Camping with a baby!

[chrangharris]

DH and I have talked about doing some camping this summer with Misha. Any tips on how to make it go smoothly with a baby? Also, how have you guys done the sleeping thing with a baby? Misha has never slept in bed with us so we wouldn't feel comfortable having her share a sleeping bag with us- what other solutions have been done? Thanks!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by chrangharris
Any tips on how to make it go smoothly with a baby?

Get a 40' motorhome like this - camping with or without baby will be a breeze!



Ok, so since that more than likely isn't going to happen....

I would suggest getting, at the very least, one of the pop up campers that pull behind a car or truck. You can find them used, for very reasonable prices - less than $5,000.00 for sure - and by the time you buy a tent and everything else that you would need for tenting, you'd probably spend that much anyway. This would also solve the problem of where Misha sleeps. You and DH sleep on one of the pull out sides and Misha sleeps on the table that folds down to a bed - and you can put some sort of board or something up on the one side that would be open so she wouldn't fall out. Of course, once she starts climbing and crawling all over the place, you might have to get a little cage for her to sleep in so she doesn't crawl in with you. (kidding of course)

Other than that I have no idea about camping with a baby except that you might want to get a really really big truck or van because besides all the normal camping stuff, and clothes for you and DH, you'll have to haul around a ton of toys, bicycles (or tricycles as the case may be) and all the other baby "necessities" that are required for a weekend away. Plan on bringing extra clothes for her because she will get dirty and fall into unexpected puddles and stuff like that, but that's all part of the fun of camping. I would recommend camping to anyone/everyone - especially families. There is nothing that even comes close the the experience of camping.

Oh, and the only other thing I can think of is if you are totally new at this and starting out with nothing, try and find used stuff. It will be a fraction of the cost of new, and then you can figure out what you like and don't like without wasting a lot of money. We ran across a young couple with about a 10 month old baby one weekend last year. They were camping in the spot next to us. They had went out and bought everything brand new - brand new nice big tent, new camp stove, new sleeping bags, new water bottles that you lay in the sun to heat up so you can take a shower, new everything! By the end of that first weekend they were decided they were going to get a pop up camper or a trailer because tenting just didn't cut it - especially with the baby. They were literally throwing some of this brand new stuff away!! I saw it in the garbage and had we not be a little late getting out, I would have dug throught that garbage and salvaged this perfectly good stuff!! So anyway, my point is, I'm sure there are others out there like this couple who are more than willing to part with their camping gear at a reduced price, you just need to find them - and you'll save yourself a ton of money. Then when you've gone a few times, and are getting the hange of it and figuring out what you need and what you don't need, then you can out and buy new. Also, for the pop ups and trailers and such, they take such a tremendous hit in depreciation the second you drive them off the lot that buying new just isn't worth it. The motorhome in the picture you see above? We got it at about 1/2 price when it was only 3 years old - and it was like brand new! Start your researching now and by the time camping season hits, you should be well prepared.

Sorry for writing a novel (again!) but I love camping (our form of it anyway )and I think you'll have a blast camping with Misha, and I just hate to see young people waste money when there's no reason for it.

Oh, and after all that....don't forget the camera!!!!

[caseysmom]

We love to camp! I never went when the kids were babies though, how old is your baby? I talk about getting some type of rv and the kids get upset they love the tent!

[Kristl]

I'm glad Misha doesn't sleep in bed with you guys...in the past 2 or 3 months 4 babies have died from suffocation by sleeping with adults (on a couch and in a bed) in the Peoria-Bloomington IL area. It's scary!

[luvofallhorses]

can you get a portable crib for Misha? my cousin heather has one for her baby girl taisia rae when she spends the nite at our house with her hubby,reno

[chrangharris]

Keep the great replies coming!

Debbie,
We do have some gear as we have gone camping before! Our tent is fairly small though! Are you offering to buy us a pop-up?? That would solve all of our problems! Maybe, I'll hop on ebay and see if I could find a bigger tent used. I could also look in the classifieds and see about finding a used pop-up for a reasonable price. It would be worth the investment if we use it alot!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I found the perfect one!!!

http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.as...SearchMethod=3

Looks like it needs a little renovation, but that's fun for a family too! And....it's an Airstream!! A vintage one no less!

There is an entire contingent of people who own and love their vintage Airstreams. See here for more on that.

http://www.airstream.com/airstreamer/index.html

I see they also have a classified section here, so you could see if this is a good price or not.

Airstreams are so cool! And I just love the vintage ones. Some of these people really get into it, and there are Airstream rallies and everything. What a blast!

Ok, so if an old run down Airstream isn't exactly what you were thinking.....here are some other links to pop ups. Some may be sold, but at least you get an idea. Also, this is a national website and I know it cost something to place an ad here, so you might be able to find some nice ones much cheaper in your local paper.

http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.as...SearchMethod=3

http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.as...SearchMethod=3

http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.as...SearchMethod=3

http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.as...SearchMethod=3

http://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.as...SearchMethod=3

This rvonline.com place is great. Terry spends so much time on this site. He could probably tell you about every single one for sale over 40'.

