Tips for First Camping Trip with Toddlers
You’ve seen the dreamy Pinterest pictures of families huddled around the campfire, sipping on hot cocoa, gazing at the stars, and you think, “Hmm, I’d love to try that!” Camping with your family is one of the best ways you can adventure together, build lasting memories, and learn so much about each other! It can also feel intimidating if you’ve never done it before, which is why it’s important to have some tips for the first camping trip with toddlers.
If you have young ones in your crew, it can feel like a lot of work to get everything together, and everyone out the door for a camping trip. If you’re considering taking your family camping for the first time, here are some tips to consider for that first camping trip.
1. Camp Local
For your first time camping, it is a good idea to stay close to home. This way there is a way out in case you absolutely need to bail. Hopefully the bail will not happen, but it’s the ‘just incase’ for the first time trial run. Research campgrounds (here are some of the best apps for searching) that are around your area, hopefully within an hour or two radius.
2. Practice Camping at Home
If you’re planning on camping in a tent, it’s a great idea to set it up at home first and let the toddlers get comfortable with it. They’ll have so much fun ‘exploring’ the tent.
It’s also a great time to practice setting it up, as well as making sure you have all the equipment needed. Check the tent to make sure everything is working properly, and that all the little pieces are there (stakes, tarp, mat, etc.,). Check to see that the zippers work and that there are no holes or tears.
3. Plan for a Short Stay
For your first time camping, I’d suggest keeping your stay for one or two nights. Get a feel for the tent, camping, living outdoors, etc., but don’t plan it for too long. A one or two night stay gives you and your kids a feel for camping. You can observe how they slept, and how they did overall with the camping experience. A short stay is a good time frame to figure out what you need or don’t need while camping.
On the other hand, it is commonly known that the first night away is the hardest, as far as kids adjusting to new sounds and places to sleep. So if you do plan on a little longer for your first trip, each night’s sleep should get progressively better.
4. Pick a Toddler-Friendly Camping Spot
Certain campgrounds or camping spots will be more kid-friendly than others. Research your destination a little bit to figure out what will be available for your toddlers. Nearby playgrounds are perfect for little kids. If camping during warm weather, having a pool or water source to splash in is great entertainment for the kids. It’s also a great way to ‘clean up’ during camping (wash off in the creek before bedtime😊).
Just remember – if you chose a place with water nearby, make sure the kids are always well supervised.
5. Pack EASY Toddler-friendly meals
Food is good and essential to life. And with toddlers? Well, it’s just absolutely necessary! When camping with toddlers, there’s already a lot going on, so keeping meals simple and easy is one of the best things you can do for your first camping trip. Here are some great, easy meals for camping with toddlers.
Prepping the food beforehand will be one of your best moves! If you’re going for a short trip consider going cooler free. Don’t worry about the ice melting and the bread getting soggy, simply enjoy easy meals together while camping with your family.
6. Bring Toys/Comfort Items from Home
Camping is a wonderful experience about being in nature and exploring all this beautiful world has to offer. In my opinion, most of the kids time should be spent climbing trees, digging for worms, squishing toes in sand or mud, and running around and exploring the new territory. Nature should be entertainment itself, however, there are times when a tractor or shovel aid to the digging and exploring. Bring a few toys from home that will aid in their exploration and love of nature.
Pro Tip: Let them get dirty! Try to refrain from saying ‘no’ unless it’s dangerous. Let them do things you would normally refrain from at home. Let them explore, search, hunt, and be wild and free! You’re camping!
Comfort items like a stuffed animal or favorite blankie will be crucial for a smoother bedtime. Definitely don’t forget to bring these precious items along for your toddlers first camping trip.
7. Learn as You Go
Camping, especially camping with toddlers, will be trial and error. You most likely won’t get it perfect the first time, and that’s totally okay. Learn to relax and enjoy the process, even when it’s not perfect. Jot a few notes down in your phone or on a tablet as you experience your first camping trip. As you continue to camp, you will build your perfect setup and establish routines, making the entire experience smoother.
Our first few camping trips were lacking a few things. Paper towels one time, water another time, and then utensils and wet wipes. When something’s forgotten, you can almost always run to the nearest convenience store to pick up supplies.
The most important thing is to remember that it’s a learning phase, and that you are getting better at it with every time you go.
Conclusion
Camping with toddlers for the first time can feel overwhelming and intimidating. You have to think about clothes, food, sleeping arrangements, and how they’ll take it all in. A few tips for the first trip will help you get started, and just keep practicing after that. Take notes, learn from your experiences, and keep camping😊 The process and routines will get smoother and better. Oh, and – your toddlers will grow up too (too fast from what I’m noticing) and soon you’ll be camping with kids that can help.
Get out, go adventure!