Tell me your camping must haves

[Coffeesnob11]

I am taking my 6 year old camping next week on the uk. What are your camping must haves that make your life easier or small things or tips that help you camp easier? We used to take sleeping bags but both of us prefer duvets as an example.

Sliders or crocs for going in and out of the tent and to the loo etc. and potentially wear in the shower if they're a bit grim.
A dustpan and brush to sweep all the muck out of your groundsheet before you pack the tent away.

Dustpan and brush is an excellent shout.

EHU

Definitely dust pan and brush. Last time we went a lady near us had a hand held wireless hoover to use before she packed away. I may well try that.

The sliders are a God send. Deet spray was a good shout. Extra socks.

Following with interest, we're going camping next week too

Just don’t go unless it’s fine weather.
for night time wees just put a disposable nappy opened up in the bottom of a potty them bin the nappy.
hot water bottles

Bucket and bin liners (emergency loo)

Hot water bottles - it gets colder at night than you think. Ditto warm pyjamas and camp beds or blankets for sleeping on to keep well away from the ground.

SIMs instead of air beds, game changer for us. More socks than you think you need.

Something warm to stand on in your tent - a picnic rug or something. Standing on a cold groundsheet (when you get dressed/undressed) is a fast-track to getting cold.

Hot water bottle, as a PP has said.

Plenty of snacks.

Games - indoor and outdoor.

Eye masks - it gets light VERY early.

Decent lights - inc headtorches.

A forehead lamp in case your phone battery drains too low to use the torch function.

... a 5 star hotel 😂

Don't bother with cheap air beds! freezing cold.. take insulated sleep mats👍

A fabric softenier bottle (as wide-necked as poss) to pee into at night.

Enough gas for cooking
An easy to dry dress that you can easily get on straight after showering
Fold up rucksack for day trips
Battery powered fairy lights
A mat at the entrance

A funnel to use with the bottle.

Inflatable mattress

Cook food beforehand, then freeze. Take with you, eat once defrosted. Also acts as an ice pack in hot weather (ha)

Wine for you

Ear plugs

Bear in mind you will need hoodies thick joggers etc to sleep in

A hat

Just don’t go unless it’s fine weather.

^^

This. Camping is only fun in food weather

My ethos was that the most important thing is a good night's sleep. So we got self-inflating mats and 4 season sleeping bags.

We also took a luggable loo for night time wees because nobody wants to take a child to the toilet in pouring rain.

yes to self inflating mats! camped with a friend last year and took our 10cm mats, and she couldn't believe how much of a difference they made (they usually just use roll up foam mats) They're not cheap though....
other essentials would be wine/beer/gin and tonic tins and snacks. and wine boxes can be frozen, too (depending on how long you're away for)
take lots of wipes and kitchen roll, power banks for charging phones (essential with a teen!)
have also used a large square of cardboard from a cardboard box just inside the tent to act as a mat if it's wet/muddy, so everyone leaves muddy shoes on that, then you can just bin it when you pack up

Gloves, thermals and hats. If you are cold, camping is miserable. If you don't need them, they take up very little room, and you haven't lost anything.

Waterproofs. Fairy lights. Back lit kindle.

Electric Hook Up and Electric blanket, even in summer it can be chilly.

Pop-a-loo has been a life saver for us.
I usually take an 8 man tent with a living space in the middle. One of the bedrooms is used as a toilet room, the large one is for me and DH and the kids share the other.

Proper pillows and duvet with a fleeced blanket to go on top if its cold and a blanket under the air bed to keep the warmth in.

I forgot to say, we bought puppy pads and put them by the door to put shoes on and off so if it's wet, all the moisture stays there and doesn't come inside.

Door mat or better yet a few foam mats at the entrance to help stop mud, grass and rain getting in

Lots of warm layers and blankets

A craft box full of supplies for wet days and early mornings to keep the children happy and quiet

Pop up laundry basket

A portable mini clothes airer for hanging coats up in the tent

A washing line and pegs

Lights that are also power blocks

Collapsible washing up bowl with handles

Don't forget tea towels, sponges, cloths, washing up liquid, wipes and air freshener! And bin bags