Tips from Moms for Camping with Toddlers

Looking for awesome tips for camping with toddlers? We have you covered! Check out what to pack, how to make it work and how to have a fantastic time!

With summer almost here and the outdoor fun season gearing up, we’re seeing a lot of questions looking for tips for camping with toddlers. One mom on our favorite parenting forum asks: “My daughter will be 1 this summer and we would like to take her camping. Any suggestions on how to go about this ? Lol where should she sleep …what should we bring?”  We’re up for the challenge of answering that one!

Planning a camping trip with toddlers has its challenges, but it can be done. You’ll just need to make some plans ahead of time to make sure your toddler is comfortable. Here are some awesome tips for camping with toddlers.

Related: Camping Three Ways: A City Girl Learns to Camp!

 Tips for Camping with Toddlers

Things to Pack

If you’re planning to camp with a toddler, then you need to plan to bring a lot of things! First, you’ll want to make sure you bring a medical kit with all of the necessities. This includes any medications that your child might take, as well as essentials such as sun block, bug spray, and anti-itch cream. You will definitely make use of all of these items and they’ll work to help make your camping trip more pleasurable.

You’ll also want to pack Ziploc bags or another airtight container to store diapers and soiled clothing. The last thing you want on a camping trip is to mix dirty items in with your clean items. By bringing a Ziploc bag, you’ll be able to put dirty diapers inside of them without worrying about soiling your clean clothes or smelling something stinky for your entire camping trip.

Related: Must Have Items For Camping

Sleeping Arrangements

Deciding on sleeping arrangements with a toddler in tow can be difficult. You want to be able to sleep yourself without worrying about the safety or well-being of your child. Because of this, it’s best to bring something along that will ensure your toddler stays where they should. If you have a large enough tent, you can bring a pack and play to set up inside. Your toddler can then sleep in the pack and play while you sleep nearer to the door, ensuring the safety of your child and a good night’s rest.

Things to Do

If you’re camping with a toddler, you probably won’t be able to do all of the things that you would normally do. Because of this, you’ll need to have a plan in place so that neither you nor your toddler get bored! Some great things to do with toddlers includes taking brief nature walks, collecting leaves or pine cones, and even splashing in a pond, stream or lake. If you plan to take longer hiking trips, then make sure you bring a carrier so that you can hold your toddler when they tire out.

Camping with a toddler takes a little extra work, but it is possible! What are your best tips for camping with toddlers? Share in the comments!

9 thoughts on “Tips from Moms for Camping with Toddlers”

  1. Elizabeth Matthiesen

    Great tips, thanks for sharing. Hopefully I’ll get to go camping with my grandchildren and family this summer all being well :-)

  2. My parents always took us camping during the summer. They even took my twin sisters when they were toddlers. They did surprisingly well and enjoyed the outdoors. My mom just packed plenty of clothes for them because she knew they would enjoy playing in the dirt.

  3. Great tips! We’ve never tried camping with toddlers, but I will keep this in mind should we decide to go camping and bring along my twin granddaughters.

  4. Whenever we camp with a toddler, we always bring our pack and play with us. Even if they are older and not really using it anymore at home, it comes in really handy for nap and bed times while we are tenting!

  5. These are some great tips! I’m not really a camper but I really do wanna go just to take my daughter. I think she would have a blast!

  6. Robin (Masshole Mommy)

    I am sure these are super helpful. I am not a camping person, but I know lots of people who love it!

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