7 Must-Haves for Camping with Toddlers (Plus My Favorite Tips)

Camping with toddlers sounds great, in theory.

You have visions of them enjoying nature and all the fun activities that come with camping—collecting pine cones, roasting marshmallows over the campfire, and sleeping in a tent.

But when it comes to planning the trip, things can start to feel overwhelming. You start thinking about all the logistics of having a tiny human with you while camping and realize you could run into some real issues.

Because let’s be honest—toddlers don’t care about how things are supposed to go. Which means you can anticipate some bumps along the way.

Being equipped with a bit of knowledge can make the difference between camping with your toddler again or being one-and-done.

Through experience, I’ve learned what is essential for camping with my toddler. No need for you to go through the painful trial and error process—I’ve compiled a list of my top 7 must-haves (and some additional tips) for camping with your little ones to make your life easier.

White Noise—My Favorite Camping with Toddlers Item!

There’s no point in sugarcoating it—your toddler isn’t likely to have their best night’s sleep the first night in a new sleep environment. There are a lot of differences from what they’re used to, but probably the biggest one is the noise.

Typically, parents will stay up later than their kids, and at home, it’s not difficult to keep the noise they experience while sleeping to a minimum. You’re separated from the bedroom by walls and maybe even on a different floor. When camping, the walls are very thin.

So, if you’re sitting around a campfire with the adults after bedtime, keeping that sleep environment quiet can be difficult. Even if you’re not being loud and boisterous, you’re likely still chatting, and there’s the sound of the crackling fire to contend with. Lots of noises your kid isn’t used to, which makes them more likely to be disturbed.

White noise to the rescue. Whether it’s from a white noise machine or an app on your phone doesn’t matter. As long as you have some white noise, this will help drown out any unfamiliar noises that may wake your toddler.

First Aid Kit

Okay, we all know toddlers aren’t exactly the picture of coordination. And they’re also curious about everything around them. This is a combination that all but guarantees a few bumps and scrapes along the way.

Bringing a basic first aid kit will ensure your trip isn’t cut short because of those bumps and scrapes. Toddlers and minor injuries go hand in hand, so it’s best to prepare.

But what should be in a first aid kit?

You can buy inexpensive ready-made kits with a handy storage bag or make your own. The minimum it should contain is:

• Adhesive bandages (Band-Aids)
• Bandages
• Medical tape
• Antibacterial ointment
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Antiseptic and antibiotic wipes

There are many other things that you may find handy in a first-aid kit, but this should cover most of what your tiny human will encounter.

Food & Water

Every parent knows that a hungry toddler is not a happy toddler. All of that exploring while camping will make them hungry. So, you’ll need to have a lot of food.

Like, a lot.

You’ll be surprised how much you’ll need. Your toddler will be running more, exploring more, and learning more while camping, so it makes sense that they’ll need to refuel more.

Planning to have regular snacks available will be vital to keeping everyone happy. If your toddler is hangry, no one is happy.

And for meals, it’s best to have easy-to-prepare meals on the menu. Elaborate outdoor meals sound good until you have to take the time to make them when you could be out having fun. The kids won’t care anyway. The novelty of eating outside will be enough for them!

And don’t forget the water. It’s always a good idea to bring some water along or have a refillable jug. Especially if you’re going to a new campground, you never know what the water accessibility or quality will be like.

Sunscreen

When you’re camping, you spend just about all your time outside. This means that depending on your campsite, your toddler may have to deal with sun exposure for long periods.

A painful sunburn can make camping with toddlers miserable, which in turn, will make you miserable. That’s not even considering how harmful sun exposure can be.

Avoid those toddler tantrums due to sunburn discomfort by making sure you pack a generous amount of sunscreen. And make sure you reapply often to maintain protection.

We like to use mineral sunscreen in our house, but what type of sunscreen you choose is much less important than just making sure you use some

Bug Spray

Another thing that can easily make your toddler miserable is bug bites! My toddler has inherited my unfortunate quality of being very enticing to mosquitoes and black flies. It’s a nightmare for all of us when he gets covered in bites!

A child’s skin can be more sensitive than an older child’s skin up until age 2. According to the AAP, low levels of Deet can be used sparingly. We choose to use a Deet-free bug repellent, but it’s important to look into your options and choose something that works best for your family.

No matter what you go with, some type of insect repellent will make your trip much more enjoyable for everyone.

Toys & Activities

I know what you’re thinking—if you bring toys, they won’t explore and enjoy nature. That’s true if they’re the wrong kind of toy. I’m not suggesting you bring the light-up, sound-blaring type of toy that’s every parent’s worst nightmare.

Toys that facilitate that exploration of nature will pack a bigger learning punch—things like a bucket and shovel, magnifying glass, or a set of kid binoculars can help keep them captivated with their surroundings.

Entertainment that isn’t a physical toy can come in handy as well. Get a scavenger hunt from Etsy to print, or buy a book about nature, and your toddler will be learning like crazy while having the time of their lives.

Because toddlers are still learning how the world around them works, anything that helps them with that process will be a hit.

Lots of Clothes

You’ll likely have good weather if you’re camping in the summer. It’s easy to think you may not need much for clothes for your kids.

But it’s not just daytime weather you’ll need to worry about—nighttime can get pretty chilly when you’re in a tent, even in the middle of summer. We’ve found that a Merino wool base layer at night helps keep our little guy at the right temperature for sleeping.

And if you’re camping near a lake or pond, expect to have some soggy clothes! If there is water nearby, my kid is in it. So we bring lots of clothes to ensure he doesn’t have to sit in wet clothes after discovering a good swimming hole.

Other Tips:

1. Do a test run in the backyard
2. Talk to them about camping ahead of time
3. Bring a toddler camping chair
4. Have a packing list of all items to stay organized
5. Have a plan for the sleep arrangements ahead of the trip
6. Make it a shorter trip in case they struggle
7. Bring a familiar item from home for comfort
8. Having a good-sized tent
9. Have a carrier or toddler hiking pack for when they decide they’re done walking
10. Always have at least one adult available to watch while near campfires
11. Embrace the dirt
12. Be prepared for early mornings and late nights
13. Give them something to help with
14. Have a portable high chair for easier meals
15. Bring a portable potty if your toddler is potty trained
16. Bring water shoes to protect your toddler’s feet in unfamiliar lakes and ponds
17. Write your site number on their hand if you have a runner
18. Explore the campground so they’re familiar with it
19. Meal prep as much as possible ahead of time
20. Have a plan to charge your phone so you can keep taking photos

The Most Important Thing for Camping with Toddlers: A Positive Attitude

I know—this sounds cliché, but it’s true. If you expect your camping trip to be challenging and no fun, it probably will be.

If you understand that disrupted routines and environments can make for more challenges with your toddler, you can prepare and minimize those challenges. Knowing this can make a huge difference in your mindset when camping with a tiny human.

Setting everyone up for success by being prepared and believing you’ll have a lot of fun can help ensure you make the kind of memories with your kids you’ve always wanted to.

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