New Born baby and Caravaning

[Brian_5106957]

Hi All,

We're expecting our second child in early May, oldest is 5 next week. We sold our Avondale over the winter as we thought we wouldn't use it this year, due to having a new-born child. We're now starting to think should we buy a new one.

Anyway, my question is this: How old is OK to bring a baby away in a caravan? Bearing in mind, feeding times, fear of bee/wasp stings.... My personal view is 3 months before going away in a caravan.

What's ppl's general view on it?

thanks

brian.

 

[ValA.]

We took our older son in a tent when he was four months old - but in a caravan (in South Wales) at six weeks. He was fine, (and has grown up to love camping) but he was breast-fed and therefore I had no problems with sterilising bottles, etc. With my second son who was born in May, we took him caravanning in France when he was just three months old, again without any problems. Again he was breast fed. In those days we used washable nappies - and thinking about it now it doesn't seem possible!!!

 

[MrsMothy]

Hi Brian

I'm sure I've seen pictures of children of only a few days old taken on rallies in both the club magazines. In many ways its probably quite good to start asap as it will make you think about essentials rather than all the usual paraphanalia. It will also give you some quality time away together so you all get to know the little mite. It would probably be a good idea not to go to far though...just far enough.

Happy caravanning

Denise

 

[LesleyRussell]

We took our first child away in the caravan at 9 weeks old - just a week at the New Forest. By the time the second one came along 4 1/2 years later we had booked our two week holiday in France. Probably because we could not remember the bad points of having a baby we were full of confidence there would be no problem. Unfortunately from 2 weeks old she suffered with colic and cried the house down every evening from 6pm til midnight. We were dreading the holiday and decided to have a pitch away from everyone to avoid disturbance. Fortunately ass her nine weeks arrived the colic was gone and we had a great holiday. We left the heating on overnight and she slept on the double bed in a moses basket and better than she slept at home. Take your steamer for the bottles. By thew time our second child arrived we were surprised to note that you could get ready made milk in cartons which you poured into bottles and heated up. You can also get pre-sterilised bottles which are ideal for travelling in case you get caught short. We always carried a flask of hot water and a jug to pop a bottle in whereever we were. Both were very hungry babies. My second child is now 4 and both really enjoy caravanning. During travelling and, just in case, I also purchased a bottle warmer from Mothercare. It is a strap which fits round the bottle and plugs into the lighter thing in the car. It does take some time to warm up so if baby is asleep you can always put it in to warm well in advance of expecting the baby to wake.

Chill out, relax, go for it and enjoy!!

 

[MAM]

We took baby George away at 10 days old. He slept in his carrycot on top of the hob and slept very soundly. We also had our 3 and 5 year olds with us.

We just tried three nights at a local site as we had just bought the caravan and we had two cars with us in case we needed to get back home easily.

 

[Lynda_374322259]

We caravanned with our daughter from about 4 weeks old. You can get quite good pop up cots which don't take up much room. We used a carry cot. I breastfed so that does make it easier with equipment etc. The main problem we had was the queues forming outside the caravan to have a look at her. We should have sold tickets!!

 

[PaulHull]

We took our 8 week old daughter away last year in our caravan (20 year old thing) and she was fine. We made up all of her bottles in the morning and kept them in fridge. Nappy changes were not more difficult that at home and she slept fine on the top bunk with the safety side in place and the curtain drawn.

As for wasp and bee stings we had a wasps nest behind our van on one occasion and we just stayed away from it!

We stayed away at the middle of October (it was below freezing many nights) but we were fine - just had a small electric fan heater with a thermostat on the floor (with plenty of space around it obviously!) so we were never cold in the van (although everything else was outside!)

The challenge will be our next trip away (easter) - she can crawl and climb now so we are going to have to be much more careful (especially with sleeping - she's going on the bottom bunk and I;m building a big lift-off gate to keep her in.

As for getting a new van ours is a 20 year old Swift Rapide which I've spent about

 

[S-MaxJon]

We took our daughter away when she was 4 months old.We were using the in-laws' 2 berther.My daughter slept under the front bed - we had to slide her under !! She did however tend to kick up the slats which was quite amusing !!

We then bought our van about 8 months later and haven't looked back - she love's it.

Just be careful of the angry mob who think sites are just for adults !!!!

 

[deejay]

Hi.Our daughter is ten months old, we first took her away at three weeks with no problems, and actually wished we had taken her before! She has caravanned through the summer and winter with us and thrives when we are away,she sleeps and eats well.

My wife is expecting our second child end of August and we aim to be away the following week, all being well!

I would suggest getting away as soon as mum and child are well enough to travel. For safety sake, be aware of local healthcare providers such as AED, walk in centres or GP close to where you will be sited, NHS direct online has some good info.

If bottle feeing, our healthvisitor advised avoid bottled mineral water and we dont drink the caravan supply so took our own water for the baby's feeds from home. In emergencies/days out we used the ready made milk cartons and an Avent microwave steriliser. Samsonite pop up carry cots are excellent and fold away when not in use. Several buckets and "napisan" for stained clothes and bibs.

Enjoy!

 

[JasonR_374341560]

28 years ago we took our 5 day old baby to stay at my wifes mothers, she lived in the old cold damp cottage where my wife and her brother were brought up. Baby slept in a folding camping cot and any recent modern day caravan would be more baby friendly than my wifes old home where she had a healthy childhood.

Travellers live with babies in caravans, so why should there be any time limit as to when baby goes caravanning.

No doubt many here were taken home or even born in homes without showers, baths, central heating or double glazing and had outside toilets.

We had a tin bath that was set up in the dining room or kitchen and the luxury of an in doors toilet, my wifes family had outside toilet and tin bath until she was 13. And we are only 56 before any one writes us off as completely ancient.

Come on parents, a modern caravan offers far better conditions than many of us were born in to and that of thousands of babies in the world born today.

 

[Chaps]

A group of us (about 10 families!) were booked to go away for May Day weekend last year and our friends' baby was due mid April. He didn't arrive until the end of April so they took him away at 4 days old. She was breastfeeding which made it easier and he's their 3rd child so they're quite laid back. They've been caravanning for a few years and they decided that they would have a more relaxing first weekend with their newborn son away in the caravan than if they stayed at home with an endless stream of visitors. Their older kids were kept entertained by all the other kids and baby slept pretty well. It was quite cold at night but they just left the heating on low and all was fine.

 

[Bigfoot]

My Mum & Dad started caravanning in '53. I was born in '55, the second of 4. Every weekend away as far as I can remember and I'm still here to tell the tale and still caravanning.

 

[Brian_5106957]

Thanks for all your feedback. We're beginning to look for a bargain on AutoTrader. Maybe to start going away at weekends from June. Baby will be a month old by that stage.

Thanks.