Beating the Terrible Twos While Camping

...Or threes, or fours. Simply put, camping with a toddler or very young child comes with its own unique set of challenges. But, camping is and always has been a great activity for the family. That includes kids of all ages. You just need to be willing to use a little creativity and patience when it comes to camping with toddlers - especially for the first time.

The most important thing you can do is to make sure your child is ready to camp. Talk to them about it beforehand. You know them better than anyone. How do you think they’ll handle the trip? What struggles do you think you’ll face? Preparing yourself and your child ahead of time as much as possible will make the trip easier.

With that in mind, there are a few additional things you can do to make the most of your next family camping trip with a little one. Use some of these tips to cultivate a better trip for everyone.

Start Small

One of the best ways to see how your toddler will do on a camping trip is to start small. Don’t travel halfway across the country in an RV on your first trip with them. Instead, go to a local campground, or even your own backyard. Try to make it a one-night trip to get a few for the things they like and don’t like.

This will also give you an opportunity to observe and learn about other things you can do to make longer camping trips easier. Shorter trips will also give your toddler time to get used to the idea of camping, so eventually, longer trips will become normal.

Keep a Familiar Routine

Young children thrive on routines, so try to keep their ‘normal’ one in place as much as possible while camping. While that isn’t always possible, it’s best to stick to it if you can. That might include things like a nap at some point in the day, or stopping for snacks, etc.

Even just scheduling some downtime in the middle of the day can help your little one(s) to calm down and relax. There is so much to do while camping, and if your kids are running around all day, they can get worn out easily. Getting them to stop and take a break can be a big help.

Have Enough Space

If you’re camping in a tent, it’s worth it to invest in something that will be spacious enough for your whole family. Chances are, you know how squirmy a toddler can be in their sleep! Make sure you get something with enough room for everyone, or you’ll likely be facing a pretty miserable experience when it comes time to sleep.

Alternatively, if you’re camping in an RV, make sure everyone has their own space for sleeping. It will provide more comfort and familiarity for your toddler to be able to sleep in their own “bed” on an RV, rather than a sleeping bag, etc. To help with bedtime, it’s also a good idea to bring along a familiar item, like a stuffed animal, to make your child feel more at home.

Again, you know your little one better than anyone, so use that knowledge to make camping a fun and exciting experience for them. The more they get used to it, the more fun your whole family will have on future trips!