I have a REALLY hard time believing a 1-yr-old would get bored camping (unless it rained). sticks, rocks, bugs, dirt, fire, marshmellows, bugs, and more bugs...what more could a little boy ask for? and as the saying goes: God made dirt, so dirt wont hurt.

memories are made of such adventures. dont let your dirt phobia get in the way.

I voted in favor! I think that would be super fun...can I come too?!

Before I vote, I'd like to know something. Does the camping site have bathroom facilities? If not, I would NOT take a 14-month camping; let alone myself. If so, I'd probably go and explore with him.

Great. I'm the sole nay vote. But then I have had a 14 month old boy (he's now 2)and there is absolutely, positively, no way in the world I would be up to that. Nope. Negatory. Not happening.

Why not? Basically because at 14 months he can walk and is learning to run... AWAY from YOU! And in my late 30's I just don't have the energy nor the desire to spend what is supposed to be a gloriously lazy holiday chasing a hyped up toddler through the woods. But you're younger and this is all new to you so you're probably not as jaded as I am. Go for it.

Oh, by the way, you forgot to mention poison ivy :)

It won't be as bad as you think. Kids love being outside and at 14 mo. Fuller will be walking, not crawling around in the dirt. We took our boys camping when they were pretty small and they loved it...they still do. Do you have a hammock? That is a great place to relax with a little one in the woods. My hang up would be how do you cook Thanksgiving dinner over a campfire? Or is your feast of thanksgiving going to be hotdogs?

Here are a few thoughts-

I would make your agreement based on terms and conditions.

First, I would ask hubby to research whether the area has fire ants.

If you are free and clear on that one, I would ask for all the ammentities that will make this as easy on you as possible.

For wee-crumb, get new toys and amusements just for the trip, including specific travel toys (but also bring some old favs).

If you are flying, try to do it when wee-crumb *might* be sleeping.

Determine who is cooking and washing dishes. NOW.

Determine a childcare rotation so you can a.) take a walk by yourself for a while, b.) take a poop uninterupted, c.) take a smoke out behind the outhouse. You should not have wee-crumb 24/7. You'll need a break.

I agree with the other gal about the type of toilet available. If it is an outhouse or worse (the great outdoors), that sucks. Get a place with showers, toilets and sinks. And, your site should be near such ammenities, not a long walk away.

Also- if it is tent camping I would require blow-up mattress.

OR- better yet, request a rental cabin. It is my prefered way to get into nature without all the work.

My mancub's idea of roughing it is Motel 6, so I am so sorry... BUT nature can be glorious, and if you take care of yourself by meticulous planning, you will have a great time.
Strike your terms EARLY! Good luck!

Alicia you should not be so closed-minded. Sounds like you don't enjoy camping period. Your dad went camping when he had a younger brother and the other younger brother was within a couple weeks of arriving! Relax and enjoy it.

One thing to say NO

Okay so we were talking about it this weekend and we think we should go camping in Long Key because of two reasons...mainly it won't be cold at night so fuller won't be chilly...and it is safer because you aren't in the woods you are next to the water so no bears and the water is clear so your fear of gators would be pushed aside...come on...it would be SOOO much fun...mommy, daddy, austina, me, nat, and you guys...it would ROCK!!!!!!

all florida (at least most and you know i know about bathrooms alicia) campsites have bathrooms...and as for chasing fuller he will have 7 adults to chase him! sorry but any nay vote i can negate!

As someone who has camped in a large number of Florida's beautiful state parks, I can say that camping, rowing, canoeing, and other things like that down here are what makes life so great.

Fire ants are not a problem. Like S-G said, almost all Florida state parks have nice bathrooms.

Check out the scenery.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.clydebutcher.com/loxa14.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.clydebutcher.com/loxa14h.htm&h=342&w=500&sz=66&tbnid=WoO4momKtxoJ:&tbnh=86&tbnw=126&start=10&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dloxahatchee%2Briver%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8

http://flanative.com/images/SG800.jpg

http://www.floridastateparks.org/yourgallery.cfm

Hey, I went car camping (where you drive up to the campsite instead of packing in) with my family and another family who had a 9-month daughter and it was fun. We played tag-team babywatching. She enjoyed the dirt and playing with her toys at the campsite.

We went another time with this group and the baby was then about 18 months old. It was fun, and again we all watched the baby.

I'd recommend against packing in. It's hard on a kid to be in the babycarrier for so long while the rest of the people can walk.

can you imagine our family packing in, that is a hilarious though!

there will be NO packing in...this camping trip is not your typical cooking beans over the fire for three meals a day camping trip...no this is three amazing meals a day cooked before we leave and frozen...this is electirc cords going into tents on cold nights to heat up their electric blanket...we wouldn't go anywhere cold where we would need that...no packing in...no no no

I've driven by campsites where I've seen people set up their pack'n'plays. Seems like a good option for when you just need to put him somewhere out of the way, and may help him sleeping in a stranger place than normal strange places.

We took Gideon camping for a week when he was 3 months old. He had no problems. Why not?