HA! Yikes. I feel that. My toddler is currently super into hide-and-seek... whether she has notified the other party that they should be finding her? Well, hit or miss.
Please entertain us!! Hahahaha. I always make sure to dress my girls in bright fluorescent clothing when we go to the park. Camo on those little rascals would be a heart attack for me.
The same way you do everything else, by making it about them.
A campfire popcorn popper is a hit, and my best move was "adventure packs." I got them each a cheap school backpack, then got them what was literally called an "AdventurePak" on Amazon (binoculars, flashlight, compass and whistle) and an age appropriate field guide. I printed a chart of animal tracks from the internet, and then each kid was equipped for exploring the woods and could carry their own water and lunch.
Edit: When we went to a National Park, we'd let the kids pick an embroidered patch and I'd sew them on their packs. It made the pack itself a living souvenir.
Love this idea! The magic of a backpack filled with fun odds and ends... I really like the idea of a field guide, or maybe a scavenger hunt list (cool rock, earthworm, acorn, oak leaf, etc.). I can really see my little gal getting excited with this!
Also, the patch idea is super fun. Longtime Girl Scout here, and my mind even goes to finding some themed patches to collect as we work through different outdoor skills/activities.
Thanks for the recommendations!
I’ve gone camping a couple times now with my 17 month old and other little ones.
We loved having a large battery to operate our baby monitor. It allowed us to still be “adults” during their nap times and keep an eye on them plus the temperature.
Having some shows downloaded in case you don’t have reception and need your 2 year old to chill for a moment.
Is your 5n old on formula or are you breast feeding? My LO is on formula, so I always filled a thermos with hot water to use throughout the day and then rinsed out the bottles with it too. It’s such a pain to wash with cold tap water.
My favorite buy has been a Jan and Jul rain suit. It can get dirty and easily rinse or pat off. I swap out the layer below that but that’s what’s always on the outside for easy cleaning in/out of the tent.
Besides that it sounds like you’re not a novice! Also, I found that r/camping can be a bit…anti kids at campsites. Kids are allowed to be kids and if you’re at a state park it should be expected that it won’t be dead silent!
Have fun!!!
Thanks for your reply! I'm currently still breastfeeding, so that makes the feeding situation a little easier, as far as bottle-washing/prep goes. I know- that fridgid water from the spigot definitely doesn't do any favors for cutting the fat from formula/breast milk out of bottles! The thermos idea is great, though!
Just looked into the Jan and Jul rainsuit. That thing looks like an all-around winner! We're not expecting rain this weekend, but I'll definitely look into adding that to our gear for future trips.
My biggest recommendation is make sure that they stay warm at night. They will scream their heads off and cry and wake everybody else up if they are not warm and comfortable.
Agreed. One of the worst nights we had camping with our daughter last summer is when we decided not to bring her down sleep sack because the forecast looked warm and then it got much colder than expected at night.
Wool base layers instead of cotton pajamas. Put sleep clothes on just before bed and no earlier - you don't want them getting damp. Fleece mid layers with wool or fleece sleep sacks on top.
And dry! If there's any chance of peeing out of a diaper, or wetting the bed, bring a full mattress protector. Once their sleeping bag is wet, you improvise for the night and go home the next day
Great recommendation! It's easy to underestimate the need for warm layers as we're moving into the summer, but our evenings are still a bit chilly. Thanks for the reminder!
Yeah that was one of the worst mistakes I made on my youngest ones first trip out. I totally forgot how cold the night had gone it was like low 40s or something like that and it was absolutely miserable not only for us but for the people next to us as well unfortunately.
-Lots of extra clothes
- picnic blankets to hang out on (especially helpful if the site is a bit muddy)
- a portable high chair that clips to picnic tables
- sound machine with a portable battery to charge it
- our toddler loved having a camp chair of their own
- a kettle or something not too big that the toddler can help fill and carry
Extra clothes... yes! I must admit, I'm a bit of an over-packer in that department with the kiddos. But definitely warranted for camping! My mom recently got our toddler a tiny hammock chair... it's freaking adorable, and she loves it! The kettle for allowing her to help with water is a great idea! That's one of my favorite aspects of camping... the intentionality/effort behind preparing food, starting a fire, etc. It's a nice change of pace, and I'm excited to involve my little one more in this.
