Perhaps it is your first time camping with a toddler or maybe you just got home from a disastrous camping expedition and need to know where you went wrong before you make any further attempt at family togetherness in the great outdoors. We are here for you! These tips will having you planning your next camping adventure with your toddlers in tow before you even leave the campsite.
1. The Sleeping Situation
There are plenty of sleeping options available for camping and this will in part be influenced by your own child. If you have a toddler who happily sleeps with you at home then you could be perfectly fine to just have them sleep next to you on your chosen bed.
Many parents find that they enjoy having a space dedicated for their toddlers to sleep safely where they aren’t going to be able to escape easily. A simple pack n play will do the trick here. Your best bet is to get one that is super light weight and easy to assemble. The faster we can get that campsite set up the better. We really love this Lotus Travel Crib. It is light weight, compact and one of the biggest benefits is that it can unzip at the side so you can easily comfort your child or nurse them if needed. Pack n plays are multi use as they can also be used at a safe place to put your toddler while you are preparing food or just need to be sure they aren’t going to wander off while you are busy doing other tasks.
All the excitement of camping and new environments can make sleep elusive for toddlers. We know from many years of experience that it makes a huge difference if you try to keep your toddler in their regular schedule as much as possible. We don’t mean down to the minute or anything but just in general. If they usually have nap after lunch then try to keep that nap, even if it only results in a rest on the bed reading some books together. That down time is essential for less tears and happy campers all around. If you had activities planned like hiking etc you could time it so your toddler could nap while in the hiking carrier. If you don’t have one of those yet check out this post for the best options for your family.
2. Food
NEVER EVER run out of snacks with a toddler around! I think this needs to be written in the toddler bible or something.
Snacks and food are almost hands down the most essential part of making a successful camping trip with little ones. Camp food is often quite different to at home food and toddlers aren’t known for being the most adventurous eaters…unless it’s sand and dirt, they seem to think that stuff is some gourmet delicacy.
Pack plenty of snacks and foods that you know your toddler will eat. If that means you pack five boxes of cherrios for them to eat then so be it. Us adults might get sick of cereal for dinner but kids never seem too.
Along the lines of snacks, be sure to keep up the fluid intake. Toddlers still aren’t great at telling us when they are thirsty. One sign of a toddler who is needing a good watering is epic tantrums. They know something is wrong but not sure what it is. It’s usually thirst.
Camping usually means a lot more energy expenditure from hiking, exploring and swimming etc so it’s only natural that they are going to need more fluids. We really love Contigo bottles. They are so incredibly expensive here in Australia so we stocked up on our last trip to the USA. They are great because they keep the water cold all day. Our kids hate warm water with a passion, and who can blame them. It’s the last thing anyone wants to drink on a hot summer day! You can find them cheaply on Amazon here. (literally a third of the price from what they are here!) I just saw when I looked them up that you can get the adults bottle discounted if you buy together. You should do that. Love those bottles!
3. Insects
Some kids love ’em some kids hate ’em. My daughter couldn’t care less about things that creep and crawl but my three boys are terrified. They are always yelling for their sister to come save them.
There’s not much you can do about the bugs. I mean it’s the wild they are going to be there. Mosquitos can be miserable though. My daughter has the type of blood that just draws them to her. Many summers she has spent looking like a blown up puffer fish after being bitten in the night.
I am not a big fan of the bug spray, only because when you spray it all the fumes are breathed in. Toddlers aren’t really able to hold their breath on command and I am not keen on their little lungs inhaling all those chemicals. I do however love the mosquito repelling bracelets. If you put them on your toddlers ankles they are less likely to pull them off. If you think that is just going to be too much work to keep them on, the mosquito repelling stickers are great for toddlers and babies. They are natural, and last for 12 hours each. What is great is that you can hide them in places they can’t reach or see like the back of their necks or shoulders etc.
4. Hiking
I am going to assume that since you are camping that you like to hike too. Hiking with a toddler can be a lot easier than you think. I know you are probably thinking “I took my toddler to Target last week and they took 2 hours to get down one aisle”.
The key to a successful hike with toddlers is to be prepared. They are at that stage where they want to do it all. Their independence is shining through, sometimes a little too brightly at times! Let them experience nature, walk some of the trail, stop and throw some rocks or pick up sticks. You want them to enjoy being out in nature. It’s the small moments like these that are setting you up for that epic hiking trip you take together before you send your little boy off to college!
