Tent Camping in July with an Infant? - The DIS Discussion Forums

4kids4karen · 02-04-2013, 07:11 PM

We have three sites reserved 1-3 July at Fort DeSoto. One for my family of six, one for friends family of 4, and one for extended family coming to visit from Michigan. They will have 2 men, 1 teen boy, SIL, DN, a 4-year old and a baby not quite 1 years old. The base rents campers at a decent price ($50 per day) for small 16' campers stating sleeps two adults and two small children. Do you think it would be best to rent a camper for the Michigan family ladies, 4-year old, and baby? I was leaning this direction, but my DH thinks it is not necessary. I just want everyone to have fun and not be hot and miserable. The FL families and men can suck it up. But the little ones I am most worried about.

Where we are camping typically has two outlets per campsite. What kind of fans would you recommend? Would it be best to get a generator and small a/c? I know my DH is trying to stay on a budget but we might be able to borrow or rent?

Page 2 has the rental options from the base.

http://www.macdillfss.com/images/All...List_Oct12.pdf

Betty Rohrer · 02-04-2013, 08:46 PM

is the family with the little ones used to tent camping? there is not much extra room to move around in small campers. room wise depending on tent size could be more room in the tent. we were a tent camping family when the girls were little,even babies, and the grandsons love to now. we use a raised,not box, fan in the tent.

FortForever · 02-04-2013, 08:58 PM

If I were in your position, I would rent a camper with A/C for the little ones and Michigan family. July is just too hot and humid here for people who are not accustomed to it.

It may even be dangerous for babies to get that overheated. You will have a much better time if everyone is well rested and comfortable.

2goofycampers · 02-04-2013, 09:05 PM

Some campgrounds don't allow generators, might want to check on this for further planning.

whitrn · 02-04-2013, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2goofycampers

Some campgrounds don't allow generators, might want to check on this for further planning.

Diddo!

ob1quixote · 02-05-2013, 06:20 AM

Leave the generator at home, bring extension cords and outlet multipliers.

If you get a rental camper, it should have an RV type plug that will handle all the power needs of the camper, and plugs into a different kind of outlet

If you go to put small AC units in tents, you might consider getting an RV type extension cord and adapter to household outlets at the tent end. Run the ACs on that line, and other electrical on the household type outlets on the power pole.

4kids4karen · 02-05-2013, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ob1quixote

Leave the generator at home, bring extension cords and outlet multipliers.

If you get a rental camper, it should have an RV type plug that will handle all the power needs of the camper, and plugs into a different kind of outlet

If you go to put small AC units in tents, you might consider getting an RV type extension cord and adapter to household outlets at the tent end. Run the ACs on that line, and other electrical on the household type outlets on the power pole.

Thank you. I just sent your reply to my DH so he can prepare an AC unit. He is the one that doesn't want to spend the extra money on a camper, but I know they will be hot and miserable if there is no form of A/C to get some relief. Since we live in FL we can deal with the heat and humidity, but I know others can't if they are not use to it.

lost*in*cyberspace · 02-05-2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitrn

Diddo!

I think you mean ditto

JanL · 02-05-2013, 03:03 PM

The baby definitely needs A/C or she will have a heat rash and be miserable and keep the rest of you awake with the whining and crying.

I would put the funds toward an A/C for the Copper Canyon which you will be able to use thereafter.

The family that has never camped before will be more likely to continue camping if there is A/C and they are comfortable.

4kids4karen · 02-05-2013, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betty Rohrer

is the family with the little ones used to tent camping? there is not much extra room to move around in small campers. room wise depending on tent size could be more room in the tent. we were a tent camping family when the girls were little,even babies, and the grandsons love to now. we use a raised,not box, fan in the tent.

The Michigan family is coming from Detroit. None of them have ever camped before. But they did say they wanted to camp, which is why I made the reservation. They are the ones with the 4-year old and baby girl who will be just under 1-year old.

I have a the Eureka Copper Cannon that sleeps 12. Our normal set-up for our family of six, is two queen air mattresses in one room that becomes our "sleeping slide" for me, DH, and two younger kids. This leaves the other side open for chairs (if it rains, and equipment, room for the kids to play, etc. Two older boys sleep in a 4-man tent by themselves. So the baby can play in our tent in the shade with the big doors and windows open, no issue. In fact, I may end up letting them use this tent if we don't rent the camper, as it is bigger, then us borrowing a tent from one of our scout families as we know plenty of people with tents but theirs are not the cabin style like ours.

