12 tips and tricks for camping with kids

Family camping is one of our favorite summer activities. However, if you are not ready, camping with children can be a challenge. After many trial and error camping experiences, my husband and I have accumulated many useful tips and tricks to help make our camping adventure as smooth as possible.

12 tips and tricks for camping with kids

This is our list of tips and tricks to make your camping experience with your kids easier and more fun…for everyone.

Arrived before dark

If your camping destination is far from home and you have a long drive, be sure to arrange your arrival time wisely. It can be tricky to bring your children to the campsite in the dark. You can’t get a proper land location in the dark, and it’s difficult to set up your website with tired kids. After arriving late at night with crying children and depressed parents, our goal now is to arrive at our website in at least two hours during the day.

Try the glow stick night light

We forgot the night lights of the children when we went camping last year. Fortunately, we bought light sticks for fun night activities. We are able to hang some glow stick rings from various points of the truck and camper, they provide the perfect amount of light and make everyone happy.

Bring a sound machine

Our children go to bed with stereos at home every night. Without it, we would not go anywhere. This includes the time we go camping. The sound machine is perfect for eliminating any strange night noise or any noisy campsite neighbors. If you don’t have a power source to plug in a portable audio device, we are using a fully charged iPad White noise application Just download it.

Stick to familiar bedtime habits

Camping and sleeping in a new place is very exciting for children. It’s so exciting, it can make bedtime difficult. Sticking to a familiar bedtime can help reduce the freshness of the overall situation and give your child peace of mind. Regular exercise will help them relax and get into a state of mind before going to bed. Make sure you pack all your child’s bedtime necessities-blankets, sleeping bags, teddy bears and favorite bedtime stories.

Bring a bucket for a bath

You may tend to skip the bath time while camping, but trust me, your child needs to scrub well. We brought a large Tupperware container filled with bubble bath and warm water. Children think that bathing in the bucket is fun and fun, and it can effectively keep them clean and tidy. Although it may seem inconvenient to carry a huge Tupperware container, you can use a tub to pack other items, such as towels or children’s toys, on the way in and out. The perfect multi-purpose bath time solution.

Bring outdoor rugs

Outdoor carpets serve as areas for putting on and taking off shoes. It can also be used as a play mat for your child, because you don’t always know what the ground of a campsite looks like. If it is sandy or muddy, outdoor cushions provide a clear play area. Our outdoor cushions are easy to shake off and can be rolled up and transported.

Bring baby wipes

Baby wipes are not only suitable for babies’ buttocks! We bring multiple packages on every family camping trip, and they have many uses. From cleaning the face and dirty feet to cleaning up road trip car spills. Baby wipes are a must. Bring a few bags and you will be surprised how many different things you will do with them.

Prepare food in advance

Campfire cooking can be fun, but if you want to keep things as simple as possible, including cleanup, then prepare food in advance. We plan all meals, cut all the ingredients in advance, pre-make sandwiches, and even marinate meat at home. This helps speed up meal times and keep the number of dishes you need to use to a minimum.

Get a first aid kit

When you camp with children, you will never be ready. We will not leave home without a well-stocked first aid kit. When you are outdoors and enjoying a lot of fun, there may be some bumps and cuts, so make sure you have a lot of band-aids. Also, make sure you have all the necessary medicines that you and your child may need.

Protect yourself from the sun and insects

Don’t leave home without sunscreen and pesticides. When you spend most of your time outdoors, you need to protect yourself and your children from the summer heat. In addition to sunscreen, we also prepare wide-brimmed hats and UV-proof shirts for children to block harmful rays. For insects, we look for deet-free insect sprays to keep mosquitoes away from children.

Use a child seat or stroller to give yourself a break

If you have babies or young children, you need a child seat or stroller. If you don’t want to bring multiple chairs, the stroller can serve as a high chair for meals. The point is, if you want to free your hands for dinner or dinner, then you need a safe place for your child to sit down.

Don’t forget the garbage bag

When camping, everything you bring in needs to be taken with you when you leave. Therefore, please make sure to bring a lot of garbage bags and recycling bags. After buying camping food and supplies in our large grocery store, we just need to bring all the used plastic bags into our garbage bags. When we have children wearing diapers, we also bring a sealable diaper bag to prevent the diaper smell.

Enjoy your next family camping trip

Camping with young children can bring challenges, but it can be done. Yes, because sleeping with your children requires a lot of things, you may feel like you are moving out of the house. But I assure you that it is worth it. You will continue to take risks and create memories that will last a lifetime with your children. With some preparations and using these camping tips and tricks, you can enjoy a fun, I dare say, a little relaxing family camping trip.

— Jessica Martel