Camping With a Toddler
I have created a collection of things to consider if you are going to camp with your little ones for the first time. This is inspired by our personal experience, along with advice I either personally received or read online. I hope you find it useful!
Before we had a baby, my husband and I loved to travel. Being in nature is extremely important to both of us. Aside from many destination trips, we have also done our fair share of camping together. We have camped in Yellowstone National Park, Steamboat Springs Colorado, Dinosaur National Park, Suwannee River State Park and Ocala National Forest. During all our travels, we dreamed of one day exploring the country with our children. We had our son, Owen, in July 2020, which was height of the pandemic. While the rest of the world hunkered down, we began to get cabin fever and needed to travel. We took road trips to our family home in North Carolina so that we could get a much desired change of scenery. These road trips gave us confidence in our ability to adapt to the unknown with Owen and eventually we were ready to take on a different set of challenges. We decided it was time to take Owen on his first camping trip! We learned a lot about what we did well and what we would change before our next camping trip.
Here are our suggestions for tent camping with a toddler.
Consider camping close to home
We have two beautiful camping grounds in our town. Both are close proximity to our house which gave us the reassurance that if things went terribly wrong all we had to do was load up in the car and go home and return the next day for our belongings.
Check the weather
We live in North East Florida where the spring season offers a beautiful mix of chilly mornings and evenings with warm mid days. We decided to take our son camping before the weather turned hot, buggy and muggy in the summer months. If you are making a destination camping trip, consider the weather and how your toddler might do in that climate.
Safety
I have seen some shady advice while doing research to prepare for our camping trips. While reading blogs just like this, I saw moms recommend using a sharpie to write what campsite the family is staying at on your child’s hand in case they get lost. This is not safe! I understand the sentiment, but consider putting your phone number instead if you feel called to do this. Predators exist everywhere.
Know what wild animals exist that could cause harm to danger. Talk to your children about the dangers of touching wild animals and to keep a distance. Depending on your camping location, discuss what to do if your child encounters a dangerous animal in the wild.
Try to camp away from bodies of water. If that is not possible, always have an adult on duty to watch out for your child. You could consider putting little bells on your child’s shoe laces to help you hear where they are walking in case they become out of sight.
Know and practice fire safety. Remind your children often. Create a barrier around campfires if possible. Most toddlers understand what hot is by this age, but make sure you exaggerate the dangers here so they understand. Do this with any area that is hot including grills, camp stoves, candles, etc.
Establish boundaries. We used landmarks like the picnic table and car to create a line to stay inside, Anytime Owen left the established boundary that we created, we brought him back and reminded him of the rules.
Tell them not to eat anything they find in the woods.
Watch out for fire ants! Check your site and if you see any ant holes, arrange your campsite so they are not at the center of where the kids will play or where your tent will lay.
Pack an extra sleeping bag + clothespins — or buy a blackout travel crib cover
If your children are anything like my son, he requires extra dark sleeping quarters. Our first night was rough and served as a good opportunity for creative problem solving. We had a few things creating the perfect storm: The bright full moon shining into our tent like a flashlight, the light flooding in from the neighboring sites, and finally, the cold, damp temperatures. A cold front combined with Florida’s humidity creates one hell of a chill that many tourist never expect. Our solution was simple: we took an extra sleeping bag, unzipped it fully and clipped it to the tent poles. This blocked the light from the neighbors behind us and it served as a heat insulator. It was dark and toasty in our tent the second night. As for the moonlight, we tossed a light blanket over the top of our tent just before bed and it cut the light.
Blow up mattress or sleeping pad
This is most definitely a luxury that I would not skip. A good day always starts the night before. If you want to have a happy family, I would prioritize a comfortable sleeping arrangement for everyone camping. This does not need be the classic blow up mattress you have in your closet. REI has many lower profile and compactable sleeping pads that work wonderfully. In fact, I would advise away from the traditional blow up mattresses if you are camping in a cold climate as the air temperature inside the bed gets cold and it becomes hard to keep you body warm from the bottom up.
