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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Black-Pig on October 16, 2014, 07:54:44 PM

Title: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Black-Pig on October 16, 2014, 07:54:44 PM: So my wife and I have just had our first child, and as I got our camper trialer with an extra annex, that is called a kids room (only door out is through main area unless the joins are undone) I was wondering what ages people started camping with their kids?
I think I remember going at about age 4 maybe for the first time. But that was with a heavy old tent, not the rig I have now.
As it is coming ito summer I thought that as my daughter is going to be 6months old by the time we head off for a weekend that she should be ok.
Thoughts?
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: StrvnMrvn on October 16, 2014, 07:57:23 PM: Get them in early, so they start to enjoy what it is like to be away from all the electrical stuff ie. iPad / iPod.

They also have to start thinking of fun stuff to do using their own imagination!!!
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Garfish on October 16, 2014, 08:01:56 PM: We took ours from around that age but at CParks for convenience and access to laundry / rubbish as we didn't want to carry heap of soiled nappys. I have read a number of my swag blogs where they took them younger no thing as old enough it is about the parents being prepared equipped to manage if you and partner think you are sorted then do it get them started early

Sent from my fingers via my brain
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Clouty on October 16, 2014, 08:02:00 PM: She'll be fine..
Our young fella was 2 months old and we were up at double island point for a few days..
And we only had the Oztent as well ;D oh the good old days :D

:cheers:
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Bird on October 16, 2014, 08:03:07 PM: 6mths...
younger you go the easier it is..

We had (and still have) Southern Cross Extreme Trekker and had a portable cot for Cameron to sleep in.. Worked brilliantly.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: nackdog on October 16, 2014, 08:05:04 PM: The first time took our son camping in a tent was at about 3 weeks old though was next to a friends shack. He was about 2 months old when we went free camping. Currently he is 9 months old and has done 6 trips that I can remember. The first 4 were in a tent with one free camp. The last two were with the camper. The last two were free camping in the camper. Has been really great though taken much planning to organise to make sure we had everything.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: lyn4680 on October 16, 2014, 08:06:05 PM: Agree with Strvn. Ours was 9 weeks when we did it first o/nighter. He's almost 18 months now and has spent 10+ weeks 'under canvas'. And he loves it.

We rarely use a c'park. I find them more difficult as you are very close to the neighbors and if he has a rough night I don't feel quite so bad.

6 months will be fine. We did a 4 week road trip too north when he was 5 months and it was a great age.

Now if we're going for more than 4 nights in one spot we take the full sized cot from the grandparents place. It would take an extra 5-10 mins to set up/pull down. And we find it easier to pack plus the LO sleeps much better and my back isn't destroyed from the bloody portacot.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: MDS69 on October 16, 2014, 08:07:46 PM: Our boy was about 9 months old and we tented it in a CP.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: V8CRSA on October 16, 2014, 08:08:47 PM: Our son was only 4 months old when we first took him away camping.
He started of in a portacot and has just moved into his own swag at 2.
It's good to get them started young, just keep them warm and they will be fine.

Matt and Brooke
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Silvo on October 16, 2014, 08:09:18 PM: 6weeks for the first.. 2 weeks for the second.. when they are younger it is way easier.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Nomad on October 16, 2014, 08:23:43 PM: We camped with our daughter at Teewah when she was 2 months and we were building our house there.
We decided to run to Rainbow and she wouldnt go to sleep driving up the beach but as soon as we hit the Cooloola trail which was a bit rough she dropped of to sleep.......still does today at age 9.

:cheers:
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Coiled on October 16, 2014, 08:36:36 PM: Ours had his first camp at 3 months. Due to my health (back injury) we didn't go camping again until he was 9 months but head out very regularly.

