OK campers, I need your advice, I have never camped before, if I camped on my own with my 6 yrd old, would I want to kill her (or me) by day 2? Convince me it's fun, please!!

[Aimsmum]

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Wait til May, then it will be fun!!!

I do like to be warm!

yeah warm as poss, but stil take loads of bedding, layers, ans evenings can get nippy , so jumpers, cardy's. wooly socks, good pillows from home.

camp stove, t bags, beans, bread, butter, cakes, biscuits.

anything to make yourself comfy really.

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It'll still be very chilly at Easter. The earliest I go is Whitsun.

I agree about the pillows - and decent mattresses. We take our duvet too!

The best bits are bacon sarnies al fresco. The freedom that the children have just to step outside the tent and play in a field. Sitting outside your tent with a large glass of wine watching the sun go down, or just lying and looking up at the stars.

The downsides are having to get up in the night for a widdle and noisy neighbours, especially the ones who snore.

You'll have a ball!!

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Aimsmum, I took ds (6) to Bestival last year for our first family camping trip - it was totally amazing for him - 1000s of people in fancy dress - he took three outfits and had a ball, it felt like showing him the 60s, loads of people hanging out listening to music but loads of places to play as well.
but SHOULD have brought a mattress - it was too hard on those foam things. And next time I want to take a little stove too.
Can't wait to do proper campsite camping this year - it sounds so fun but I must have a mattress!
Best thing about camping - waking up in the outdoors - so exciting. Playing with torches and playing houses in tents.
Worst bit - putting up the tent for the first time!
All the best.

Take lots of placcy bags, for those 'god i wish i'd brought a plastic bag to put this in moments'

camping is fun, just have to take your comforts, which can make such a difference.
If its only one night, then you will be fine.
I have been known to take a hot water bottle, how snuggly.

Shoes/flipflops that are easy on and off for the shower block. Change for hairdryer!
Washing line + pegs, if u were going for longer.
Washing up bowl.+ gear for washing up!
tin opener.

Almost everything but the kitchen sink will suffice if you fancy!!!

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Babywipes - so useful
We brought a really nice tent lantern/torch thing which illuminates the tent nicely
lots of treaty bars

I know I keep going on about this but putting one of those foam mats ontop of the airbed really helps keep the cold out at night. They can be really cold to lie on without some kind of insulation.

You'll have a wonderful time though.

If you get electric you can buy a light to put up in the tent (or just a standard lamp would do. Also make sure that you remember to take a bottle opener to open that bottle of wine at the end of a lovely day!!

And take something to wee in in the night. Till now I've been using dd's potty but I have a tendency to fill it and then panic that I might get into an overflow situation. So this year I'm taking up Martian Bishop's tip of a bucket with a lid.

SOZ, CAPS LOCK STUCK! WE FOUND YOU TAKE AS MUCH FOR ONE NIGHT AS FOR A WEEK WHEN CAMPING. YOU'LL BE SUPRISED HOW QUICKLY YOUR CAR FILLS UP WITH ALL THE STUFF, BUT MY ADVISE IS DON'T SKIMP ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. TAKE LOADS OF WARM CLOTHES, A WOOLLY HAT FOR NIGHT TIME, BUY A 4HR WOOD BURNING LOG FROM SUPERMARKET AND PUT IT ON YOUR DISPOSABLE BAR B Q, GIVES OFF LOADS OF HEAT FOR £2.00, NICE BOTTLE OF WINE,INSTANT HOT CHOC FOR LITTLE UN, SIT BACK AND ENJOY. YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME.

SOZ, CAPS LOCK STUCK! WE FOUND YOU TAKE AS MUCH FOR ONE NIGHT AS FOR A WEEK WHEN CAMPING. YOU'LL BE SUPRISED HOW QUICKLY YOUR CAR FILLS UP WITH ALL THE STUFF, BUT MY ADVISE IS DON'T SKIMP ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR. TAKE LOADS OF WARM CLOTHES, A WOOLLY HAT FOR NIGHT TIME, BUY A 4HR WOOD BURNING LOG FROM SUPERMARKET AND PUT IT ON YOUR DISPOSABLE BAR B Q, GIVES OFF LOADS OF HEAT FOR £2.00, NICE BOTTLE OF WINE,INSTANT HOT CHOC FOR LITTLE UN, SIT BACK AND ENJOY. YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME.

I've camped lots before, with dd as well.

This will be the first year when its just the 2 of us going (she's 6). I'm planning to make sure we have lots to do in the day to keep us busy and wear her out. Then she'll go to sleep well while I can read a book and drink some wine.

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A tip when packing your car, lay your pillows on the base of your boot and then pack everything else heavy on top, this way they harldy take up any room inthe car, a quick "plump" when you get them out and there as good as before.

I have taken DS (5) camping twice by myself. once overnight, once for about 4 days. It was very easy. The tense bits were geting the tent up and down on my own, with all the 'help' from DS. A nice man came and helped, eventually.

But I wouldn't take a child until the weather warms up. Cold and shivery = whingey.

I'd love to take my dd who is also 6 on her own - mind you I'd never see her as she'd be off making friends within 2 minutes of being there - leaving me all on my ownsome ....then again, maybe I could get a good book read uninterrupted

at Easter you might want to think about electricity, do you have a fan heater or a travel kettle, it's such a faff if you're cold having to wait for a gas boiled kettle to boil - can you borrow an ehu?

Have fun though!

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