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Camping with small grandchildren

VAfan
Explorer
Explorer
We plan to take our 2yr old granddaughter camping this spring. Our travel trailer is a typical 27ft layout with a bed at one end and bath at the other. No obvious “best solution” for a sleeping arrangement so we can stay up past 8:00pm.

Anyone have experience / advice regarding camping with small grandchildren?
25 REPLIES 25

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
Go to bed early and just let them sleep with you. That's what we did ... actually, we had all 3 (girls) grandchildren sleeping with us ... what a blast! (Ages 4, 2, 1 at the time!)

outdoorlovers
Explorer
Explorer
We used the table, converted to bed and carried a fold up guard rail. worked fine for us. When she outgrew that, she slept on the sofa bed.
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GaryWT
Explorer
Explorer
Set the child up on the coach, table, pack n play, mattress on the floor or whatever you plan to have them sleep on. Next sit out at the fire and enjoy until bedtime. If you do not want a fire each night a nice game or cards at the picnic table works. As a final resort, watch tv outside. Have a great trip.
ME '63, DW 64, (DS 89 tents on his own, DD 92 not so much), DS 95
2013 Premier Bullet 31 BHPR 2014 F350 Crew Cab 6.2L 3.73

Redterpos3
Explorer
Explorer
I like the ideas of putting them to bed in the queen, and then moving them later when it's your bedtime. Get an Aerobed that you can blow up and put on the floor. Great extra bedding anywhere!!
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Executive45
Explorer III
Explorer III
She's camping with you....at 2, let her sleep between you....Dennis
We can do more than we think we can, but most do less than we think we do
Dennis and Debi Fourteen Years Full Timing
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gbopp
Explorer
Explorer
Bite the bullet and get a TT with bunks.
You'll need it in a few years when they want go with you all the time. 🙂

Setting up and taking down a dinette or couch gets old, real quick.

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Explorer III
A Pack N Play works great if you have the room. That's what we use.
2016 6.7 CTD 2500 BIG HORN MEGA CAB
2013 Forest River 3001W Windjammer
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"I have this plan to live forever; so far my plan is working"

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Explorer III
We had like a kids folding futon for our great-granddaughter to sleep on. She was 2 at the time and there were a couple sleepless nights until she got used to it, then she did very well. She usually went to sleep fairly late when she was out with us: around 9:00. It wasn't for too many days so the inconvenience of going to bed early wasn't so bad.
Howard and Peggy

"Don't Panic"

tahiti16
Explorer
Explorer
When our kids were young we put them to bed on the queen bed and then stayed at other end of coach. When we were ready to go to bed take out of our bed put them on coach and dinette bed.
Ray, Cheryl & of course Miss Molly the four-legged child

2006 Dolphin 36' F53 V10 5 speed auto 2 slides 7.5 KW genset

Dick_B
Explorer
Explorer
Yes. Wait another 10 years.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
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loulou57
Explorer
Explorer
You don't have bunks I presume.

What if you were to put the granddaughter in the main bed until it is time for you to go. Have either the table or the couch ready for the grandchild and take along one of those baby rails so she doesn't fall out.

We take a baby monitor so we can sit outside by the fire. Our granddaughter at 2 slept in the playpen set up where the table would be. It fit right in the middle of the benches after our last meal of the day. This was in a fifth wheel.