So, Spring is just around the corner…. we promise! And if the appearance of sunshine prompts thoughts of idyllic summer camping holidays then you wouldn’t be alone. Camping is one of the fastest growing holiday types in the UK, with more and more families choosing to stay in Britain and dust off the old camping gear.

But, if the thought of taking the small ones camping terrifies you, then here’s our handy guide to camping with little people in tow (and yes, it involves wine!!)……. Top tips for camping with children:

• While planning your trip, consider the time of year, especially if you’ve got very small children. They might keep warm running around all day, but the temperature at night soon dips quickly. If you go early or late in the season, then make sure you pack LOTS of bedding and warm clothes.
• If you’re new to camping then it’s a good idea to start your first camping trip fairly close to home and make it short – a night or two. That way, if things aren’t going to plan it’s easy to bail out with your sanity intact and try again a few weeks later. And it’s good to be somewhere that’s within half an hour or so of civilisation and not too remote – just in case any emergencies that may crop up.
• Check the forecast and aim for a warm and sunny weekend, and call it off if the weather isn’t great. Dealing with rain, cold and storms isn’t much fun ordinarily, so it’s best to choose a calm and dry weekend for a first family camp – you’ll have plenty of other things to think about than waking up to a tent flood in the morning!
• Pack LOTS of wet wipes – they are invaluable in almost every mucky situation (and there will be lots)……
• Other things to pack include plenty of spare clothes, waterproofs, wellies, snacks and drinks, easy to cook/prepare food and an “entertainment” box for each child – give them a bag or a box that they can fill with toys, games or books to take with them.
• And don’t forget the basic first aid kit – pack plasters, antibac wipes, bandage, children’s pain relief and antihistamine.
• Get organised. Make a list and check it as you pack the car
• Look for a campsite with added family friendly-value – does it have a family toilet/shower cubicle so you can easily take little one in with you for a wash? Does it have animals that kids can feed/visit or a play-area?
• Get to the campsite in day-light hours. Pitching a tent while entertaining children is hard. Doing it in the dark is doubly hard!
• Put all your cooking utensils/gas canisters/sharp implements (anything you don’t want small children to grab hold of) in a large plastic box with a clip-lid.
• Pack wine! And plenty of it. Or pop in and see us here in the Oakeley Arms for a family friendly meal and a large glass of wine to soothe the day away!
• Have fun! If you’re anxious or worried about the trip your children will pick up on it. Feed their excitement with your own enthusiasm.

And don’t let friends’ and family horror stories put you off. Camping with young children is a truly rewarding experience. Children will see the joy in the smallest of things, which is delightful to watch and taking small children camping opens up their world to new possibilities outside the safety of the baby-proofed living room; it teaches them about the great outdoors and they’ll start to learn about some of the dangers as well. And perhaps kids are never too young to start learning about wildlife, nature and the slower pace of campsite life.

Fun times and family adventures will be the start of precious childhood memories. And if nothing else, there will be tales aplenty with which to embarrass your dear children on their 18^th birthdays about the time they crawled naked through a campsite with sheep-poo in their hair….

Time to relax! Babies will love their all-new natural world