Hello, been looking at the site for a few weeks as my husband and best friends have got me to try camping for the first time, or 'glamping' as they put it!
I have a 10 weeks old baby, 3 year old, 17month old balck lab and a very enusiastic husband! Would be very grateful for any tips or advice. Not going is not an option! ;-) I am looking forward to it really, we are going to a campsite in the New Forest.
We have borrowed a tent, cooking stove & Gas, shelf unit, air beds, sleeping bags, chairs, kettle, plates, cups and a table. I am taking a bowl, cutlery, towels, washing liquid .....but was wondering if we are missing things...
If anyone has any ideas, or tips from own experience i would be very very grateful.
A flask is a good thing to take boil some water before you go to bed then its still hot ish in the morning and you can get brews made up quicker (or warm any bottles) could probably think of lots more but i'm a mega luxury camper and take everything with me........hope you get some others give you good ideas. and welcome to the world of camping i'm sure you will get addicted to it soon. Helen x
Pack rain macs, just incase the weather turns yucky!! I think it all depends on how long your camping for and how much space you have to pack everything in your car! Hope you have a lovely time. Just remeber to pack a football/frisby for the little one and all the neccessary baby things for the baby, oh and beers for the hubby. It seems that evertime they've finished putting the tent up, they need to reward themselves with a tinny!! (oh and don't forget to take plenty of patients too, cos if you've never put up a tent before........!!) I'm sure you'll have fun, if you get stuck, there's usually plenty of kind folk around to offer their help, if you ask. Happy camping!
------------- love shopping, love a bargain even more!
I'm sure you'll enjoy your camp in New Forest. Which site are you going to and for how long? I hope to camp at Ocknell midAugust, not booked yet. Used to live in Southampton so was often in and around New Forest.
Remember matches or lighter if needed and pans. Also keep bread, biscuits etc in a lidded container if possible. Depending on which site there may be inquisitive ponies who can sniff food out.
Pump for airbed, pillows if needed, and as Helen said, a flask is useful for night-time or morning drinks.
------------- Mavis
It is easier to smile than frown so share a smile every day
I swore by the fleecy sleep suits you can get for little ones. I put them over their PJ's or sleep suits as extra layers. Mine never stayed in a sleeping bag so ensured they stayed warm & asleep through the night.
Make sure you put some insulation under & over the airbeds. I put rugs on the floor and fleecy blankets over the airbed. The airbed won't give you any insulation and so in effect you're sleeping on the earth warmth wise without.
Ah thank you guys... so true camping people seem so much more friendly! A refreshing change in this world!
Harry (3yrs) and Paddy will be fine as they just play games and entertain each other... def going to take beers for Mark, as can quiet believe he will want one after putting the tent up!
Archie.... he has reflux can get quiet crumpy so i am a bit worried about annoying people. I am breast feeding so i do not need to worry about bottles etc which is good. One good thing is at least the horses will not come so close if Archie is kicking off!
We are going for 2 nights to the Roundhill site... hopefully Archie will be fine and everyone can have a good nights sleep!
Thank you for all the tips, definetly going to take blankets and the flask idea sounds spot on! Have a Nespresso machine at home so always have a coffee within 5 mins of waking up!
Harry is toilet training so not looking forward to mid night dashes to the toilet or any bed wetting.... We are going in our golf, so space limited! Poor dog already has to deal with the pram in the boot!
Anyways apart from all the fears i have, i am looking forward to it!
Put the toilet-training toddler in pull-up nappies for night-time .... sleeping bags are a pain to wash/dry after accidents!
Are you taking a travel cot for the tiny, or is he sleeping in a carry-cot? Either way, take a cellular blanket (those with little square holes in) and drape it right over the cot at night - keeps the air in the cot a little warmer for the little one (my daughter's first night under canvas was at 4 weeks old, her first week-long trip at 6 weeks old - she actually took her first steps in a field!).
Try not to worry too much about Archie being grouchy - the fresh air will probably knock him out anyway, but you are always far more aware of your own baby crying than anybody else's. Most people are very understanding, and those that aren't need to camp on adults-only sites! Babies are NEVER too young to camp.
Relax and have a great time (and remember bed-time routines just don't exist in a field - just go with the flow - children in fields get plenty of sleep, just not necessarily at the time they would sleep at home!).
we went camping with the youth club when my sons was about 1 and my godsend was my travel cot! it took up a whole bedroom but I slept easy knowing he couldnt get out!! He was an early walker so this was a worry! We are going again in August for a week after almost 10 years this time in our own tent. after listening to the weather forecase Im not so sure! LOL!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Newbie to Camping.... help!