I cannot recommend it highly enough as he loves experiencing the new things in the outdoors and also the undivided attention of his parents with the absence of TV and mobile phones etc. I find I spend my most quality time with my son when we get away camping. He is now 22 months and has his 'jobs' when we go camping that he knows he does to help, like putting the pegs and ropes back in the bag when packing up.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: robsjack on October 16, 2014, 08:37:05 PM: We camped at our favourite spot as we did each year and set up a portable cot up in the tent for our 3 mth old daughter.
wasn't a problem at all.
rob
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: jd on October 16, 2014, 08:46:52 PM: We took our 1st camping at 6 weeks and to a concert at Kuranda. At about 6 months we spent a week up Lakefield at Hann crossing. Not a problem at all just make sure that mum is comfortable especially if breast feeding and its all good. When their that young its easy. We prefer bush camping away from people which makes it easier during the night if they wake up. Our 2nd is 7 weeks now but haven't been camping yet but not far away hopefully.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: oldmate on October 16, 2014, 08:47:19 PM: I was born in a tent, well I think I was, my mother kept asking me that when I was growing up, something to do with doors ???

;D
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: austastar on October 16, 2014, 09:06:00 PM: Hi
A few weeks only, both of them.
Now they sometimes take me.

Cheers
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: jclures on October 16, 2014, 09:06:58 PM: Quote from: oldmate on October 16, 2014, 08:47:19 PM
I was born in a tent, well I think I was, my mother kept asking me that when I was growing up, something to do with doors ???

;D

I must have been born in the same tent, just goes to show how small this world is then. ;D
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: oldmate on October 16, 2014, 09:09:13 PM: Quote from: jclures on October 16, 2014, 09:06:58 PM
I must have been born in the same tent, just goes to show how small this world is then. ;D

Ahhh someone yous didn't have doors either ;D ;D
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: jclures on October 16, 2014, 09:13:58 PM: Nope. ;D

As to taking kids camping, does it count now taking your father instead. >:D
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: JD-120 on October 16, 2014, 09:20:47 PM: well im going to buck the trend with this one.

We didnt take our kiddies camping till they were 5 and 7. We have only just started camping ourselves and loving getting out and about.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Muckinhell on October 16, 2014, 09:23:20 PM: 1st son was 4 mnths in a tent and it poured rain most of the second day, 2nd son was 6 weeks, he just turned 1 and been camping 5 times in that past year since. much easier when there little and cant run around yet....or crawl away to start eating good only knows what hahahaha but there awsome to watch there reactions to the wild life etc.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Rumpig on October 16, 2014, 09:40:04 PM: 6 months....you'll be fine, we had both our kids camping on Fraser Island on the Eastern beach in a tent well before they were a year old, and have friends have a few month old baby camped on there one time with us also. We used to take a porta cot for the kids to sleep in to put inside the tent, it was what they were used to sleeping in when we out at family and friends places on weekends etc, so they were used to it.
At 3 years of age our eldest went to Cape York sleeping in a tent with us, and our youngest crossed The Simpson Desert at 3 years of age sleeping in the same trusted tent also 8) 8)
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: discorover on October 16, 2014, 11:22:39 PM: Took my eldest(now 4) away when he was 8 months was all great we don't usually stay in caravan parks. However on this trip we broke journey to do washing etc at a busy caravan park and ended up having a blue with the older couple behind us for our kids (mine and a mates)screaming and crying all the time they were here for a holiday and didn't want this noise. Funny thing was at this stage both were sleeping through the night from 6.30pm on and they were complaining about the noise during day. They ended up moving spots it left a bad taste in my mouth and 80% of the caravan park ended up coming to our spot once they heard the drama and told me I should've decked the bloke(as a new dad figured time to change that stratagy). Only time I've ever had an issue
First trip with 2 kids a 2yr old and a 6month old to Cape Leveque, great times.
And now I'm off in 3 weeks to Red bluff(quobba) on our first trip with 3 of the little tackers youngest being 8weeks.
I have found that the overnights need to be kept to a minimum these days we just try and pick a destination to spend a week or two at.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: discorover on October 16, 2014, 11:23:31 PM: Oh and the space in the back of the 4wd gets smaller and smaller
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Black-Pig on October 17, 2014, 12:02:07 AM: Quobba Point... 8) What a corker of a spot. Blow hole, the gold fish bowl, fishing... nice walk on the beach... if your into that! From our trip around Aus that is one of a favourite places, to the extent it is one of only a few places we said "lets stay here longer" and did. Hope you enjoy it mate.
I think we will give the camping a crack sooner rather than later.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: cassgazz on October 17, 2014, 06:55:53 AM: Both our kids were just below 6 months old when they first went camping.

