Camping tips please

[DipSwimSwoosh]

I used to camp a lot before kids. Since then I have been fake/ easy camping, as in, in a caravan or Eurocamp tent.
We are proper camping next week with. 6, 4 and 2 year old. Putting up our own tent etc. I have today to get organised and would love your tips please.
(If I don't respond immediately it's because I am swimming this morning, I will be back).
Thank you.

Have a bucket in your tent for night time wees!
If using an air bed to sleep on, put a fleece blanket or similar underneath it otherwise the cold rises up through it.

Awesome, thank you

There is an entire camping board on here.

My biggest tip for putting up your tent for the first time is to watch youtube videos of other people doing your specific make and model and if possible try and practice doing it yourself in your garden.

Enjoy.

www.getoutwiththekids.co.uk/camping/camping-tips/tent-basics-pitching/

Thanks

Agree to putting up your tent in the garden first as a trial.

Get good quality airbed, the last thing you want is to wake up on the floor in the morning. Or camp beds are even better as have storage under.

Take flip flops to wear in the showers and slip on shoes for late night loo trips.

Great tips, thanks. So far so good!

Accept it'll be messy and it's like playing a game of Tetris daily

My tip is have enough windbreaks to our around the edge of your pitch. Stops hours escaping (or at least slows them down!) but also prevents others trampling across your pitch.

Familiarise yourself with where local shops are for necessities. Take a plastic box with lid to store food.

Take plenty of plastic boxes with lids in fact to store everything you need as they are a)easy to pack this way and b) stack up so save space.

I have one with all towels and toiletries in, one for toys/books etc. One/2 for food. Waterproofs etc in another.

Great, thank you

Time your arrival for when the rain stops.
Pack the tent into the car last - so you don't have to scatter all of your belongings across the field to get to it.
You cannot have too many jumpers, quick snacks, blankets to tuck under people, lighters, hats.
Colour code each kids camping kit if possible - eg green sleeping bag, bowl, plate cutlery. It gives them a sense of their camping kit and saves arguments when things get put down and re-found.
Small boxes of cereal area game changer.
Make a practice stove top meal at home... to work out what kit you use. There is nothing worse than trying to turn something in a pan with a butter knife because you didn't pack a spatula/ tongs.

Two mallets so that you and DH can crack on without having to wait for the other. Practice beforehand if you can - fewer public arguments on site!

If you're likely to do a fair bit of camping I'd say good self inflating mats and 4 season sleeping bags. However much other 'stuff' you have, no holiday is good if you don't sleep well.

Don't forget the above (bitter experience).

Don't forget waterproof coats and crocs or similar for going to the showers.

Agree with wee bucket. We got one with a toilet seat attached. Saves having to go out at 2am in the rain.

I used to take frozen dishes for the first couple of nights eg chilli and bolognaise. Keeps the fridge box cool. Also baked Brownies and flapjack for puds.

I also ended up keeping a list on a spreadsheet which we added to after every holiday.

Take a travel cot for the 2 year old. It was a life saver when we took our 20 month old last week.

Flipflops or crocs for showers and take a nail brush. Camping always meant dirty fingernails for kids.
I used to have a small antibac gel hanging by the entrance of the tent as we returned back.

Keep essentials in one place; a pocket in the tent or a small tub. Combs, hairbands or that one tube of suncream can have a tendency of slipping under air beds and not turning up until you are packing away at the end of the trip.

I used to put an extra bit of tarpaulin outside the tent for removing shoes, that bit of grass outside the entrance would wear away and mud would be walked in. Poundland used to do one with peg holes that fitted the bill.

And a dustpan and brush. Even if it is only used at the end of the trip, it cleans the tent for next time.

Keep a list of the things you forgot/needed this time for next time up go.

Have fun.

Buy a “luggable loo”, line it with a strong bun bag and fill the bottom with cat litter. Use for night time weed, then tie the bag and replace.
Take some “glow sticks” and pop one on the tent pod zips (saves you grappling round in the dark for the zip or waking everyone with the beam of your torch when you need the loo)
Take a large bath mat/spare towel for the shower cubicle floor to make dressing after your shower easier.
Put a throw between the floor and your air bed and sleep in a hoody with the hood pulled up. Will keep you toasty. Also, put your pyjamas on earlier in the evening so that you’re nice and cosy when you go to bed.
If you have EHU, buy a Tower multicooker from B&M. You can cook just about everything in them and they’re great for warming croissants and making toasties.
Have a wonderful time.

Those giant plastic boxes with clip lids are your friend. We have a massive one that we store the camping plates, pans etc in and just shove it in the car. It doubles as a spare seat, and is a waterproof and squirrel- proof food store.

Earplugs can be useful.

Dustpan and brush. No shoes in the sleeping area. Collapsible crates to organise stuff. Some clothes pegs. Towels you don’t care about and kitchen roll. Fluffy socks all round. Your own pillows. Torches/head torches one for each child. Marshmallows for toasting. Instant hot chocolate.

Get the kids ready for bed well before bedtime - much easier to stay warm than if you’re getting them changed after dark.

Don’t be afraid to pack up early if the last days of weather look shit. Packing up in the rain (and knowing you’ll need to repitch the tent at home to dry it) is miserable.

Don't go. HTH.

Actually that was a facetious response but in all honesty, the weather is going to be awful for some of this week. Are you really sure about this?!

Everyone gets their own tote bag that has own shampoo toothpaste etc. Put their own towel in and space for your clothes when going to shower. Keeps everything in one place and pack them back up once towels dry, stops people going to shower and not having stuff.
Put you PJs on early and take plenty of cosy things (socks, cheap ikea blankets).
I put emergency foil on the sleeping floor under all the SIMs so that it keeps you warm.
Heard a tip here before but not tried it yet but take your duvet rather than sleeping bag as it keeps you warmer, my sis is a scout leader and they always do this when on camp.

Valium and a bucket of gin!

Oh and pegs!

If weather is nice you can dry towels and swim wear and air blankets etc by legging the to anything you have on your pitch.

Umbrella, wind break, chairs, tent poles and guy ropes!

Pegs are your friend!

If you have an interlocking foam play mat and room enough in the car, take that. Soft on knees for playing on, kneeling if necessary, and excellent insulation from the cold ground: good under the kids beds.

Take butchers hooks / S hooks in case there are not enough hooks in the shower to keep all your clothes / towels off the manky floor. Hang them over the cubicle door.

Take brioche rolls to shove at the kids for a quick breakfast.

Loads of wipes, can be used for everything.

Zip the door zips you the top out of reach of the littlest, if they are likely to escape early morning.

Don’t take bubble blowing toys: bubbles (any detergent) is bad for tents. Everyone will hate you.

Teach your kids camping etiquette: running through someone’s pitch is like running through their house. If they trip on someone else’s guys they were too close.

Thanks again for all of these!

Blankets. You cannot have enough.

Aww you're going to have a great time!

I have nothing useful to add, I'm just here to soak up the camping vibes....