Winter Warmth

[bremund]

Going to go camping in late May, and have an 18 month old boy. We've been camping with him in summer and we put him in an Aldi Portacot and he sleeps great.

However worried about him getting cold in winter (expect it to be less than 5 degrees). Don't really want to cover him with too many blankets.

Have seen that you can get gas heaters, but don't think they'd be a great idea.

Anyone have ideas on keeping him warm?

[pop058]

Cuddles :)

[Toxic_Avenger]

Far north QLD.

[p38arover]

What about a catalytic heater, e.g., Coleman BlackCat? I have one of their earlier catalytic heaters. If one can still buy them.

See Are you sure it's safe to use a heater in a tent? | Outside Online (http://www.outsideonline.com/1775321/are-you-sure-its-safe-use-heater-tent)

[vnx205]

... ..
Don't really want to cover him with too many blankets.
... ....


Why not a lightweight quilt, doona (duvet), sleeping bag or something that gives him warmth without the weight?

[dc06]

Our kids used to sleep in something called 'Gro Bags' - like a cross between a sleeping bag and a doona, but with arm holes, so they are wearing it.

They come with various Tog ratings and range from summer weight to heavy weight winter. Coupled with some warm underwear and pj's and maybe a beanie, these should be warm enough in those temps. Sleeping bags are difficult at that age because they tend to wriggle out of or deep into them.

We lived in Alaska for a couple of years, and did a bit of late season camping at near freezing temps. The portable propane heaters work pretty well -think ours was a 'mr heater'. Personally I wouldn't go to sleep with one on in a tent all night, but they are good to take the chill off before you go to sleep and early mornings.

All the best, and enjoy.

[loanrangie]

A nice warm onsie and possibly a 12V electric blanket, a thermal barrier under the cot /bed will help to keep the cold old.

[Cammo]

Bremund - our son is 19 months old and has been camping since he was 6 weeks old. We sleep in a rooftop tent and he sleeps alongside us. In the cold weather, he sleeps in good quality thermal long sleeve underwear underneath warm pjs. We have a beanie for him when it gets really cold. He has become pretty good at regulating his own temp by moving blankets and such although sometimes can't get them back on if he gets cold - so he wakes. A quick quiet cuddle to warm him up and he goes back to sleep and we cover him back up. Last weekend's camping trip (night time temps of 8 degrees) he slept for 9.5 hrs, waking only once.

I don't like the idea of heating sources being left on all night in a tent, but agree to the concept of removing the chill from the air. There are also 12V electric blankets available - although I've no experience with them, the thought of a pre-warmed bed sounds nice.

[stewie110]

Going to go camping in late May, and have an 18 month old boy. We've been camping with him in summer and we put him in an Aldi Portacot and he sleeps great.

However worried about him getting cold in winter (expect it to be less than 5 degrees). Don't really want to cover him with too many blankets.

Have seen that you can get gas heaters, but don't think they'd be a great idea.

Anyone have ideas on keeping him warm?
We have been doing similar. We actually bought a down kids sleeping bag for both our kids. If they are warm when they go in they can stay warm through the night. They are generally good for 5c.

Below 5c we actually bring them under our down blanket and the combined warmth of two adults and two kids is more than enough down to minus 5.

Note we also make sure they wear several layers. Aldi thermals etc.

[Homestar]

2 Pugs under the Doona works well down to -7... ;)

[stewie110]

2 Pugs under the Doona works well down to -7... ;)
Agree.

The only bad point of having a shared bed is that the kids get the odd idea that the trend will continue when they get home.. In our case he'll would freeze over before it became normal for then to sleep in our bed.

[DiscoMick]

Onesie or sleeping bag. Something thick underneath. Doona over top. Use the Portacot or a stretcher would get him off the cold ground.
Don't recommend sleeping with dogs - they snore worse than me.
The wife and I have sleeping bags with a nought degrees rating plus we can add silk liners for extra warmth.

[Tank]

What about a catalytic heater, e.g., Coleman BlackCat? I have one of their earlier catalytic heaters. If one can still buy them.

See Are you sure it's safe to use a heater in a tent? | Outside Online (http://www.outsideonline.com/1775321/are-you-sure-its-safe-use-heater-tent)
Ron, I have a Catalytic heater, seems they were designed to keep soldiers warm in the trenches in WW1, they were considered safe because if they were accidently covered by a soldiers coat it would not ignite, just smoulder. The reason for this is that these heaters draw oxygen into the burner from the atmosphere, so you do need to have adequate air flow (ventilation) they can and will lower oxygen levels inside a tent.
My one runs on Shellite contained in a bottom tank filled with cotton waste, you sprinkle a teaspoon of Metho on the burner and light, the only time you see a flame, they are a bit smelly and give me a headache, Regards Frank.

[Tank]

Going to go camping in late May, and have an 18 month old boy. We've been camping with him in summer and we put him in an Aldi Portacot and he sleeps great.

However worried about him getting cold in winter (expect it to be less than 5 degrees). Don't really want to cover him with too many blankets.

Have seen that you can get gas heaters, but don't think they'd be a great idea.

Anyone have ideas on keeping him warm?
You can buy 12 volt electric blankets, I use mine across the bottom of the bed to keep my feet warm, turn it on an hour or two before bed then turn it off, I find that a flannel sheet under and over with a wool blanket to keep the heat from rising through a Dooner is the best way to keep the warmth in.
Also cheap and simple a Hot Water bottle in a old wool blanket cut to fit the bottle is usually still warm in the morning. I have a hard floor camper and have camped in -5 degrees, also flannel pillow slips and don't take one of those Tempur (memory shape) pillows, they go as hard as concrete when cold, Regards Frank.