But like I say, at least this gives you some idea. And I would say that if you plan on doing any amount of camping with Misha and any future babies, the money you spend on a pop up or a trailer will be one of the best investments you could make.

Oh, and I wish I could buy you a pop-up. I'd do it in a heartbeat just because I love it so much, but unfortunately we've got vet bills that are growing out of control these days.....

[chrangharris]

Wow Debbie! That is a great site! What are some things we should be looking for in a camper? Do you think a pop-up would be best for someone starting out?

[caseysmom]

This whole camping this snowballs...you start out simple and it adds on...I have been thinking about a pop up tent and then think well I am not sure if my odyssey will pull it...I'll need a big suv....and it goes on and on... Thats how it was with my folks too...we started out in a tent...went to a camper, then a fifth wheel, than a trailor, then a motorhome.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I think pop-ups are great! They fold down and become so compact that, unless you live a an "association" like we do, you should be able to park it either in your driveway or back yard - which is very convenient and saves on the cost of a parking spot somewhere.

I really don't know that much about pop-ups. When we go to RV shows, I always want to check them out but Terry always pulls me away because he'd rather spend the time on the big rigs. But I have made it into a few and they've really come a long way! A lot of them even have small bathrooms in them these days! Of course you have to close the half door and pull a curtain to cover the top part but hey, it's better than running 2 blocks to the campground bathroom in the middle of the night!

They should come with some sort of heater, I think A/C is optional and might increase the cost significantly, most come with some sort of stove. If you don't have A/C 20 amps is probably enough, if you have A/C you're going to need 30 amps. Just look for good quality construction. Of course better quaity is going to cost more, but higher cost doesn't necessarily mean better quality - just like everything in life. I'll see if I can find some RV shows in your area. This is the time of year for them - or outdoor shows. A lot of times they'll have camping and boating shows together in one. These are really nice for research because there are so many manufacturers represented. You can go into each one, talk to the salespeople and really learn a lot. Then when you narrow it down to a few brands, you can start checking the newspapers for used.

Trailers are nice, and they're really family friendly with bunk beds and everything - on the other end of the trailer from the master bed which is nice but I think you're talking more money. Of course, here again you can find good used ones, but I still think pop-ups are a great place to start. I would actually recommend against anytime of motorhome - Class A, Class C, gas or diesel, because they're really not family friendly. Sleeping space is so limited, and then you're really talking about a lot more money too.

As for what makes a good pop-up, I really couldn't tell you, but I can tell you that with the big Class A diesels, usually it's the stuff you can't see - like the chassis and the engine - the significantly increase the cost whereas the interior sometimes impacts the price but not as signficantly. So what does this mean in terms of a pop-up? Make sure it has a good frame and axle and solid construction. You don't want anything that appears flimsy and wimpy because it just won't hold up. I would think good quality canvas would be important too, because you don't want leaks. After you look at a few of them you will be able to tell the differences between flimsy and good quality.

And don't be in a hurry. Don't snap up the first one you look at. Like I say, if you start looking now, you have plenty of time before camping season gets here. I'll pick Terry's brain about this tonight also, but he probably doesn't know much about them either since he's so focused on the big rigs (I sometimes think he wants to go too big!) but I'll see what he says.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by caseysmom
This whole camping this snowballs...you start out simple and it adds on...I have been thinking about a pop up tent and then think well I am not sure if my odyssey will pull it...I'll need a big suv....and it goes on and on... Thats how it was with my folks too...we started out in a tent...went to a camper, then a fifth wheel, than a trailor, then a motorhome.

This is soooo true!!! The only problem with us is we started out with a 40'er and now Terry wants a 42' or 45'! There are already places we can't go because we don't fit, and that's only going to be worse if we go bigger! I actually wouldn't mind going a bit smaller, but you know that male ego - bigger is always better....isn't it?

[caseysmom]

I live in one of those associations too, that is another reason why I have stuck with a tent....

[caseysmom]

Your RV is gorgeous you don't need to go bigger! I would love to have one of those.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by caseysmom
Your RV is gorgeous you don't need to go bigger! I would love to have one of those.

Thank you. That's what I keep telling Terry. Thank goodness sanity has prevailed....so far.

[RICHARD]

Our family has always camped with small children in attendance.

We started in a station wagon and tent. The babies and mom got the wagon.

We graduated to a truck and a shell, with a large tent.

Start out with a few over night trips and keep lists of what you might need-think light weight and simple. Sometimes a trip can be cut short by some kind of event that need a fast packing job.
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Camping with a baby goes better when you take along a galvanized tub and a few sun showers. A sun shower is a plastic bag that you fill with water and hang in the sun...great for a baby clean up.


You can rent tow campers and RV's.....that way you can get the feel of driving/towing one.