A – Activity Packs. Here's how we created our own.
C – Clothes pegs & string. Perfect for adding to the side of your tent as a mini washing line to dry towels/flannels etc. Extra string is always handy too, this year we used it to make bunting for our tent. Even in a tent you can create a little touch of style! ;-)
D – Drink! We try to take a few large bottles of water, just in case there are no nearby facilities. Small water bottles are great for Minnie to take with her during the day & make the weight in backpacks easy to distribute. The festival we attended last week refilled water bottles throughout the weekend which was great! (They also provided recycling points which made sorting our rubbish much easier.)
E – Emergency (ICE) wristbands. ID wristbands are a way of attaching your contact details to your child. Heaven forbid they are ever needed, but if they were this wristband provides emergency information straight away.
F – First Aid Kit (travel pack size) with relevant medication, bandages/plasters etc, anti-histamines, & insect repellent for those meddling mozzies. We also take sachets of Calpol, & tubes of Tea Tree cream, Arnica cream (Nelsons do a great range of homeopathic remedies).
G – Games & toys. Minnie took a few of her cuddly toys with her on her camping adventure; great for providing familiarity, comfort & security. Also fab for imaginative play! We chose to take simple indoor games which didn’t take up too much space, along with bats & balls for outdoor play.
H – Huggalugs are something I love! I invested in a pair when Minnie started crawling & they were great for protecting her knees as well as keeping her legs warm. Since then I’ve bought another couple of pairs which she wears on her arms & legs. They’re perfect for providing extra warmth without creating bulky layers & can be added or removed quickly, ideal when they need to be removed from a sleeping child! As it was so cold in our tent at night Minnie wore her Huggalugs on her wrists & over her hands which kept her nice & toasty in her sleeping bag.
I – Illuminations! We leave a large battery operated torch in the tent, & keep handheld wind-up torches in our backpacks. Minnie was keen to have her own this year so we gave her a small wind-up one. It was great to see her independently winding it up & the excitement on her face when it produced light was a picture! We also took some small battery operated lanterns which produced a subtle light to help restless sleepers.
K – Knitted hat! Well a fleecy hat would be ideal too, just useful when the temperature drops at night. I popped a hat on Minnie as she was sleeping just to help keep her warm. So much body heat is lost through your head it makes sense to wrap it up.
L – Loads of books! :-) We love to read anytime, anyplace, anywhere! Paperbacks can normally fit into a bag & others can be left to enjoy in the tent. You may have to limit the amount taken though, my little bookworm was keen to take her entire library! Here are some of our fave camping books.
M – Mat or inflatable mattress. We’ve found that inflatable mattresses are the best way to keep warm & comfortable at night. You just need to remember the foot pump.;-) This year we borrowed an inflatable bed from a friend for Minnie. It worked really well, kept her safe & snug, & the padded sides prevented her from rolling around. We used a sleeping bag & blankets with it as it was so cold, but it would make a great spare bed at home as it is.
N – Numerous packets baby wipes!! I don't think I need to elaborate on this one! :-)
O - Organisation. With just a little of the stuff a camping trip is so much easier.
P – Portable potty! We’ve taken this travel potty in the past, & although Minnie doesn't use it regularly any more, it was very handy for her at night.
Q – Quilts & blankets. For providing layers of warmth on chilly nights inside the tent, or wrapping around you when star gazing! Great for play mats during the day too!
R – Rubber beach shoes like Crocs. Great for kids who love to explore. If they get too muddy/sandy they can be easily washed ready for the next day... much like your child's feet ;-)
S – Sunhats, Sun cream & Sunnies!
U – Unfolding camping table & chairs.
V – Vacuum/Thermos flask. These became really useful. We filled them with hot water at night ready to use for washing the next morning. Ideal for impatient pre-schoolers who have to be up & ready first thing in the morning.
W – Wellie Boots! Of course! Along with warm clothes & waterproofs... especially if you live in the UK! As you can see my little Peppa Pig fan just can't resist a muddy puddle or two!
Y – Yummy handy snack packs. Whether packed in small tubs, or bought in mini bags, healthy snacks help keep tired toddlers happy & keep tired parents sane! Some of our favourites are dried fruits, & the Goodies range from Organix. They've recently introduced mini packs which are ideal when traveling & full of natural goodness too!
Z – Zipper bags. Great for storage & can be used again, & again, & again...
I'm sure you'll have many more to add to the list & can think of 101 other things which help make camping just that little bit easier. If you have any top tips to share please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear them.