What do I need?

[Ladymoods]

I'm off to buy my first tent today! Single mum with two dc's and I think this will be the most affordable way for us to get any time away. So as I'm starting from scratch, what other essentials do I need?

Thanks in advance!

Really warm sleeping bags, buy the best ones you can afford - it's better to be too warm than cold. I prefer the square ones rather than mummy shape.
I always like a tent you could walk into rather than having to crouch down. Just easier to take shoes off.
Have you considered how you're going to cater? I had a 2 burner hob with grill which was good enough to make most simple meals.
Are you children old enough to go to the toilet on their own? If not, invest in a bucket or cheap washing up bowl saved expressly for emergency toilet situations to save walking over to shower/toilet blocks in the middle of the night.
I always had electric hookup too so could have an electric lamp and be able to charge my phone!! get back to nature??! NAH!!

Is money a big issue? If so then have a nose about on eBay for second hand tents as there are some real bargains about and you can find out for sure if camping is for you.
As an example, I have an old Vango tent. Excellent condition, good brand and easy to use- similar tents for sale ATM are about £30 due to their age
DS is 10 and has a good sleeping bag though he only uses it for Scout camps. When he's with us he's firmly a duvet boy! This could save you a few quid initially as well, just make sure the DCs are well wrapped up.
Will you camp at sites where fires are allowed? I so will you be cooking over that, eating out a lot, hoping to cook wholesome and nutritious meals from scratch or content to live off Super Noodles? That will determine what cooking gear you will need.

We bought (another) tent at the weekend.
It's 3 man and with the go outdoors discount card it was £42 new. There are bargains out there to be had especially with old season stock.
Something sleep on. Helps keep you warm (a layer underneath is worth two on top) and also means you're more likely to sleep.

Ebay is your friend!
Minimum for me:
Tent you can stand up in, with built in ground sheet
Rug or similar to go over floor
Airbeds or roll up mattresses
Lots of fleecy blankets for under and over sleeping bag
Sleeping bags
Hot water bottle (see the theme?!!)
Something to cook on and gas
Utensils from home, plates etc
Bucket with lid/potette/night time wee receptacle
Torches
Coolbox and ice blocks
Crocs or shoes that slip off easily for in/out of tent a lot
Chairs/table or stools, all in one picnic table
Storage boxes for easy transportation of food/stuff

I take lots more but that would be minimum!
Have fun :D

Do you have a car or will you be having to carry everything?

Certainly E-bay for the essentials just make sure any tent you buy is put up for you to inspect,nothing worse than buying a tent and finding when you come to put it up a pole is missing We also used to take a roll of black plastic bags to store clothes in just in case it rained kept all the spare clothing dry and we travelled down in our car with our own pillows and used them at night time nothing worse than a flat surface to try and sleep on.You will enjoy it we spent many happy holidays when the DCs where young they make friends and find their own enjoyment.best of luck.

Thanks ladies, some good tips and things that I hadn't even thought about! Yes I'm going to get a little gas stove, not going to go mad about nutritional value of food, super noodles and instant pasta are absolutely fine. Is there anything else you would recommend cooking wise?

Dc's are 6 & 4 and haven't been camping yet so just going to try the odd night here and there first. I'm not a huge outdoor person but feeling very excited!

Smash potato and frankfurters.
Fresh pasta and pots of sauce.
Bacon and egg.
Make a chilli and take it with you and warm it up.
There's a fantastic cook book designed for camping but I can't remember what it's called!!
The camping cookbook maybe?

Both you and the kids will eat a lot more when you're camping than you do at home so basically triple food amounts...or maybe my family are the only ones that eat like pigs when we're away!!
Warmth...£1 shop fleecy fluffy socks and lots of them.
Get a large lidded plastic box...poundstretchers or the like and use it for pots and plates etc...the lid stops mice and their friends crawling over your stuff while you're sleeping!
Anti bac wipes or knives chopping boards and stuff...you'll be surprised how often you wipe things when there isn't a hot tap to hand....and baby wipes for your hands for the same reason.
You'll all love it and you'll be hooked. I've camped a lot with my girls on my own when they were younger (they're teens now) and the whole 'roughness' of it makes for many giggling moments!!