If you're here, chances are that you are an outdoor lover, but have been a little apprehensive about taking your first camping trip with your little ones. But I'm here to say - don't worry. This last weekend was our first camping trip of the year (Annie's first one ever) and the kids loved it! Which lead me to this post on helping all of you set up the right planning to make the whole experience a successful one.
Know Your Tent
First thing is first, make sure that your tent is big enough for your family. Because just because the tent tag may say that it fits 4, doesn't mean that it'll accommodate for two adults, a baby, and a toddler that takes up more room than the other three combined. Which may mean having to upgrade into something twice as big. Which I promise, you'll be grateful for after adding in all of the sleepwear, bags, and bodies.
Another plan to have during this, is having a plan for keeping the kids busy while you set it all up. It can be easy when you have older kids as they are better able to find a play spot or even help out. But for small kids, it's sometimes easier to baby wear or bring along a playpen to keep them in a safe place in the meantime.
And if you'd prefer to sleep somewhere a little sturdier, it doesn't hurt to try to look into alternative shelters. Such as a cabin rental, maybe invest in a camping trailer, or even throwing down the seats in the back of the car.
Sleep Comfortably
The biggest thing with camping with little ones is to choose the correct bedding. Which requires attention to the weather before hand. Make sure that your sleeping bags can handle temperatures below the expected lowest average temperature. And if your child's bag is too big, stuff a blanket or extra clothing at the bottom so that the empty space won't prevent your child from retaining enough heat to keep warm. And I always love to pack a few extra blankets just in case. Some to lay down underneath for extra padding, and some for an extra layer.
Layer Up
Temperatures in camping spot usually differ from day to night dramatically. Which is why packing up for layering when it gets colder is a vital part to camping. Pack in a wicking layer, a warming layer, beanies, and warm socks.
Security Items
If your child has a special item that they often carry with them or sleep with, DON'T FORGET to bring it along. I promise that you, and everyone else, won't regret it.
Lights, Lights, Lights
Night while camping can be much darker than kids are used to. Making sure to pack in some lanterns, string lights, headlamps, and flashlights can ease this, help with those late-night diaper changes, for navigating the campsite. Plus, it's a fun activity for the kids to do at night.
Camping with Babies
If you're camping with a baby, I definitely suggest bring along a playpen. It provides a familiar place for the baby to sleep, and is also a great space to place them while doing other activities os that they are out of harms way.
Plan for Naps
Camping can be very exciting for kids. Which as we all know, can keep kids from wanting to stick to their regular naps that they often need. So it's important to have a space for them to sleep so that they are more likely to maintain that excitement the whole trip so all of their missed nap time moodiness doesn't ruin part of their days.
Fun and Games
Sometimes, the time until it is bedtime can be forever, even during camping. So I like to plan appropriately with dirt-friendly or washable toys for the kids. Such as trucks to dig in the dirt, binoculars to search for different animals, etc.
Keep them Moving
There's no better way to spend the days camping than family time hiking and on the lake. To which you can bring water, snacks, bikes, and toys. They're fantastic ways to not only keep the busy kids moving, but also a great way to wear them out to go to bed later on.
Don't Bug Out
Bring protection from the sun and bugs! With your favorite sprays and sunscreen to reapply throughout the day. And don''t forget to be mindful of all of the plants around your campsite. I always love to bring along a first aid kit just in case.
Fire Safety
One of the scariest parts of camping with little sis making sure that they don't run straight into the fire. But a good way to prevent this is getting them their own camp chairs, while drawing a line in the dirt around the campfire. Explaining to them that crossing the line would put them in danger.
Pack All the Snacks!
If your kids are anything like mine, then they totally Hulk out when it comes to hungry time. But I love to prevent those meltdown moments that come with it by over packing snacks that I know that they love that also don't necessarily need to be refrigerate or can melt. And distribute as needed.
Be Realistic about the Dirt
If your a clean freak, camping at all and especially with littles may not be the choice. Because let's face it, EVERYONE is going to get dirty. And something about camping makes kids want to dive head first into the dirt. The easiest thing is to pack some wipes and hand sanitizer and hope for the best. I also like to grab a tub of water to just wash their feet up before heading into the tent at night. And also pack extra clothes to change up my dirtiest of kids before bed time.
Know that it's Okay to Give Up
If it's your first time, consider staying close to home. That way if you just can't get them to calm down, go to sleep, or have forgotten essentials, it's easy to bail out. Because this is supposed to be a fun experience for you AND your kids. So if no one is enjoying it, don't push it. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to camp as a family as the years pass.
My Camping with Kids Checklist
Shelter: Tent, tarp, stakes, hammer, and lantern.
Bedding: Sleeping bags, blankets, pillow, and sleeping pads/mats.
Kid items: Baby carrier, stroller, playpen, toys, diapers, wipes, bike, water toys, and helmet.
Cooking: Grill/stove, cooler, fuel, cookware, cooking utensils, dishes, silverware, foil, skewers, paper towels, trash bags, sponge, food, drinks, ice, and extra water.
Clothing: Sleepware, play clothes, rain gear, swimsuits, gloves, hots, socks, boots, sandals, and shoes.
Personal: Toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and soap.
Miscellaneous: Headlamps, lantern, batteries, firestarter, matches, compass, maps, first aid kit, camping chairs, water filter, bug repellant, canopy, sunscreen, multitool, camera, and campsite info.
Comments