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we are a family of 5 and 3 are very little (ages 3, 2 and 1)

I would really like some advice on what kind of tent to buy? I have been looking at 8 berth + as it would be nice for the boys to share a room and my daughter to have her own but I'm just not sure how much space these tents have or what is the right kind of thing to look for?

As for camping experience, I did a lot about 10 years ago with an ex partner and he took control of organising the kit to take so I really need to start from scratch!

Any advice on what tent to buy and what equipment is essential would be really helpful!

Also if anyone has experience with taking young children camping, how to deal with toilet training whilst camping etc would be really helpful!!

Thanks

Khyam Ontario 8 would be perfect for your family.
We're a family of 5 and absolutley love ours!!

* Very easy to pitch - only 5 poles
* Large bedrooms (2 x 2 berth and 1 x 4 berth which can be divided with a curtain)
* Can accommodate 8 x 75cm wide airbeds so a geniune 8 berth tent
* SIG (sewn in growndsheet) - great for keeping bugs and draughts out and wayward toddlers in
* Groundsheet goes flat at the doors so no trip hazzard for little ones
* Standing height (225cm)
* Fits on standard pitch (tent measures 7.5m x 3.7m)
* 5000HH rating
* Spacious central living area (3.3m x 3.7m)
* Cable entry points
* Lantern hook with cable tidy
* Door can be canopied out to form a sun porch (1 set of king poles included)
* Large windows
* Good ventilation

Search the Net and you can find a 2010 model for around £220
Look for a second hand one from 2007 or 2008 and you should be paying around £150.
(I would avoid the 2009 model as this only had 2 x 4berth inners)

Essential equipment:
* something to sleep on - airbeds, camp beds or self inflating mats
* something to sleep in - sleeping bags or duvets
* something to cook on - suitcase stove or double burner stove
* something to cook in - pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, cutlery
* table and chairs
* cool bag/box
* torch/lamp/UFO lights

Nice but not necessarily essential:
* EHU (electric hook up)
* fridge
* heater
* carpet
* porta potti

We are a family of 5, ( mum,dad,3 boys 9,6,6) and we sepnt ages looking for a tent last year. We knew we wanted 3 bedrooms so our eldest could have a room of his own and we knew that we wanted a sewn in groundsheet (sig) and preferrably a tunnel tent rather than a pod so you can stand up in the bedroom and get ready and have loads of living space.

In the end we went for the GELERT CORVUS 6+2 and we are really pleased with it. It gave us everything we wanted and the quality it really top end for not top end prices like you would need to spend with an Outwell.

You can pick one up for about £375 and its worth every penny, we only paid 299 lst year but they seem to have shot up this year.

You can have a look at it on the tent review site on UKC:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Gelert-Beyond-Corvus-6-+-2/1029

Some reviews have talked about the SIG blowing up but that is just getting the pitching right as you would with any big tunnel tents with a SIG.

The Specifications :
flysheet fabric: Polyester with waterproof PU Coating.
Inner fabric : Breathable Polyester.
Groundsheet : durable polyethylene
Hydrostatic Head : 5000mm
Poles: 10 x 19mm steel poles & 5 x 12.7mm fibreglass poles 2 x 16 mm steel porch poles.
Weight : outer 14.7kg
inner 24.6kg
Pack size : Outer : 75 x 43 x 33 cm
Colour : Vibrant blue, Steel grey and Anthracite
Pitching style : Outer First

Features :

* Electric cable zip access point
* Packed in large carry bag for convenience and portability
* Sewn-in inner tent groundsheet prevents unwanted drafts and bugs
* Living area windows
* Large inner tent and additional removeable second bedroom
* Pre-attached guying system
* Hanging tent storage pockets
* Two door entrance options
* Multi ventilation options
* Tent accessory pack included

its definetly worth a look or might at least give you an idea of the sort tent will / will not suit you.

Keep us updated what you choose