Help needed to upgrade old camping kit

[Jealousofchiliheeler]

I'm looking for advice to build back up our camping kit. Apologies for the massive load of info but want to give as much context for where we are as possible!
Myself and DH used camp loads when we were in our 20s and 30s pre kids, back then used to just have a pretty basic setup (sleeping on roll mats, cooking on the floor, eating on our laps etc). We're now in our 40s with DSs aged 8 and 2. DS1 has been wanting has been wanting to go camping for ages so we are doing 5 nights in South west France this summer, driving on from a week renting a house with other family in Dordogne.
Campsite is next to the beach and a little village so there will be options to eat out. However, DS2 has a number of allergies that are pretty incompatible with French cuisine so we need to have option to cook most meals if we can’t find anywhere safe for him to eat. We will have electric hook up and the pitches look to be under mainly pine trees so hopefully will stay fairly cool. Campsite has specifically said that the EHU is not suitable for electric stoves.
I've been taking stock of what we have so far and want advice on what is actually worth spending money on now and what can wait. In an ideal world I’d clean out all of Decathlon but I’m trying to hold myself back and not go crazy. However, I’d like to make it enjoyable/comfy enough that we have a good time and all want to go again, we’re in line to get a dog later this year so being able to camp would be more compatible for future holidays. Our car has a pretty big boot and I'm planning to get a roof bag to go on top but I'm aware space still fills up quickly so I also want to keep that in mind, given that we’ll be in the car for 8-9 hours driving, albeit spread over a couple of days.

What we have so far:

• 6 berth pole tunnel tent with a carpet that I bought on sale
• Foldable picnic table with attached stools
• 1 burner gas stove
• 2 sleeping bags that are probably fine
• A basic folding table (I think)
• Very small saucepan/frying pan set that’s probably only suitable for 2 people
• Small camping kettle
• Random selection of plates, bowls cups etc some of which may have perished after many years in the attic/shed
• A couple of lanterns and head torches
• Water carrier

What I think we definitely need get:

• SIMs for sleeping on. Not widespread when we used to camp but everyone seems to recommend and even when younger I found sleeping on roll mats horribly uncomfortable. I would appreciate advice on what’s good value for price and not going to take up all the space.
• Sleeping bags for DSs - what would be best for DS2? He’ll be close to 3 by then and is fairly tall so I don’t want to spend ££ on one of the technical baby sleeping bags. Not sure how cold it will be at night, would people recommend just a 2.5 tog and layers or a small child sleeping bag?
• Children’s camping chairs (I was planning to buy something fairly basic)
• Electric coolbox so I can store allergy safe milk/spread etc for DS2
• Doormat - everyone seems to recommend and I hate mess being tracked into the tent
• EHU cable, not something we really bother with much when we used to camp

What I’m not sure about so far:

• Inflatable camp beds for me and DH - I love the idea of them and would really want to be comfy and have a good night sleep but also the ones from Decathlon are an extra £160 cost plus pump. Is it better to just get a thick SIM for now?
• Camping kitchen unit - I used to hate rummaging around in boxes and with the kids think we will need to have something to put stove on but not sure if the dedicated units are worth cost and space or just to stick with a folding table?
• Whether to stick with the 1 burner stove for now or buy a 2 burner?
• How much to upgrade our camping cooking/eating kit. Decathlon had a 4 person plate and pan set that looked very neat, but not sure if I’m falling victim to marketing!
• Electric kettle, I’ve seen it mentioned quite a bit but I used to quite like the romance of our little whistling one in the morning….
• Clothes/shoes storage. My lot are hideously messy and it drives me mad but I’m not sure how much they would actually use it based on the fact that I still can’t get them to use it at home!
• Extra lighting to make it cosy

Anything else I have forgotten? Would also love any tips about how to organise things with kids in tow!

Can you rent a fridge from the campsite? That would negate the need for the cool box. It’s a common option at French campsites.

