Soldato
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- 23 Mar 2011
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Really grateful to have some support to fall back on, can't imagine how tough times can get without that so hats off to you and your partner, must be challenging for sure.
OcUK Dadsnet thread
- Thread starter Devrij
- Start date
Really grateful to have some support to fall back on, can't imagine how tough times can get without that so hats off to you and your partner, must be challenging for sure.
How are we all doing?? 
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- 5,586
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- Stone, Staffordshire
What's your best parenting purchase?
Ours hands down was buying a touring caravan 3 years ago!
Over the summer hoidays we've been away every weekend and just come back from a lovely week in Dorset. We can go away at the drop of a hat, all we need is clothes as we have a duplicate of everything in our caravan. Our boys are 7 and 5 now so first went away with them at 5 and 3.
We're in the midlands so have easy access to the M6 and sometimes go literally 10 miles away and other times hundreds of miles away. We've had some great family memories and our boys love being in the caravan.
Ours hands down was buying a touring caravan 3 years ago!
Over the summer hoidays we've been away every weekend and just come back from a lovely week in Dorset. We can go away at the drop of a hat, all we need is clothes as we have a duplicate of everything in our caravan. Our boys are 7 and 5 now so first went away with them at 5 and 3.
We're in the midlands so have easy access to the M6 and sometimes go literally 10 miles away and other times hundreds of miles away. We've had some great family memories and our boys love being in the caravan.
We want a caravan. I was toying the idea of a motor home but I just can't bring myself to part with that much cash, they command a high price!
Any pointers? It's just the three of us so far.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- 5,586
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- Stone, Staffordshire
I'm in no way an expert, we got into it after our friends put theirs up for sale for £600 and we shrugged our shoulders and said "let's give it a go, if it's not for us then we can always sell it and get our money back". We had 2 years out of the van before it leaked too much (it was a 1995 model so that's pretty good going!).
In February this year we decided to have a look for a newer van and spent £6k on a second hand 2007 Swift Accord, 6 berth. That gave us fixed bunks for the boys, so we didn't have to make their beds up each night but also meant we had a side dinette table that they could eat breakfast at.
Buying second hand privately is great as often you'll get loads of "freebies" that the owners no longer want, a dealer would have removed these and flogged them back to you! Thinks like electric hookup cables, water carriers, motor mover (a brilliant bit of kit which gives you a remote control to drive the caravan when it's not connected to the car, great for tight manouvers.), awnings, bins, carpets for the awnings.
We can go away from £8 per night, up to about £35 per night. October half term, 7 nights at Woolacombe is £159 for taking the caravan, or you can stay in one of their apparments for £580, saves a fortune and feels liks home.
We have a mifi loaded with an all you can eat Smarty sim, so netflix, iplayer and access to our media server at home are all accessible!
Gro Clock. my first born was always a nightmare going to sleep. The gro clock worked from the moment we got it and she's slept through the night every night since we got it.
We're dipping our toes with a second-hand folding camper trailer this year. Neither of our cars are big enough to tow a full caravan, so we thought we'd try out with a trailer first (for added bonus, the trailer fits on our driveway whereas a caravan would have to go in storage).
Not sure what is the best purchase.
I think I lot of the stuff they say you need, you really don't.
We don't use changing mats so they were a waste of money.
I got the okay to fit Evohome thermostat because it would allow room by room control and being able to heat the babies room independently to 22c over winter is a god send.
I just don't think you actually need all that much stuff for babies.
Actually the perfect prep was handy if you're on powdered milk.
I think I lot of the stuff they say you need, you really don't.
We don't use changing mats so they were a waste of money.
I got the okay to fit Evohome thermostat because it would allow room by room control and being able to heat the babies room independently to 22c over winter is a god send.
I just don't think you actually need all that much stuff for babies.
Actually the perfect prep was handy if you're on powdered milk.
Does the evohome required a zoned heating system? My youngest's bedroom gets very very cold in the winter as its above an integral garage.
Yes the perfect prep machine is also an absolute godsend!
I need to look into a media server setup (haven't a clue). We were thinking around that budget too, and a bigger berth than we need (maybe. A fixed double bed if we can). What are you using to tow it?
Nope it actually requires no zoning, if you have 2 zones they need setting to the middle so both zones are on.
You just need the evohome controller and a valve on each radiator.
It's not cheap though. But I wouldn't be without it now.
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2013
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So started potty training my son to be 3 year old son, 2 weeks ago (can't remember if I initially posted on here). So far it's been a bit mixed, some days he'll go all day with no accidents, and others (like today) he'll have a few. He doesn't seem that bothered by it and it's very frustrating as he normally doesn't need prompting, although normally when he's had an accident it's a few minutes after we've asked him if he needs to go. My Mrs is getting quite upset about it, and ideas or advice. My daughter was much easier to train so I don't know if we were just lucky or if it's a hot things. Needless to say we're both getting a bit annoyed.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- 5,586
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- Stone, Staffordshire
We use Emby as our media server and then have clients for an Amazon Fire TV stick, Roku, Windows laptop, Android tablets and Nvidia Shield TV.
We're using a 2.5ltr petrol BMW X3, diesel would definitely be better solution for the torque but I just need to drop down a gear on steep long inclines!
It's a toss up on the setup, there aren't any caravans with a fixed double bed and fixed bunks, so that means either making up the grown ups beds or the kids.
You could get a fixed double bed, then have the side dinnete setup as the kids bed, we use a bed guard still for our 5 year old as he's prone to launch himself out of bed! Most caravans come with a fold up table that goes between the 2 bench seats at the front of the caravan so you can eat/play around that, our boys love just going out in the awning and playing with lego, batman toys (we have a dedicated bin of caravan toys) or drawing and reading.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- Stone, Staffordshire
We've done this for a few years now and I thought I'd share it with you guys too.
https://www.bluestonewales.com/breaks-holidays/winter/christmas/christmasland
It's an absolutely magical time, we normally take the in-laws too which makes it great. When you have pre-school children bag the cheapest week!
https://www.bluestonewales.com/breaks-holidays/winter/christmas/christmasland
It's an absolutely magical time, we normally take the in-laws too which makes it great. When you have pre-school children bag the cheapest week!
Soldato
- Joined
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I like the maths, it's cheaper to go away in a caravan....apart from the 6 grand you paid upfront. Using your example you'd have to go away for 14 years for it to be cheaper.
It's the freedom to go whenever wherever though. Nice weekend of weather? Head to the coast. Fancy a trip to France? Off you go.
Heck you could just take it somewhere for the day, giving you running water for a brew, a toilet, etc. Mind you, you'd rather a motor home for that and they're expensive.
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
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- Stone, Staffordshire
It's not about the maths, it's about the memories. We've bought something for £6k which I can sell next year for £5k if I so desire, the memories are priceless.
We go away most weekend, 2 weeks each summer holiday, then each half term and Easter. Our week in Dorset this summer cost £280 for a family of four.
Would love to get a caravan, even have a driveway it could stay on when not in use so as not to annoy the neighbours. However I can barely get my hatchback down our road some weekends with the way cars park, let alone if I had a caravan hitched up. That's what stops me.