Camping tips for first timers with three children under 6 please!

[ThereMustAndShallBeTea]

We have just bought a new tent and booked our first "proper" family camping trip

DH and I have done long weekend festival camping most years since we got together a decade ago, and for the past 6 years have had DC with us too, but this will be our first long trip and on a campsite rather than at a festival or my mum's garden.

We've booked a fortnight in France, staying at three different campsites (first one really just to break up the journey a bit, then longer at the second two), going more or less down the middle of France as far as Le Puy neck of the woods. First two campsites are chilled/nature-y with communal campfire, woodland, and Loire to paddle in, last one is more lively with kids' club, water slides etc. We're going end July/start of August, so hoping weather will be decent.

DC will be 6, 4 and about 3-4 months.

New tent is massive and we have airbeds, bedding, water carrier etc. We have an Amby Nature Nest hammock for the baby so will probably either use that or co-sleep (camped with DC2 at a festival when he was 3 weeks so not too worried about camping with baby).

We have a fairly shit gas burner to do water for tea and coffee but not really planning on cooking - thought we could get away with fruit and croissants for breakfast, sandwiches/cheese/ham/fruit for lunch (we'll have a fridge at two of the three sites) and then probably eating out in the evening (justified by cheapish option of camping over s/c). Also have a storm kettle which is good for hot water.

Was planning on packing clothes in Ikea bags so can fold away/use for laundry, then possibly getting a cheap hanging rail plus hanging clothes storage things as thought they would be cheaper/pack up smaller than a camping wardrobe. Is this a terrible plan?

Anything I've missed we need urgently/any tips (or links to helpful previous threads)/anything particularly stupid I've suggested? Any advice from seasoned campers much appreciated

Welcome to the club!

My main thoughts- If you're setting down/up 3 times take as little as possible which needs setting up (e.g. furniture) as it's this which often takes the time when moving campsites.

We only use the ikea bags for clothes as it keeps the tent tidy and doubles as a travel bag. I have a few plastic trug type baskets and pop up baskets for coats, shoes, wellies etc.

I recommend some sort of airer for towels/swimmers. Lidl or Aldi have one usually later on in the year with their specials. Also a door mat!

We tend to eat picnic stiff whilst camping- cereal/brioches etc and lots of raw veg to avoid cooking. It would be wise to keep a couple of emergency meals to hand (pasta, hot dog sausages).

Take a box of toys- new felt pens, paper, colouring books, mini games as well as outdoor toys.

We also used reusuable wrist bands which you can put a mobile number in, in case the children got lost when they were little and abroad.

Thanks! I have trawled old threads for tips and made notes on trugs and door mats

I am assuming (possibly wrongly) that the Ikea hanging rail sets up and goes down fairly quickly. We're at the latter two campsites for 5/6 nights respectively, so will only put it up there. I just know it will drive me mad having clothes all over the floor, even if they are in bags.

Airer is a good idea!