The young fella was still using one of them bouncer things when we took him to Golden Beach camping, and the daughter was also just below 6 months. Took her to Omeo, and I can remember it was bloody cold. She was nice & warm though - we made sure of that.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: JCOJ on October 17, 2014, 07:22:58 AM: Our first was four weeks old when we took him away on his first camping trip and the second was about eight weeks old.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Spada on October 17, 2014, 07:23:30 AM: 6 weeks old for the first trip.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: camper48 on October 17, 2014, 07:33:09 AM: hi all.my boys went camping as babies in tents then a jayco finch camper. now there babies have/are camping in tents etc
.just go for it I say.
pete
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Green rv on October 17, 2014, 07:44:47 AM: Hi All
the wife was so heavily pregnant with our first son when we went to fraser near on seven years ago that she took the hospital paper work with her but he ended staying in their for a few more weeks after we got back
he also did a trip in utero to baffle creek omg that turned nasty getting bogged coming off the beach and near losing the hilux to the sea.
the kids love camping and their eyes light up every time i book a new camp in
took both camping under 6 months
:cheers:
Ads

same with my parents they took us kids camping as babies back in the day when you didn't have to have the beach buggy registered to drive on the beach at DI, on one trip as a 2yo they had the army looking for me as i had wondered off found me a few hrs later in one of the old army bunkers (defending the country from invasion i guess ) fun times Ads
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Prado120 on October 17, 2014, 03:11:46 PM: We took my now 5 year old camping when he was 3 months old, rained solid for 2 weeks except for one day which was 38 degrees, we were happy to have the rain back! developed a fever, wouldn't sleep, took him in the car etc, took him to a doctor all good just a new environment we put it down to, decided we would wait a couple of years before we camp again.......the bug hit & 8 months later we took him to Cape York for 6 weeks, that trip was either going to make or break our marriage, lucky it made us more solid & now the kids ask every 2nd day when we are going camping next..... I ask the wife the same thing >:D
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Rumpig on October 17, 2014, 04:58:55 PM: Quote from: Prado120 on October 17, 2014, 03:11:46 PM
...developed a fever, wouldn't sleep, took him in the car etc, took him to a doctor all good just a new environment we put it down to, decided we would wait a couple of years before we camp again.......
sounds like our kids on some of our holidays...lol...we had our 3 year old running 40 degree temps whilst camped in a tent at Weipa when we went to cape York in 2006, she woke during the middle of the night halucinating and screaming like we were hacking a limb off of her, fellow random campers at the park even asked us if she was ok the next day. Then in 2010 when we did our Simpson Desert trip, our other child who was then 3 also at that time, had a 1.00 a.m mercy dash to the Coober Pedy Hospital after she was running similar temperatures and coughing so much she was throwing up and struggling to breath (she'd been croock in the weeks leading up to our holiday also). Cost us a fortune the next day at the Coober Pedy chemist shop, but after some ventilin and some other drugs she came good after a couple of days, which was good as we were headed for the desert......the joy of kids as they say ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Barry G on October 17, 2014, 06:05:22 PM: Took our twin foster boys to the Port Fairy Folk Festival at 6 months.
Stayed in a CP, the bubs had a great time being fussed over all day and slept well.
Muchness hassle with young'uns before they can crawl.
up to about 9 months will be easy, after that make sure the bub can't 'escape'!
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Darren253 on October 17, 2014, 08:35:32 PM: 4 weeks... We did have a break for about 8 months once he started crawling until he could walk. All good again now
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: RallyDog on October 17, 2014, 09:10:36 PM: First boy was 6 months the second boy was 12 months both love it especially cooking marshmallows on the fire.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: discorover on October 17, 2014, 09:39:30 PM: Best thing about camping with kids before they can walk is when mum baths kids and puts them on a mat before bed time only for dad to watch them crawl straight off into that fine red dust we have in northern WA. Priceless
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: kylarama on October 18, 2014, 05:31:39 AM: Both my girls were born in April and their first camp experience was our annual Murray River bush camp on the November Cup weekend.
All our friends kids are around the same age, so the kids have had a blast from day one. A 6 month old is far less work that a 4yo in my opinion!
I've got a great pic somewhere of 3 kids around the 8 month mark having a bath together in an old metal wash tub on the banks of the river.

