Camping Newbie

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

Well we decided to try camping (Been once with school 10 years ago!) and i hoped you lovely lot would help me!

There's 4 of us - x2 adults and x2 children

We have a tent - but we need a bigger one - The one we have was given to us and is only a 2 man tent! I dont like the Dome/tunnel ones with the 2 sections - Ideally I would like a tent we could all sleep in the same compartment.

We have a small stove and pots/kettle to go with it and have been saving the satchets you get with tomato ketchup etc in! (lol)

We do have air beds - in the process of buying sleeping bags

What else do we actually need? We are planning on staying on a site with showers etc - a friend suggested we go to a site with an elenctric hook up and buy heaters etc

Also - One of the children is a newborn - we are not planning on going until summer (So baby will be around 6 months old) Is she too young to go? My parents have offered to have her whilst we go but I would like her to go

Thanks for any input x

WLM21

Have a look at this site, for all things camping related, including sites

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/login_user.asp

ps well done, being a mammy of two

pps .. one very good thing when camping is a trailer ... so much easier than having a car full. You'll be carrying chairs and a table too, so the trailer is great.

ppps .. if you are planning on going away for the first time in the summer, I assume for a long holiday .. have a weekend away first, somewhere locally to make sure everything works and you don't forget something importment, eg the airbed pump.

pppps .. make up a list, then every time you go away and forget something, add it to the list .. that way you won't forget them / it again. We forgot saucepans one holiday.

ppppps Enjoy yourselves

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

WLM21 wrote: »

Have a look at this site, for all things camping related, including sites

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/login_user.asp

ps well done, being a mammy of two Thanks!

pps .. one very good thing when camping is a trailer ... so much easier than having a car full. You'll be carrying chairs and a table too, so the trailer is great. Yes this is something I need to invest in - We recently found out that with the pram in the boot there is no room for anything else!!! Not good! I didnt think of the logistics when we got the pram lol

ppps .. if you are planning on going away for the first time in the summer, I assume for a long holiday .. have a weekend away first, somewhere locally to make sure everything works and you don't forget something importment, eg the airbed pump. This is what a friend suggested and i think is a really good idea so thank you

pppps .. make up a list, then every time you go away and forget something, add it to the list .. that way you won't forget them / it Ooo excellent idea!! :T

ppppps Enjoy yourselves

WLM21 - Thank you so much for your reply apologies for the delay in getting back to you - have replied in red above. Thanks again!

VfM4meplse

Congratulations on the new baby :beer:.

I am fascinated to know why anyone would want to go camping? It sounds like a lot of hassle and discomfort, esp with a young baby. Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to organise day trips from home in the summer?

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Congratulations on the new baby :beer:.

I am fascinated to know why anyone would want to go camping? It sounds like a lot of hassle and discomfort, esp with a young baby. Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to organise day trips from home in the summer?

Thanks!

lol It's just something that appeals to be honest, We've been to the local places - travelling up to 4 hours round trip for a day out and we dont generally get to experience everything that is in the area, It's cheaper to pitch a tent than it is to get a hotel room.

We did "camp" on the back garden last year with DD when I was pregnant and she loved it.

gonnabedebtfree2015

I go camping lots, hubby and daughter (8), defo electric hookup @ £50, but little heater going thru the nite to keep chill/damp off. There was a couple once camping and they took there travel cot, somewhere for baby to sleep. But that campsite thread is the best website, you can loo up campsites and save them to a virtual brochure, read reviews etc.
Maybe go first weekend with out baba to try it all out........also find a go outdoors store. They have majority of tents erected for you to look around.

greenface

Camping does two things .It can bond families together working and helping out and having a good laugh .Or you will be killing each other by morning . Both are good IMO .It gives you kids a little more freedom and make friends easy. If we went just for a weekend our kids would make friends easy knowing come Sunday theres a good chance you wouldnt see them again . Although my eldest now 22 has some lifelong friends around the country that we met on a wet weekend in wales in 2001. Do it you will either love it or hate it. (do a weekend first)

brook2jack

We started camping with babies when they were three months old. A travel cot is excellent because it acts as a playpen when theyre older, very useful when cooking not to have a baby crawling round. If your baby breast fed fine , if bottle fed you can get premixed milk in cartons and heaters that plug into car lighter jacks. Most sites have good baby facilities but a bucket is very useful if not for baths etc.

