Can someone help me shop for our very first camping trip please?

[mumat39]

Haven't booked anywhere yet, but hoping to go soon.

I've looked on pitch up and am already confused about whether we need a pitch with electric or not. Most of what's available is non electric.

There are 4 of us. Me, DP, dd (5) and DS (3).
DP is 6'2" so would need something he'll fit into.

We have 3 sleeping bags and two electric air beds, one of which has a slow leak.

I am worried about
Dc safety ESP at night
Being bitten alive
Using toilet blocks at all, but ESP in the night
I would have to 'cook' as dc have allergies and ready meals aren't an option for them.

So, can someone help point me in the direction of what I should be looking at in terms of tent etc. there seem to be so many versions and brands that I'm confused.

Also, were SW London, so if anyone can think of any sites not too far that we could try for our first trip that would also be helpful.

Thanks so much.

[MummyPigsFatTummy]

If you don't have a water carrier just buy one of those 5litre bottles of water they sell in large supermarkets. You can then use up that water and keep the container for refilling.

[mumat39]

Thanks again. You're all brilliant!

DP thinks I'm being unnecessary about wanting to take extra blankets etc, so I'm tempted to let him freeze get cold. but I won't of course.

The bg water bottle is a great idea! Well get one of those when we get there.

Thanks again, so so so so so so much! DP thinks I'm mad because I say I've asked for advice on here. He hasn't even checked the YouTube videos on assembling the tent so thanks to you all and your advice, I will be the 'expert'.

Xxx

[meala]

Ooh! How exciting. Hope you all have a fantastic time

[mumat39]

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to update to say thanks to you all for all your advice. With your help we managed a short trip, 3nights and I really enjoyed it. My dc had a great time, although they wanted to eat in the tent as he were loads of wasps around. They loved playing outside, just not sitting still.

We were supposed to be away for 4 nights but the weather forecast for the next day was looking very wet, so we decided late on the afternoon that we would pack whilst it was dry. We also would have never packed up before 11am, especially font was wet, so I'm glad we wimped out left a day early.

All the advice on here was brilliant! I felt like I got it all right, so we were all comfortable, and warm and it was very chilled ESP as DP did all the loo trips with the dc.

the only downside was that there were some children who hogged the Play area and seemed to want to cause trouble, and I am intimidated by that so we avoided the playground a few times. A one point I thought there was going to be a fight, especially when mums started to get involved. The kids who were causing the problems were only between 9 and 12 but they pushed in, bullied some of the other kids and were obstructive on the climbing frames. That did put a bit of a dampener on things, but we would definitely go again.

Thanks again.
Xxx