Off camping in a few weeks, have booked family friendly small quiet sites. We're likely to be doing day trips and therefore won't be spending a huge amount of time on site, we'll probably return after dinner.
Here are things I Don't Know About...
Do we need a lock for the tent?
What's the etiquette of tent pitching eg do you face the door away from other tents, or is that considered anti-social?
We have a tent, a sleeping bag for DD and a camping light, but that's it, what would you recommend for sleeping on? DD is 3.
Any other essential equipment? Can't face the hassle of cooking/washing up so we'll probably eat fruit/bread etc for breakfast.
Any tips for an easy life? Thinking crocs for walking to and from toilets to minimise wet trainers, any thoughts like that from experienced campers greatly appreciated!
All suggestions to up the comfort factor particularly welcome!
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I have a list of new camper questions! Can you answer them?
ZolaBuddleia · 19/05/2013 13:07
I'm with all the previous posters who have said don't underestimate just how cold it can get: we camp a lot and take thick blankets as well as airbeds and sleeping bags for the DCs. We also put a couple of thick rugs under their airbeds as the ground gets really cold. Our DCs go to bed in pjs with furry onesies over the top. We also take hats and gloves just in case. Often when the weather has been hot (please!) during the day, the temperature can drop massively at night as there's no cloud cover. Wellies are good to take regardless of the weather as the grass will be wet in the morning. Croc type things are good for the shower. Another thing we always take is a soft broom for sweeping the grass out of the tent everyday. Clothes pegs are useful for pegging your tea towels / towels on the tent to dry.
BUT THE MOST ESSENTIAL piece of camping equipment is the corkscrew. We take two 
You will need a bowl for washing up even just mugs and plates, a small trug is quite good as it's a bit bendy for stuffing into the car and has the carry handles. Asda normally have some.
IMO the only insulating sleeping mats are foam mats and self inflating mats AKA thermarests. If you find an airbed more comfortable I'd suggest putting a foam mat or thick folded blanket on top of it and then your sheet/sleeping bag or whatever. It's not only the ground that gets cold but also the air, so no point putting anything under the airbed because it will get cold anyway.
If you are going to buy sleeping bags get minimum 3 season for the UK summer. Mine is 3 season but getting old (both me and it) so I normally have a blanket on top now.
YY to wellies whatever the weather.
I find it helps to take a few large bags-for-life for washing, wet coats etc. also to take into the shower, it's easier to hang one bag on a little hook than a towel, sponge bag, top, trousers, underwear, socks...
Unless you want your 3yo to go to bed the same time as you, take some "entertainment" for the evenings - books, MP3, crosswords, pringles, wine, whatever... and a really warm jumper
Have fun
DP and I love each other very very much, but find it easier to have an airbed and sleeping bags/blankets each. Prevents quite so much disturbance when one of us has to go on a small hours loo trip (due to the 
).
When ds2 was little he used to roll of his air bed onto the floor, the wake up. We bought a double fleece blanket which was folded a few times and put a couple of large folded fluffy towels underneath. He slept much better on this. They are so light they don't really need much padding.
Unlike adults. If you are using air beds pump them up as far as they will go. My friend has a pump which plugs into the car and makes inflating loads quicker and easier. Also put a blanket on top of the air bed before your sleeping bag. We use 2 singles rather than a double which means you are less likely to disturb the other person.
Head torches are also a good idea, and use the boot of your car for storage.
If you decide to use a camping stove for hot drinks etc, make sure you have the right type of gas canister
Do you have chairs & a table? you could use a blanket & take some cushions, you'll probably need to sit down at some points with a nice
Definitely agree about lots of things like cereal bars / brioches, dried fruit etc. DH and I don't use sleeping bags, we takes sheets, an old duvet and a couple of blankets. Another thing to take is insect repellent as the midges come out in the evenings. We also hang fly paper at the door of our tent. Putting a picnic blanket directly outside the door to the tent is also a good move as does prevent the worst of the Great Outdoors being tramped in. We also take a potty for the DCs not that I've ever used it at 2am, oh no. A couple of torches are essential; we got our DCs the little ones on elastic to wear round their heads which cause endless fun
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