My only tip would not to do as we did and do a two week camping trip travelling from site to site whilst potty training a toddler. No fun unless you like travelling in a car permanently moist from damp clothes.

Pardon me one more tip take head torches and reading material for evenings and buy ice packs several labelled with your name and a cooler box to keep milk etc cold. Most campsites will freeze cooler packs for free or a small fee.

jetplane

Hi we go camping lots and love it. I think its like marmite. I have a camping checklist because everytime you go you forget something. Clearly you don't have to have everything on it and we don't have young children so it will be different. I tried to copy the document but its gone a bit messy but its below if you want it.

One thing I would suggest is if you and your OH can go for weeked or overnight first 'cos believe me the first time can be a nightmare. Or set it all up in the garden. Tunnel tents are easy for pitching and the compartmens can be unzipped to make one bigger one.

I agree the ukcampsite website is great

My Checklist;

• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TENT[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CANOPY[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FOOTPRINT[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]PEGS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]HAMMER[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]AIRBEDS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SLEEPING BAG[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]AIRPUMP[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FLEECE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]PILLOWS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CHAIRS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TABLE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]KITCHEN[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]COOKERS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]GAS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BBQ[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]HEATER[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LAMP[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LIGHT[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]COOLBOX[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]COOLBAG[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RED DISH[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]PANS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]KETTLE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TOASTER[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CUTLERY[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]PLATES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BOWLS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]GLASSES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MUGS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]UTENSILS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SIEVE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]KNIVES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CHOP BOARD[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TEA TOWELS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]WASHING UP[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]WIPES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DUSTPAN[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BLUE BOX[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BUCKET[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RADIO[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TOWELS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]KIT ROLL[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LOO ROLL[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]WASHING LINE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TEA[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]COFFEE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SUGAR[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MILK[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SAUCES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]OIL[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]S& P[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]WATER[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CHARCOAL[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]LIGHTER FUEL[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FACE WIPES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TOOTHPASTE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TOOTHBRUSH[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DEODERANT[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BODYWASH[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SHAMPOO[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]CONDITIONER[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MOISTURIZER[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]DRY SHAMPOO[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MIRROR[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MEDICATION[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FLANNELS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FIRST AID[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]BRA[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SOX[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]NIX[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]SHORTS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]VESTS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]PJS[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]RAIN MAC[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]FLEECE[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]TRACKIES[/FONT]
• [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]O[/FONT]
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artichoke

Camping in a tent with a baby is very easy. We camped with ours from being tiny. DS actually spend his second night after being born in a tent at a festival which was in a field 5 minutes from our house!

Ours slept in the sleeping bags that go on buggys..and as i breastfed it was easy to feed in the night etc..

Once they start crawling we found it harder as you can't keep them contained and you have to follow them around a field..

have a great time..

Art

pitkin2020

thecampingforum.co.uk would be a good place to start.

Tent, as there are 4 of you then you really want to look at 6+ man tents, go for the best you can afford with the highest HH rating you can get, don't bother with anything under 2000HH. Sleeping bags - again go for the best you can afford. Airbeds are ok but you need to put something under them to stop the cold coming through. We use a large picnic blanket under ours, has the plastic backing and woven top. The picnic blankets are also useful as carpetting in the tent, it makes a big difference to just a cold goundsheet.

The main thing with camping is to keep warm, if you can keep warm nothing else matters but if you have a lousy nights sleep because you get cold or worse wet it will put a dampner on the whole experience.

Electric hook up isn't essential but I would get the set up because you can atleast add a small watt heater to take the chill off. Also a lot of sites offer EHU for free or at low cost so it can be cheaper to use a hookup than the gas for heat or boiling a kettle.

Jetplane above has given a pretty comprehensive list of stuff to take.

With regards to the tent, what ever you buy do practise putting it up at home first, ideally atleast twice. Nothing worse than getting on site to find its windy, wet or even dark trying to pitch your new tent for the first time. You will also notice if there is anything wrong with the tent or even missing, which if you have driven 100 miles to the site could mean you either need to go and get a new tent or go home, depending on whats damaged or missing.