My 17yo step daughter has been camping from day dot too, including a 4 month trip with us when she was 8. She's introduced her boyfriend to the world of camping and wants something a like RAV4 for her first car, so she can keep bush camping.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Trailer Bloke on October 18, 2014, 06:39:28 AM: My son was 3 and he loved it great to see kids out of their natural habitat he was like a feral kid.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: 99disco on October 18, 2014, 12:34:14 PM: Yep my daughter was about 3 months old and my son was 10 days old his first trip. We then did a 5 week trip around wa when he was 4 months old. Get out there and enjoy camping with your kids mate, you just need to be organised.

Shane
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: StevenB on November 29, 2014, 07:02:19 PM: Daughter was 6 months

first boy was 9 months and we did his first, a 4 week trip through the Flinders up to Birdsville and back through western NSW

2nd boy was almost 1, his first trip was 4 weeks out and back to the Red Centre
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: tk421 on December 01, 2014, 01:23:23 PM: #1 - 4months old tent camping
#2 - 4 weeks old, CP
#3 - 7 months old, Sydney>Fraser>Sydney road trip. (free and caravan park tent camping)

Guess it runs in the family - both my wife and I were taken out bush by our parents since before we were one year old. :)
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: NewieCamper on December 01, 2014, 01:33:11 PM: Can't remember exactly, thinking it ws around 6months tent camping in Nat park, but with running water, showers etc. we got some funny looks bathing the kids in the washing up sinks at the warrumbungles.

It is easy when they can't move about by themselves and feed from mummy. Gets harder when they start to crawl and eat 'special' food, then easier again once they can walk and eat what everyone else does.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Footy Shorts Shane on December 01, 2014, 01:46:47 PM: Quote from: Nomad on October 16, 2014, 08:23:43 PM
wouldnt go to sleep driving up the beach but as soon as we hit the Cooloola trail which was a bit rough she dropped of to sleep.......

My two did the exact same.
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: lilstookie on December 04, 2014, 08:55:25 PM: Number one was three weeks old in our rooftop tent, number two was four months old and number three was 19 days old when she started her life on the road with us in the soft floor and was older than we planned for her to be as she had jaundice so spent time in SCN. Do it when you want...all they need is food, warmth and love. Doesn't matter where they are!

Lil :)

Sent from my fingertips using my brain
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: Heavensent on December 05, 2014, 12:09:52 AM: i put 3-6 months but truthly my oldest would most prob been lucky if he was 3 months old.
my little girl was about 6 months.
she slowly getting better at it.
my boy been sleeping in a swag since 18 months old, in his own swag since 2 years old.
he happily now camps under awning in swag on stretcher.
actually sleeps better like that over sleeping in his own room.

so proud of him.
hes happiest out bush with Daddys troll, swag and a camp fire.
could you ask for anymore
Title: Re: How old were your children when you first took them camping?
Post by: cupcake on December 05, 2014, 10:34:37 AM: 7 weeks for the first to kenilworth, cant recall with second.
first was 3 mths old when went for fraser for a week too.