We first went camping with our little one when he was just over eighteen months old, and I know many of you also have very young children that you are considering taking on a family camping trip. Here are some tips to help make the process smooth.
First of all, give your young children the chance to play in the tent at home before you leave, possibly even sleep in it. Simply set it up in the backyard, or even indoors if you like. We had a little tent that we set up in the living room for “slumber parties” and Nathaniel loved it. Setting up the tent your family will use on your camping trip in your backyard somewhere a day or two before the trip is a great idea for three reasons: It gives you a chance to inspect it and use a seam sealant or whatever needed, and it gives your younger kids a chance to get used to it, and it gives you a chance to show older kids how to help them set it up. Maybe you even sleep in the tent together once or twice before your camping trip, all in an effort to bring out the “newness” of the tent itself.
Another great idea, if your child is still in a crib, is to bring the mattress. We never buy a sleeping bag for children; We had a large collection of adult bags and only used one of them, folded down so the part that needed to be closed and opened was on top. Nathaniel loved his “big boy” sleeping bag, especially the zipper, which he fiddled with every night until he fell asleep. Even if he doesn’t have many sleeping bags and needs to buy one, I’d suggest an adult sized bag that your child can grow into.
Do you use an exersaucer or stationary bounce-baby-bounce type entertainer at home, or do you have one, even if your child doesn’t particularly like being in it? They are invaluable in a camp; it’s always good to know exactly where the smallest member of the family is at any given moment. Of course, you won’t keep the child locked up all the time; But when you’re cooking or actively dealing with older kids, something like an exersaucer will ease your load of worry considerably. In my experience, even kids who don’t tolerate them well at home are fine with time spent in stationary entertainers during a family camping trip, because there’s so much to see. Just make sure you place it far enough away from low-lying branches or other easy-to-grab things, because you don’t want your child eating plants, etc.
Does your child have a blanket or stuffed animal or something they can’t live without? Don’t forget to bring that!
The final consideration is what I like to call sticky sunscreen and bug spray. Don’t forget to apply an amount of baby goop so your child can safely enjoy nature, and reapply according to instructions for your child’s continued comfort and safety.
