Camping, and cooking, with little ones ⛺️

There is something refreshing about camping.

The endless fresh air, snuggly sleeping bags and putting your wellies on as you walk across the dew- filled field on a morning.

I love camping. Something that's probably in my blood as the daughter of a former scout leader! My first camp was age 6 months.

As a couple, we enjoyed lots of camping trips, mostly in the Yorkshire Dales. It is something we've always looked forward to sharing with our family in the future.

But camping with small children can be a challenge. Dealing with changing temperature, varied washing facilities and cooking complexity, on top of the usual challenges with taking small children on holiday.

Breaking through the challenges though, brings immense enjoyment. The freedom to roam, plenty of fresh air and new experiences.

So how can you make it work? Here are my top tips for camping with young children:

1. Travel cots and blackout covers. These can be warmer than sleeping directly on the ground, whilst the cover aids in setting the mood for sleep and keeping warmth in. We bought a LittleLife cover and it fits really well over our travel cot

2. Layers of clothing. Give yourself some variety to be able to easily tweak based on their temperature. We have a small stash of jumpers in the next size to help layer up on a cold morning. A pair of warm tracksuit bottoms are also very handy for an extra layer when needed.

3. Leave a layer on. Try not to fully strip down every layer when you are changing for bedtime. Leaving a vest on can keep a layer of warm air closest to their body and make it easier for them to stay warmer. Change it in the morning when you know they can soon warm up by running round!

4. Take a picnic blanket! You can enjoy a picnic on it, but it is also helpful for adding warmth to the floor. We don't have a carpet for our tent, but a foil backed blanket does the job. Fit it under the cot for extra warmth overnight and use it in for sitting on whenever temperatures drop

5. Choose your site well. We prefer to camp on a site with good facilities, and these can really make a difference when you are all a little tired, aching and need to freshen up. Family changing / bathrooms can help! Decent washing facilities, play areas and on site food can be a big bonus too. We love Catgill Farm near Bolton Abbey and Sherwood Pines for their facilities!

6. Take wellies! No one likes soggy socks when you walk across fields with dew!

7. Cones can be helpful for boundaries. No guarantee that your child will listen... but a stack of cones can help the conversation about where they can and can't go, giving them a sense of freedom whilst you can keep them close

And my tips for food, and cooking when camping?

1. Take ALL the snacks. Basic parenting really when you have a small child. But these can be extra helpful when camping. You often burn more calories due to more varied temperatures so hunger can creep in!

2. Opt to eat out sometimes. This can help you get a warm meal, somewhere to relax and stretch your legs, all without having to wash up! Eating out just once, or once a day can make it a bit less stressful. Campsites will often be able to recommend places, have options on site or opt for places with good deals, such as Tesco Clubcard offers. Vary it up, and have a picnic at other times.

3. Choose a decent cool box. This is an essential for me! It means you can take home comforts such as milk, yogurts and fruit to last into your stay. We have a pile of ice packs that we rotate in during our stay (where sites have a freezer) or sites can let you hire them too. Keep your cool box in the coldest place, be this your tent porch, in the shade of your car or somewhere else.

4. Take a frozen meal. After our first few trips away, we've felt confident enough to take our gas hob and cook a meal. Taking a frozen meal from home is a great option, and helps save money too. A bag of frozen chilli is a winner, and acts as an extra ice pack for the first couple of days. I cook boil in the bag rice too (very convenient for camping!) and serve with wraps, smashed avocado, cheese and salad. It is a great filling meal that everyone enjoys but much less prepping.

And my final tip. Have fun. It can be tough. But it can also be incredible. Bedtimes may go wild but hey, routine will come back at home. We take glow sticks and have a party one night. Slow down and let them explore. Create the memories and enjoyed the freedom. It might not be perfect, but to your child it will be the biggest adventure.