

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Tent wise with a baby to look after you want something really quick to put up, or that one of you can put up alone - and maybe with one big sleeping area so you can have the baby in with you?

Christine

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We first took our daughter at 8 months and used a frame tent. But we also have a coleman trispace for short breaks. The advantage with the frame tent is that you have loads of room inside for cooking and changing and crawling etc! So we definately prefer that for longer hols. We now have 2 kiddies (3 and 1) so consider ourselves pros at family camping! Here are my tips... a travel cot is unnecessary, we used a childs airbed (which is shaped like a rubber dinghy) it takes up so much less space and its not like they will fall far. When they are bigger make sure you zip the inner tent closed with zips at the top so they can't escape! High chairs are unnecessary - use the buggy, or as they get bigger a small childs camping chair and use reins to strap them in. (A coolbox or similar then makes a good table). Obviously for food, jars are the easiest way to go. For milk I bought the ready made cartons and used the disposable steribottles that are available. Once walking wellies and an all in one rain coat is a must!

My advice is enjoy it .. the kiddies get so much out of life outdoors... and its a great family activity. Nighttime wakes shouldn't be a problem as they are usually exhausted after all the fresh air. Make sure they are warm enough though... stock up on the fleecy babygros and pyjamas on sale in the winter to use when camping. Have fun!