YIKES! Camping in two weeks, no equipment, toddlers, no car...

[OutsSelf]

I am increasingly panicking which causes me to seize up and cook stuff, rather than, you know, take action. Dinner tonight was fabulous ha ha.

We are on foot with a 1 year old and a 3 year old. We do have a tent, but it's our two man one that we spent our pre-child holidays in, DP and DS have done a couple of overnighters in it and even DP, the most laid back person in the entire world when it comes to stuff like planning ahead, is saying it's 'probably a bit small'. We have two adult sleeping bags which zip together, no cooking stuff cos we weren't the cooking stuff kind of campers, we'd walk and do pub dinners, mainly.

Please help, I just can't get any kind of shit together about this. The only thing that I've been able to clarify in my own mind is that we probably can't manage a bell tent on foot with two toddlers, one in a sling (she's 1) and one who may need intermittent shoulder carries.

Which tent should we get? What about sleeping bags, we cosleep at home, did anyone else have a complete blank in this context - I just can't figure out how we are going to do this.

Our saving grace is that we are going with other families and they will be able to take some extra food... but we've never done you know, plates and cups and shit, the sort of thing you might need if you are on a single quite isolated campsite for the weekend rather than walking between lovely pubs and eating apple crumble every day.

Any advice gratefully received. A packing list, recommendations for gear we do need and gear we don't, stuff I should get people to stay with and any food recommendations in the context that DP is actively anxious about not having enough food when going on the train for like, an hour?

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

Erm....wow!
I am monumentally laid back but your post has caused even me to break out into a cold sweat :o

Firstly your tent will categorically not be big enough. Presumably when you co-sleep you end up with a large tangle of bodies rather than the DCs lying beautifully arranged like sardines? If they touch the tent sides you will get the dreaded wet

Secondly how far will you need to walk from the station to the campsite? If it's only very short, say 5 minutes, then perhaps one of you could stay with DCs while the other makes several trips (and the same when starting out) Failing that do you have any sort of combination of pushchairs that you could strap the DCs into and artfully drape bags over the handles?

As for food....how long are you going for? If you can make the order up it may pay you to get a supermarket delivery direct to the campsite. If it's only a weekend then you may be able to scrape by if the campsite has a shop or one nearby (but it could be expensive)

Also, do you or DH drive at all? If one of you does it is surprisingly cheap to hire a car for a weekend which would cut so many possible issues out of the equation (and save you the train fare)

[poocatcherchampion]

we just used normal child sleeping bags with a couple of extra layers last weekend. roll mats make a big difference, self inflating mats even more.

food wise we took more fresh stuff than we need needed. some tins and pasta etc is fine for a few days.

toys?
towels? (we used them to mop up sick)
spare clothes? see above although we barely changed
waterproofs and wellies for the morning.
cereal, apples, water bottles

our car was stuffed to the gunnels but if you are not taking chairs, highchairs, kitchen box etc it will be easier.

[Lovecat]

I'd say you either need a 4 man tent or 2 x 2 man tents (and each parent take a child to sleep in with them). Pop ups go down to relatively small circles and are light.

I was looking at this tent on another thread which looks like it would do all of you comfortably, packs down small and from the vid looks easy to assemble: www.decathlon.co.uk/t4-essential-4-man-family-tent-green-id_8206030.html

Normally for older cosleepers I would recommend a big double sleeping bag (we have a 3 season one that is sooo cosy) and take that for all of you, but your 1 yr old may get lost/wriggle down in it and overheat, also they are not small even when packed down into a stuffsac, so I would take your separate bags as they will be easier to carry/strap to a rucksack between the 2 of you, then get something smaller for the kids (people with actual experience of cosleeping with babies will have better advice - I didn't start camping til DD was 5!).

You will also want something to put under the sleeping bag(s). Rollmats are ok and would do if this was a short break and a one off, SIMs (self-inflating mattresses) are warm and cosy but can cost quite a bit, air mattresses are bulky to carry and can get cold unless you have another layer (foil-backed blanket etc) beneath them. SIMs are probably best in the bulk vs comfort battle. Can you ask around and see if friends have SIMs you can borrow?

