The No-Meltdown Guide to Camping with Kids: Gear, Tips, and Real-Life Survival Stories
Hi there, fellow parents!
Let’s be honest—camping with kids sounds magical in theory. You picture toasted marshmallows under the stars, kids running wild in the fresh air, everyone collapsing into sleeping bags tired and happy.
And sometimes it really is like that.
But if you’re anything like me, you’ll also have vivid memories of:
Soggy socks before you’d even unzipped the tent.
A toddler who decided 4am was the perfect time to discuss dinosaurs.
Everyone fighting over whose turn it was to hold the torch (and then dropping it in the mud).
After a fair few trips (and more than a few rookie mistakes), I’ve picked up some tips—and discovered brilliant bits of kit that make life a whole lot easier. Here’s everything I wish I’d known before my first family camping trip.
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1. Get the Right Gear (and Test It Before You Go)
If you only take away one tip, let it be this: the right gear can save your sanity.
I’ll never forget our first trip when the tent poles didn’t actually fit the tent. We stood there in a field, kids crying, trying to make it work like some sort of budget game of Tetris. Meanwhile, the bloke in the next pitch rocked up an hour later, unrolled his fancy inflatable tent, gave it a few pumps, and was sitting with a cup of tea looking smug while we were still flapping around with poles and instructions blowing away in the wind.
Lesson learned: always do a test run at home—and consider whether an air tent is worth every penny purely to save your dignity (and your marriage) on arrival day.
And while we’re talking about gear—don’t forget the tent pegs. It sounds silly, but cheap pegs can literally ruin your first day. I once spent an hour hammering bargain pegs into what felt like solid concrete, only to watch them bend into sad little squiggles while the ground remained completely unbothered. Then there’s the opposite problem: putting flimsy pegs into soft ground, only for them to ping out and vanish the minute the wind picks up.
If you fancy crawling around in the mud at 2am trying to hold the tent up in the rain—by all means, get the cheapest pegs you can find. Otherwise, invest in decent ones and save yourself a night of soggy misery and lost sleep.
What’s worth investing in:
A tent that’s bigger than you think you need.
A double-skin waterproof tent—because British summers love a surprise downpour.
Comfortable sleeping mats or airbeds.
Proper 3-season sleeping bags.
Heavy-duty tent pegs and a rubber mallet—seriously, you’ll thank yourself later.
My Camping Product Picks:
1. Vango Odyssey Air 500 Villa Tent
This inflatable family tent is a game changer. No more fighting with poles—it goes up in about 10 minutes (you can smugly wave at your neighbours still swearing at their instructions). Loads of space so you’re not tripping over bags and shoes every five seconds.
💷 Price range: £500–£600
⭐ Value for money: Excellent for frequent campers—sturdy and reliable.
2. Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D Self-Inflating Mattress
Think of this as your ticket to waking up without an aching back. It’s so thick and comfy it almost feels like cheating.
💷 Price range: £90+
⭐ Value for money: High—cheaper mats honestly don’t compare.
2. Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D Self-Inflating Mattress
If you’re camping on anything harder than a lawn, these pegs are a lifesaver. They don’t bend at the first whack, and the handy puller means you’re not stuck wrestling them out when it’s time to pack up.
💷 Price range: £15–£25 for a pack
⭐ Value for money: Brilliant—infinitely better than the thin pegs most tents come with.
2. Choose Your Campsite Carefully
I used to think any campsite would do—just chuck up a tent and job done. Ha! Some are basically fields with a loo, while others have play areas, cafés, and bedtime story sessions.
If you want to avoid a meltdown by mid-afternoon, it’s worth picking a place that actually caters for families. That way you’re not stuck entertaining little ones 24/7 (or apologising to grumpy neighbours).
✅ What to look for:
Play areas so kids can burn off energy.
On-site shops for emergency snacks.
Decent showers and loos.
Local attractions.
My top product Picks to Make Campsite Life Smoother
Coleman Event Shelter
Having somewhere dry to cook, play, or just hide from the drizzle is priceless. This one is sturdy enough not to flap about in the wind and big enough for a picnic table underneath.
💷 Price range: £150–£200
⭐ Value for money: Brilliant—cheaper gazebos often end up in a soggy heap.
3. Make Mealtimes Simple (and Fun)
Let’s be honest—camp cooking with kids can feel like running a chaotic café with no staff. One child wants pasta, one wants toast, the baby is trying to eat the grass…
I quickly learned the trick is to keep meals easy. Pre-made dishes and loads of snacks keep everyone happier (including you).
And don’t forget smart storage—collapsible food containers are a total game-changer. When you’re juggling lunch, snacks, and leftover spaghetti, having containers that squish down flat means less clutter and fewer things rolling around the car or tent. Plus, they’re easier to clean and way more eco-friendly than single-use bags.
