Camping for newbies

[Flynn999]

Dp has decided that he wants to take 4 year old camping. Dp has never been camping, I last went when I was about 6.

Aside from a tent (which we are loaning from friend) what are the absolute musts for newbies? We don’t want to buy loads of stuff incase we hate it, we will probably go for 2 days to test the idea.

Sleeping bag
Air mattress/camp bed or at the very least a mat to keep you off the cold ground
Camp chairs or something to sit on whilst you eat/relax/watch kids play
Stove? Not an absolute must but the ability to heat water to have a hot cup of tea definitely makes life better especially if it's cold and wet even if you get take out for the meals.
Enough dry clothes for the number of days you are camping
Waterproof shoes & coat that are easy to put on to go to the loo in the middle of TV night.

Keeping warm at night: you can sleep on foam mats, these provide insulation from the ground. If you have a foam interlocking playmat that fulfils the same purpose.

Blow up air beds do not provide insulation from the ground, they are just full of cold air the same temperature as the ground and your heat goes into them. But are OK if you put something like a yoga mat on top, or even fleece blankets.

Torches and lanterns. You can often get good hanging lights from the pound shop.

Water carrier - use a 5l flagon of mineral water form the supermarket.

Bucket or portapotty to wee in at night.

Flip flops or crocs or similar for the showers.

Wellies for your LO - easy to get on and off and protect against the wet grass.

Think through your day and what you will need. Can you borrow a table and folding chairs and sleeping mats from the people lending you the tent?

Camping is so much easier when it is dry and warm.

Thanks for that.

I’ve looked online for ideas but it seems to suggest more stuff than the basic camper needs for a few nights. We don’t want to spend loads to find we hate it!

Glad you mentioned the bit about air beds! I’d assumed they would be fine with sleeping bags.

I have no intention of going anywhere near a tent in the rain. I’m all about the nice weather!

People get addicted to camping kit and gadgets and take ridiculous amounts of stuff. But you can manage fine with the bare minimum.

Take a plastic washing up bowl or trug. If there is no washing up sink you will need it at the tent, otherwise to carry stuff to the sink.

And just take your kids plastic plates etc, and old stuff from home.

Don’t forget tea towels, washing up sponge.

A portable BBQ if you have it, fir a BBQ dinner. Or two.

Hats to keep you warm overnight, ditto socks. Decent sleeping bags.
The problem with camping is that the cheaper stuff, while serviceable, isn’t as comfortable on the whole. So you buy it cheaper to try it out, but then it’s not comfy do you don’t enjoy it or want to do it again. But, you don’t want to buy expensive stuff, in case you don’t use it again!

Invest in the tent and your sleeping mats as you won't enjoy it if you are cold and wet and unable to sleep. A suitcase stove and gas kettle will also be useful. Everything else like bedding and kitchen stuff you can probably get away with using stuff from home for your first trip.

I’d skip the sleeping bags and bring your duvet from home plus something warm to put on the ground to sleep on. We bring ours if we have space in the car, so much cosier. Bring pillows too! As pp said, an air bed is comfy but cold. Put a picnic blanket, or normal blanket, on top to insulate it.

The tiniest camping stove is useful for a cup of tea, you will use it again if your child does d of e or similar. Otherwise either a disposable bbq or get a chippy for your main meals.

Camping chairs are always useful for sitting in the garden when friends come round, especially in Covid times, so I’d get one each. Skip the table though.

Washing up bowl and liquid/cloth plus the usual kitchen stuff. Just bring your oldest pan and cheapest cutlery.

A lot of camping stuff is designed to be small. Very helpful if you’re hiking or trying to fit five people and bikes into the car. Less important if you’ve got space.

A night light, but otherwise your phone has a torch.

Charging pack for your phone.