Camping with kids... Help!

[{sarah}]

Well we have finally decided to go camping & we're going next Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. We are going with experienced campers, but neither Aaron or I have ever been (other than 100 years ago with our parents) so we don't know what we're doing. We don't need to worry about food & most basic camping supplies, our friends have those lists all covered, but it's more stuff for the kids I need help with.

Aaron & I have a blow up mattress & we'll have the portable cot for Juliette, but we're not sure what to do for Alexzander. Should we just pack one set of clothes per day or are we better off with more? There are showers & toilets, but what about nappies? Will we have to take them home with us?

Umm what else?! Seriously I am clueless here!

[~Trish~]

We've been camping heaps with the kids, but we have a caravan so it's a bit easier than tenting it! But you'll pretty much need the same stuff apart from bringing something to sleep on.

Bedding: Could Alexzander sleep on a lilo?
Clothing: Definitely pack more than one set of clothes per day! Kids get so dirty camping. Pack at least two sets of clothes per day. Pack lots of wash cloths for dirty hands/faces too
Nappies: It depends on where you are staying. Most places we have stayed at have big bins for your rubbish and we just chuck our nappies in with the rubbish (we use those nice smelling nappy sacks). If it's a national park that requires you to take home your own rubbish, then you'll need something to take your used nappies home in too I guess.

Make sure you pack insect repellent too! Nothing worse than mozzies ruining your trip. Oh, and get some rope to hang your towels/wet clothes/bathers on if you can and bring a few pegs

Have a great time, you're kids will LOVE it!

[boomba]

If you are camping at a proper camp site they will ahve rubbish bins for the nappies. I would take 2 sets of clothes each day just inn case. Does Alex have a small matress on his bed? Maybe take that along?
Lots of insect spray, a torch. raincoats, hats, comfy walking shoes and shoes to wear in the shower.

I cant think if anyhting elses will come back if I do xx

ETA hehe Trish...I got distraced by M needing the toilet and you posted all the stuff I was going to say :P

[aussienic]

Bedding: Alexzander could sleep on a folded up doona or an inflatable matress depending on how much room you have or even a camp stretcher

Nappies: if it is a proper camp grounds bins are provided.. otherwise take nappy sacks and dispose them when you get home,

Clothing. Personally I would take 1 set per day plus 2 spares for the entire time. Jammies.. take 3 pairs and if there is a pool maybe 2 sets of swimmers

insect spray, hats suncream and shoes.. and a small amount of washing powder (and coins) incase you need to do washing

Have Fun

[{sarah}]

Thanks girls

Does anyone else have anymore advice? I'm making my list up for what we need now!

[Trillian]

Plenty of little things to amuse them that wont take up a lot of room. Tennis balls are great and take colouring in books and pencils etc because if the weather is hot you don't want them outside all the time. Do you have a baby bath at all still? Might be an idea to take that too to make washing them easier as you wont have a lot of water available for bathing and you will need to make the most of every drop of water(unless there are amenities where you are going with showers etc).

ETA - warm clothes for the kids to sleep in at night because it is surprising at just how cold it can get at night and you don't want to be caught out.

[~Trish~]

Re: a bath - do you have a big plastic storage tub? We use one to bath DS2 in (even DS1 who is 5 crams himself in it LOL). It's so handy because we need to bring the tub for storage anyway and it means we don't have to queue up waiting for a shower and then have to try and coordinate our small children in the shower, get them dressed without their clothes getting wet in the cubicle etc.

Are you staying in a tent? If so, make sure you have some tarp to put in front of the tent entrance so you aren't trecking as much dirt in. Also bring a broom, kids bring so much dirt into tents. Maybe bring a tub to store your shoes in too, to encourage your kids not to wear them in the tent.

Toys - Definitely some indoor friendly toys are good. We also bring our laptop so the kids can watch DVDs if they wake up early or it's raining. Bat and ball games are always a winner when camping and they don't take up too much room.

