First camping trip in ages...help!

[peaz]

I am taking DS1 (6) camping soon, for two nights with some friends. I've been before, pre kids, to Cornwall for a week, and have also camped whilst doing the Inka Trail but it's been a while so I'm quite nervous. DS has also been, aged 4, with my mum but he is really looking forward to going with me!

I'm going with a couple of frequent campers who know it all (in life, generally), and whilst I haven't been camping for a while, I am pretty sensible and am quite happy making decisions for myself. If I asked them what I am about to ask you, they would tell me not to worry blah blah, and it will really do my head in.

So, what at your must haves for a short weekend camping? I understand it's a pretty rustic campsite, if that helps. Food, gadgets, hacks etc.

Also, I need a wee about twice a night. I am dreading this. Apart from not drink all day, how can I get around this? I am not looking forward to the whole ordeal of getting out of my nice warm sleeping bag, traipsing in the dark to a outdoor loo, several times a night! What do you seasoned campers advise?

Aww it'll be great! My must haves are:

My precious one ring burner with pan and kettle set - essential for making coffees on the hour and cooking very simple stuff with! I take little tupperwares of coffee, sugar etc.

Top tip - buy and freeze a couple of one pint milks before you go and use them as freezer blocks in a cool bag with other cold stuff you're taking. The milk will defrost slowly and be cold enough for cereal in the morning! Take some variety pack cereals + plastic bowls and you're sorted!

I always take a couple of fold up picnic rugs and out one inside the tent - makes it warmer and lovely to sit on in the morning when it's too early to venture outside the tent...

Head torch/torch and I take a small plastic lantern which ds's like.

Re: weeing - I agree this is the biggest downside! I ration my liquid intake (no alcohol, sadly...) and do loads of wees before I go to bed and I then don't need to go...!

Re: food. I've taken pre-cooked potatoes before and then cooked sausages and beans on the one ring burner.

Or pesto and pasta is good as you only need one pan.

Pre-cooked chilli or bolognase sauce and then a bit of juggling - put some pasta or rice on and once it's boiled for a bit, take it off the heat and it'll continue to cook slowly while you what through the sauce. Sorted!

Wees - just take an empty lenor bottle and wee into it in your tent at night. Practice before you go though - there's a knack!

Other stuff (been this week for the first time in ages)

Double jarmies for ds
Leggings under jarmies for you
Pack each days full outfit for you and ds in a plastic bag. No need to rummage.
Packets of tissues are better than a toilet roll
Stacks of hot chocolate in their own cups from £ shop

Ooh - and make vodka haribo. Booze without the liquid!

Oh my god tell me more about vodka haribo.!!

Ooh - I also have a foldable washing up bowl - brilliant for carrying stuff to wherever the washing up taps are! I pack sponges and a little bottle of washing up liquid in a sandwich bag and it's easy to sort everything out then.

Water bottles (for the endless coffee) also good.

Ages since I made them and I didnt use juice but this is the general idea -www.allthecooks.com/vodka-gummi-bears.html

Cool to hand round, don't tell them before and you'll be the cool friend!

Great camping tips above.
Re night time weeing; for a recent camping trip I invested in a SheWee type device (think it's called a Whizz Freedom) and a pack of Travel John bags (which are basically nappy gel crystals in a bag) the combination of which allow fairly hassle and mess free in tent weeing when required.
Have a great trip

For night-time weeing, we've always used this: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B001RH2RW4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1407621940&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40

Good for DC too and you may even have one already from toddler days!

There are some amazing ideas here, thank you! I will be practicing my squat and aim technique this week!

Brilliant, will head into town tomorrow to get some of this stuff.

Thanks again x

Second Lenor bottle recommendation - the neck's wide enough to widdle in.

I have an old funnel mind you, & just tinkle into an empty wine bottle which I then tip out & rinse next day.

Use a cool bag for food & freeze everything you can to help keep it all cold. I save up 330ml plastic water bottles & make up with cheap squash, then freeze at home before going. I find milk goes a bit odd so don't bother freezing it - I take a handful of hotel sachets of UHT in case I can't come by fresh milk for coffee.

Take an ice cream tub of frozen chilli & have with couscous (just tip boiling water on it) instead of rice? I also do a veggie fried breakfast/brunch with veg sausages, eggs, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes & fried tinned potatoes - all cool bag friendly & should keep you going till mid afternoon.

It's also worth a quick trawl round B&M/poundshops for cheap instant porridge, cup soups, noodles etc.

flip flops for the shower!

Oh god a huge yes to flip flops or crocs for the shower! I live in my crocs when I'm camping.

Take loads of plastic bags for dirty washing, carting toothbrushes to shower block, food items etc.,
Take lots of clothes pegs for hanging up wet towels (take lots of towels -best take 2 small ones than one large one. Nothing worse than drying yourself in a damp, smelly towel)
Wear a woolly hat to bed if cold
Take hot water bottles
Porridge pots work well as a quick, easy breakfast (if your DC eat porridge)- just top up with hot water

I always think I hate camping, but we go every year and as soon as I get there I realise I actually love being in the open air without an X Box in sight, watching my children go off and make friends whilst I sip coffee and read a book. Much easier than being at home!

How have I reached this point in my camping life without ever weeing into a Lenor bottle?!!! I'm going to have to try this at home - just so that I've actually done this miraculous thing!!

With a shewee you can pee into anything - beer cans, drinks bottles, whatever anyone is throwing out. I would recommend the proper She Wee brand ones though, I have a different one which is narrower around the funnel bit which backs up and overflows if I pee too hard! (Sorry TMI but worth knowing before you invest )

camping's brilliant. For the first couple of hours ds's are furious/depressed and don't know what to do. Then I remind them that it's all about doing nothing in particular and by the second day they've got it . I love that everything takes ages to do - just what we need..!

I also always take 6 million tea towels as they come in handy for wiping round, mopping up and generally everything except drying dishes!

i couldnt get to grips with the shewee at all..tried in shower but binned it in the end. I take a bucket with lid, line it with about 4 carrier bags, each with a cheap nappy opened up at the bottom of it.So, bag, nappy, bag, nappy then lid. Take however many you need, so for a weekend take 4 if you get up twice in the night.When finished, just tie the bag together with nappy inside. You can also use cat litter to soak it up but nappies are lighter and more contained when wrapped up in the bag.