Camping with a baby!...

[MikeyC]

Hi Folks!

I've had my 71 westy since the end of last summer and as yet have not camped in her!

I'm planning on attending a few shows this year with my family...wife and baby, Honey who is 13 months old.

My question is...where does she sleep? ...The baby, not the wife!

Whats your experiences?

btw... we've not got an awning as yet but are looking at them, if tat makes a difference?!

Thanks,
Michael

...the bus...

...the baby...

like it makes a difference?!

 

[creationblue]

My lil ones slept great on the cab bunk in the Westy, they also cant fall out, which is a bonus :lol:
Just

 

[junkyardjim]

Both of my lads started off in the cab bunk (original Devon type), in fact our youngest was in a moses basket,
in the cab bunk! hes now 4 (but bigger than most 6 year olds) and still sleeps there.

 

[CHILDSEY]

Hi Michael,
My boy is 3 and sleeps fine in bunk
over front seats.
We have another on the way,
so he may have to upgrade to the
bunk in the pop top soon.
I would definately get your self an awning,
gives you more room for your gear and sleeping!
Cheers Paul.

 

[bubba dubba]

Hi Mikey, babies and camping can be a bit of a challenge, i would say you definitely need an awning, the extra space is very much needed, for storing buggy, fridge (if its not built in?), chairs etc, and also when you put your little cherub to bed at night you and your mrs can a few drinks and chill out without worrying about noise and moving around disturbing her, our son sleeps in a travel cot at the end of the pull out bed (devon conversion) so a bit different to yours, when he gets a bit older im gonna get a cab bunk for him...........the only other thing to keep in mind as we didnt think about it last year is babies wake early and want to be up and about and looking in everybody else's vans and tents at 5 in the morning, this is where the awning comes in handy again to contain the little sod!!!! :roll: :lol:

good luck and enjoy..................kev

 

[AxlFoley]

I have shown this photo a few times, but this is howmy daughter slept in our van.

 

[aogrady]

Hi!

I want to know the answer to this also - our 1st baby is due anytime in the next few weeks - i have a 70 Westy

What do the hell do i need?! :shock: :shock: :shock:

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[ibérico]

You basically need :
-patience(lots!)
-time to get your van completely finished and upgraded and restored and modified...etc...as you want have any time left for yourself in the NeXT year
-this last point applies to any other hobbies you might have
-sleep(get as much as u can now!)
All this said...and now that my twins are nearly 11 months old...I'll say like in the burger place "I'm loving it!"
good luck!

 

[MikeyC]

thanks for the advice folks!

guess i need to find a bunk for the cab! the hooks are there but no bunk!

and it looks like an awning is a must!

might take out the buddy seat and sink and put the travel cot there as in AxlFoley's photo.

Thanks again

 

[dubscum]

last year we (me and mrs) did volksworld show in march, no heating, no propex and no interior, and had our (at the time) 8 month old son. He slept inbetween is on an air bed it was bloody freezing, i have a tin top so gonna get a bunker and a awning when i can afford it.

we now have a rock and roll bed in the back and when to cornwall for a week, he just slept in with us

 

[froggy]

I'm looking at fitting a cab bunk, we have a 4.5 year old and a 6 month, we have an awning and a full width RnR so dont really think its too much of an issue.
The only thing i haven't worked out yet is sterlising bottles but think that we might just buy some of the pre-sterlised ones from Mothercare and some of the ready made SMA milk

 

[Trikky2]

We used those prams where the "body" comes off the chassis. We folded and stowed the chassis on its wheels under the van and put the carrycot part on the rear cushion when we were in the van eating reading etc. and across the front seats when sleeping. We had an awning but could never be bothered to put it up since we always tended to tour and stay only one night. When they got bigger they slept in the bunks in the elevating roof and I made small barriers like wooden cot sides that slotted in place to stop them being able to fall out by accident.

 

[lemonyellow]

our little un slept in the back bit above the engine until he was to big for there now in the bunk in the roof

 

[Lang]

Our little one went to her first show & camped at 3 weeks old! Moses basket in the van with us. Rained most of the w/end so it helped that m8s/family had awnings. She's now 4 & for the last couple of years has slept in a cab bunk & loves it. Still don't have any heating but the addition of an awning has been a blessing.
Remeber kids are hardier than you think

 

[currylager]

Yeah its our turn too this year, our daughter is 4 months old now, so with her and a 4 month old puppy i'm probably going to have to buy a cab bunk (where is the best place to get one?) and i'm thinking of buying one of those front middle cab seats and a lap seat belt, so we can have the dog in the back and the Bab in the cab with us.

I'm finding it really inspirational hearing so many positive things about about camping with a littlun

 

[lard]

I'm looking at fitting a cab bunk, we have a 4.5 year old and a 6 month, we have an awning and a full width RnR so dont really think its too much of an issue.
The only thing i haven't worked out yet is sterlising bottles but think that we might just buy some of the pre-sterlised ones from Mothercare and some of the ready made SMA milk

Hi - my wife is looking over my shoulder (I didn't know the answer! ) and she said "tell them to get a cold water steriliser - using milton tablets - like this http://www.mothercare.com/Milton-co...1/279-0971001-4298553?_encoding=UTF8&mcb=core"

There you go 8)

 

[dubscum]

very late, very cold night, in a servise station. A very happy wrapped up 8month old

after all i brought is for the family .................. narrowed and slammed if for myself :lol:

 

[creationblue]

I have a 6y/o a 4y/o and a nearly 2, we all basically sleep in the awning, or ill sleep in the van with one and the breadknife in the awning with the other two, the nightmare is finding space for all the parafanalia we take with us :x car seats x 3 for a start takes valuble space once pitched up. I got the Westy dbl bed from the Conti thinking gr8 two will speep up there...........how wrong was I :roll: Kids!

Oh and it wasnt fun when the middle one had a screaming fit at 11pm once...........at least everyone knew us come the end :lol:

Keep ur eys peeled too, this was our escape artist :roll:

Just

 

[faux]

I have a 6y/o a 4y/o and a nearly 2, we all basically sleep in the awning, or ill sleep in the van with one and the breadknife in the awning with the other two, the nightmare is finding space for all the parafanalia we take with us :x car seats x 3 for a start takes valuble space once pitched up. I got the Westy dbl bed from the Conti thinking gr8 two will speep up there...........how wrong was I :roll: Kids!

Oh and it wasnt fun when the middle one had a screaming fit at 11pm once...........at least everyone knew us come the end :lol:

Keep ur eys peeled too, this was our escape artist :roll:

Just

:mrgreen: 1 Puck needed :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[creationblue]

Funny that Jon, was thinking the same :roll:

Just