So knowing we have this large of a tent, then would you suggest saving the money for a camper and just get a a/c for the Copper Cannon? I am thinking how they would fit everyone in this tent and it would still work but change the sleeping arrangements to be side a) SIL, her DH, and teen grandson. Side b) DN, DN-DH, DN-DD4, and baby. If they don't bring a pack-n-play I will ask to borrow one from a friend so the baby would be safer than on an air mattress. What do you think of this sleeping arrangement? Air mattresses can be removed in daytime (put in other side) and blankets put on tent floor for her to play.

angelmom27 · 02-06-2013, 08:26 AM

Definitely invest in an A/C for the baby. They will get no fun if the baby is miserable. Even with us being FL natives I know my babies would never be able to tent camp in this FL heat in July without A/C.

Disneyaddictz · 02-10-2013, 05:34 PM

Lived in Florida 4 years and couldn't imagine tent camping in the summer, dec/ jan the only time we got away with it! Ac a MUST

Southern Bell · 02-11-2013, 12:34 AM

I have camped without air condition but with fans for outside and inside the camper or tent. We also like to use a screen room over the table, or a tarp over your table and a screen room to sit in. A nice shaded site also makes it a little cooler and if possible one that is blocked from hot afternoon sun shining directly on you. For instance when we are at the beach we like to request a site that our door is facing the ocean and that makes the sun hit the back of our camper instead of the front. The comfort station close by for easy use can also be a break from the heat. If you don't have a golf cart you might even want to camp in walking distance to the pool so you can go easiy back and forth and cool off for the afternoon and evening without taking a bus to it. Also, it helps the kids to have the hand held fans with water to play with or small pool with water in it at the campsite.

Running_Bell · 02-11-2013, 10:39 AM

We camp in hot weather all the time in our tent... however, we never did when our kids were infants. In fact, we didn't camp in tents at all when they were infants. We were always afraid if they woke up miserable and crying.... everyone else in the campground would too.

We camped one weekend at a state park and a few sites down from us a poor baby cried all night long.... sound travels through the night from a tent. The poor family left the very next morning. I felt bad for them. I don't think anyone in the campground was upset... but they were obviously frustrated and embarrassed. Like others have said... an AC would be very helpful or renting an camper? If that's an option.

4kids4karen · 03-10-2013, 09:56 AM

***UPDATE TO OUR PLANS***

I do realize that my plans don't involve FW, but appreciate the feedback you gave me. Thank you! You are a great group of people on this board!
-------

So, as it turns out DN called my DH because the BIL wanted "a link to the cabin" we were planning on staying in. LOL. DH says "Cabin, were are not staying in a cabin!" We have stayed at the Cabins at FW a few times so I think BIL must remember us posting pictures of FW. FW Cabins is just out of the budget for this trip.

So when DH explained we would be in tents, there was a slight bit of freaking out. Where will we sleep? What if there is a killer there? How will we use the bathroom? The playground is adjacent to the site I picked and the comfort station (bathroom/showers) is at the end of the playground. My friend did state last time we stayed on these sites that she could hear people flushing the toliet at night. Her site was just one over from mine but it did not wake me. So, no issues with how far the bathrooms are! DN decided she was still willing to camp as a "new experience."

I talked to a few other of our friends who camp even more often than we do. The consensus was that the Michigan family would be miserable and spend their day trying to find ways to cool off.

Updated plan is to cancel two of the three sites keeping only one site for one night. The campground check-in I believe is at 1 pm. We will pack sandwiches for lunch, head to the campsite and set-up camp for a few hours. We may bring a smaller tent for the kids to play or nap in. We will bring our easy-up pop-up to provide additional shade in addition to the trees. The plan is to let them have the afternoon to fish, explore the campsite and fort (Fort DeSoto), play on the adjacent playground, maybe hit the beach if they get too hot, and finally cook an early campfire dinner.

After an early dinner we will pack up camp and head over to DH and my favorite beach front hotel, the Postcard Inn. We get a really good military discount price. It's the week of 4th of July but checking in 1-July, checking out 3-July, they still have the $93.00 military rate where the mega resort next door... we'll is outside our budget. We have 4 hotel rooms booked, but might scale it back to 3. The easy-up can be used on the beach as well. I usually rent their cabana chairs for $25.00 per day, but the easy-up next to it for the kids to sit on towels will be good. I use to have a small toddler beach tent, but think I got rid of that.

