So....i bought a tent<eek!> while i wait for the weather can you answer my silly Qs?

[BlueDragonfly]

Silly Questions like....where and how do you wash up? what do you put your camp stove on?
Where do you cook? How much can you see thru at night when the lantern is on?

erm

i am sure i will have some more!

you wash up in your plastic bowl that you bring with you and you carry it to the single cold water tap OR heated washing up block with hot water, depending on the site.

we take a small size washing up bowl and a small folding crate to carry wet stuff back in and let it drain on the floor outside the tent.

camp stove on; the floor (if you have flexible hips and knees)OR a table (which you bring with you).

you cook outside your tent. If you have a 'porch' area you might be able to cook in that if it is raining.

See through; shadowy shapes, but it depends on the lantern. I don't usually use a lantern at all. Most campsites have lighting on them, and by bedtime it is often still a bit light in the summer. I have a torch in case I need to get up, but lanterns just attract moths. It's nice to sit out in the dusk drinking wine and talking nonsense!

any more?

How wonderful, camping is great fun.

The answers depend upon what sort of sites you will be going to, and what kit you have.
If you are going to a campsite with facilities,
Washing up- most campsites have a washing up area- rows of kitchen sinks with draining boards. You'll want a washing up bowl to carry your dishes to and from the sink. Otherwise it's hot water from kettle and washing up at the tent.

Camp stove- on the ground,on bricks or on a kitchen stand

what you can see at night- depends very much upon the size of your tent and lantern!Very little in most circumstances.

kitwise-we havenlt bought much today but wil buy more before we go!

we have no porch so will be cooking outside! (i wonder if i can get a canopy for our tent?)

will add washing up bowl to the list of MUST HAVES. there is soooo much that you might need and that you just want that we might get carried away and the only reason we could buy a tent was because tax credits had missed a week at new year and have finally put the money in!

what are general rules to follow on campsites? other than don't piss on peoples tents and keep the noise down

am getting excited but don't tell DP

That is about it, really! Some sites have specific rules- some encourage barbecues, some don't allow fires, some don't allow cycling on site etc.

It's a good idea not to get too much kit at first and see how you get on. We used to go very minimal but these days we are a table, chairs, kitchen stands, but we camp a lot and always have done. The best thing to do is take things you have at home, pans etc. Unless you are under 25 I'd recommend chairs!

You can get universal awnings of different styles and sizes.

I think your general rules just about sum it up!

camping is fab fab fab, we are just back from our second weekend this month, all tired and happy.

we have a fold up table and chairs, the DSs have fold up chairs already and if needs be DP and i can sit at the table for a seat.
Got a double stove and grill thingy free with eth tent which can go on teh ground if we don't get a table, got basic cooking set with a kettle, will need sleeping bags and mattresses too (have chosen just can't afford yet)

oooh i have mre Qs

How do you keep babies properly warm? DS3 is too little for sleeping bag and will probably get too hot co sleeping. He is 11 weeks and breastfed so no need to sterilise anything (thank goodness!)
will he be fine in his moses basket ? hadn't thought about him!

Double stove, will go fine on the floor. If you do get a stand, get a sturdy one with adjustable legs. We got a fab new one last year which has a zip up pantry cupboard on one side and shelves on the other- really handy esp. if you have toddlers- which you will have next year! Also keeps ants off the food.

Baby- I would say anything to keep him off the floor, which will get cold. DD slept in travel cot in layers of clothing with the sleeping bag off the Phil& teds (fleece lined, very much like a normal sleeping bag). At 11 weeks I'm guessing you'll be up in the night anyway so layers are a good way of controlling temperature.

i have 3 pinky!
ds1 5, ds2 3 and baby ds. It seems as if he is the easiest to organise camping wide lol! same as at home!

my mum has a travel cot - why oh why did i not think of that?!

for babies we used gro bags and travel cot.

we use wind breaks for stove etc and kind of fence it off so children cant fiddle! and we put a little diary padlock on inside of tent so if dc wake before us they cant wonder off!

my top tip - picnic mats
we take 4

2 to sit on and play on, 2 to go under the mattresses in sleeping area, and if v v cold, can put the other mats over you in bed.

Oh you'll have such fun!
MY DCs absolutely love camping! I'm having number three in November, which will mean 3 under four. Yep, baby will be the easy one!
We don't need locks yet- just put the zips to the top- but that depends on size of children/height of tent.
Mats under the lilos a very good idea. Fleecy blanket on top under sleeping bags also a top tip.

we will DEF need a lock for DS2. he has no sense of danger and often just wanders off! we havenlt tried the tent yet (have no where to do it!) but we can stand in it so putting the zips at the top is a god idea.

I am liking these top tips! keep em coming

youve made me all excited-were off to france in couple of weeks camping!

All these camping threads are making me desperate to go camping. We just have a weekend planned then two long trips in the summer.

Anyone any tips for camping when 7-8 months pregnant? Will my regular lilo do the job?

We also take the pop up beach tent and ikea play tunnel, put that up first to keep dc occupied whilst we put tent up.

Oh no I killed your thread!Sorry.

! umm i think only thing i did different when pregnant was take extra pillows to arrange around my belly.and make sure lilo is comfy kind!

I'm guessing that rolling out of bed in the morning with a large bump will be easier than at home!