Spacious Tent to reduce clutter and keep things organized
Photo Credit https://www.liveawilderlife.com/camping-with-a-toddler/
We used the same two person tent we used in all our previous camping adventures before having a baby. It worked just fine, but I will invest in a larger tent before our next camp trip.
The tent I am eyeing: Coleman Octagon 98 8-Person Outdoor Tent, pictured above. Don’t be alarmed by the number of people it can hold. I like this spacious tent for our family because it gives us standing room, plenty of floor space to put our bags and we can fit a travel crib. When we have another baby, we can buy a small toddler inflatable bed for Owen and still all fit comfortably. If it rains on a camping trip, this could become a very cozy room to play games, have snacks or hang out. I see hanging lights and a small rug to keep our feet clean before crawling into bed. Another great feature I love is that the door opens like a real door, making entering and exiting much easier when holding a child or baby.
Bedtime Routine. Things that bring comfort and normalcy to your babes
Lovey’s or a favorite stuffed animal is key.
Pack a couple nighttime books.
We brought our Hatch + sound machine that seconds as a night light. We charged it during the day.
Sleep sack for cold weather. We love the Kyte Baby Brand.
Kid friendly meals and snacks — think quick, not messy and fun
Invest in a high quality cooler. You won’t want to worry about melting ice on day two. We love our Yeti Tundra and have a soft side Hydroflask for day trips to the beach or to toss in the trunk for car hikes.
Try to prepare your food before departing on the trip! Wash, peel and chop veggies ahead of time to save you time and clean up. If you eat meat, pre marinate it so it’s ready to go. Anything you can do in advance will be worth it. Veggies that save well when pre chopped: carrots, butternut, summer squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, brussel sprouts, leafy greens (dry them fully).
Consider spice mixes, jarred chopped garlic, travel size olive oil and jarred ghee. Ghee does not need to refrigerated and it spread easily.
If you are a baller, you can pre make soups like chili or minestrone that can easily be jarred and then reheated in a flash. You can also buy canned soups.
Premake grains: quinoa or basmati rice. Use for quick bowls, burritos and tacos.
Bread for sandwiches
Grilled cheese
Quesadilla
Seasonal fruit (watermelon, tangerines, berries, apples)
Popcorn (we love the Lesser Evil brand)
GoMacro kid bars or Cerebelly bars
Emmy’s Organics or Simple Mills cookies + desserts
Serenity Puffs or Lesser Evil Puffs
Fruit / vegetable puree pouches (plenty of organic shelf stable options)
Nut butter and jelly sandwiches for hiking or outings.
Hot chocolate
Mac n cheese from the box. Plenty of decently healthy options out there. Pack milk and butter if it calls for it. Or you can always use your olive oil packed for cooking. Easy add ins to make a complete meal: burger bits, green peas, boiled or sauteed carrots, boiled or sauteed sweet potatoes. I sprinkle a little hemp, chia and ground flaxseed on top to sneak in some healthy ingredients.
Gnocchi is incredibly easy to make and shelf stable. Sauce ideas: butter + salt, pesto or marinara.
Orzo cooked from the skillet — so easy and delicious! I modify this orzo recipe with added veggies on top. I do pack shelf stable broth.
Charcuterie plates are great for adult and kid snacking: olives, cucumber, carrots, cheese, meats, dried fruits, crackers, hummus.
Don’t forget the S’mores!! There are plenty of healthy ways to do this. Simple Mills has a clean ingredient graham cracker. You can find healthy marshmallows on the market if you order in advance and there is plenty of access to high quality chocolate bars in most towns.
Toddler shoes + clothes that can get MESSY
We expect dirt when camping, but it is next level when kids are involved. I wanted my son to become one with nature, but there are ways to give them that freedom to explore and get dirty without compromising on their comfort.
Native shoes are great slip ons that can second as a water shoe…but those little holes create massive dirt collectors!! We prefered to use closed toe slip on shoes (vans or knock offs) his rain boots and a simple pair of velcro strappy sandals.