Some other suggestions:
* Do you have chairs for yourself and the kids?
* Insect repellent
* Sunscreen
* Hats (for all of you )
* Swimmers (if there is water nearby)
* Beach towels
* Towels for the shower
* Some plastic bags for rubbish, wet clothes, using in the shower, etc.

Umm...that's all I can think of atm. I have a huge spreadsheet with a list of all the things we need to pack when we go camping. It's so handy so I don't need to write a new list each time!

ETA - Another tip regarding showering - Plan to shower at a non-peak time so you don't have to queue.

[Spring Angel]

I haven't been camping in a while but used to go all the time. Things that haven't already been suggested.

Thongs. It is horrible showering in those public showers without thongs. Coins for the showers (some charge)

A good first aid kit for bites, scratches etc.

A bucket. If you are going somewhere you can have a fire it is a very good safety precaution to have a bucket of water on hand at all times.

And something that is essential is marshmellows and chocolate wheaten so you can make marshmellow sambos (Yum)

Waterproof matches, and

A good map of the area.

HTH
Spring

ETA: If you are really going off the beaten track you'll also need a shovel to dig a loo.

[{sarah}]

Showers & loos both available otherwise Sarah would not be available for camping

Trish I'm doing a spreadsheet now! I have this thread open & an email list sent by the friends we're going with

[~Trish~]

I'm so with you Sarah, I refuse to go anywhere without showers and toilets LOL! We're planning a caravaning trip over to W.A at the end of next year so I think I may have to compromise on my stance at some point, eek!

Hope the packing is going well. You'll have a great time, I promise

[~Raven~]

I've been camping in some very basic spots with the little ones so I've developed a very relaxed attitude to dirt. Let it be your friend and you'll have a much happier time I couldn't care less if they were in a grotty tshirt for a couple of days. In fact it will make your return home a lot easier because you'll have to work your butt off washing everything so less work for you!

Trish has a lot of it covered but I'd say even if they have toilets I'd still take a potty or a little camping toilet. For night time toilet trips or if he gets a bit put off from the smell from the public ones (like mine did) it might be a godsend.
Some of that antiseptic handwash is a good idea for piece of mind.

ETA if you're sleeping on a blow up mattress be aware that overnight you get rising cold coming up from the ground and it can really chill you. Insulating with a woollen blanket or one of those foil thermo thingos (sorry not sure of proper name) helps with that.

[{sarah}]

Well I'm not so sure it's going to be happening anymore. It is absolutely pouring here at the moment & has been since Christmas Day, unfortunately the prediction for where we're going is the same until Saturday. I really don't want to have to deal with two kids & very little distraction in the rain. Hmmm

[Marlene]

What a bummer about the rain!!!!

Oh man, I love you Sarah, the only person I know who has a spreadsheet for camping!!

[phynna]

you should be able to find a kids camping set at the sams warehouse for 20-30 bucks which have cartoons and are colourful and have a sleeping bag, mini tent and air mattress. Kids sleeping bags are really thin, so you'll need extra blankies but they'll love having their own stuff. You can pick up cheapo kids fishing rods and yabby nets there too, essential gear for kids camping lol!

I agree with the portable toilet though, if you have that much extra cash, rays outdoors usually have them somewhere about 100 bucks, definetly worthwhile!

[Fleur]

Well, I was coming in here to say Happy Camping! - not much to add to what everyone else has said, it's all been covered - bummer about the rain though. Hope it clears & you can go & have a great time

[{sarah}]

Oh man, I love you Sarah, the only person I know who has a spreadsheet for camping!!

*giggle* What are you trying to say Maz darlink? That I am a geek & over organise everything


We're still hoping the rain clears, it has here, but the prediction is still for heavy rain for the three days I'll talk to our friends about what the wet weather plans would be.

[{sarah}]

This morning the prediction in the area is fine but cloudy so we're back on! Back to continue with my list making!

[Lulu]

A torch each for the children. You can get good ones (not plastic) at the Post Office, the breast cancer awareness ones are only about $5.