Are you going camping with your kids? This article will tell you the top 5 things you need to know about camping with kids.
Camping with kids is fun and rewarding. It is guaranteed to make memories that last a lifetime! If you have never taken your kids camping, or you are wondering how to make your camping with kids easier, I’m here to help!
Here are the top 5 things you need to know about camping with kids:
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1. Comfortable Sleeping is Key
We learned the hard way the first time we decided to go camping after having a baby. We took our first baby camping in the mountains when she was 10 months old. At night…it…got..COLD. Our little girl must have woken up every 30 minutes. It was a very long night.
After that we learned our lesson and got serious about bedding. A basic sleeping bag and pillow wasn’t going to cut it. I tend to lean towards minimalism but lucky for me (and my kids) my husband is all about comfort and he’s not afraid to bring ALL the things!
Here is what we now bring for our camping bedding for 2 adults and 2 children (ages 4 and 7).
- Pillows for every head
- Sleeping bag for each person.
- Two down comforters (yes you read that right)
- Blankets (3 extras at least)
- Sleeping pads for kids (Here is what we got for our kids)
- Sleeping pad for adults (ours is luxurious and amazing) Click HERE to buy it.
- Tent heater (Click here to BUY)
Our secret for staying warm and comfy is … lots of bedding! On cold mountain nights, our tent heater has been a helpful addition. We bring it when it’s going to be in the 30’s or 40’s at night and it’s a game changer.
We love our easy to put up tent made by Core. It’s made setting up camp a whole lot easier, and stress-free. Yes, we did get a gigantic tent (a 10 person tent for four people) but it is SOOOOOO nice to have all the extra room. This model has a screened front porch, which has greatly reduced the bug count inside.
2. Swinging and hanging will provide hours of camping fun
Anything that gets your kids moving is a great idea to bring camping. Our kids love to swing. Taking a swing or hammock camping can keep the kids happy for quite some time. When we camp with other families it seems best to bring 2 or more hammocks or swings. My husband made a trapeze from pvc pipe that is lightweight and easy to transport.
3. Kids love games and books so remember to pack a few
Books are a must when you camp with kids, so make sure to pack your favorites. Sitting around camp and playing games with the whole family is one of my favorite activities. Here is the list of games that we bring on every camping trip:
4. Remember to bring a potty and/or toilet
Let’s face it, after you’ve had kids poop is just a topic you are used to talking about. It is certainly convenient to bring a potty or toilet camping. The picture below is of the potty and toilet setup we brought on our most recent trip. We have a 10-Person Core tent (also a great idea for families that plan on camping with kids) and so it has plenty of room to set up a corner for bathroom needs. Here is the list of what we bring for our toilet needs:
Potty
5. Have special “camping snacks” and go the easy route with food (hint: delivery is still an option at some campgrounds!)
With camping and kids it’s definitely a good idea to bring lots of snacks. Our family tradition is to bring special cookies (from Trader Joes) that we lovingly call “camping cookies”. We usually pick the ones that are smaller and low in sugar like a vanilla wafer or animal cookies. Here are some snack ideas from our packing list:
- Apples
- Berries
- Baby carrots
- Camping cookies
- Cheese
- Meat
- Hard boiled eggs
- Apple sauce
- Bars
- Nuts
- Chips
- Popcorn
- And don’t forget marshmallows!
Restaurants – Some of our best camping meals have been on trips with our kids when we are beach camping and can order pizza from the local pizzeria. Win!!! They will usually deliver it directly to your campsite! It’s such a relief to have no cooking for at least one night’s dinner. You can check Yelp ahead of time and call some places nearby to see if they deliver to your campground.
If you are planning on camping this summer please see my article here about camping safely during the age of COVID-19.
If you are wanting to camp at home please see my article about Backyard Camping here.
Happy Camping!