We bought my DD a normal sleeping bag when she was 3ish. We just tied up the bottom so she couldn't reach the bottom of the bag.

Before that, we used a ready bed with her in a 'baby' sleeping bag and then pillows above her. We insulated under the bed with a picnic blanket. Putting too many clothes on him will be uncomfortable, best to layer him with blankets.

We've used SIMs and airbeds. Insulated under the mattress and either way will be warm enough. 10cm SIMs are comfy.

Can highly recommend icey teks for a cool box. Expensive but work and they come in pretty colours! Not electric but food stays cold for ages in one especially if you top it up with ice.

We've always used a one gas ring stove and that has been fine. We do have a second one if we want to take it. BBQ? We have a Cobb BBQ which is great! We put the stove on our table and then move it to eat.

Those Foam jigsaw pieces make great under bed insulation/ porch liners but are big to transport.

It's easier to build up your camping gear. Go for a weekend and see what you need. What you want and what I want is different! Also, how big is your car!

Solar fairy lights are good or the ones you can run off battery packs amzn.eu/d/08mCQ1WF.

I'd recommend pop up laundry bins for keeping shoes etc in, and handbag organisers from Amazon for children's toys (it's small, but they can fill it with their favourite things, also good for colouring stuff etc).
For sleeping bags, I'd suggest their duvet and pillow from home. None of my children liked sleeping bags and preferred the familiarity of home.
There's no need to get specific pans for camping, we just used basic pans from Tesco (now upgraded to nesting pans from Lidl). If you're going to switch to electric hook up for the kettle, you can also use it for an induction hob (possibly safer than gas with little children?). For extra luxury, we have a toaster! We have the plastic Lampan lights from IKEA to add to cosy lighting, and a brighter ceiling lamp for playing cards etc.
Another thing to make life easier is an old bathmat or towel that sits by the front door for when it's raining to try and stop the damp being spread into the tent - particularly if you've got a tent carpet!
For the camping kitchen, I've got a sturdy table and a set stacking crates for plates etc, with a small cupboard from Go Outdoors to keep food in and a small plastic bin with a lid for waste (we had terrible trouble with seagulls stealing food at a campsite in Cornwall).
I would recommend starting basic and seeing what works for you, then looking on Facebook marketplace at the end of the summer when people have tried camping and didn't like it.

I find a cheap manual pump double airbed is fine, they aren't the best as don't last as long as older better made ones used to but £160 seems excessive for a bed.

Definitely stick with whistling kettle, as you say much more atmospheric.

We've got this kitchen unit, really helps with organising stuff in the tent.

Oh, we also love a little coffee table as an extra table. Bought it on a whim but take it on every trip now, as it works perfectly when just travelling light for a quick overnight but also when doing bigger trips.
The current version is grey -
www.decathlon.co.uk/p/folding-camping-coffee-table-2-to-4-people-grey/6335/c71m8975021

Sorry missed kitchen unit link
www.millets.co.uk/products/hi-gear-hi-gear-elite-kitchen-stand-silver-303059?variant=56192328139100&msclkid=25a4c17b444a1def8b7cab5e62369f37&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Hi+Gear+-+Performance+Max&utm_term=2330277456918637&utm_content=Hi-Gear

The other thing I have is a picnic box which has the camping plates/bowls/mugs, cutlery, a small chopping and a knife, gas lighter, tin opener and corkscrew in.
I bought a cheap but nice cutlery set to keep in it so that's always ready to go. I'm sure I've saved money buy buying a nice-ish set once rather than really cheap plastic plates.

Tents seem to get really cluttered with kids in so definitely a kitchen unit. I find a double burner stove much easier for family cooking.

For younger kids I’d definitely recommend the POD style sleeping bags as they allow lots of wiggling room.

