Camping Essentials for a First Timer

Having been camping this month for he first time as a family I now know what I would and wouldnt bring next time. That in mind I thought I would compile a list of camping essentials that I would 100% bring on our next camping trip.

• Torches or Lantern. It is dark at night time!
• Porta-Loo or a potty of sorts. Midnight runs to the communal loos, in the dark and cold are not fun!
• Lots of Layers. It is freezing at night time, even in the summer!
• Dry shampoo. Communal showers are not the nicest of places so a quick body wash and spritz of dry shampoo (or strip wash in the tent with a bowl and flannel) is a cleaner option i found.
• Kettle! Early mornings are cold and is nice to have a cup of tea in he comfort of your tent is well worth it. Hot chocolates with marshmallows of an evening is so cozy too!
• Picnic Blanket. I bought the type with plastic backing from primark. This doubled up as carpet for the front part of our tent which made it slightly cosier.
• Black bags! When rain was forecast I bagged any electrical stuff up just incase. You also dont realise how much rubbish you accumulate until you don't have a bin!
• Windbreaker or something to contain younger children and toddlers during times when you need them to be contained. 
• Lots of patience and positivity. Camping is not for the feint hearted. I found it quite tough a first but soon relaxed and got in to the spirit. There are wonderful family memories to be made!

Luxury Camping

We've bought our tent! This is the one we have gone for from Decathlon.

It is a 5 man, 2 bedroom, plus living area tent.....and it is a LOT bigger in person! I can stand, with space above my head and I am 5"7. To make my first camp with children enjoyable, I plan to bring what some may see as Luxury items. We have booked an electric pitch which is amazing. I plan to bring a portable table and chairs for the lounge/outside area, and a mini fridge with kettle so that I can sit and have my beloved morning cuppa in comfort. None of this build a fire malarkey. Having electric also means that the kids can bring their tablets for night time use and I can bring my laptop which can double up as a radio and tv! I'm bringing a small portaloo for the kids so no night time toilet trips in the dark/cold and lots of home comforts like our duvets, pillows and the kids favourite teddy. Some people might say this isn't "real camping" but I just think that if we are cold or uncomfortable we really wont enjoy ourselves. Being on the Isle of Wight means there are endless things to do and explore so when we are back at base of an evening, we really want to be warm and cozy.

Mrs H x

Planning a camping holiday with young children.

I'm currently planning our first family camping trip. We're going in the summer for 4 nights. I will have my 3 children in tow who, at the time of travel, will be 9, 6 and 21 months old. I use to camp a lot when I was young with my family growing up and then with the scouts, but I haven't been since I was about 16. So about 13 years ago now, and it looks like camping has changed a bit since then. Not the non electric, camp fire set up I remember. Of course you can choose this style of camping if you wish but I for one need some home comforts!! Weve gone for a large, electric hook up pitch.
I'm listing all the things that I think we may need, to make it comfortable and enjoyable for both adults and children. This is the tent I'm thinking of getting from Argos. It is the Trespass 6 man Tunnel Tent.

What's drawing me to this model is the fact that there are 2 bedrooms, but once in and zipped up, you can unzip the divide so that you can see straight through to the next room. (brilliant when you have children I think!)
Other essentials I need to look into are:

• Warm sleeping bags - it will still get chilly of an evening, it is the UK afterall.
• High Quality air beds - ones that will stay inflated and not have us laying on hard ground in the morning!
• Pop up Table.
• Comfy camping chairs.
• A good torch.

Lastly, a bit of a treat for mummy, these Joules Wellibobs. I've wanted these for 3 years and now seems the perfect excuse!!

Mrs H x