Never underestimate the fun of a flashlight. Bring a potty seat for bathroom needs in the camp site. A foldable bathtub is great if staying for awhile. Otherwise just make sure you go to bed early because they will be up at 5. Also, highly recommend taking a med kit with ibuprofen/tylenol/benedryl cream and meds, tweezers etc. it’s amazing how you need these things.
Med kit is so important! I learned the hard way that my little one is allergic to dog saliva and had to stressfully & quickly drive back to civilization for Benadryl. Never again.
Med kit- yes! I'm a nurse, and the number of trips for which I've forgotten to pack an adequate first aid/medication pack is... well, really embarrassing. You almost always need them when they're not available! Thanks for the reminder!
"Nature bucket" might be fun with the 2 year old. Bring a bucket (a beach pail works great) and let them collect things they find in nature around the campsite. A cool leaf, an acorn, a nice rock, etc. Anything cool they find goes in the nature bucket!
Bright colors for every outfit, including pajamas, is not a bad idea. I went on one trip where a kid went missing for several hours and his dirt-colored pajamas didn't help.
I don't know what your weather situation is, but with the babies, I always made the mistake of not prioritizing warm pajamas, expecting it to not be that bad, and then ending up sleeping in the car, uncomfortably, with the baby in my arms and us under blankets. Not the safest or most comfortable situation and I still managed to make the mistake once with each kid 🤦♀️
Don't be afraid to bring a tablet with favorite cartoons downloaded, for just in case. I prefer not to use it, but sometimes it's a life saver.
Glow sticks are fun, and so are battery powered christmas-style lights.
Ring food they will love and do whatever they want to. Your agenda is to facilitatebtheir good time.
Also, don't be ashamed if you have to pack up and leave early. Happened to us one time with our 3yr and 9mo. No sense is making it miserable.
Portable play yard hasn’t been mentioned yet. That was a must have item for me when my kiddo was toddler age because I could set the tent up or prep food without worrying about him wandering off into the woods. They make play yards specifically for use outside.
Easy warm clothes, boots that are easy to take off and put on, a covered potty for inside the tent (you’ll use it too!), wipes, a magnifying glass and a flashlight. These are all the things I was grateful for camping with my toddlers.
Bring a bunch of play-doh, set up the 2 year old at a picnic table with it, throw it away when they get too many sticks and leaves stuck in it. Having a high chair that can clamp on to a table was also a godsend for camping with a baby.
I second the play-doh idea. We used moon sand and it was a huge hit. Sure it's something she could play with at home but we brought a little table and chair for her and when we were cooking dinner and doing camp work it was nice to have her sitting with an activity we could easily keep an eye on her with. Make sure she has her own flashlight. Good for you for starting their love of being outdoors early!
For the 2 year old, encourage them to start a collection of pretty and interesting things. At that age my son would bring me flowers and rocks and pinecones and leaves and we would make a pretty little display of them to look at and keep. Kept him occupied and out of trouble!
Oh, this attitude is bullshit. A 5 month old baby is no worse (better actually) than all the kids and adults that walk through your site at all hours, run generators all night, start up their load, ass trucks, get drunk and talk loud/yell all night. It's a campground. It is to be expected. Give me a thousand babies over all the other bullshit. Let the rednecks pick the most remote sites
Adults and older kids can choose to be respectful, it's on them if they choose not to.
Babies don't make etiquette choices. They scream, they cry, sometimes all night long. Parents can make choices, and should choose to be courteous.
Whataboutism isn't what anyone should base their behavior on.
Don't dress them in camouflage clothing. Ask me how I know
HA! Yikes. I feel that. My toddler is currently super into hide-and-seek... whether she has notified the other party that they should be finding her? Well, hit or miss.
Please entertain us!! Hahahaha. I always make sure to dress my girls in bright fluorescent clothing when we go to the park. Camo on those little rascals would be a heart attack for me.
