Tent Camping in July with an Infant?

[4kids4karen]

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]

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]

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]

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

[whitrn]

Originally Posted by 2goofycampers

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

Diddo!

[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.

[4kids4karen]

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.

[4kids4karen]

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.

[4kids4karen]

This is the site we reserved. We reserved the sites on each side of this one as well. We have stayed on this exact site before with friends on adjacent sites and it was a great trip. As you can see from the picture (click and it gets larger) it is adjacent to the playground (no roads in between) which made it easy to cook and hang out at our site and still keep an eye on the kids. It is really close to bathrooms and a nice fishing area as well. This campground books up really fast as it has become more and more popular the past few years. It's hard to get the playgound sites on holidays. I think people book the first minute they open the calendar. LOL.

https://public.co.pinellas.fl.us/par...jsp?riName=123

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Originally Posted by whitrn

Diddo!

I think you mean ditto

[JanL]

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.

[angelmom27]

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]

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]

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]

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.