Camping with a 1yo...what do I need?

[HHH3]

DS2 and I are going camping for a few days with friend at the end of August (DS1 will be with his dad). But it's been years since I camped and have never done it with kids.

At the moment we have sleeping bags and a double air bed. I'm hoping to borrow as much as I can from friends. Obviously we need a tent. But what else do we need?!

Good waterproofs, wellies, buggy unless you're backpacking. It's really good to be able tokeep a smal child from wandering off when you're doing things like pitching the tent or cooking. What are you doing for meals? We cooked very simple food that didn't need to be kept cool so stove, pan, couple of plates.

we keep a trug at the entrance for chucking wet clothes and wellies in.

toys. Small soft ball. Books. We now have a charger which holds enough charge for 4 days which means the kids can play games/have stories on the phone.

w
how long are you going for?

Thank-you - that's really helpful. I tend to use slings mostly so hadn't thought of taking the buggy to contain him at times! Great idea

Friends are taking cooking equipment so I'll just pitch in with the cooking. We're going for 3 nights.

Oh, and can I ask what charger you have please? That'd be really useful.

Track suit bottoms to sleep in (for 1 year old ) it gets cold at night. Travel cot.

Have you got camping chairs, there is nothing worse than sitting on the ground for four days.

Chargers - where is the fun in playing on the phone - surely camping is about doing something different !

Good idea re tracksuit bottoms - thank-you! We co-sleep so doubt he'll be happy in a travel cot.

Still need to keep in touch with DS1 while we're away so do need a charger

Oh, and no - need to get camping chairs

Wine

The patience of a saint.

^^ was just coming on to write exactly what butterflies has.... great minds

I rarely drink but I'm going with good friends who will help me out and take DS2 off my hands at times

my first thought was lots of wine too. something quiet to do first thing in the morning, ours are both early risers and that can be extra early in a bright campsite. Balls, bubbles, warm stuff to sleep in. Get him changed nice and early for bed, that way the clothes stay warm. Don't worry about what time he goes to bed, half the fun is watching them wear themselves out in the campsite. We took a double duvet and I co-slept with our dd when she was about that age.

Waterproof trousers or all in one suit - even in August. Then as soon as they're awake they can go for a crawl about on the grass (which will be damp first thing regardless of weather)

Some great tips and ideas here. Thank-you

We went with our 14 month old yast year, this is what I'd advise:

Travel cot. We coslept, and maaan, that girl wriggles! Only if it fits inthe tent, obvs.
Use the footmuff from the buggy if you need extra warmth.
Our dd actually found sleeping a bit tricky, her routine was completely out of whack and she was over stimulated from even just being outside/in a new environment etc. The precious wee flower. Had to go for early evening stoll in the buggy to get her to sleep, they were lovely evenings so no hardship :)
Maybe download a few episodes of his fav TV onto your phone? Yes, I am one of those parents :)

Have fun!

Flexi bucket - ASDA do them dead cheap. Great for carrying toys, washing up, wet clothes etc Double as a baby bath, washing up bowl etc etc

m.direct.asda.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-ASDA-Site/default/Product-Show?cmpid=ppc--ad-pla--ggle-pla--Home--001232459&cm_mmc=ad-ppc--ggle-pla--Home-_-001232459&istCompanyId=71f4ae42-94c5-4821-aa58-05eff6da2486&istItemId=milqraia&istBid=t&pid=001232459

£2 and a million camping uses

Mine had a fleece sleep suit at that age - we camped even in late Sept / October. Puddle suit and wellies. Bin bags for rubbish and wet clothes. Wooly hat for night if very cold