However if you let them stop and smell the roses every few feet you are probably not going to get too far from the first trail marker right?! You need a good hiking carrier. One that is light weight and going to last for many years and hopefully many children before it goes into retirement. You really can’t go past an Osprey Hiking Carrier There are various price points but if you are serious about camping and hiking with your kids I highly recommend the one linked above. It is light weight, comfortable and has plenty of storage. I love that it has a really high weight limit of 45 pounds, which means it is going to be able to carry kids for many years! You can start using it as soon as your baby has good head control and can sit up well, so usually around the 7 month mark.
5. Routine
When we are on vacation it is easy to slip out of the normal routine. That is what vacations are about though isn’t it? Getting away from the normal and embarking on something much for fun and exciting?
Toddlers don’t feel the same way. In fact they will likely kick up a huge fuss about being out of their normal routine. They know what they like and they want what they like. It is good for them to learn to be adaptable though.
My advice would be, to try and keep key areas of their routine fixed. For example don’t skip out on the naps as I mentioned earlier. If you have a bedtime routine of having a bath, books and cuddles keep that going. The bath may look a little different where it may come in the form of a packet of wet wipes but it’s still the routine. When you keep them in some sort of familiar routine it makes them feel secure and comfortable. Too much change can be incredibly unsettling for little ones. I focus on the night time routine as that is where I have found most of the problems lay. If we can get in a good night sleep for our toddlers then they seem to do so much better the following day.
6. Safety
This is a big one. Usually when we are camping there is a lot of open space and a lot of places little ones can wander off to and be hurt or lost. I mentioned earlier how having a pack n play is a great way to make sure your toddler or baby is safe when you can’t always have your eye directly on them. You can pull the pack n play out to the front of the tent where you are preparing dinner and have them safely watching you as you work without having to constantly be trying to having one eye on them while cooking. This is also a great idea for when you are setting up your campsite.
Be very open with your communication. Everyone is responsible for keep an eye on the kids but make sure there is one person who knows it is their job to be on “baby duty”. That means they need to be really watching the toddler, playing with them, and have them within eyesight at all times. They are quick little things and can disappear in the blink of an eye. If you need to go back inside or do anything be sure to let another adult know that they are on baby duty, get verbal acknowledgement that they have heard and understood before leaving.
If you have older children the buddy system works great. It teaches responsibility as well as alleviating some of the stress from you. Have and older child be your toddlers buddy. This means they get help keep an eye on them, help them get ready to go places, make sure they are drinking and eating etc. You will be surprised how well older kids step up to the job and take it very seriously!
7. Dress in Layers
The weather while camping can be all changing. Beautiful warm summer days can be quite chilly at night. The same goes for any hiking you do. The variations in temperature mean that it’s a brilliant idea to pack clothes that are easily layered. Natural fibres are best.
These thermal sets are idea for layers. They are going to keep your little one warm at night and act as a great base layer. If you are okay with spending a little extra merino wool is the absolute best. We have two merino sleep sacks that have lasted 4 children now and are still as good as the day I purchased them. I will likely keep them for my grandkids they are that good! What is incredible about merino wool is that it keeps your child warm when it is cold out, but also cool in summer. It is perfect year round for which ever temperature. I would also purchase a simple long pj set too. You can use them both as pyjamas and also an under layer….or top layer, my kids wear theirs everywhere no one knows they are pyjamas.
8. Make it Fun
Think of a few fun things that you know your toddler is going to love doing. It is all about balance. It doesn’t need to be extravagant. It can be as simple as you taking them down to the river the throw stones and make big splashes, or drawing in the dirt with sticks. What matters is the time you are investing in your child. It is these little moments that are going to make up your life time of memories. Your toddler is probably not going to remember it but you will remember these times forever. They grow up so fast, like in the blink of an eye!
Just try to relax and have fun, don’t try to over think or over stress. If they really only eat cereal and dirt for a week straight that’s okay. You can feed them something nutritional the other 51 weeks of the year. The point is to make memories and enjoy all that life can give us.
9. Kid Sized Stuff
Your toddler will be delighted if you make sure they have their own special camping supplies. Pick them up their own camping chair, an essential part of sitting around the camp fire! Purchasing them their own sleeping bag is all very exciting too. Our children’s first sleeping bags were from their favourite cartoons. I think we had a Peppa Pig and some Ninja Turtle ones. They were they favourite part of any camping trip! If you are planning to camp where the temperatures are sure to drop at night a decent sleeping bag is a bit more important. We love this one here, it GLOWS IN THE DARK! What kid isn’t going to love that. Plus it is cordless, huge plus for me there, and it is rated for 30F/-1C temperatures so you can be reassured that your little ones are going to be super warm all night. I also really like that they have lined it with flannel so it is more similar to their bed at home. It’s the small touches that count right?!
So there you have it. Our 9 top tips for camping with toddlers. We would love to hear how your trip went or of you have any other tips to add! Happy camping.
