PT 2012

[greywolf]

http://www.purple-thistle.co.uk/

[Electrocuted]

Looking forward to it. I was at the first one at Arisaig and it was great. I'm currently wondering if its feasible to camp with a baby who will be about 3 to 5 weeks old. Anyone had any experience of this?

[usuallylast]

wondering if its feasible to camp with a baby who will be about 3 to 5 weeks old.

I confess I don't have recent experience of this, but while most practical issues can be got round, the trickiest thing is avoiding disturbing other campers in the middle of the night. Tiny babies have their own schedule.

[Mrs H]

Ha ha ha - my thoughts exactly! Is this your first baby Electrocuted? My best advice to you is be kind to yourself and don't be too ambitious - invest time now and the time will come very soon when all things are possible
This picture scares me on a couple of fronts.
1 I was happy to entrust young Neville with the safety of the elder Miss H on a railway platform
2 that's not a doll i'm holding!
But within the year we were happy campers

[Electrocuted]

Great photo Mrs. H! Yes, this is our first.

I did think about the disturbing other campers. Having said that, last time we were in Arisaig at the Purple Thistle a family with old children had a complete melt down early in the morning. Kids fighting like cat and dog, shouting father and mother ended up crying in the toilets - a small baby can't possibly be worse than that (she says very hopefully and probably very naively!).

[greywolf]

As long as you can keep him/her/(them?) warm and comfortable, camping shouldn't be too much of a problem. Very small babies are portable, manageable and relatively easy to please. Enjoy that stage while you can, before teething, tantrums and toddling off in all directions starts...

[Derek A]

When my first was about to arrive, the plan was to take 'it' to the Scottish 6'Days at 1 week old, then travel to Norway for the World Champs. He was 2 weeks late and we didn't go to either; now we face his birthday during the 6'days, 16th next time!

Babies who are being breastfeed are easier than carting shed loads of stuff when they start eating their own food!

Allegedly, the first 30 years of parenthood are the worst!



derek

[EddieH]

Mysteriously at the first PT in Arisaig the campsite used had almost no midges (despite plenty around a short distance away. It might not be the same this time around. How are babies' reactions to incessant itchy bites?

[Liz X]

From my experience, what will probably make it bearable or unbearable is not so much how often the baby cries in the night, but what your attitude is towards it. If you are mellow, you will probably be fine. However if (like me) you stress constantly about whether the noise is keeping the whole campsite awake, you will probably have a less enjoyable time. Good luck either way!

[Electrocuted]

From my experience, what will probably make it bearable or unbearable is not so much how often the baby cries in the night, but what your attitude is towards it. If you are mellow, you will probably be fine. However if (like me) you stress constantly about whether the noise is keeping the whole campsite awake, you will probably have a less enjoyable time. Good luck either way!

I'm relatively relaxed about it. I've been kept awake on campsites by many a snorer so it's time to get my own back!

[Mrs H]

I agree with Liz, this is more about you than the baby. I always had the urge to "hunker down" for a few weeks, get the feeding and sleeping sorted and myself feeling comfortable in all departments before even feeling interest in anything much. By 7 weeks all my babies were sleeping for 7 hours straight and we never ever had a sleepless night. We could tackle anything then.

Breast feeding is definitely the way to go if you want to be out and about - but it can take several weeks to get right although it's always going to be worth persevering with. Despite text book everything I did feel pretty knocked sideways by the arrival of my first baby - hardly noticed the other two tho' (just as well really).

You really need to play this by ear - see how you feel, do what you want and don't feel pressurised by anyone to do more than that. Good luck.

[usuallylast]

and myself feeling comfortable in all departments

ne're a truer word was spoken!

[Electrocuted]

Well, we're just back from the purple thistle and had a great time. Ruaraidh, who is one month old today enjoyed his first camping trip. I don't think he cried much but EddieH was camped next to us so I'll let him have the say on that.

I enjoyed my small course too. Fantastic weather the whole weekend and not too many midges.

[andypat]

I don't think he cried much but EddieH was camped next to us so I'll let him have the say on that.

Yes - I laughed when I saw that - tempted to think that was divine retribution for some of Eddie's comments on here! But sadly Ruaridh let us all down by being a wee cherub. His soft cry was a very passable imitation of a distant seagull from where we were (not much further than Eddie) and no more kept us awake than the odd rain shower on the tent, or the lamps of those stumbling back from the hotel in the wee small hours!

We all very much enjoyed our first PT and hoping the guys bring it back again soon.

[EddieH]

I thought babies' cries were supposed to be so unpleasant that you had to respond. Your babies' cry is almost a lullaby