Also tent carpet makes a huge
difference while they are little.
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/products/pod-kids-sleeping-pod-flamingo-635086?_pos=1&_psq=kids+sleeping+pod&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=55580522217798

Decathlon bed frames and a SIM on top is worth the space and money. It's a game changer.
We use our normal pans but only bother with three (frying pan , little and big pan) Box of tiny portions of spices herbs etc. don't have a kitchen / storage shelf yet due to space. (Really want one!)
75p doormat from IKEA
Foldable boxes from IKEA - all the clothes go in there.
Multiple blue bags / big laundry bags from IKEA. Blue bag inside door for shoes, big one for waterproofs and separate ones for toys and games.
I also use stacked IKEA foldable shoe rack for kitchen storage - not as good as a dedicated cabinet but space is an issue for us and its smaller.
Lots of lights - you can bulldog clip fairy lights and we have these bulb shoes plastic lights on string you pull down to put on - hang next to kids heads so they can find quickly if they need to.

We have camp beds with sleeping mats on top (warmth more than comfort). Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags are such a personal choice.

I would consider the camp kitchen an essential - keeps the tent tidy but more importantly keeps the stove away from small kids. We got ours from Decathlon.

Cooking utensils and saucepans I just bring from home. A good knife and chopping board make a huge difference.

Fire extinguisher... Lidl have them in the middle aisle at the moment. We have never used one but just in case.

For storage.. plastic boxes with lids and large shopping bags. If you don't have enough storage... visit the nearest supermarket and pick up some cardboard ones. Great for shoe, dirty clothes and toy storage. They can be ditched at the end of the trip when you are struggling to pack everything back into the car.

Cool boxes... Polystyrene boxes covered in foil. We have tried many options and the homemade one works the best. Freeze bottled water (tip out 5-10 cm to allow for expansion) Many French campsites have a freezer where you can freeze them.

Fleece blanket/ jumpers for turning a cool box into a slow cooker / hay box cooker/ wonder bag.

I have just realised you need to keep the allergy milk cold... The campsite may allow you to use the fridge. If your French doesn't extend to asking / explaining Google translate is really useful. I have a diabetic friend who does this for their insulin.

Check the size of SIMs before buying them - we still use old fashioned lilos / airbeds because the nice thick sims are enormous and we just can’t fit them in the car (that’s with a big Ford galaxy boot). I know plenty of people do but just check first!

Camp kitchen - yes, v helpful. Also a good big box with a lid to keep lots of clobber so you don’t put anything “down” - it all goes in the box so you can find it again.

We always just used a single ring burner and our kids are 16 and 18 now. Bbq alternative as well though as it’s so fun.
Get full size chair for the older kid.

Big bag of games - howler, balls, boules, hoopla etc, card games.

Only buy a crockery set if you def need all of it. Prioritise cups that are wide based. Spare couple of plates are useful. We always take 2 washing up bowls that stack inside each other.

Lamps now are way better and last much longer. Look for warm white ones otherwise it’ll be all harsh and non cosy.
These are practical for hanging up in the tent https://amzn.eu/d/0h7ZWExm

And these are compact and pretty https://amzn.eu/d/05EIT6Xo

I think if you are going to get camping chairs as well then the folding picnic table will take up loads of space, you can get compact fold up metal tables. I found the roof bag a massive pain and bars and a large roof box much better. We have outwell sil mats with memory foam, they are big but comfortable and warm. I put these and the sleeping bags in the roof box. I put the cool box on the middle seat between the kids then load the boot with chairs, table, cooking stand or a tabls, kitchen box and bags and the tent. Camping stuff takes up so much space you probably need to try fitting what you have in your car with some luggage to see what else will fit. I often don't take the cooking stand because it's too big, I just take a smaller roll up table which takes up less space than a camping chair.

As pp said, buy normal size sleeping bags and tie string around them to make them shorter.

With small kids some sort of camping loo is ideal for nighttime. I have a 2 burner stove. I store the gas bottle in the camping loo with the hook up cable to save space.

We buy the main food once there.