What do I need to get for camping with small children?

[foxessocks]

We are going on a last minute camping trip and haven't done it before (apart from in our younger days at festivals!) , We have a 3 yo and a 10 month old...what are the most important things we need to get organised?! (We have a tent but may get a new one we are undecided on that at the moment so any recommendations would be great)

[RelentlesslyPositive]

Take toys that will keep them amused in the tent. Stacking cups are good, they don't take up much space when packing but there are lots of games you can play with them.

Lots of wipes. Wellies. More spare clothes and pants than you think you could possibly need.

A small padlock for the zip on the tent (to prevent escape during the night).

Snacks that can be eaten cold and are instant.

Good luck!

[RelentlesslyPositive]

If you get a new tent, get one with a fitted groundsheet and a carpet. It will make all the difference if it rains! Small children and muddy tents are not a great combination. ...

[elQuintoConyo]

Mini dustpan and brush - necessary for sweeping crumbs/dried mud/leaves etc. Also tons of fun for kids!

Torch for the 2yo, as long as careful not to shine in babys eyes/own eyes.

Some battery-operated fairy lights.

[defineme]

A wee bucket...

[FedUpAndFeelingLow]

Gin. Lots of gin

[milkjetmum]

We camp every year, have done since eldest was under 1 (now 6 and 3).

Can you borrow a tent from a friend before buying? That's what we did the first time.

If yoi want to buy and have a go outdoors near you they have the tents set up so you can see how you'd all fit in. Depends whether you want the tent to be light or you want to have space inside for rainy days. We went for space inside and have an 8man tent for our family of 4 (with room to stand up inside).

Most important thing is layers and more layers, it gets surprisingly cold at night so sleep all together and always have an extra layer available. especially if you're on an air mattress on the floor (we got camp beds which are much warmer). We were camping last night and I had on pj, Cardigan, sleeping bag and was still chilly. Luckily had a 3yr old hot water bottle

[StandardLampski]

Solar power fairy lights - leave to charge in day. At night they will come on without you having to remember and low level lighting quite useful without having to shine torch in eyes / hold between teeth / knees!

Also...a potty. Night time trips to loo are a pain. Especially if you are on your own...

Stickers. Something for them to do when you are putting the tent up. Or something snack that takes a while to eat ...

[leddeeburdee]

Also a couple of washing up bowls or buckets - if it ends up being hot then they can play with cold water in them.

[foxessocks]

Thanks this is all very useful! I'm a little worried we are all going to get chilly...must sort out some warm sleepwear for the children. DD tends to just wear pants in bed at home so we'll have to talk her into some warm pyjamas!

[foxessocks]

Got a potty, got a torch, got wellies.

Haven't got a padlock and that has made me nervous! That's on the list!

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

BIN BAGS!

shit loads of blankets. A tent with some sort of shelter over the front door so the rain doesn't pour in

All in one waterproof suit, for both of them.

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

Do NOT padlock the tent. It's a fire risk, you need to be able to get out. Most tents will let you just put the zips up high so that you can reach them but the kids can't. Lots have a little strap across the zip, but you can remove this.

If you can't put the zip up high, the a bell or something else noisy on the zip pull, and position yourself between the kids and the exit.

Never padlock yourself into a tent.

[Lamby80]

We are in the same boat. Older ds loves camping but never been with a 10 month old and im a bit nervous. He wants to walk around now and pull himself up on everything so I think it will be hard work.
If it helps, I bought him a pop up travel cot and plan to take a 3.5 tog sleeping bag, fleece babygrow with long sleeve vest and some socks for his hands. Not sure he will need it all.
And I bought an all in one rain suit in the supermarket for crawling around.
When do you go?

[foxessocks]

Ok. Understood. No padlock.

Ds needs a new coat anyway so will see about getting him an all in one. DD had a decent rain coat and boots but will see if there's enough money left for an all in one.

We go next week!

[foxessocks]

Or possibly end of this week actually

[foxessocks]

He has a sleeping bag not sure what tog it is but was thinking of getting a fleece babygro for under it. We have a travel cot but need to make sure it fits in whatever tent we have...we sometimes co sleep at home so I know he would sleep in with us but not sure that's ideal.

[Lamby80]

Oooh let me know how you get on!

[SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower]

Sorry, got a bit ranty there
😄

[foxessocks]

No don't apologise - I am clueless!

[mamaduckbone]

Definitely waterproof all in ones and wellies, lots and lots of snacks, layers for nighttime - the first time we took ds2 he was in a travel cot and froze. He ended up with all of my jumpers and my down gilet over him as well as his own pjs and grobag. A fleece / sheepskin underneath makes the cot snugglier to get into and you could warm it up with a hot water bottle. Also, as many wet wipes as you can carry.
It is fun, honestly!

[NapQueen]

We recently went and filled thw bedroom part of the tent with fleece blankets, topped with those self inflating mats, then another fleece blanket across the top and our duvets over us. Cosy warm all night.

Compact folding table for a travel stove for cooking. Folding camping chairs for all. Citroenella candle and some Skin So Soft (avon) for the midges.

[foxessocks]

Ok...blankets and more blankets.

[Crispmonster1]

Take their scooter or play pushchairs, buckets for them to do pouring with. Colouring, toy cars. Ball.

[foxessocks]

Sorry not sure if anyone mentioned this already but if his travel cot doesn't fit in the tent which I don't think it will what can the baby sleep in? I was thinking just build him a little bed on the floor by our bed? We have an inflatable mattress for us and a little bed for DD. The special camping cot things are really expensive.

[foxessocks]

He can crawl and moves around quite a bit in his sleep so not sure how this will work!