30 Tips for Camping with Toddlers
When we went camping earlier this summer we realized that we may have underestimated the struggle that is CAMPING WITH TODDLERS. We got rained out, under-slept, one kid was sick, and we ended up spending our second night in a hotel out of desperation. Here are 30 things we learned for our next trip and if you are curious for more tips check out this ultimate guide to perfect family camping.
Weather
Be Prepared for RAIN. Or cold. Especially if you are tenting. No matter what the weather app says, pack for the worst. Because that 10% chance of rain for an hour our two may become a steady rain all evening and night long.
Have a Back Up Plan Know where the nearest hotel is. This way if the weather gets too bad for camping with toddlers, or you just can’t do it anymore, you have a place to go and you don’t have to hope you get cell service to find a new sleeping location.
Know the Nearby Entertainment Your daytime plans may also get rained out, so know what indoor fun may be nearby. We ended up spending a few hours at a giant indoor play area because we preferred that over hiking in the rain on 2 hours of sleep.
Packing
Pack for a Trip Think about packing for grandma’s house and pack all that. Everything you would need at a house, you’ll need at a campsite.
Bring Beds Don’t sleep on the ground, it’s hard and you won’t sleep well. Pack air mattresses, toddler beds like ours from Regalo, and pack ‘n plays.
Throw in a Tarp Or two. These can be used as roofs, floors, covers for rain, and so much more. Just bring it.
Bring Comfort Items From Home Think about what the kids sleep with and use frequently during the day at home and bring those things. This can be anything from blankets to plates. They’ll take a little extra space but they’ll make things run much more smoothly.
Pack a First Aid Kit Check out the Ouch Pouch!
Pack Rain Jackets Its always a good idea to pack rain jackets when camping and hiking. The perfect rain jacket can be an essential tool to staying dry while camping.
Sun Screen and Bug Spray are a Must.
Wipes Lots of Wipes. You’ll need more than you think.
Potty Seats are Awesome If your toddlers are potty trained, the bathrooms are definitely going to be too far away to make it on time. A potty seat at the campsite is a great option!
Bring Toys Lots of toys. We even brought a little slide from Goodwill. Toys you don’t mind being ruined by mud. These make excellent campsite entertainment.
Pool Toys Too Both for playing in the pool or lake and for floating in the puddles!
Throw in Extra Blankets and Clothes Beyond what you would need for any other trip. Rain, mud, dirt, smoke, and everything else you encounter may demand more clothes. Cool nights demand more blankets. Plus blankets can double as play surfaces, tablecloths, light-blocking covers and so much more.
Bring a Light Source It gets dark at night and you’ll want to see the tree roots before you trip on them.
Bring Light-Blocking Curtains If your kids are used to sleeping in a fairly darkened room, bring things to darken the tent. Our kids typically sleep until 8 but were up at sunrise due to the light, leaving both them and us exhausted and starting our day much earlier than anticipated.
Night-time Sanity
Invest in a Multi-Room Tent The ability to partition off one big tent into a couple rooms makes sleeping for more natural. The kids can have their own area of the tent so they don’t look you in the eyes every time someone rolls over!
Wear Them Out Keep the kids busy. Whether it’s chasing butterflies, going on hikes, or swimming in the pool. This way they’ll be more ready for sleep at night.
Put Yourself to Bed Early My version of camping involves sitting by the fire late into the night. This isn’t logical with small children. They’ll be up early, so I need to go to bed early so I can function earlier as well.
Daytime Fun
Colored Fire is Awesome! There are little packets you can toss into a fire to make the flames colorful. A definite hit with our toddlers!
Have a Safety Talk Sit down and brainstorm with the kids about safe and not-safe things to do while camping. Things like fire safety, staying on the trail and in sight while hiking, etc.
Pee in the Woods It’s just part of the experience.
Embrace the Mini Camping Gear. The little camping chairs, little lanterns, little beds, and little suitcases. It’s just fun, and way more convenient for their little hands and behinds.
Hiking? Bring a Kid Carrier and Invest in a good trekking pole. . My kids love hiking. Until they don’t. A hiking pack can not only hold the snacks, drinks and other items for your hike, it can hold a tired child that doesn’t want to walk anymore! We have an awesome Deuter carrier, check it out here! A good trekking pole can make a huge difference when hiking.
Be Excited! Your kids will mimic your mood. If you are stressed out and worked up, they will be too. If you talk about all the fun things there are too do and the beautiful flowers and trees on the hikes, they will too.
Look for the Fun. Even if it’s raining, or plans got changed, make a point to look for the fun in everything. Point out the pretty flowers, jump-able puddles, and noisy crickets. Learn and enjoy nature every step of the way.
Food
Plan out the Meals. Pre-cook and pre-cut meats and other ingredients so you have the simplest on-site prep possible.
Snacks and Drinks = Happiness Extra activity means extra hunger and thirst. Snacks and drinks to bring with on hikes, to the pool, and out by the fire make the world go ’round.
Tin Foil Meals Rock Boil-able meals too. Wrap things in tin foil and drop them in the fire. They won’t cool super quickly or super evenly, but it’s easy! Omelets in a bag is also a big go-to for us (post coming soon)!
Ease into Camping Take a few short, close to home camping trips before going for 5 nights in another state. One night 30 minutes from home can start you and your kids off easy, and you are close enough to home to give up and try again another day.
Moms and Dads, any other camping tips?
Awesome tips! I’ve learned the hard way to pack extra clothes and shoes in case of rain and water fun, I mean what toddler doesn’t love splashing around! We’ve loved our hiking pack too, Deuter kid comfort 3 has been the best investment!
What a great toddler cot for your child to sleep on! Perfect size! Having a back up plan is important for most situations, but definitely camping!
I always make sure to check the weather before we go, and I have a checklist of items to bring so we don’t forget something important. Great tips, it is important to have a good time and enjoy nature as well. Thanks for sharing!
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