Baby Immenent..Camping Mods ?

[libraryboy]

We will have a new arrival soon (future dubber)and was wondering what mods you guys n gals have come across to help with life in a bus..Essential kit lists ?

[syncro up]

None, well untill now when shes three and we've put in the cab bunk.

The 'boot' makes for a perfect playpen for a while untill they learn how to throw themselves over the back seat... that stage is really fun.
We have a Devon, which has the buddy seats which holds out to be a doule seat, that was perfect for the basket to sit on over night when she was sleeping.

[Ralf85]

We used a carry cot suitably attached to the floor for our babies. They slept really well and were happy lying down as we travelled. Funny thing was if you stopped they woke up again until we started moving again. As they grew bigger we used baby/child seats fitted to the back seat - not in the front. A tip. If you have two in the back make sure the seats are wide apart to reduce hand to hand combat. Good luck!

Patrick

[libraryboy]

playpen ?? hand to hand combat ?? wot have we got ourselves into ?
can anyone recommend a good electric fencing supplier ?.

How did you cope with weekenders ? Is it to much to hope for ?

[mrdandandan]

one useful thing we took with us - a big pound shop washing up bowl (about 2ft wide which serves as a great baby bath/sand pit/ pretend 'cooking pot'/beer cooler! or they can wear it on their head. its been very useful. Lots of blankets/rugs/sheepskins

[fodtommo]

Hey we have a young un - nearly 2 now but been into everything since 18mths and running around since then. I like the big washing up bowl idea - this is great, im on me way to the poundshop @ lunchtime - (it will also mean no more campsite showers with a toddler screaming no daddy no as if im chopping his legs off )

Get a Vango Baby Nitestar sleeping bag, less than £15 and absolutely brilliant.

Once they start moving put cupboard door safety cthes on your van cupboards, I pulled the plug on a washing up bowl of post breakfast greasy suds one morning and then discovered my son had pulled the wast off the sink as it started seeping out the bottom of the cupboards!!

Re the cab bunks - I dont like them as it effectively renders the van pretty useless after 6.30 / 7 ish, especially if you have swivel seats. I made an over cab bunk on our side hinged pop top link below. Weve used it since he was quite small as it keeps him out of the way, safe and he goes to sleep quickly. (if he had a cab bunk first thing he'd do every day is get up and fall out!) Take a look it only took an afternoon to do and requires nothing more than an old tent pod.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=84523

With bed up the bit behind the seats makes a great play area on a wet afternoon.

We have found once a little bit bigger that the little trikes with a pushing handle are great for going to shower blocks etc on campsites.

Also there are people that will swear at me for this but even from quite a young age TV will keep them quite for an hour or so, therefore pack your laptop and some dvds / downloads, if they like rising @ 6ish this gives you an extra hour of waking up time in bed - and comes in handy on wet days and long journeys I would never ever leave without it!

Lastly and very important. VW love a good parking light - ie leave the indicator on with the ign off and it keeps 2 sidelights on a particular side on. small children love to sit in your van and play, they invaribly leave the indicator stalk on and you invaribly get a flat battery - I need to investigate how to disable this.

Any way a few thoughts

[libraryboy]

Thanks peep's

Some great tips..Anything to help with the weekenders is great..(must have heard you and your lad in the shower block ) noooo daddy noooo !!

off to pound shop for head wear