Camping with Toddlers

Many of the camping with kids resources I've found will have advice on camping with babies or camping with older children but there are very few out there that focus on camping with toddlers - that age between 2-5 where they are too big for baby carriers and portable cribs but not quite big enough for extended hikes and sleeping in cots.

Taking toddlers camping is possible provided you prepare carefully and keep your schedule flexible and your expectations reasonable. Wilderness camping is probably a bad idea at this age, at least not for their first camping experience. It is something you can build up to if you're determined to go wild but to start I would suggest finding a structured campground with some  amenities. Even KOA or Jellystone might be a good start, though it may be far from your idea of real camping. Cabin camping would also be a great option. Wherever you go, try to keep it relatively close to home so you can have an escape if anything goes wrong. I once had to cut a trip short because one of my twins developed a fever that wouldn't go down with acetaminophen but luckily I was only an hour and a half drive from home. You should also try to keep your first camping trip relatively short, no more than 3-4 days at most. If your toddler really enjoys the experience, then you can move on to longer and longer trips in more remote locations. In terms of gear, unless you plan on popping out babies every two years, I would advise against investing too much on baby or toddler specific camping gear.

Here are a few major items to take into consideration:
Sleeping
If your toddler is still small enough to comfortably fit in a pack & play, then by all means bring it along. Otherwise, I would advise taking an inflatable mattress. If your child sleeps in a crib or toddler bed, I would suggest introducing them to the idea of sleeping on an air mattress on the floor at home one or two nights a week for a few weeks before your trip. Also, be sure to bring along a patch kit for your mattress. I personally have experienced a busted mattress from jumping children. You will also need a child sized sleeping bag. Provided you only plan on camping with your child in the warmer months of late Spring, Summer and early Fall, you can find very inexpensive sleeping bags. Do be sure that they are true camping sleeping bags however and not the ones with printed characters that are only suitable for sleepovers. A decent child sleeping bag should last your toddler through to their pre-teen years.

Clothing
It may be your first instinct to pack everything but the kitchen sink however I found with toddlers you should look at the quality rather than quantity. Sturdy jeans that can take a beating and multiple wears before washing. Shirts which dry fast so you can hand wash and hang to dry. Stay away from white unless you don't mind stains. Board shorts are good for boys and girls because they dry fast. Whether your toddler is fully potty trained or not, it would be wise to bring some pull-ups. If you're child is in pull-ups, bring twice as many as you think you'd need. I have had to hand wash a sleeping bag in a tiny bathroom sink and pray for it to dry by bedtime so take precautions at night. If you have a few waterproof sheets you can bring them and place inside their sleeping bag.
Your child should also have a very comfortable pair of sneakers and if you plan on hiking, an extra sturdy pair of boots or sneakers that you don't mind getting ruined.

Food
Camping with toddlers is not the time to experiment with food. Of course, introducing your child to campfire s'mores for the first time would make a lasting impression. Make sure that you have some of your child's favorite meals in your food plan. Mac and cheese is a great option and I always keep a box or two in my chuck box as a backup even though I no longer have toddlers. Cold cuts and bread are essential as they enable you to make a quick meal if you find you cannot always cook. Also be sure to have lots of fruit and snacks on hand
 If you want to have campfire chili while camping, make sure you try it a few times at home so your little one can be accustomed to the taste. Using paprika and cinnamon can give your chili a delicious savory flavor without the heat of typical chili. Another fun and safe meal is grilled pizza. Bring some frozen pizza dough, sauce and toppings. Your little one can make their own pizza, stretching out the dough and topping the pie to their liking. Of course you will need to supervise but it's a great way to get them engaged in one of the great parts of camping which is camp cooking.

Entertainment
This was my biggest fear the first time I went camping. "What if they get bored?" It turns out to be completely unfounded after my toddler twins spent nearly 3 hours digging up rocks our first day camping. Chances are, your toddler will be fascinated with this new environment and exploring will take the place of Sesame Street and video games. Still, in the event of rain you should have a game plan to keep your little one occupied. If they love stories, bring a new book to read to them. Building block sets are also great. And nothing beats good old crayons and coloring books. It is not a bad idea to invest in a new small toy that will keep your toddler fascinated, along with a favorite toy from home to give them comfort. And don't forget their teddy!


Hiking
There are a few factors when it comes to hiking with toddlers. If the toddler will be walking with you, obviously you'd have to keep the hikes relatively short and easy. You will also have to consider the safety of the hike. Easy hikes that run along any ledges or swift rivers mean you need to supervise your toddler closely.
If you want to go on longer or moderate to advanced hikes, you will need to invest in a framed child carrier. These look like backpacking packs but they allow you to carry your child on your back. The downside to these are that there are size and weight limits so they are best for smaller toddlers. Also because the child takes up much of the space in the back, there isn't much room for gear so unless you have another adult with you, extended trips will be challenging. The basic carriers allow you to carry your child and diaper bag gear. The more fancy ones have rain covers and sun shades to protect your little ones from the elements. The carriers range in price from $160 - $300+. 
One nice advantage to the carriers is, if you're a city mom, they are useful for day to day use. It's much easier to push a shopping cart full on laundry to the laundromat or go to the supermarket without the addition of a stroller. Just strap your little one to your back and go. You can even use them to take a picnic in your local park. The packs are designed to distribute the weight of your toddler evenly across your shoulders, back and hips so they are pretty comfortable to carry a lot of weight for a good amount of time. They also stand up on their own so it's easy to get your child in and out of them.

Safety
There are some dangers when camping. Fire is a concern. As are poisonous plants (both poison ivy and edible poison). Animals are also a concern. Typically there isn't too much to worry about in the immediate campsite except for fire. When you light a fire at night, be sure to keep a close eye on little ones. As a child my younger sister suffered second degree burns on her hands during a camping trip so this is a real concern. Of course, this was in a time when seat belts were optional. One suggestion is to make a ring of rocks around the fire pit and let your toddler know that inside the ring is strictly off limits. They might actually listen. You want to ring to be large enough to that if they trip on the rocks they won't fall into the fire, but not so large that you are not able to feel the warmth of the fire at night.
Let your children know to respect plants. This is a great time to teach them that plants are living things and they should be gentle. This will also hopefully prevent them from traipsing through a patch of poison ivy or eating berries of questionable origin. Many of the critters your toddler will encounter should be harmless, again stress the importance that all animals are living creatures as well and should be left alone. One great way to keep your children looking and not touching is to get them a child friendly camera or a disposable camera if the are old enough to understand this. Even a toy camera would work. Instruct them that every time they see a critter, take it's picture so mommy can see. It becomes a game for them and keeps them from provoking any animals they meet. My twins used to love playing "pretend fishing" where I tied string to a stick and attached a small pebble to the end. They would put their "line" in the lake and laugh as all the fish and frogs were scared away. There are lots of clever ways you can introduce your child to nature through play while keeping them safe.

First Aid
Be sure to pack an extensive first aid kit with the basics like band-aids and antibiotic ointment. Also include infant/child medicines in addition to adult medicines. ibuprofen and acetaminophen are a must for both mommy and child. Antihistamines and allergy medications are also essential for both. Benadryl is great for allergies and for motion sickness. Dimetapp however will make your little ones sleepy, which can help at night if they have trouble sleeping in the woods. I'm typically not an advocate of drugging children however if you're in the woods and your child is screaming at 10pm because they are restless and unable to sleep, it is respectful to your camping neighbors to calm your toddler by any means necessary.


Camping with toddlers is possible and fun. It's also a great feeling to know that you're exposing your child to nature and proving yourself as a role model to your child by being able to "rough it".