Our friends who vacation with us will be in one of the rooms, so I am debating on bringing air mattress for the teenagers and fit everyone in two rooms, or give the teenagers their own rooms (maybe I should let them sleep at the campsite! LOL. They are boy scouts! Oh and by teenager, at the time of the vacation they will be one month shy of 21, then 19, 19, 15, and a girl 15.) I really don't plan to leave them at camp though. The beach front hotel will also be a "new experience" for them as well.

The vacation so far includes:

So a day at Magic Kingdom, one an afternoon of "camping" followed by two nights at a beach front hotel. We will probably go to Busch Gardens' Adventure Island water park or Seaworld another day I haven't used my military free entrance for 2013 yet...). I think this is best not to make them sleep in a tent for two nights, so they enjoy their vacation. We have a community club house pool for days we do not go anywhere outside our neighborhood. Several of our neighbors have backyard pools but we do not. Thoughts?

02-04-2013, 07:11 PM	#1
4kids4karen Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 442	Tent Camping in July with an Infant? We have three sites reserved 1-3 July at Fort DeSoto. One for my family of six, one for friends family of 4, and one for extended family coming to visit from Michigan. They will have 2 men, 1 teen boy, SIL, DN, a 4-year old and a baby not quite 1 years old. The base rents campers at a decent price ($50 per day) for small 16' campers stating sleeps two adults and two small children. Do you think it would be best to rent a camper for the Michigan family ladies, 4-year old, and baby? I was leaning this direction, but my DH thinks it is not necessary. I just want everyone to have fun and not be hot and miserable. The FL families and men can suck it up. But the little ones I am most worried about. Where we are camping typically has two outlets per campsite. What kind of fans would you recommend? Would it be best to get a generator and small a/c? I know my DH is trying to stay on a budget but we might be able to borrow or rent? Page 2 has the rental options from the base. http://www.macdillfss.com/images/All...List_Oct12.pdf

02-04-2013, 09:05 PM	#4
2goofycampers Sounds like something a camping trip could cure Enjoy the beer and wine you will love it Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Posts: 12,163	Some campgrounds don't allow generators, might want to check on this for further planning. __________________ Denise

02-06-2013, 08:26 AM	#11
angelmom27 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PSL, FL Posts: 998	Definitely invest in an A/C for the baby. They will get no fun if the baby is miserable. Even with us being FL natives I know my babies would never be able to tent camp in this FL heat in July without A/C. __________________

02-11-2013, 10:39 AM	#14
Running_Bell Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Piedmont-Triad NC Posts: 336	We camp in hot weather all the time in our tent... however, we never did when our kids were infants. In fact, we didn't camp in tents at all when they were infants. We were always afraid if they woke up miserable and crying.... everyone else in the campground would too. We camped one weekend at a state park and a few sites down from us a poor baby cried all night long.... sound travels through the night from a tent. The poor family left the very next morning. I felt bad for them. I don't think anyone in the campground was upset... but they were obviously frustrated and embarrassed. Like others have said... an AC would be very helpful or renting an camper? If that's an option. __________________ coming ... September 2013 - FW & Beach Club Nov 2010 - Pop & FW Oct 2009 - FW Sept 2007 - FW Sept 2005 - FW Sept 1997 -All Star Sports

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02-04-2013, 08:46 PM	#2
Betty Rohrer DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 587	is the family with the little ones used to tent camping? there is not much extra room to move around in small campers. room wise depending on tent size could be more room in the tent. we were a tent camping family when the girls were little,even babies, and the grandsons love to now. we use a raised,not box, fan in the tent.

02-04-2013, 08:58 PM	#3
FortForever Disney since Day 1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Florida - Home of the Mouse Posts: 795	If I were in your position, I would rent a camper with A/C for the little ones and Michigan family. July is just too hot and humid here for people who are not accustomed to it. It may even be dangerous for babies to get that overheated. You will have a much better time if everyone is well rested and comfortable.

02-05-2013, 06:20 AM	#6
ob1quixote Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 157	Leave the generator at home, bring extension cords and outlet multipliers. If you get a rental camper, it should have an RV type plug that will handle all the power needs of the camper, and plugs into a different kind of outlet If you go to put small AC units in tents, you might consider getting an RV type extension cord and adapter to household outlets at the tent end. Run the ACs on that line, and other electrical on the household type outlets on the power pole.

