Decided to give camping a go. Tell me the must haves for our first trip inc 4 dcs under 6

[threecurrantbuns]

Haven't the first clue and never camped.

Have 8 birth trailer tent, tell me essentials we need to take to make our trip 1-viable. 2-enjoyable??

Thanks in advance

1. The largest car in the world

1. tons of warm everything

1. test everything before you go.

I say this as someone who has camped one night , a few miles from home. Re point 1, I FILLED my estate (1 toddler, 1 baby, pushchair, tent, double duvet...). I anticipated (2) (hence double duvet). Husband failed at (3). Mr "I can pitch any tent in the world" couldn't get the feckin' thing up (thankfully ran into some people we knew who helped), and then we didn't have a pump for the airbed, had FIL drive one down but it didn't fit, we had to go begging to aforementioned, long suffering friends; all in all it was a comedy of errors never to be repeated

What ages are your sprogs? How long are you planning to go for? You are very brave.

:) At gemma4d, sounds like divorced material to me ;)

Our dcs are 5 (6in June), just 4, just2 and 3weeks!!!!
Ambitious I know, although we aren't planning to try until summer holidays and test run will be in our friends field next to their house!
They camp three times a year so relying on them for back up.
I'm also relying on the info I've read about going with a small breastfed baby is easier than an older mobile one :/
Being as we got a big trailer tent for a steal off a friend we feel we must at least give it a go. And the fact that it has raised sleeping areas and A small kitchen area has made it seem more appealing
The plan is to use it for short weekend trips and I've hopeful visions of quality family time together on a budget...bit optimistic???

I think as long as the kids are warm and dry and well fed u can have a fantastic time, I reckon the younger the kids are,the more suitable they are to camping !!
This theory is based on seeing my dd and her pals spending hours wizzing round the tent, camp site completely enthralled,
I wonder if the,older they get, the more gadgets they miss ??
I always take waterproof clothes, so they can get wrapped up, and go out and get completely dirty / drenched but stay warm underneath..getting stuck in the tent, can get fraught. And boring, if stuck too long.
Happy camping ! X

A bit of a cop out but mine wear 'camping nappies' because we use duvets and the cold air can hit their bladder. It ain't easy trying to wash an dry duvets in a field!

My camping box in the garage contains the following:

corkscrew
cheese grater / chopping boards / knives etc
string
decent lanterns ( nothing worse than sitting in the gloom)
packs of cards / games like bananagrams /paper & pencils

Blankets for snuggling in
Hats / gloves
Head torch (night time trip to the loos)

I always pre cook a chilli or something similar to heat up once the tent is up...oh, and a naice bottle of red!

Enjoy!

Lots of bedding. Then even more bedding.

A potty, lots of warm clothes as it can get very chilly at night. A torch for finding your way to the WC at night and said potty is full. Toilet paper.