Camping Newbie advice

[pigleychez]

The BIL has persuded us to join them in camping this summer. We arent going far and only for 2 nights next weekend to ease us in.
A friend has lent us a tent which we will have a trial run erecting this week before we go.
Have a airbed and sleepingbags and the girls (4 and 6) have ready beds.

Ive started writting a list and think ive got most things covered but anyone any tips/advice for camping newbies? Camping is quite far out of my normal comfort zone so want to be prepared :)

Watching sorry I can't help yet!

I'm a camping newbie, we're going away for 4 nights next week. A few tips ive been given are don't freak out about sand, grass, dirt etc. Expect your normal routine to go out of the window with regards to bedtimes. And most of all just relax and go with the flow.

Take fleeces and wooly hats, for sitting around nattering in the evening.

Take socks and fleeces to sleep in and extra fleeces to go on and under beds at night.

So long as you are warm, it will be fun, in my experience (as a person who feels the cold and cycle-camps in January). Assume it will be much colder than you think.

Relax and let the children have fun and make friends - unlike hotels, they can have a lot of freedom from quite a young age and they LOVE it!

If you enjoy tech (ie, smart phone), think about how you will keep them charged. Portable USB chargers are the way to go.

And I second what cyclecamper says... Wooly hats, and blankets... No matter how warm it is during the day, it's chilly by 10pm, just when you're starting to enjoy the .

Expect the children to stay up later than they would do at home, and for them to wake when it gets light. Maybe take some of their favourite books that will keep therm occupied so that you can have a lie in until about 7am

Do you have any equipment for preparing food or washing up? Torches?
Crocs or flip flops are great (especially in showers!!)
An extra roll mat under inflatable beds helps to stop them slowly deflating overnight!

Thanks everyone. Were camping bro and sis in law who are experienced campers and have all the gear for cooking etc.
Have bought car power inverter gor blow up bed and phones etc and bought a lantern for light.
Will pack plenty of fleecy blankets as I feel the cold at the best of times!

Long trousers for the evenings, not so much for warmth but to stop the darned midges biting your ankles!