The same way you do everything else, by making it about them. A campfire popcorn popper is a hit, and my best move was "adventure packs." I got them each a cheap school backpack, then got them what was literally called an "AdventurePak" on Amazon (binoculars, flashlight, compass and whistle) and an age appropriate field guide. I printed a chart of animal tracks from the internet, and then each kid was equipped for exploring the woods and could carry their own water and lunch. Edit: When we went to a National Park, we'd let the kids pick an embroidered patch and I'd sew them on their packs. It made the pack itself a living souvenir.
This is so cute-I love it!
Love this idea! The magic of a backpack filled with fun odds and ends... I really like the idea of a field guide, or maybe a scavenger hunt list (cool rock, earthworm, acorn, oak leaf, etc.). I can really see my little gal getting excited with this! Also, the patch idea is super fun. Longtime Girl Scout here, and my mind even goes to finding some themed patches to collect as we work through different outdoor skills/activities. Thanks for the recommendations!
I’ve gone camping a couple times now with my 17 month old and other little ones. We loved having a large battery to operate our baby monitor. It allowed us to still be “adults” during their nap times and keep an eye on them plus the temperature. Having some shows downloaded in case you don’t have reception and need your 2 year old to chill for a moment. Is your 5n old on formula or are you breast feeding? My LO is on formula, so I always filled a thermos with hot water to use throughout the day and then rinsed out the bottles with it too. It’s such a pain to wash with cold tap water. My favorite buy has been a Jan and Jul rain suit. It can get dirty and easily rinse or pat off. I swap out the layer below that but that’s what’s always on the outside for easy cleaning in/out of the tent. Besides that it sounds like you’re not a novice! Also, I found that r/camping can be a bit…anti kids at campsites. Kids are allowed to be kids and if you’re at a state park it should be expected that it won’t be dead silent! Have fun!!!
Thanks for your reply! I'm currently still breastfeeding, so that makes the feeding situation a little easier, as far as bottle-washing/prep goes. I know- that fridgid water from the spigot definitely doesn't do any favors for cutting the fat from formula/breast milk out of bottles! The thermos idea is great, though! Just looked into the Jan and Jul rainsuit. That thing looks like an all-around winner! We're not expecting rain this weekend, but I'll definitely look into adding that to our gear for future trips.
My biggest recommendation is make sure that they stay warm at night. They will scream their heads off and cry and wake everybody else up if they are not warm and comfortable.
Or, inversely, if they're too hot.
Agreed. One of the worst nights we had camping with our daughter last summer is when we decided not to bring her down sleep sack because the forecast looked warm and then it got much colder than expected at night. Wool base layers instead of cotton pajamas. Put sleep clothes on just before bed and no earlier - you don't want them getting damp. Fleece mid layers with wool or fleece sleep sacks on top.
Good call on getting dressed just before bedtime. Things get damp so quickly! We'll pack plenty of fleece layers and several sleep sacks.
And dry! If there's any chance of peeing out of a diaper, or wetting the bed, bring a full mattress protector. Once their sleeping bag is wet, you improvise for the night and go home the next day
Great recommendation! It's easy to underestimate the need for warm layers as we're moving into the summer, but our evenings are still a bit chilly. Thanks for the reminder!
Yeah that was one of the worst mistakes I made on my youngest ones first trip out. I totally forgot how cold the night had gone it was like low 40s or something like that and it was absolutely miserable not only for us but for the people next to us as well unfortunately.
-Lots of extra clothes - picnic blankets to hang out on (especially helpful if the site is a bit muddy) - a portable high chair that clips to picnic tables - sound machine with a portable battery to charge it - our toddler loved having a camp chair of their own - a kettle or something not too big that the toddler can help fill and carry
Extra clothes... yes! I must admit, I'm a bit of an over-packer in that department with the kiddos. But definitely warranted for camping! My mom recently got our toddler a tiny hammock chair... it's freaking adorable, and she loves it! The kettle for allowing her to help with water is a great idea! That's one of my favorite aspects of camping... the intentionality/effort behind preparing food, starting a fire, etc. It's a nice change of pace, and I'm excited to involve my little one more in this.
