Quote: Originally posted by jaktent on 14/06/2005
I remember similar question and somebody suggested cutting foam mats to the shape of the bedroom pod. Not needed to try this yet but it sounds a good idea.
I think that was me....I used to camp with friends that always brought hordes of kids along. They floored one pod with mats cut to shape and put all the kids in there with their sleeping bags and a few pillows. The kids (they were all under ten) would sleep in a lumpy pile, like pups.
I think that most parents fret too much when they first take a baby camping. I know I did! But honestly, as long as they`re warm enough and well fed, there`s not much else to worry about, except perhaps the sun. They have their beloved parents around 24/7, lots of attention, lots of people around to talk to them and lots of new things to look at and explore. They love it. it`s far more like the community living that humans were designed for.
Our first long trip to France with our daughter, then nine months, was for four weeks. She was a gregarious baby and any time she was in her travel cot outside she used to spend her life yelling at passers by to come and talk to her. Everyone did, of course, and she "knew" more folk on our site than we did. She had a great time, and it was only when we came home that we hit trouble. She didn`t like the ceilings(truth!), she couldn`t bear to let me out of her sight and she was miserably lonely for weeks.
The second year we took her to France she spent most of her time trying to steal shoes (she likes shoes) out of other folks tents. Once again, great way to meet people!
Last year we only went on short trips, but it`s still amazing what she remembers about it. She`s nearly four now, and she and her brother (nearly nine) are building campsites in the corner of the lounge and planning how to arrange their sleeping pod, and how many times they`re going to go to the pool on the first day.
So plan the essentials well and then relax, is my advice to all newbie camping parents. I have years of happy memories of my babies in tents....my first (late) son crawling around the shady side of the tent on a baby harness, clad only in a nappy and manky T-shirt, covered in chocolate biscuits. My second son used to get bathed in the washing up basin...he could just fit into the basin, so you only needed about three cupfuls of water! And my daughter and her shoe horde....lol...