Planning our first camping trip (eek!) what do i need to know?

[DedalusDigglesPocketWatch]

We are planning our first camping trip for the first week in July with dcs (4yrs and nearly 2yrs)

What do I need/ don't need?

What can make the trip go smoothly?

Things for the children to do whilst at the tent?

Erm... and lots more questions that I can't think of right now!

Cardboard! I never EVER camp without the stuff!!

You dont have to take it with you, just pic up some boxes when you pass a supermarket on your holiday but its fab for everything!

Under the airbeds for starters. Great insulation and also reduces dampness/condensation on your airbed in the morning. So does a blanket underneath you.

Its great if not AMAZING when you are on damp/muddy ground or after lots of rain. The main entrance to your tent will become muddy and rank - put cardboard down in the first instance and you will be laughing - no mud inside the tent, no puddle just outside the tent door. Its also somewhere to take off wellies etc before getting in the tent. If its torrential/prolonged rain - you may need to change it after as day or so.

Its also handy for sitting the kids on if the ground is damp and your pic nic blankets are sandy/damp/ packed away somewhere etc etc.

Cardboard is my camping lethal weapon. yes its not glam and shiney and trendy but I always have a mud free tent and a dry airbed.

Wow, thank you! I have been concerned about the damp feeling (i have been to pony club camp in my youth!) So was thinking of hot water bottles for keeping the damp away.

Just thought of another question....
Is there any kind of very dim nightlight I could use for my dd who won't sleep in the dark? And if there is a light (even if very dim) will it make us a shadow theatre for other campers? :o

Just buy a very cheap LED keyring lights from fleabay, if still too bright put thin fabric over the emitter.

Are you going to be on a campsite with facilities? You don't sound like this is a back of beyond trip.

For warm sunny weather have something to suspend over the tent to stop the sun shining directly on it as it could get too warm inside, especially for tots.

Also have a shaded area outside the tent, get a cheap tarp or surplus basha. This is useful for a lot of things as well as a dry patch of ground in the event of rain as Queen mentions.

How are you handling catering? Cooking from a portable range/stove? If so practice the setup/take down/fueling and using it. They can be dangerous even without children around.

Likewise if you ar using your own tent sod's law says you end up getting to the campsite late or when it's dark, be prepared!

Marking my place.
Love love cardboard idea will be stealing this one.

Pack light, layers is the answer. They will get grubby, it's part of the fun, no need for clean clothes every morning, they be dirty before breakfast anyway .

Waterproofs are invaluable for the DC, wellies of course. Crocs are useful too. we have a no shoes in the bedroom rule (stop mud getting everywhere) and crocs can be popped on and off easily.

If you are worried they'll be cold at night put a fleece/jumper over their PJs. That's saved me a few restless nights worrying they are cold.

For entertainment, bucket and spades are useful (dig up campsite looking for dinosaur bones, collect stones and so on). If wet, head for the pound shop, let them spend a few £ each on tat you can sling once they've had fun with it. Pens and paper also useful.

Yup, I'm stealing the cardboard idea too.

Someone's already mentioned cooking. Last trip we took the first evening meal ready cooked, ready prepared. Massive chilli for everyone (toddlers version in separate container) and boil in the bag Uncle Ben's.

Oh, and don't forget bread, butter, bacon and eggs for breakfast.

God, I'm looking forward to our trip this year. Though we still don't know where we're going.

Oh, and I'm also punching the cardboard tip too.

pinching

DO NOT GO!!

Thanks for the suggestions.

DH used to camp a lot, so he thinks I am fussing over the little things. I just know it is meant to be a holiday and it won't be if none of us have slept with being cold and damp!

We put the tent up this afternoon, and that wasn't too tricky, so no surprises when we actually get to the campsite.

We have a very small gas stove and a bucket BBQ. We also plan to have a few meals out/buy some sandwiches to take to the beach etc.

Yes to crocs for kids, the last 2 summers dd has lived in them.

Is a windbreak a good idea for being sat outside the tent?

:o Huw

We took a windbreak when the kids were very small, so if you've got the space take one.

We manage without now, and would just buy one there if we missed it.

Are you going to practice fitting everything in the car before you go?

Packing the car to go is always tense here, will it all fit in? DH huffing and puffing!

Hahaha, yes. DH wants to take his car as it is a lot cheaper to run, however I do have a landrover discovery, so at least we know it would fit in there.

Whenever DH is trying to fit stuff in the car (ikea for example) he likes to hum the Tetris tune :o

MrsWembly, I completely missed your post, sorry. Yes, good idea to have first night dinner with you, thinking hot dogs perhaps? Very quick, and easy.

Can you make do without an electric coolbox?

What bedding do you seasoned campers use? We have 2 double airbeds with our tent and 4 'mummy' sleeping bags. Do you take sheets and duvets too? What about the kids, dd would be fine in a sleeping bag, but ds (19m atm) would probably wriggle down and get stuck.

An electric cool box makes life lots easier, but of courwe you can manage without.

If you have a good cool box, freeze a couple of 2 pint cartons of milk and stick them in, they'll keep everything cold for a day or so. Then the campsite usually has somewhere to refreeze ice blocks.

Sheets for the air beds will be much comfier. I always take them.

Thank you.

One tip I have heard was to take a fold out clothes horse/airer to dry towels, swimming costumes etc, I though it was an excellent idea.

What do you do in the evenings when the children are in bed? Only so much scrabble you can play :o

This thread is brilliant! We're off on the Bank Holiday weekend, and though we've camped in the past, it's with borrowed stuff. I'm definitely stealing the cardboard idea, and the clothes airer....

Enjoy! (and come back to the thread the moment you get back and tell me more too tips! :o )

And if you don't have room for the airer, guy ropes are very useful washing lines- take pegs! I wouldn't recommend it for normal towels though as they may be too heavy, we take microfibre ones bought from eBay, they save tons in space & weight.

But are they any good for the beach?

No, I wouldn't take them for the beach, I have to have separate ones anyway as I can't be doing with drying myself with sandy towels after a shower! So we take proper beach towels for our beachy holiday as well as the microfibre ones for showering. Beach towels we get dry on the open car doors or overnight inside the car.

Ok, are the microfibre ones a bit like synthetic chamois leather? We used to use them on the horses and DH called it a camping towel.

I froze two two litre bottles of water inside my coolbox. LAsted much longer than any ice packs and could be used for drinking out of as it defrosted.

About your sleeping bags - tie a belt around the ones for your dc to save them wriggling to far down.

I was wondering about investing in microfibre towels - do they dry you well after a shower, I'm a bit sceptical!