✅ Top tips:
Bring meals you can reheat or assemble in minutes.
Pack snacks to fend off the “I’m huuuungry” chorus.
Get kids involved—little jobs make them feel proud.
Use collapsible containers to keep food fresh without the bulk.
Top Picks to Keep Family Camping Calm, Fed, and (Almost) Fun
1. Campingaz Party Grill 400 CV Stove
This stove is a lifesaver. It grills, boils, fries—you name it. And it’s sturdy enough not to tip over when the kids decide to help.
💷 Price range: £100–£120
⭐ Value for money: Fantastic—cheaper stoves are often too small or wobbly.
2. Coleman Xtreme Cooler (70QT)
This beast of a cool box keeps food properly cold for days. Perfect if you’re camping somewhere remote or want to avoid daily supermarket runs.
💷 Price range: £90–£110
⭐ Value for money: Brilliant—much better insulation than budget coolers.
3. Bacofoil Reusable Silicone Food Bags (Collapsible)
These handy silicone bags are perfect for storing snacks, sandwiches, or leftovers. They collapse flat for easy packing and are airtight to keep food fresh. Plus, they’re dishwasher safe and help reduce single-use plastic waste—win-win!
💷 Price range: £12–£18 for a set
⭐ Value for money: Excellent—durable, eco-friendly, and super practical for family camping trips.
👉 Need ideas? Check out BBC Good Food’s guide to easy camping meals
4. Keep the Little Ones Comfy and Bug-Free
Ah, the joys of midges. Nothing says “family holiday” like everyone scratching bites and yelling, “It itches!”
To avoid the bug-related drama (or at least reduce it), it helps to have a few clever products up your sleeve.
✅ Sanity-savers:
Midge repellent you’ll actually use.
Spare clothes (because someone will fall in the stream).
Head torches to avoid tripping over guy ropes in the dark.
Top Gear to Keep the Kids Comfy, Smiling, and You Sane
1. Smidge Insect Repellent Spray
I used to be sceptical, but this stuff really works. It doesn’t stink or feel sticky, and it keeps the midges away.
💷 Price range: £8–£10
⭐ Value for money: High—far nicer to use than old-school DEET.
👉 Read more: Advice on avoiding midges from Visit Scotland
2. LED Lenser Kidcamp6 Headlamp
Kids love having their own torch. This one is bright, comfy, and tough enough to survive being dropped (repeatedly).
💷 Price range: £15–£20
⭐ Value for money: Great—better than bargain-bin headlamps.
5. Entertainment: Plan for Downtime
You’ll think you don’t need toys because nature is the ultimate playground. And that’s true—for about an hour. Then someone gets bored, someone else wants their tablet, and you’re frantically Googling “camping games.”
✅ How to avoid the meltdown:
Bring easy activities.
Pack a ball or frisbee.
Have a rainy-day backup plan.
Top Picks to Keep the Kids Busy (and You Off Duty)
1. Aerobie Sprint Flying Ring
This thing flies like a dream and is way easier for kids to catch. Just be prepared to go fetch it—mine once sailed over the hedge into the next field.
💷 Price range: £10–£15
⭐ Value for money: Excellent—so much better than flimsy plastic frisbees.
2. Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Pads
These reusable colouring pads are a sanity-saver when you need ten minutes to cook or drink your tea while it’s still hot.
💷 Price range: £5–£7
⭐ Value for money: Brilliant—less mess than pens or paint.
👉 More inspiration: Check out these fun camping activities for kids from Cool Camping
6. Set Realistic Expectations (and Laugh at the Chaos)
I used to think camping would look like a magazine photo—happy kids, perfect sunsets, everyone singing Kumbaya. Reality? Mud, crumbs, and a toddler who must wee as soon as you zip up the tent.
But honestly, that’s the magic. The memories are worth the chaos.
My Product Picks for Parent Sanity during camping trips
1. Helinox Chair One Compact Camping Chair
After bedtime, you deserve a comfy chair. This one is light, strong, and packs down to almost nothing.
💷 Price range: £80–£90
⭐ Value for money: Very high—cheaper chairs always end up sagging.
2. Thermos Ultimate Flask (1.2L)
Hot tea or coffee makes everything feel better, especially when the dawn chorus kicks off at 5am. This flask keeps drinks hot for hours.
💷 Price range: £35–£45
⭐ Value for money: Excellent—far superior to cheaper flasks.
Final Thoughts
If you’re about to set off on your first family camping trip—good luck, and enjoy every muddy, starry, biscuit-crumb-filled minute.
And if you’ve been before, I’d love to hear your own top tips or gadgets you can’t live without. Pop them in the comments—I’m always learning from other parents!
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