02-05-2013, 03:03 PM	#9
JanL Native Floridian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: near Lake Harney Posts: 54	The baby definitely needs A/C or she will have a heat rash and be miserable and keep the rest of you awake with the whining and crying. I would put the funds toward an A/C for the Copper Canyon which you will be able to use thereafter. The family that has never camped before will be more likely to continue camping if there is A/C and they are comfortable.

02-10-2013, 05:34 PM	#12
Disneyaddictz Mouseketeer Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 150	Lived in Florida 4 years and couldn't imagine tent camping in the summer, dec/ jan the only time we got away with it! Ac a MUST

02-11-2013, 12:34 AM	#13
Southern Bell Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 421	I have camped without air condition but with fans for outside and inside the camper or tent. We also like to use a screen room over the table, or a tarp over your table and a screen room to sit in. A nice shaded site also makes it a little cooler and if possible one that is blocked from hot afternoon sun shining directly on you. For instance when we are at the beach we like to request a site that our door is facing the ocean and that makes the sun hit the back of our camper instead of the front. The comfort station close by for easy use can also be a break from the heat. If you don't have a golf cart you might even want to camp in walking distance to the pool so you can go easiy back and forth and cool off for the afternoon and evening without taking a bus to it. Also, it helps the kids to have the hand held fans with water to play with or small pool with water in it at the campsite.

03-10-2013, 09:56 AM	#15
4kids4karen Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 442	*UPDATE TO OUR PLANS* I do realize that my plans don't involve FW, but appreciate the feedback you gave me. Thank you! You are a great group of people on this board! ------- So, as it turns out DN called my DH because the BIL wanted "a link to the cabin" we were planning on staying in. LOL. DH says "Cabin, were are not staying in a cabin!" We have stayed at the Cabins at FW a few times so I think BIL must remember us posting pictures of FW. FW Cabins is just out of the budget for this trip. So when DH explained we would be in tents, there was a slight bit of freaking out. Where will we sleep? What if there is a killer there? How will we use the bathroom? The playground is adjacent to the site I picked and the comfort station (bathroom/showers) is at the end of the playground. My friend did state last time we stayed on these sites that she could hear people flushing the toliet at night. Her site was just one over from mine but it did not wake me. So, no issues with how far the bathrooms are! DN decided she was still willing to camp as a "new experience." I talked to a few other of our friends who camp even more often than we do. The consensus was that the Michigan family would be miserable and spend their day trying to find ways to cool off. Updated plan is to cancel two of the three sites keeping only one site for one night. The campground check-in I believe is at 1 pm. We will pack sandwiches for lunch, head to the campsite and set-up camp for a few hours. We may bring a smaller tent for the kids to play or nap in. We will bring our easy-up pop-up to provide additional shade in addition to the trees. The plan is to let them have the afternoon to fish, explore the campsite and fort (Fort DeSoto), play on the adjacent playground, maybe hit the beach if they get too hot, and finally cook an early campfire dinner. After an early dinner we will pack up camp and head over to DH and my favorite beach front hotel, the Postcard Inn. We get a really good military discount price. It's the week of 4th of July but checking in 1-July, checking out 3-July, they still have the $93.00 military rate where the mega resort next door... we'll is outside our budget. We have 4 hotel rooms booked, but might scale it back to 3. The easy-up can be used on the beach as well. I usually rent their cabana chairs for $25.00 per day, but the easy-up next to it for the kids to sit on towels will be good. I use to have a small toddler beach tent, but think I got rid of that. Our friends who vacation with us will be in one of the rooms, so I am debating on bringing air mattress for the teenagers and fit everyone in two rooms, or give the teenagers their own rooms (maybe I should let them sleep at the campsite! LOL. They are boy scouts! Oh and by teenager, at the time of the vacation they will be one month shy of 21, then 19, 19, 15, and a girl 15.) I really don't plan to leave them at camp though. The beach front hotel will also be a "new experience" for them as well. The vacation so far includes: So a day at Magic Kingdom, one an afternoon of "camping" followed by two nights at a beach front hotel. We will probably go to Busch Gardens' Adventure Island water park or Seaworld another day I haven't used my military free entrance for 2013 yet...). I think this is best not to make them sleep in a tent for two nights, so they enjoy their vacation. We have a community club house pool for days we do not go anywhere outside our neighborhood. Several of our neighbors have backyard pools but we do not. Thoughts?