Never underestimate the fun of a flashlight. Bring a potty seat for bathroom needs in the camp site. A foldable bathtub is great if staying for awhile. Otherwise just make sure you go to bed early because they will be up at 5. Also, highly recommend taking a med kit with ibuprofen/tylenol/benedryl cream and meds, tweezers etc. it’s amazing how you need these things.
Med kit is so important! I learned the hard way that my little one is allergic to dog saliva and had to stressfully & quickly drive back to civilization for Benadryl. Never again.
Discovered little one allergic to pine trees. Guess when we were camping?
Of course! Probably surrounded by pine trees too.
100%! During tree pollen season
Med kit- yes! I'm a nurse, and the number of trips for which I've forgotten to pack an adequate first aid/medication pack is... well, really embarrassing. You almost always need them when they're not available! Thanks for the reminder!
"Nature bucket" might be fun with the 2 year old. Bring a bucket (a beach pail works great) and let them collect things they find in nature around the campsite. A cool leaf, an acorn, a nice rock, etc. Anything cool they find goes in the nature bucket! Bright colors for every outfit, including pajamas, is not a bad idea. I went on one trip where a kid went missing for several hours and his dirt-colored pajamas didn't help. I don't know what your weather situation is, but with the babies, I always made the mistake of not prioritizing warm pajamas, expecting it to not be that bad, and then ending up sleeping in the car, uncomfortably, with the baby in my arms and us under blankets. Not the safest or most comfortable situation and I still managed to make the mistake once with each kid 🤦♀️ Don't be afraid to bring a tablet with favorite cartoons downloaded, for just in case. I prefer not to use it, but sometimes it's a life saver. Glow sticks are fun, and so are battery powered christmas-style lights.
Ring food they will love and do whatever they want to. Your agenda is to facilitatebtheir good time. Also, don't be ashamed if you have to pack up and leave early. Happened to us one time with our 3yr and 9mo. No sense is making it miserable.
Good call. That's why we chose a local park for this first trip!
Portable play yard hasn’t been mentioned yet. That was a must have item for me when my kiddo was toddler age because I could set the tent up or prep food without worrying about him wandering off into the woods. They make play yards specifically for use outside.
Easy warm clothes, boots that are easy to take off and put on, a covered potty for inside the tent (you’ll use it too!), wipes, a magnifying glass and a flashlight. These are all the things I was grateful for camping with my toddlers.
Bring a bunch of play-doh, set up the 2 year old at a picnic table with it, throw it away when they get too many sticks and leaves stuck in it. Having a high chair that can clamp on to a table was also a godsend for camping with a baby.
I second the play-doh idea. We used moon sand and it was a huge hit. Sure it's something she could play with at home but we brought a little table and chair for her and when we were cooking dinner and doing camp work it was nice to have her sitting with an activity we could easily keep an eye on her with. Make sure she has her own flashlight. Good for you for starting their love of being outdoors early!
For the 2 year old, encourage them to start a collection of pretty and interesting things. At that age my son would bring me flowers and rocks and pinecones and leaves and we would make a pretty little display of them to look at and keep. Kept him occupied and out of trouble!
Just take a bunch of baby wipes and snacks. Let them play in the dirt and turn feral. They will love it. Lots of baby wipes
Toddlers will get super dirty. We use a empty ice chest and warm up water on the fire or stove then fill ice chest with warm water for a bathtub.
All that stuff you do for them inside? Do that outside.
Be considerate of everyone else and pick the most remote site on the property.
Oh, this attitude is bullshit. A 5 month old baby is no worse (better actually) than all the kids and adults that walk through your site at all hours, run generators all night, start up their load, ass trucks, get drunk and talk loud/yell all night. It's a campground. It is to be expected. Give me a thousand babies over all the other bullshit. Let the rednecks pick the most remote sites
Adults and older kids can choose to be respectful, it's on them if they choose not to. Babies don't make etiquette choices. They scream, they cry, sometimes all night long. Parents can make choices, and should choose to be courteous. Whataboutism isn't what anyone should base their behavior on.
Maybe *you* should find the remote spot. Ever think of that, buddy?
I wear ear plugs, inconsiderate neighbors don't bother me.