Rving with young kids

[Tejasmike]

My wife and I have found a trailer we really like. A 26.5 Bhs fifth wheel. This would be our first camper.

There's a couple things that worry me and the main one is that our kids are to young for this. We have a 2.5 and a 6 month old.

anybody here rv with children this young? Any advice?

[Knauby]

You know your kids best! We have camped with my kids since they were very little. The camper you are looking at should allow you to "grow" into it.

In my opinion, camping with the small children is no different than being at home. They need supervised and entertained but they enjoy new surroundings and out door activity. Now my kids are getting older and can explore a little on their own without our constant watch.

Starting them young is a good thing! Gets them "unplugged" a little but even that is harder to do now as every campground it seems has cable and wifi. I won't complain about that because I enjoy some of those comforts at times too.

Its also a way to vacation without breaking the bank.

[Force]

Agree with Knauby. We took our youngest camping at 6 months old. In a tent no less!

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by Knauby

You know your kids best! ...snip...
camping with the small children is no different than being at home. They need supervised and entertained but they enjoy new surroundings and out door activity. ...snip

What he said ^

If both you and your DW are on-board with it, it will work. But be prepared! Read LOTS of the stuff posted in the JOF and continue to ask questions. If this is your first camper (and camping?) there are a lot of things to learn.

[spoon059]

Our daughter started camping at 5 weeks old... in Pennsylvania... in November. Our son was about 4 months old when he started camping. Its a LOT more work with little ones, but its still great fun. Our daughter is 30 months old now and LOVES camping. Our boy loves camping. If you can tolerate it, the kids should love it. With such a young one, its important to have a place for naps.

We take our dinette table down and place a pack and play where the table goes. We can hang a sheet around that area to give him some darkness for daytime naps.

[SouthCo]

I would think you would be fine with the young ones. I camped in a tent with my sons when they were both still in diapers. They loved it.

[galakelady]

Our kids are grown now, but we camped with them from six months on. Started with a tent....then a popup....then a travel trailer....and now a new fifth wheel. Time to start camping with our grandkids!
It was a lot of work with young kids but loads of fun. They loved it. Be sure to take a Pack and Play or playpen for the very youngest. Have plenty of toys, crayons, etc. for possible rainy days.
Lots of family memories are created through camping trips....some that weren't funny then are hilarious to us now!

[Tejasmike]

Thanks guys. My wife is really excited about the idea.

Campings not new to me but it's always meant a 2 person tent in the backcountry with my lab.

RVing is new though. I guess I'm at a but of a loss with what to do with myself and the family.

[howlin4you]

I wouldn't over think it. My wife and I had our third child on March 7th and plan on camping the 22nd of April so she'll end up being about 7 weeks old. We also have a 23 month old, a 5 year old, and two dogs. It's a lot of chaos and extra stuff to bring but the way we look at it is even if we stay home the dogs need to be walked and diapers need to be changed. It's never too early to start making family memories.

[Old skipper]

You are never too young to start camping, Rving is a natural progression from a tent. There is much to learn but the rewards are there. Enjoy

[ALJO]

We camped with a 7 mnd. old during Easter. I made a board for the upper bunk so she didn't roll on the bottom bed. It was a happy experience again to have a baby around.
Live, Love and Laugh...........being grand parents is always fun and having family around is tops.

[tnmcouple]

My wife and I have been blessed with 5 kids. The age ranges from 4 months to 8 years old. It's no different than at home. A little more cramped than at the house on bad weather days but still a whole lot of fun! We do use a white noise machine at night in the bunkhouse to cover up the noise from my wife and I staying up later.

[Country_Mouse]

We raised our 4 kids camping in tents. Our youngest is 6 and we just now bought our first tt. It is a bit more work setting up and packing than with tents but it is much nicer for camping with younger kids. A lot easier to keep them clean (somewhat) and for going potty. Hate taking them to the filthy, stinky public bathrooms or outhouses . Naps will probably be easier in the rv especially with the noise factor outside. Mine were light sleepers when they were tiny.

[Gone campin]

We started in 2014 when our son was 1 and our daughter was 3 - best thing ever - they love camping and can't wait to go on our next "adventure". It gets easier the bigger they get, but I wouldn't hesitate. They sleep together in the bottom bunk now until my daughter gets big enough to move to the top (she thinks this season...). We love it!

[Edd505]

most kids love camping. I can still remember camp trips with my folks in a tent and then a StarCraft & Coleman POP's. Hunting with dad when I got older and now I'm a grandparent.

[Kahoneys]

We have camped with our daughter since she was born and she is now 3.5 years old. We recently got back from a week long cruise and on the way home she said "daddy I like camping better. When can we go camping again?" Music to my ears and the campgrounds around here open on the 15th and guess where were heading?

[Jagiven]

Go for it! We have been traveling with our son since he was 6 months old. He loves to travel. As soon as we get home he's ready to go again. Hardest trip was coming home from out west, he was 2.5 years old, and he decided it was time to potty train. A few years ago we did a 750 mile day, we did that towing the htt doing 60 mph. Had books, games, the tablet, he just went back and forth with things to do.

Everyone has chores to setup and teardown, he does his fair share and knows what is expected.

[canadiankid]

Like everyone is saying, do it. It's a life time of memories! Not sure if you have a U shaped dinnet in that 5er but some one on here suggested using it as a bed for a baby last year and it worked great! Enjoy!

[Stoonie]

Couldn't agree more with everyone. Introduced my wife to camping 32 yrs ago before children, been at it every since. Miss the days when the kids were little boogers running around the campsite. Enjoy camping with them while you can, they'll carry those memories forever.

[3'senough]

We started with a baby and 2 year old that required a pack n play as well as high chair and so on. The "baby stuff" eventually dwindled down, but that just translates into bikes and so on.

As far as safety goes, kids are curious and will get into everything and want to be around you. The biggest hazard is the stairs IMHO and making a few mods to your screen door will easily make that safer. I put a dog grate on the bottom as well as a screen door deadbolt on the inside. Kids can easily push open the screen door and the little ones have been know to tumble out. Now it just keeps my dog inside since my kids are grown.

As others said you need to pay attention and be mindful of what your kids are doing. If you do that then it's a very enjoyable time that will make memories for both you and them.

Another thing you might consider is keeping your first few trips within a few hours as long rides can take a toll on little ones and us as parents.

Enjoy it!