CAMPING VIRGIN what do I need!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nemo1977]

Arghhh we have been asked by friends to go camping in may. I have never been camping so we obviously need to buy a tent. What else do we need???? We have a 2.4yr old and a 11wk old who will be around 5/6mths when we go. Myself and DH...any advice etc greatly appreciated. Dh went camping a lot as a kid but was never responsible for anything and I went caravaning but dont remember anything.

There was a thread about this the other day - I'll see if I can find it

a hotel.

Try\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=9&threadid=149275\ here}

Sleeping bags - good ones. Waterproof clothing and footwear.

Ask your friends what they are taking so you don't need to (i.e. stoves, pans plates, kettles)

Lots of socks. Towels, toiletries. A torch. Get a big tent if you can.

sleepysuzy they have said we can use all their cooking equipment so it is the sleeping stuff etc.

It will be COLD the minute the sun goes down in May. Hats, gloves and scarves might be needed - imagine spending a whole evening sitting in the garden instead of the house and you'll get the idea!

If you don't have good sleeping bags take duvets from the house. There is nothing more miserable than being cold.

Flip flops are handy for the showers and if you need to get up in the night to go to the loo.

My main tip would be to take lots of warm clothing.

Well you might want something to sleep on. My dh likes an airbed, but I find them extremely uncomfortable. Maybe camping mats or campbeds? Depends on your preference.

am I daft to go with a young baby?

My sister camped with her baby and they all enjoyed it. I recommend hats for nighttime as it gets very cold - I also agree that a large tent is good but if you've never been camping as a family before it might be wise to try and borrow one from a friend to see if you enjoy it before spending the money on a tent of your own.

In some ways it's easier with a young baby as they can't crawl away! as long as you are warm then go for it and have a great time, be warned you may well get hooked!

When it comes to buying a tent, get one with a sig (sewn in groundsheet) if you can, it'll keep you much warmer.

Katherine is the best person to ask about camping with a baby IIRC!

ive just been looking at the place we are going and must admit I am actually getting quite excited..lol Its a place called shell island and it looks lovely.

Can you post a link - We're always on the lookout for new places to camp.

Camping with a baby is great, as long as they are well wrapped up, and you have more than enough essentials - vests, nappies, wipes, spare clothes etc.

Never heard of it but here: \link{http://www.shellisland.co.uk/\shell island}

ermmm trying to find the link
\link{http://www.shellisland.co.uk/shell/Shell.html\shell island}

Is there anything I need for the baby like a special sleeping bag or something??? Where is the best place to buy stuff?

I would say a fleecy sleepsuit with feet (try La Redoute about £6) and a winter grobag should be ok, you'll need a couple of torches as it doesn't look as though the site has ehu, and baby can always sleep in a pram / flat pushchair if necessary.
Oh and a portable potty - can be used by all!! £6.99 from Woolies or Mothercare.

Thanks for the link - it looks nice

ooo already got sleepsuits/grobags and portable potty so thats ok..good idea about the pram to sleep in I didnt think about that.

Hot water bottles, those plastic backed picnic rugs are good to put under your airbed (if you use them) they insulate you from the cold. We got them from Dunelm Mill for about £3.

I know people who have used this site and love it. The beaches are supposed to be great!

How about \link{http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?category=1&subcategory=1&ProductID=998\this as a starter tent}?

What sort do you fancy?

lucycat the friend I am going with has been to that site the past 2 yrs with her kids. Her ds is same age as mine so should hopefully have fun as apparently there are lots of rockpools etc to explore.

For tents I am having a look on ebay at some but have seen \link{http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3409804.htm\this} in argos and we have £40 of vouchers so will only cost us £60.

we are going to take our double airbed..but was thinking about a ready bed for Ds and his fleece sleepsuit?

That tent seems to tick all the right boxes, I like the height inside as I do like to be able to stand up in the tent and having the 2 rooms may be good, you might want to look at a tunnel type tent where you can have a room large enough to fit all of you in if necessary, our dd's ended up in our room in the middle of the night and you won't have to go stumbling around a dark cold tent in the night if you all share.

We've got \link{http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3407796.htm\this Ready Bed} for the dd's but we also have sleeping bags, the good thing about ready beds is they won't slide off the airbed!!

Maybe something like \link{http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3408599/Trail/C%24cip%3D36237.Sports%2Band%2Bleisure%3EC%24cip%3D36238.Camping%2Band%2Bcaravaning%3EC%24cip%3D36243.Tents.htm\this one}?

You'll be able to put it up in about 30 mins (with a little practice!!)