How long are you going for? If it's only a weekend you won't need to take bath/shower stuff, just get crusty and have a long wash when you get home again. In these circs a travel spray of dry shampoo is useful inbetween and LOADS of babywipes a must, for you and the kids to wash yourselves and clean stuff. Stuff to eat off - check with your friends to see if they have spares, otherwise get to Wilkos or Asda or even Poundland and buy some cheap melamine-type plates and cups (usually in their 'picnic' section). They don't take up too much room.

Re. food, I would follow the above suggestions and add to that snacks. Lots of snacks. Kids get verrry hungry in the great outdoors.

[CharmQuark]

On foot as in hiking? Or as in on foot from the station or something?

[[http://www.decathlon.co.uk/2-seconds-xxl-iii-pop-up-tent-dark-green-id_8205982.html these tents come packed as a big disc with rucksac straps. One of you could carry that and the baby, the other has a big rucksack, have your other baggage on a trolley or in a buggy? And the 3 yo on reins?

That tent would still be a squeeze though, and not last you because it would not be big enough once the kids are toddler and child.

[CharmQuark]

sorry, link!

[CharmQuark]

Are yu all on foot? Could friends take your cooking and eating gear and bulky stuff like sleeping bags and mats?

[OutsSelf]

Thank you thank you. You've really helped me start thinking past my panic!

The first thing is it's only two nights but we are.on foot to the campsite, we.could.get a taxi, but essentially we do have to be able to manage everything we need.

Our one year old is definitely in toddler territory rather than baby so we will probably go with her and I in a double bag and DS and DP in their own. We're wavering towards two two berth tents rather than a single bigger one, DP has done a weekend with him and DS, who sometimes needs shoulder carries and said he could manage the tent, their stuff - DS was using my sleeping bag - and a shoulder carry so thinks I could manage some stuff and a tent plus intermittent child carrying. I think we'll take minimal clothes and two towels - in fact towels and sleeping bags is what we might ask others to bring in the car?

I think we will pack something for dinner, two breakfasts, and snacks, we're going for a pub lunch on the Sat and will suggest a coordinated effort for the second night dinner, with others carrying our portion s in their cars.

I had a fantasy about doing a hay box.porridge, it's meant to be the ultimate porridge cooking, we love porridge in our house so are really keen to try this. Has anyone done one? Hay box/ porridge?

The list, please do comment!
2x tents
3 adult, one child sleeping bags
2 towels
1 set additional clothes (light top, warm top, undies and bottoms) for adults, 2 for children)
12 Fucking nappies inc. 2 overnighters for DS
Toothpaste and brushes
Two water bottles
3 plates, cups sporks, DD can share
Food

Holy fuck, we are going to be like mules, aren't we?

[OutsSelf]

A pan? I have never taken cooking equipment on a camping trip, what should I be looking for? Our cast iron ones would.be great for hay box porridge but I can barely be arsed to lug them round the kitchen...

[Ragwort]

How on earth are you going to carry the hay box along with everything else?

Don't you want a sleeping mat at the very least to sleep on?

I've done a lot of camping in my time but no way would I do what you are planning. Good luck.

[joanofarchitrave]

I don't know from hay box porridge, but if I were you I would think in terms of bananas and raisins for breakfast and packed sandwiches for dinner, and have your hot meals out.

[OutsSelf]

Isn't a hay box a hole in the ground filled with hay rather than an item?

We've done quite a bit of camping, too, pre DC, it was all low fi because we hiked or biked. Just not sure of how to add the kids in, I suppose? Does it really sound so unrealistic? We hiked the black mountains when I was 6mo pg with DS, we wild camped and were away for two weeks so a weekend sounded easy when we signed up!

[poocatcherchampion]

warm jumpers.
raincoats
picnic rug to sit on?
carry mats - you must!

[joanofarchitrave]

No way round carrying the tents (or could a friend take them?)
Forget towels, just don't wash.
Wear good layers of clothes including full set waterproofs at all times and don't take any spares (see above re washing). Invest in proper boots for children as IMO wellies = blisters.
Liaise with friends re them taking a largish water carrier so you don't have to lug water bottles, though I would have a small emergency one in a pocket for the walk.
Children will be fine on a karrimat, prioritise a self-inflating mattress for you, you can get half length ones.
With bananas, raisins, chocolate and sandwiches, you don't need any implements.
I would put some plasters in a pocket, a tennis ball, a head torch and some paper/a few pencils for drawing.

[OutsSelf]

Mats - DP and I disagree about, he thinks them essential, I've never thought them worth the packing weight/ space. I think they are top of the list to jettison once we've actually packed and are face with lugging ourselves to the station.

[joanofarchitrave]

I don't know - you sound much younger than me - I found once I turned 30 I couldn't sleep even on a karrimat, I needed some form of air underneath me.

[OutsSelf]

Right am obviously in the minority about mats, will get extras for the DC.

Waterproof, check, jumpers, one each.

Taking DS for walking boots this week, DD doesn't wear shoes yet, she'd co of probably do with some sandals but won't be walking the walks iyswim

[Letsgoforawalk]

No mats? Wild camping 6 months preg? Too hardcore for me I have no advice that you need. You will have a brilliant weekend and your list sounds fine

[OutsSelf]

Well, we're older than 30. DP does.like a mat, I can sleep anywhere. Perhaps I shouldn't require the DC to be like me though? They are just so bulky though, and the blow up stuff is heavy so obviously no good for us times four

[OutsSelf]

Thanks, Letsgo. Is no mats really hard-core? I've always thought DP a bit precious about mats, assumed he had a thing about it cos he suffered debilitating insomnia so was disproportionately anxious iyswim?

I think it will be brilliant! And everyone else is in their car, we can't really run into trouble so much as inconvenience, right?

[antimatter]

If you have rucksacks each you would be fine.
I presume you are experienced at packing them as you've done it before.
You also need yo take wipes, a teatowel, tissues/toilet paper, first aid kit with Calpol and plasters/desinfectant, sunhats, sun protection cream
make sure you charge your phones, maybe keep one switched off, head torch each, few spare carrier bags for rubbish

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Maybe I missed it, but i didn't see anything about lighting? Headtorchestra are tiny and pretty much essential so I would get 3. 1 year old can probably get by without.

I was going to suggest the T4 like lovecat but I see you prefer two tents. Mat wise, you can get really small packing inflatable mats. The air goes into individual ribs and they are quite narrow but pack up small. Ours are cheap and the valves are one way only which is crap for inflating but you could check that before buying. Tiny Sims might be better though but more expensive obv.

Microfiber towels come in quite tiny if you can't do without (and I couldn't) or hammam ones are fairly lightweight and less bulky than the usual ones. Double upas sarongs too.

If iI were you I would try to load up your friends cars as much as possible if they are willing, and bring as little as you can.

Have a wonderful time

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

If this is going to be a regular thing maybe you should invest in a trangia? One with the optional gas burner would be my recommendation.

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

These are the types of mats I meant:

www.sportsdirect.com/gelert-six-tube-air-mattress-782168?colcode=78216803

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Mind you, as you guys co-sleep, this might be a good choice if you wanted a living area - would be better than two 2 man tents if you got rain as at least it has a living area. Packs to 60 x 24 x 24 too, so not too enormous (particualrtly if you can squeeze it in a friend's car).

www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-family-41-tent-id_8294502.html#avantages

I really will shut up now.

[Letsgoforawalk]

If you could get hold of a second hand ' vau de monolith' it would fit you all. It is a 2 man tent with a huge porch area, when in a similar situation to you we used it and put the kids in the inner and DH and I slept in the porch. Designed for cycle camping it is quite lightweight. I have even seen an accessory designed to add a child size sleeping compartment into the porch area. A very old tent though ( bought mine about 18 years ago I think, but it is still being used! )