Pack up the kids and let’s get camping!
This spring and summer are rumored to be HUGE for camping!
- RVs in short supply
- Campsites booking up fast
- The itch to travel becoming unbearable
- It’s a perfect storm.
Planning a camping trip with toddlers is a great idea, its going to be awesome mama!
I am going to be talking here about car camping, or camping at a site where you can drive up, connect to water and electricity and unpack. If you are hiking or boondocking there will be different needs.
Download my Toddler Camping Trip Planner here.
Sleep
Do not skimp on sleep gear. I have made this mistake.
Sleeping Bags
Small kids should not use adult sized sleeping bags. A zipped up adult sleeping bag is too large and they could become stuck in the bottom of a zipped bag and have trouble breathing.
There are lots of options for sleeping equipment to avoid this problem, I found these amazing toddler sleep sacks that would be really perfect for the 3 and under crowd. They have sleeves and a zipper! So easy to put on, but not easy to get stuck in! These are definitely going on my wish list.
If you are going to purchase a child sized sleeping bag, make sure it is rated for cooler weather and not just a character that your child loves. Choosing a solid color will make the bag easier to sell when outgrown or pass down to a younger sibling.
This mama has all the details and has tried lots of options for serious family camping!
Blankets and Pillows
If you are planning the occasional car camping trip in pleasant weather, you can just use the blankets and pillows from home.
‘
Blankets and pillows are bulky and take up so much space when packing, but going minimalist here is a bad idea.
Make sure you have blankets and pillows for each person as well as extra sheets, pillowcases and comfort items in case things get wet or too dirty to use.
Temperatures really change from day to night, and having lots of supplies ensures you will sleep soundly.
If you are not able to sleep comfortably it will be a long night. You may feel silly packing the air mattress or 12 pillows, but you will feel even worse with a sore hip at 2am laying awake, cold and miserable. I’ve been there.
White Noise
Everyone can get spooked in a new place with new sounds. The tent can be really fun during the day, but a little scary at night.
White noise can not only help people stay asleep, but can help them feel safe and secure while falling asleep.
If you do not use white noise at home, start doing so a few days before the trip so it becomes a normal part of bedtime.
If you are camping in warm weather a small fan can provide a low level of white noise and great air circulation.
Pajamas
Choose familiar pajamas for your toddler. This is a great signal for them that it is time to sleep!
If you are needing to wear special under layers or wool for your trip, start using those as PJs before you leave for the trip. We love base layers as PJs in my house.
If you choose to use base layers as PJs that will be specifically helpful on cooler weather trips. Everyone can just take off those outer layers and relax in their long underwear!
Food
When you plan the meals make sure you have plenty of great choices for your toddler, and a plan for hearty meals.
Snacks
The excitement of a new place and new activities might affect appetite in your little camper. Swimming, hiking and boating activities are notorious for leaving us ravenous.
Plan to have grab and go snacks ready for your toddler. Cooking while camping is different and might take you longer than cooking at home. Having snacks ready will keep sugar crashes and mood swings at bay.
Make sure your toddler knows what snacks are available to them by putting out a sealed container on the picnic table. You could also give your toddler a packed lunchbox or backpack filled with their snacks.
My kids know to find the ‘snack bag’ when they are hungry. It is just a simple drawstring bag that lives in the baby bag and I fill it whenever we are leaving the house. I like having options available that my kids can access on their own.
Hydration
Make sure everyone has a water bottle and monitor your toddler’s water intake. Little kids get dehydrated quickly. If it becomes severe it will require medical attention.
Make sure you have some enticing drinks with each meal and water on every trip away from the campsite!
Toddlers can take responsibility for their own water bottles most of the trip, but make sure they are being filled and emptied regularly.
Jello is a great way to hydrate a reluctant water drinker!
Example Camping Meal Plan
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Snacks | |
| Day 1 | At Home | Sandwiches and Chips | Grilled Hot Dogs with Chips and Strawberries | Chewy Granola BarsAnimal CrackersNutsJello Cups |
| Day 2 | Eggs and Bacon Over the Fire | BLTs with chips and salsa | Tinfoil Dinner Packs | Animal CrackersCookiesCucumber and HummusWatermelon |
| Day 3 | Yogurt with Granola | PB&Js while packing up | At Home | Jello CupsFruit SnacksTeddy GrahamsGrapes |
Activities
Make sure you talk up the activities your toddler will get experience on your trip! Set up the tent at home and talk about sleeping in the tent.
Talk about fire safety and maybe even practice by making a pretend fire with blankets in the living room and discuss safe distances.
Invest in appropriate gear for your toddler:
Binoculars
Hiking boots
Day pack
Sleeping bag
All these things in a toddler size will make the day easier on their little bodies and more fun! This gear is also really empowering for a young member of the family.
I also like to have a drawstring bag for each day that contains special toys or activities for each day. Sometimes I do not need them at all, sometimes it’s all that gets us through.
Bringing some plant and insect identification books or bird handbooks and challenge your young kids to identify some new friends in nature!
Activities are going to vary by camping location. Make sure you mix it up and look at it from a toddler’s perspective. You may have no interest in the hike to the cave, but if they are excited about it, it’s probably going to be worth it.
Can a 2 Year Old Go Camping?
A child can go camping at any age. In extreme temperatures invest in appropriately sized gear. If you will be hiking long distances an adult should carry the toddler in an appropriate carrier that is rated for their weight.
Shorter hikes can be done with a 2 year old as long as you keep an appropriate pace. Adjust your expectations and keep the hike under 2 miles.
You will want to keep children comfortable when sleeping. Make sure you do not skimp on sleeping supplies. I have made this mistake. Bedding is big and bulky and it might be tempting to just take the bare necessities, but resist this temptation! If you cannot sleep comfortably you will all be miserable.
Get fans in the summer, get wool pjs in the winter, bring extra pillows and blankets.