Long pants are preferable to shorts, even in humid or hot weather. This helps reduce bug bites or scratches when exploring the underbrush around the campsite. Kids are also prone to falling more in nature and pants kept his knees protected.
Ultimately, the climate you’re camping in is going to determine what you need to pack. We always pack swimsuits, something warm and something to layer.
Pack a jumper starter cables for your car
Most people already have these stored in their cars, but somehow I did not. Our car battery died and we had to borrow from a neighbor. If you are camping more remotely, you can buy a battery operated jump starter. No one wants to be stranded with their babies so just plan for the worst.
Pack alkaline water — and a lot of it
If you aren’t a water snob like we are, you can pass right over this one. We have a build in filter spout at our house so we filled all our reusable water bottles with drinking water. I also bought 32 oz glass water bottles from the store. If you have a Berkey or something similar, I would bring that. Our campsite had a water spout, but it was tap water. We didn’t even want to boil our water with it because the area is known for chlorine filled sulfur water.
Ditch nap time schedules
It is nearly impossible to control nap times when you do not have a private room to escape to with your sleepy toddler, so I suggest tossing all the schedules out the window. You can keep a loose time frame and monitor your child’s behavior to help steer them into a nap, but I wouldn’t stop what you’re doing and return to your campsite to try to force a nap. My son napped on me while I sat in a beach chair. He napped far less than he does at home, but I didn’t care. Besides, it was so sweet to hold him while he slept peacefully — far different than his usual squirmy self. We don’t use a carrier any more, but using that or a stroller if you have a need to bring one would work.
Outdoor First Aid
doTERRA products: Purchase through me here
Correct X — natural neosporin
Frankincense — literally anything
Lavender — sunburn, burns in general, cuts, sleep
Peppermint — bug bites, headache, cooling
OnGuard — immune support
Roam or Pilot diffuser (both battery operated and portable)
Bug spray — I have a great essential oil recipe that you can find at the bottom of this blog.
Portable diffuser for bug repellent. I know this is not for the minimalist. I am a mosquito magnet so I have to bring out all the stops.
Sunscreen and/or Sunhat. We try to avoid sunscreen at all cost, but we do have some on hand for extended periods in the sun. Check EWG for clean brands. We use Raw Elements and Living Libations Sun Protectors. Scroll down for DIY recipe.
Battery operated fan to repel flying bugs and keep a breeze on you if it gets warm in the day. My husband swears by Makita Brand.
Bandaids: we like the Bamboo Patch Kids brand.
Games and Entertainment: Campsites provide a natural playground for little ones. Use this to your advantage!
Pack a magnifying glass and go on an insect hunt to observe ants and creepy crawlers
Pack a speaker and have dance parties
Non-Toxic paint to paint leaves, rocks and sticks
Binoculars for bird watching
A bucket and shovel to collect nature and dig holes
Storytelling and reading books around the campfire
Glow in the dark glow sticks. You can make a ring toss game and make glow in the dark jewelry to wear around the campsite
Create a simple craft box with crayons, finger paint and blank paper
Quiet books with velcro figures inside
This is a great book for outdoor activity inspiration
Pack a hammock where you can nap, relax, bird watch or read books together
When you have done all your prep work and find yourself in the middle of nature enjoying a hot chocolate or a cold beer, remember to praise yourself for all the hard work and organization it took to get there. Parents spend so much time getting to the destination that we often forget to enjoy it when we arrive. It’s ok if dinner isn’t at your usual time or to your typical standards. Let go of the reigns a little. Traveling with a toddler is no easy task. If you are like us, we are willing to go through the stress of planning because we know that traveling with our children is a way to build character. Besides, I personally love the process of planning and packing. Remember to take it easy on yourself. Don’t set high expectations. Know you may not get excellent sleep. Give your children grace and room to explore safely. Congratulate yourself for prioritizing spending time in nature with your kids!! You are creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Do you have a great tip for camping with toddlers?! I would love to hear them in the comments below.
