What are the camping essentials?!

[pgtipsy]

First time campers (since having children)! We have a 1yr old and 3yr old. We have a three room tent, a travel cot, and some chairs! What would you consider camping essentials with young children?

there's some really good info here

and here

Happy to email a fairly extensive list of camping equipment (although I have a 9 & 11 year old) if you PM your email address?

I keep 'camping' duplicates of everything, but to start with you could just take from home.

Do you mind me piggy backing on your thread as I'm in exactly the same boat! We are going camping in the Isle of Wight a few weeks for the first time as a family (used to do a lot trekking across Europe where you would weigh your salt in a film canister etc, but this is a totally different ball game!) and we also have a 3 1/2 year old and a 16 month old. We have a big family tent (as yet untested) and a few things from the old camping days but will need to buy quite a bit of stuff probably. Would you mind sending me your list too Fourarmsv2 if I PM you my email address? Thanks for those links too Furball.

Gas stove and a kettle or other receptacle to boil water for your morning coffee.

Do not underestimate the horror of being stuck in a field miles from civilisation without any source of caffeine.

Couldn't agree more SaucyJack! I have a 2-burner stove (although need to check it still works!) and was looking at maybe treating us to this kettle depending on other purchases... www.amazon.co.uk/Outwell-Collaps-Collapsible-Camping-Accessories/dp/B00L34K2UU/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1438612672&sr=1-2&keywords=outwell+kettle.

Some wise MNer said to bring cardboard - put in front of tent to wipe your feet. Then recycle when you leave. It's one of the best tips!

Bucket of water for chilling wine/beers as well as for emergency purposes.

If there is a difference in weight between you and your husband, double camera inflatable mattress. And sleeping bags that can be zipped into one.

Gin. Lots of gin.

Warm clothes - lots of layers, a heater if you can manage it. Cheap Ikea throws for the floor (under beds). Nothing worse than being cold (or wet). We used a grobag with a travel cot when our eldest was small (other two have co slept).

Quiet things to entertain the children in the morning if they're early risers - puzzles, books, colouring, games etc. Bag for shoes at the door. Wellies and crocs pretty much essential.

There are lots of lists floating about on here somewhere. I'm about to start packing as we're off shortly too. Ours are 7,5&3 so I may pop back for some ideas!

We've just come back from a weeks camping with our 22 month DTD's and I would say the following things were the most useful:

Ikea antilop highchairs - they come apart so are easy to transport
Fleece onesies for them to wear to bed over their PJ's. They often slept with nothing else over them.
Fleece lined puddlesuits to put them in in the morning to stop them getting wet in the early morning dew
Wellies
Windbreaks to put around the gas stove / BBQ to stop inquisitive small people getting too close
Duvet for DH and I rather than sleeping bags
Play Doh / sticker books / balls
Large wool blankets to put under our sleeping area to stop the cold coming up. I picked some up in a local charity shop for £1.50 each.
Two cars to transport everything in!

In hindsight we shouldn't have bothered with the travel cots as they ended in with us almost every night.