Camping tips for complete novice

[lifeistooshort]

DH, me and the DCs (5, 3 and 9 months) have been invited to our very first camping trip. After years of resisting camping because I am worried I won't like it, will be cold and uncomfortable and won't sleep, I have given in as I think it would be a really fun experience for the kids.

So please tell me season campers what do I need to make our experience lovely and comfortable and which equipment would you say is a must have?

I would say ideally wait till at least the end of May so weather warms up a little. Don't go mad with equipment incase it isn't your thing. But take loads and loads of warm clothes and extra blankets. A couple of chairs to sit on, on a night and during the day while kids roll around enjoying fresh air and lastly some alcohol as it's nice to sit out with a drink after kids have gone to bed (it also helps you get a good nights sleep. A torch or two for going to the loo or if the kids wake up in the night. But most of all a sense of humour.

Could you borrow anything off anyone for the first time??? Or ask friends your going with re; cooking equipment (as I am sure they will just want your company and will assume you will share stove etc as long as you muck in with washing up and buy some food. If you like it you can gradually accumulate the equipment as you go along depending on how rough or how comfortable a camper you are.

The first time me and my hubbie went pre-children we bought a small cheap tent, some sleeping bags (the yellow mats to go underneath) and took off for one night calling in at a pub for food and alchohol and a cafe for breakfast.
We love it and have taken our two since the youngest was just under a year. Now we have loads of gear including an enormous tent, airbeds etc etc etc and it takes forever to pack/unpack.
The kids will love it. Enjoy!

Earplugs, fleecy pj's, heat socks and wine

It totally depends on your budget and how often you plan to camp.

I just go in the warmer months with the kids, last year I got the essentials ... tent, carpet, EHU, heater (I can't stand being cold), gas stove, camping chairs, airbeds, decent sleeping bags.

From that experience, I realised I needed somewhere to cook if the weather was dodgy so I bought the awning and a proper camp kitchen so I'm pretty much sorted for now, although I am on the look out for a more comfy chair for DH.

Agree with the "keep warm" philosophy. If you are cold, then it's a huge distraction. You can never have too many fleeces......

Something to cook a bacon butty on and make a cup of tea is also right up there on my list.

I'm not one to usually say "look in the archives" but there are some brilliant threads on here, and the actual camping topic gives lists of suggested kit. As jellyshoes says, its all about your budget and enthusiasm. Start small, borrow what you can and see whether its your thing!

Then come and blether to the rest of us......

Thank you all for you replies, it does seem that you need an enormous amount of stuff....it might be simpler to take our house on our back....I will definitely follow the advice on keeping warm as I cannot stand being cold and I already use earplugs.

The thought of cooking and cooking equipment hadn't even crossed my mind ...or that we might need to go to the toilet during the night....doh!

Wear a hat in bed! And re toilet in the night a potty! THough I am thinking of getting a kampa khazi!!!