newbies

[Wantmymum]

Hello, I am after some of your wonderful advice!
We are going on our first family camping holiday at the end of the month and apart from the obvious I have no idea what I need to take. I mean those little extras that make the whole thing a little easier. I have 2 ds, ds 1 is 7 he has adhd, ds2 is 5. TIA X

[Thumbcat]

Wipes, lots of carrier bags, croc-type shoes for everyone that can be easily kicked off when going in the tent, brioche buns as something easy to give the kids first thing in the morning to keep them quiet, dustpan and brush for sweeping out the tent when you pack up.

[CMOTDibbler]

Hammam towels - they are big but fold up really small and dry very quickly.
Fleece blankets - useful for layering on beds, wrapping round you in the evening so you don't get cold, or for laying on on the grass

[Wantmymum]

Thank you. Filling my Amazon shopping basket.

[AnnPerkins]

IKEA single fleece blankets are £3 and come in different cheerful colours.

[RaisingSteam]

Often the "value" cookery / kitchen stuff in supermarkets tends to be good for camping as it's lightweight and small. A small garden trug makes a good wash up bowl with handles.

[Ifailed]

book yourself into a local B&B and leave the rest to get cold, damp and cramped in the tent.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Head torches for everyone. They are invaluable as they leave both hands free to do things.

If you are getting airbeds to sleep on, remember to put something between you and the bed, or the bed and the floor to insulate you from the cold ground, as the air in an airbed provides no insulation from the cold. We usually put an open sleeping bag under the sheet on our airbed, but others lay their beds on a rug or blanket, or even some of those silver foil survival blankets you can buy in pound shops and camping shops.

Some sort of bucket for night time wees.

More warm clothes than the weather suggests. No matter how lovely it is in the day time, the evenings and nights can be surprisingly cold even in the summer. It is always worth bringing thermals, hats and gloves for everyone just in case for sitting round the fire at night.

[Wantmymum]

Thanks for all the tips!! It's very tempting Ifailed !!

[Blu]

Butchers hooks. There are never enough hooks in the showers. Put your stuff in a plastic bag so it doesn't get splashed by the shower, hang hook over door, sorted. We each have one in our wash bag.

[QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins]

I am still a relative newbie as well but these are things I find useful.

1. Ipads (yeah I know we are suppose to be communing with nature but my DS(7) wakes up at 5:50am.....)
   
   
2. Stickers and colouring books and pens. Cheap and cheerful from somewhere like The Works. Plain paper to use for games such as hang man, boxes etc
   
   
3. Uno
   
   
4. Box of white wine, frozen.
   
   
5. Wet wipes and a wee bucket for night time, I find nappy bags useful as well for rubbish or wet clothes (but not very enviromentally friendly)
   
   
6. Waterproofs no matter how lovely the weather, we live in the UK and it can turn on us at any time.
   
   
7. Another box of white wine, frozen.
   
   
8. Bacon. YY to poster who said something like brioche to keep them quiet early but there is nothing like a bacon butty for breakfast after a nights camping.

[Wantmymum]

I am loving all the advice.

Sleeping bags for myself and DH, one each or a double?

[profpoopsnagle]

We now have a double sleeping bag but survived for ages with singles.

Yes to all the advice here!

Agree with a quick brekkie that you can throw at them whilst you get the bacon etc sorted. We also splash out on the little boxes of cereal and juice cartons for that.

Would it be worth getting a supermarket delivery to site for you?

If the weather is warm but wet, shorts are way better for everyone than trousers, much easier to dry wet legs than wet clothes.

Pegs can be useful (I have big pegs from lakeland) Anything like knives etc you want to keep out of reach place in carrier bag and peg it/butcher hook it up high on a pole. An umbrella can also be easier for a dash to the loo block in the rain than waterproofs.

1 cardboard box (the type that holds beer/wine is especially useful ). Open out and flatten on site and use as a doormat on the inside. Soaks up drips/muck and you can recycle at the end of the trip.

Umpteen million of those big supermarket bags, useful for storage in tent, e.g. one for toys, for clothes, for wine.

[Blu]

I keep meaning to add 'umbrella ' to my camping list.

[winewolfhowls]

Ikea is fantastic especially clips for keeping food closed. Also for frying pans fleece blankets etc.

We have big foam squares that we then cover with a cheap fleece elasticated sheet

[winewolfhowls]

Mountain warehouse do great and pretty picnic blankets chairs etc always on sale

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

We don't use sleeping bags generally but just bring a thick duvet and pillows from home - if you have the space and maybe one of those vacuum bags, that adds a bit of luxury to the whole business. We usually put a sleeping bag under us though as I mentioned above.

Personally I found sleeping in a double bag either uncomfortable and restrictive if the sides were zipped or cold if they weren't, but some people swear by them.

[Wantmymum]

Thank you all. This is helping so much. Does anyone have a camping list that they are happy o share??

My pile of stuff is getting bigger and bigger!!

It's a really important holiday, DS1 has had a lot of time in hospital and want it to be perfect for him. Don't want to be stressed because I have forgotten something.

[RaisingSteam]

Have you read up on the campsite reviews on UKcampsite? They are good for finding out if the toilets never have loo roll or what the shop sells, things you'd wish you'd known. Also look up where there is a nearby camping shop or big Tesco in case you need it.

There's a camping list on this page here

Essentially for our week at half term we'll take

• Big stuff: tent, sleeping things, table and chairs, cooker, cold box
  
• box of pans and utensils,
  
• box of food, plus a 5L mineral water
  
• box of things like torches/wipes/lantern/pegs etc.
  

Normal outdoor clothes plus wellies, flipflops or crocs and something warm for evenings.

With young children you can't always slope off to the pub of an evening so do pack some wine/beers/chocolate/pringles to while away your evening. The DC will love having treats like cereal boxes or hot chocolate. Ours like camping gadgets like Sporks too. A few glow sticks or night lights in case they don't want to go to sleep in the dark.

Also they will want to let off steam so I try to take a folding frisbee or very lightweight football - basically something they can't destroy other people's tents with. Badminton set can be good, or bikes. They will pal up with other kids on the site most likely.

If your tent doesn't have a porch, lay an old towel in front of the door so that if it rains, there is somewhere for people to come in and take off wellies. It saves you spoiling the holiday by yelling "No boots in the tent!" every 2 minutes. (Who, me?)

We're going for the first time at half term with the dog - that should be entertaining

[AnnPerkins]

Old newspapers or flattened cardboard boxes are handy if it's wet. You can use them as a disposable doormat.

[winewolfhowls]

Whatever you do you always forget something it's camping law.

As long as you have your purse petrol and clean knickers it's all good.

[QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins]

If u like your tea then take proper China mug.