How to Go Camping With Young Children
To the uninitiated, camping with young children can seem like a dramatic dinner party story waiting in the wings. There are so many unknowns. Will a lump of burnt marshmallows get stuck in your child’s hair? Will he trudge into the mud in the middle of the night to the bathroom? Will she beg to go home within the first two hours after arriving because she wants to watch Paw Patrol ? This is very likely. And you must do it anyway.
Camping offers children opportunities for risky play , allows them to learn new skills (“Who wants to helpgut the fish ?”) And, most importantly, gives them a rare chance in their busy lives to touch the beauty of nature. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips from the Offspring Facebook group and other parents who went camping with young children and lived to share.
What to bring
Note. This is not an exhaustive packing list, but rather a summary of useful things you might not have thought of.
- A storage container that serves a dual purpose. Offspring member David writes, “The large Rubbermaid bathtub is great for storing food and supplies, but even better when your child is desperate for a desert bath.”
- Pool noodles. These things are incredibly versatile when hiking. You can use them to mark the lines of the tent (to keep the little feet from snagging on them), or to keep the little ones from falling off the air mattress (clip the bumpers under the stretched sheet), or hold yourkids’playing cards .
- Styrofoam floor tiles. Like the ones you probably have in your kids’ playroom. Place them in a tent for extra padding – no one wants their bottom to get stuck on a pebbled surface.
- A bag of “quiet toys”. If you have those who get up early with zero volume control, keep them busy with some dirt-proof toys before you end up in a campsite full of clumsy, grumpy adults.
- Bright clothes. This way you can see them in the desert. Team member Michael, who is going on his first family hike next weekend, told us that he is collecting his kids’ reflective vest.
- Audio baby monitor. This will give you the opportunity to walk around the campground after your kids go to bed.
- More baby wipes than you need. Everyone will use them – trust us.
- White noise machine. Campgrounds can be noisy, so even if your kids tend to sleep well, a portable white noise machine can help them settle in for the night.
- Glowing sticks. Not only for the parties in tents after dark (though definitely for parties in tents after dark), glow sticks are great for making lanterns with their hands , lighting refrigerators for drinks and detect your baby at night. Group member Alicia tells us that she puts them around her children’s ankles. “Makes it easy to spot runners as they run away,” she writes.
- Starburst. For roasting over a fire.It’s true . (Just remember to let them cool down before tossing them into your kids’ mouths.)
- Play tent. It’s nice to give kids space during the day. You can set up a small tent yourself or place it inside a large family tent. It could also be their sleeping place.
- Training pot. Even if your kids are potty trained, you will be happy to put a potty in or near your tent to wake up in the middle of the night. (On the other hand, some parents choose night pull-ups for each child. Not a bad idea.)
- Headlights for the whole family. Kids love them – they make camping even more fun. And if your baby has diapers, you can change them overnight without taking out the flashlight.
- ID bracelets. If you know your campsite number in advance, it would be a good idea to include it. When group member Rhiannon goes camping, she receives cat name keyrings from Petco for each of her children.
- First aid kit. Don’t forget your first aid kit.
Now for some camping tips:
Stick to your regular routine
If your child goes to bed at 7:00 pm, try your best to stick to this routine, even if you don’t have blackout curtains and people at the next campsite are singing the Cats album. Your child will be calmer and less likely to be exhausted the next day.
Give your kids a job (or several)
Group member James always involves his children on camping trips. “Children enjoy participating in assignments, which, as adults, can annoy us, such as helping to collect firewood or clearing camp grounds,” he writes. “Tell them they are the chief fire chief and they are less likely to stick their hand in it or run and fall.” You can instruct them or poke through fruit kebabs, pump up sleeping pads, or fill water bottles. To help them feel even more important, give them an “official” camp name .
Be closer to home
If you’re new to camping, you probably want to start at a local site less than two hours from your home. That way, if the situation starts to spiral (maybe your child develops a rash or stomach pain, or everyone is generally unhappy), you can cut your losses and return to your warm beds. If this happens, don’t be discouraged about it. Soon enough, someone in your family will suddenly say again, “Hey, you know what to do? Go on a hike. “