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Topic: Camping With Young Children

sjs1909

30/1/2013 at 3:47pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Gelert Bliss 4

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Hello!
We are in the process of building up our camping equipment for this year to go camping with our 2 young children, our little boy is 4 and our little girl is 15 months.
We did last year very briefly have a trailer tent which we bought 2nd hand off ebay, big mistake, poles missing etc, nightmare. So that went!

We have some bits and bobs but this is the first time we have been camping with little ones so we are pretty much starting from scratch.

We have decided to go for a Kampa Bamburgh which looks great and really roomy. Getting a stove and we have a camping kitchen, a little nervous about cooking while camping, (obviously not inside the tent!!) The bamburgh has a big canopy which we have been told you can cook under it as the front is totally open right across the width of the tent.
Any tips for camping with kiddies greatly appreciated! ! :)
Thankyou!!
SJS1909

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I'll make a list ......

youlbury

30/1/2013 at 4:20pm
Location: Cornwall
Outfit: Outdoor Revolution Ozone 6.0 xtr Vario

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Warm kids = Happy Kids...same as adults, some decent sleeping bags are a must.

There are plenty of options sleeping wise Sims etc or specific childrens air beds.

Just have fun, make everything an adventure

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It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.

bentondeep

30/1/2013 at 7:24pm
Location: nottinghamshire
Outfit: Vango Monte Verde 900 Diablo 900

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Go somewhere with electric so you can hook lights up and more importantly a heater. Iv been camping with my kids since they were about 18 months and now they are 8, they absolutely love it.
From day 1 the girls have slept on a junior ready bed. The ones with a Disney character on them witch they have only just upgraded. They are a little thin but they always had a fleece blanket as well as fleece onsies and never complained about the cold.
Take plenty of changes of clothes as kids are kids. A laptop wit a good selection of films is also a good idea as that can occupy them for a few hours if the weather is rubbish.
We always try to find a site with a play area. If you can pitch next to it or near as dam it the kiddies can play while you guys chill in the great British summer weather.
But most of all, explore, go for walks and tire them out that always worked with us.

Hope this is a little help

vwstarbug

30/1/2013 at 8:30pm
Location: Dudley West Midlands
Outfit: Outwell Montana 6

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* Plenty of clothes
* Extra blankets
* Laptop/DVD for films if raining
* Box of paper, crayons, etc. My kids always liked to make a scrapbook of our trip day by day
* Box of toys/games eg. cards, top trump cards, etc
* Ignore the rules you have at home concerning washing, time for bed and eating. A few days with late nights, junk food and wet ones instead of a bath won't kill them.
* Mostly chillax and enjoy!!

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Smoke me a kipper ............ I'll be back for breakfast!!!!!

sjs1909

30/1/2013 at 9:17pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Gelert Bliss 4

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Wow, these are so helpful, thanks guys, I cant believe how helpful everybody is on this website, it's great!

We're really looking forward to it!

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I'll make a list ......

lou-oz

30/1/2013 at 9:22pm
Location: None Entered
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My boys were the same age as yours when we started camping with them 2 years ago.

Bedrooms next to each other are good and ours you can unzip inbetween the bedrooms. Means if they do wake in night you can get to them quickly.

We brought them both junior sleeping bags. For the youngest I used one of DH old belts to tie it off part down so he couldn't slip down too far.

Laptop for DVDs good, a small selection of toys.

We also got a cheap pop up play tent. Keeps them amused whilest we're setting upfor a bit.

sjs1909

30/1/2013 at 9:53pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Gelert Bliss 4

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Love the idea for pop up tent! Thats brilliant, would never have thought of that!

My little boy has a sleeping bag but my youngest hasnt yet. When we had our TT the little ones only stayed one night with us so we put her in her usual sleeping bag that she has in her cot but put a blanket inside it and wrapped it round her and put one over the top. She was lovely and toasty :-)

My other question, or should i say worry, is the whole cooking situation. Now obviously i know this isnt to be done inside the tent, but last time we were away we saw people cooking in their sun canopys with the front of the tent all opened up. Is this safe?? The Kampa Bamburgh does have a large living area and then the additional canopy looks huge and very open which looks ideal if its raining for cooking, but with 2 young children its just something that really worries me ....
What do you all do?

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I'll make a list ......

masekwm

31/1/2013 at 7:58am
Location: High Wycombe
Outfit: Montana Lake and Icarus 500

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I cook under the canopy but you need to be aware of fire risks, so you should back a way to put one out if needed

robertjp

31/1/2013 at 10:32am
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I am in a similar situation but definitely in two minds....we went camping last year with our first daughter at 18 months....it rained the entire weekend and on the only night she did stop in the tent she woke every hour...it was kind of a 'trial run' for us to see what equipment we wanted to buy...

It didnt put us off but it did make me think that perhaps we should wait until both kids are over 2 before going again (our latest addition is 3 weeks old). We decided we should use the 18months - 2 year to build up the equipment list!

However on the flipside i do think a 6 month old may actually be easier than an 18 month old....

I know the two year old would love the camping now and we have a little 3 man we can use in the garden for fun and to get her used to it...

Be inrigued to know how many people go camping with kids under 2....?

BTW Kampa Bamburgh is on my shortlist too. The Vango Maritsa is quite a similar design for another one to consider....

nickson71

31/1/2013 at 12:14pm
Location: Lancashire
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We are going camping for the first time with our little one in March and she'll be just past her second birthday

we arre going relatively local assuming I remember to get the site booked!

after that we are camping in April then possible a couple more this year

popup tents a good idea but that maybe for next year

bentondeep

31/1/2013 at 3:48pm
Location: nottinghamshire
Outfit: Vango Monte Verde 900 Diablo 900

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Take a look at my images and you will see our set up with the cooker under the canopy. I cant speak for every stove but i cant see ours giving off that big a flame it would burn the tent down. Just make sure its not touching the side. Also most tents now should be very fire retardant. And also if your cooking your not going to stray too far.
I would say tho the length of hose for the stoves are generally long enough for the bottle to be outside of the tent if that makes sense. Also when turning off the stove turn the regulator and not the dials on the stove first, let the flame die out the turn the stove dials.

coll26

31/1/2013 at 8:38pm
Location: Newcastle
Outfit: Hi Gear Voyager 6

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Totally agree with all the above!

We also take our little boys wellingtons and waterproofs no matter what time of year it is too!

Favourite toy/teddy from home, book for bedtime stories etc.

Most of all as already mentioned, relax! When we first camped I got stressed about how much or what he was eating, what time he went to bed etc which meant neither me or him got to really enjoy it! Fresh air and the days excitement will hopefully tire them out and you!

Enjoy!

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