Camping with a toddler?
Discussion
We're contemplating taking our three-year old to a music festival later this summer. I've been camping at festivals since I was a kid; my wife is less keen, but we've always had a small two-person tent without any luxuries when she's come along before and now we're contemplating getting a proper family tent and all the associated paraphernalia.
Anyone else tried it with a young family? Any advice for camping with a toddler?
Chris
Anyone else tried it with a young family? Any advice for camping with a toddler?
Chris
Camped with our kids from a young age. Not done a festival though and I'm not sure I'd be quite ready for that yet. That said my festival experiences consist almost entirely of Glastonbury and that can be an ordeal in itself without bringing kids into the mix, I'm sure that some other festivals are a bit more family friendly.
Difficult bit is keeping them warm at night so they sleep well. The have a habit of wriggling out of sleeping bags.
Difficult bit is keeping them warm at night so they sleep well. The have a habit of wriggling out of sleeping bags.
We took ours (2 & 4) to camp bestival last year where it rained hard for all 4 days and turned into a swamp. It was great.
I also took a 3 year old camping at Le Mans the year before. Many people thought I was mad but it too was great fun.
The camping was easy. Not sure we did anything different to normal, spent a fair bit of time in the tent and out and about - I guess the secret is good clothing.
Things we did:
Plenty of snacks in the tent.
Take a travel potty and you don't need to leave at night.
I always sleep in the pod with the kid in case they wake up disorientated and try to escape (never actually happened)
Enjoy
I also took a 3 year old camping at Le Mans the year before. Many people thought I was mad but it too was great fun.
The camping was easy. Not sure we did anything different to normal, spent a fair bit of time in the tent and out and about - I guess the secret is good clothing.
Things we did:
Plenty of snacks in the tent.
Take a travel potty and you don't need to leave at night.
I always sleep in the pod with the kid in case they wake up disorientated and try to escape (never actually happened)
Enjoy
We camped with Canvas Holidays for years and years with our4 kids from when they were babes in arms. All over France and Spain.
They now range from 25-33 and describe memories from those holidays as their most treasured. Camping is perfect for kids but arriving somewhere warm where it's all set up is perfect for mum and dad too.
They now range from 25-33 and describe memories from those holidays as their most treasured. Camping is perfect for kids but arriving somewhere warm where it's all set up is perfect for mum and dad too.
Thanks all.
The festival we're contemplating is a small local one, so it's not the end of the world if the experiment goes wrong and we end up driving home halfway through. I was thinking we'd do a dry run beforehand - possibly just in the garden to make sure everyone was warm enough and stuff.
Any recommendations on tent choice? There's only three of us so we don't need anything too huge. Also not got a massive budget (cool as the tippees and stuff look). Was thinking maybe one of these: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-mosedale-5-ten...
The festival we're contemplating is a small local one, so it's not the end of the world if the experiment goes wrong and we end up driving home halfway through. I was thinking we'd do a dry run beforehand - possibly just in the garden to make sure everyone was warm enough and stuff.
Any recommendations on tent choice? There's only three of us so we don't need anything too huge. Also not got a massive budget (cool as the tippees and stuff look). Was thinking maybe one of these: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-mosedale-5-ten...
It'll be fine. Maybe get some of those kids ear defenders if its too loud for them, but the fact that they'll be exposed to fresh air all day will mean they'll be flat out all night anyway. Take an extra blanket for over the sleeping bag if its cold. Look at sleep pods, theyre pretty good for car camping as they can move about in them (works well for adult ones too!)
Chris71 said:
Thanks all.
The festival we're contemplating is a small local one, so it's not the end of the world if the experiment goes wrong and we end up driving home halfway through. I was thinking we'd do a dry run beforehand - possibly just in the garden to make sure everyone was warm enough and stuff.
Any recommendations on tent choice? There's only three of us so we don't need anything too huge. Also not got a massive budget (cool as the tippees and stuff look). Was thinking maybe one of these: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-mosedale-5-ten...
We went second hand on tent. Ours is pretty huge - central space and 3 bedrooms. it was a godsend when in the pouring rain. Having somewhere inside which is not too small is pretty important. It's a Vango colorado 600 I think. Big is good (although heavier to carry and a pain to erect). The festival we're contemplating is a small local one, so it's not the end of the world if the experiment goes wrong and we end up driving home halfway through. I was thinking we'd do a dry run beforehand - possibly just in the garden to make sure everyone was warm enough and stuff.
Any recommendations on tent choice? There's only three of us so we don't need anything too huge. Also not got a massive budget (cool as the tippees and stuff look). Was thinking maybe one of these: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/coleman-mosedale-5-ten...
I wouldn't spend £300 on a new tent when you can get practically a brand new one on Gumtree for a lot less. Ours was £80. It is fairly well used but will last us for a good few years and then we'll sell it back to gumtree (probably for £80). You can get barely used ones which are better than the one you have linked to for a £fewhundred second hand. just put it up in a garden beforehand and take a lot of extra pegs.
Other things to take.
Camping chairs - we have the canvas ones and they are also great.
We also take a table - getting off the floor for cooking and sitting is key. Much more civilised.
My top tip for a festival is to use a wallpaper pasting table. £10 in B&Q, sits on the bottom of your trolley on the way to the site, they last 3 days and then you can leave it behind (somewhat wasteful but it is knackered after 3 days so meh).
a gas stove.
a cool box with frozen wine in it - big boxes of wine freeze and keep your fridge bits cold for 2 1/2 days in my experience.
head torches.
Had a look at second hand tents, but the decent ones were surprisingly close to the new price, so intead we got one of these for £199 from Go Outdoors: https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/tents/2007-catalina-500...
It's a bit bigger than I had in mind, but it seems to be about the smallest one that allows you to stand up inside the sleeping section, comes with a divider between the two 'bedrooms' etc.
Looking forward to trying it out now. Planning to do a trial run locally somewhere before we take it to a festival.
It's a bit bigger than I had in mind, but it seems to be about the smallest one that allows you to stand up inside the sleeping section, comes with a divider between the two 'bedrooms' etc.
Looking forward to trying it out now. Planning to do a trial run locally somewhere before we take it to a festival.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff