Who doesn’t love camping?! (Well, from what I hear, loads of people haha). Although it’s not for everyone, with most of us sticking to the UK this year, loads of folk have wisely decided to get to grips with the great British outdoors and go camping with kids under a bit of good old canvas this summer.
Personally, I bloody love it. Yes, it’s infinitely better when it’s dry and sunny, but even when it’s a bit soggy I’m still a fan. There’s something so magical about going to bed essentially outside, and hearing all the rustling and wind while you’re all snug in your sleeping bag. I also love the mornings, sat around in the fresh air with cups of tea and walking straight out into beautiful nature. The best bit of all though, is how excited the kids get and how much they love it – a tent is basically one big guaranteed glee factory, and I love the look on their faces every time I tell them we’re heading off camping.
As with any trip away with kids, my nerdy thoughts turn to organising/lists, cos letβs face it, who doesnβt love a bloody good list? With lots of people trying camping for the first time, or at least the first time in a long while, I thought it’d be helpful to post my imaginatively titled βCamping With Kidsβ list on here incase it helps anyone else on their own camping adventures!
Our family’s been camping a lot over the years, so itβs a list Iβve regularly added to and updated over time β every camping or festival trip throws up a few new useful items to add onβ so this one has been a work in progress over about 10 years!
I can safely say that thereβs not been one camping trip where Iβve taken absolutely everything on this list β itβs very much an βeverything you could ever possibly needβ version, just soΒ I know nothing will be forgotten.β¦Β Just pick and choose what’s right for you and your family, the size of your car, and the length and specific needs of each particular trip. The list also assumes youβre camping under canvas and not in a campervan or similarβ¦ so for campervan trips not all of these things are neededβ¦
So, here it isβ¦ my ultimate βcamping with kidsβ checklist designed to make this little adventure as easy and enjoyable as possible!
PRACTICAL STUFF
β WALLET, KEYS, MOBILE PHONE & CHARGER
I just charge my phone in the car on day trips out when we’re camping but if you’re not planning on using the car much then you might want to bring a portable phone charger.
β CAMERA, CAMERA BAG & SPARE BATTERIES
β BABY BACK CARRIER
If you’ve got infants then a baby back carrier is a great replacement for a pushchair when you’re camping.
β DOORMAT
We put a cheap coir doormat in the tent entrance. Really helps to not transfer lots of mud/grass/crap into the tent.
β CAMPING CHAIRS
One for each member of the family
β CAMPING TABLE
Not essential butΒ folding camping tablesΒ really are ace and make everything so much easier β you kind of donβt realise how useful they are until you have one.
β SHELVING UNITS
Again, not essential and theyβre fairly bulky and not cheap, however, theyβre brilliant. Great to get everything up off the floor to create spaces and retain a modicum of organisation. We have a couple of ones like this and tend to use one for food and one for clothing.
β BLANKETS
Take a few if you can β mega useful for wrapping round you/the kids at night when youβre sat outside, as extra bedding / picnic blankets, additional padding under the mattress etc
β DAY BAG
A good spacious rucksack or similar to lug stuff around during the day. Ideally lots of compartments.
β BIN BAGS
Bring a whole roll. Hands down one of the most useful and versatile camping items. Ideally some black refuse sacks and also a roll of smaller plastic bags / pedal bin bags. They come in useful for SO many thingsβ¦. Makeshift βrugsβ for the tent floor if everyoneβs a bit muddy, blackout blinds for tent windows if the sunβs too bright, dirty washing bags, rubbish bags (obvs), emergency waterproofing material, βsocksβ if an unexpected hole in a welly etc etc.
β GAFFER/DUCT TAPE
Millions of uses
βΒ ANTIBACTERIAL SURFACE WIPES
β EMERGENCY TOILET
Night-time trips to the toilet are never much fun, but with kids they’re even less fun. Ideally have some kind of makeshift βtoiletβ in the tent that can be used in emergencies β grim but a godsend when youβre with kids β a potty, a bucket with a lid, or I just discovered these fantastic βBoginabagβ contraptions! For night-time leave-the-tent toilet visits, make sure you leave wellies and warm large coats/dressing gowns right next to the tent door so they’re easily found & thrown over pyjamas β no need to be ferreting around the tent finding clothing etc in the dead of night.
β WINDBREAKS
We just use those cheap stripy beach ones, great to βcontainβ the kids and give you all some privacy and an area thatβs βyoursβ
β LANTERNS
As many as you can fit in. Useful to have a mixture of head-torches, hand-held torches and larger lanterns to light the tent at night-time
β SWISS ARMY KNIFE
β ALARM CLOCK
So you can see the time without using up your phone battery
β TOWELS
IdeallyΒ microfibre ones, if not then as thin & lightweightΒ as poss
β TRAVEL CLOTHES LINE & A FEW PEGS
β DUSTPAN & BRUSH
β NOTEPAD & PEN
β MINI SEWING KIT
β UMBRELLA
β MIRROR
β PICNIC BLANKET
Ideally with a waterproof backing
β MUSIC SPEAKERS
We haveΒ one of these which is ace as it doesnβt require any wires or bluetooth, you just plonk your phone on top of it
β LARGE SOFT FLEXIBLE BUCKET WITH HANDLES
TubtrugsΒ are a brandedΒ make but you can get similar things all over the placeΒ cheap as chips. They have a myriad of uses. A bath/washbasin, to carry crap to/from the car,Β toy basket for the tent and wash clothes in it.
SLEEPING EQUIPMENT
β TENT (WITH MALLET AND PEGS)
As big as possible. More room means more storage, more space, more knowing where things are, more relaxing for everyone. Personally I love Vango ones – they are spacious but sooo easy to put up.
β SLEEPING BAGS / DUVETS
Which you take is down to personal preference and how much space you have.
β PILLOWS
β SELF-INFLATING MATS
These are the nuts. Forget foam roll-mats (may as well be sleeping on paper) or airbeds (HELLO deflation, sweaty plastic & crap pumps),Β these areΒ what you want. Slightly more expensive but you literally just open a valve and they inflate themselves, they insulate well and theyβre super comfy. Different widths are available but Iβd go for a 5mm or 7mm for a good balance of comfort and weight/size. 10mm is amazing if you have a bad back but theyβre very heavy and harder to roll back up.
β TRAVEL COT
Babies and toddlers can obviously easily just sleep with you on your mat on the floor (if youβve not been drinking), but bring a travel cot if you feel yours will beΒ saferΒ and happier containedΒ in one.
CLOTHING
As far as adults are concerned, obviously you donβt need me to tell you what to wear! Just bring whatever clothes you like, with loads of spares and make sure you include waterproofs, wellies, a hat, sunglasses and warm clothing for night-time.
For camping with kids Iβd advise bringing the followingβ¦ Night-time camping is always cold even if the daytime is hot and prepare for everything from tropical heat to snowstorms β good old British weather can fling the whole range at you within a day. Make sure you dress them in lots of layers so you can add/remove throughout the day as needed.
β PYJAMAS / ALL-IN-ONE SLEEPSUITS
β SOCKS
Loads more than you think you need! Layer up inside wellies, pop on with pyjamas at night-time and ideally have some nice thick ones too.
β WELLIES
βΒ ALTERNATIVE SHOES TO WELLIES
Either sturdy boots like walking boots can be good if the ground is drier, as well as waterproof shoes likeΒ Crocs
β UNDERWEAR
β TROUSERS
Soft, stretchy and comfy rather than denim etc
β SHORTS
β T-SHIRTS
Both short and long sleeved
β JUMPERS / FLEECES
β WATERPROOF COAT / CAGOUL
All-in-one waterproof suits are great for younger kids β we have aΒ TogzΒ one for Huey
β WATERPROOF DUNGAREES / TROUSERS
If the weather is hotter and the all-in-one is too much, we haveΒ these ace waterproof dungareesΒ for Huey so he can still get muddy but wear a T-shirt to keep cool
β WOOLLY/WARM HAT
β SUNHAT
β LITTLE RUCKSACK
They can carry their own drink and snacks in this as well as a couple of favourite toys
β SUNGLASSES
TOILETRIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
β SUNCREAM &Β AFTERSUN
β TOOTHBRUSHES & TOOTHPASTE
β WET WIPES
You CANNOT HAVE ENOUGH WIPES I REPEAT *NEVER ENOUGH WIPES* and make sure you carry a pack in your day bag too. Most/all campsites will have showers but letβs face it, many of us tend to embrace the crusty vibe a bit more while weβre camping, so a naked wet wipe session is a reasonable makeshift βshowerβ. If you bring a plastic tub (listed above) you can of course also have a strip wash with βproper waterβ WOW LUXURY. If you don’t want to use disposable wipes then reusable Cheeky Wipes are absolutely brilliant.
β DRY SHAMPOO
β SOAP & FLANNEL
β HAIRBRUSH/COMB & HAIRBANDS/GRIPS
β DEODORANT
β TOILET ROLL
Campsite toilets do sometimes run out. You might also need some if your makeshift emergency ‘tent toilet’ is needed. Individually wrapped packs of tissues are also great for day bags and wonβt get soggy if your bag gets wet.
β HAND SANITISER
β NAPPIES, NAPPY CREAM & NAPPY SACKS
β TAMPAX / SANITARY PRODUCTS
β SHOWER BAG
β MOISTURISER
β MAKEUP
β MEDICAL KIT
Insect repellent, paracetamol & ibuprofen (both adult and kid versions), antihistamine tablets/cream (adult & kid versions), tweezers, antiseptic cream/spray, plasters & bandages, pocket tissues, Sudafed, burn ointment, Immodium, rehydration sachets
KIDSβ ENTERTAINMENT
You’ll probably have plenty of day trips to amuse and entertain the nippers, but when you’re camping with kids itβs well worth bringing a few choice lightweight items of your own to keep them occupied in the tent, at the campsite, in bad weather etc.
β FAVOURITE TEDDY
β SOME LIGHTWEIGHT BOOKS
β OUTDOOR TOYS
Frisbee, pois, velcro bats and ball, boules, inflatable balls
β INDOOR GAMES
Personal low-space-consuming favourites areΒ Uno, Pass the Bomb (both adultΒ andΒ kidsΒ versions) and kidsβ activity books, playing cards, paper &Β pencils/crayons, and cheapo art/craft supplies
β DRESSING UP CLOTHES
β GLOWSTICKS
Kids love to play with them but they are also amazing for keepingΒ them visibleΒ after dark. Just make sure kids donβt bite them as the neon liquid can leak out into little mouths! I speak from alarming experience of a young Joe with day-glo lips.
βΒ BALLOONS & BUBBLES
β DISPOSABLE CAMERAS
Kids love to play with these and the photos are a great memento for them afterwards too
β FACE PAINT
β TATTOO TRANSFERS
FOOD
How much food and cooking equipment you bring depends entirely on your own personal preferences – some people want to make all 3 meals themselves, others eat out for lunch and dinner and just bring stuff for breakfast. There’s no point me listing all the food you could possibly bring but I’m going to share a few simple essentials & favourites that work well for us.
β CAMPING STOVE WITH FUEL (REMEMBER LIGHTERS/MATCHES)
Even if youβre not cooking food, a hot cup of tea/coffee goes a long way in the morning. You canΒ buy simple ones really cheaply.
β COOLBOX & ICEPACKS
β CAN OPENER & CORKSCREW
β THERMOS FLASK
β KETTLE
β PLASTIC/MELAMINE CUTLERY, PLATES, CUPS/MUGS, BOWLS
β CLINGFILM & KITCHEN ROLL
β WASHING UP BOWL, BRUSH/SPONGE & WASHING UP LIQUID
β TEATOWELS
β PLASTIC FOOD BAGS / ZIPLOCS
To carry food/snacks, ideally ziplocked ones or similar so contents donβt spill out in rucksacks
β TEABAGS / COFFEE / INSTANT HOT-CHOCOLATE
β MILK
Either fresh (if you have a super-duper coolbox) or condensed / powdered / UHT
β BOTTLED WATER
βΒ MILK FOR BABIES
If you have a baby with you still needing milk, then obviously either the old boobies will do the trick (which Iβm pretty sure youβd definitely be bringing with you), or alternatively for bottle feeding mamas, the ready-sterilised disposable bottles and ready-made milks are ideal for camping as a short-term solution.
β HEALTHY SNACKS
Obviously you donβt want the kids eating rubbish for days on end and you want to keep their energy up and moods calm, so have a range of healthy snacks on hand eg bananas, oranges, satsumas, apples, rice cakes, cereal bars, houmous, Β avocado, breadsticks, tomatoes, boxes of raisins/dried fruit, cheese, nuts
βΒ βTREATβ SNACKS
Because who wants to eat healthy stuff all the time? Chocolate, crisps, marshmallows (toasted over the camping fire – ACE). Brioches are a brill camping food β great for breakfast and snacks, and they feel like a treat for the kids.
β BREAD, BUTTER, MARMITE / JAM / PEANUT BUTTER
Great for breakfast and lunches β banana and peanut butter sandwiches are an all-day winner
β MULTI VARIETY PACKS OF CEREAL
These can be eaten dry as a snack, or if kids want to make their own breakfast, they can pour a bit of milk into the inner plastic bag containing the cereal, and eat it straight from the box!
– FOOD FOR MEALS
If you’re wanting to make meals then the following are easy and convenient for cooking on a camping stove: instant soup, noodles and couscous; baked beans; tinned soups or stews; bacon; halloumi; meat and/or veg kebabs in flatbreads with salad; sardines/tinned mackerel with pasta or in a pitta bread with avocado; eggs – scrambled, poached or omelettes; macaroni cheese or pasta with pesto and feta; burgers or hot dogs & salad; fish cooked in foil with salad or ready-cooked rice; burritos or fajitas… Here are loads of great campfire recipes – just plan your meals in advance and only take what you need.
β FRUIT JUICE
The individual little cartons with straws are brill for camping and lunchboxes
β BOOZE
Whatever tickles your fancy. If you’re a wine fan, boxes are infinitely better than bottles for camping.
Phew! So there it is. My mammoth, cover-all-angles camping-with-kids checklist. Is there anything you’d add to this? Iβm always up for new suggestions to make camping with kids easier!
Anna π
β¨ SOME FREE STUFF FOR YOU β¨
FREE PDF: DOWNLOADABLE FESTIVALS WITH KIDS ULTIMATE CHECKLIST
If you enjoy camping with kids and fancy taking them to a festival at some point, here’s a checklist just for festivals, as well as a condensed, easy-to-tick-off, printer-friendly version of this list too!
FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY E-BROCHURE
Download my family photography e-brochure if you’d like to find out how I could capture your own family’s magic & adventures! π
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I’d also love to chat to you on Instagram or Facebook if you’re on there – come and say hi!
Take care folks and enjoy those lovely families of yours!
Anna π
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