Camping with young children can seem like a very scary experience, but with a little preparation, it’s actually quite straightforward and can be a really rewarding experience.
When camping with young children, you should make sure that they are comfortable with their surroundings, by doing a trial run before you go in the garden if you can. A meal plan will also help to relieve the stress of making sure everyone is well-fed. Try not to completely change your routine as well, as this will only help to unsettle everyone.
For more details on what you can do to have a stress free, enjoyable camping experience, check out the full guide below.
Before you go
The following are a few things you should do before you go camping with young children. Actually, this might benefit those among us who are a bit older as well.
Try Before You Fully Commit
As someone who loves to buy the latest and greatest kit available, whenever I try something new, the first thing I do is look at buying the best kit available. Don’t! Listen to that little voice in your head reminding you of all the “as good as new” equipment you have in the loft from all the hobbies you started and then gave up within a few weeks.
Before you go out and buy the latest family tent costing well over £500, maybe try borrowing a tent first or even buying a second-hand tent. Just a quick search on eBay or Gumtree will show you how many people have fallen foul of buying brand new and then not enjoying the experience. I have never seen the phrase “only used once” used so frequently in one search.
Know the Gear You Have
Whether borrowed, bought used or brand new, there is nothing worse than arriving at your pitch and realising you have no idea how to put up your tent or realising that you need a pump for the air mattress you have purchased.
You should check all of these things before you go. Find somewhere to pitch your tent, whether in the garden or at a local park (family tents can be quite large, so you might not be able to fit one in your garden). Get your other gear out and test it works and see how to use it.
I know quite a few people who have bought a new gas stove and realised when they got to their campsite that they had the wrong gas for it!
Test Run in Your Garden
As you will be testing your gear in your garden (if you have space), you shout also do a test run in the garden for the camping experience.
Young kids can be very excited for the first time going camping, but sleeping outside can be very different to sleeping inside. Having a test run in your garden with all the equipment you intend to take with you is a good way to acclimatise your kids to the experience without the risk of having to pack up and leave your campsite in the morning. It’s also a good way to find out what worked and didn’t work about the experience and make adjustments accordingly.
Don’t Rough it on Your First Time
A lot of people like camping because of the “back to basics” feel you get. Packing light and unleashing your inner caveman can seem very tempting with camping, but don’t try to rough it on the first trip you make with young kids.
Unless you live a very basic lifestyle anyway, the best way to make sure you all enjoy the experience is to try and keep some familiarity with their surroundings. Take pillows and duvets if that is what you are used to. Slowly over the course of each camping trip, you take, strip back to more basic equipment so that you get the most out of the whole experience for many years to come.
Pick the Right Campsite
Camping with young kids isn’t just about sleeping arrangements (although they are very important), you should also choose a campsite that has things going on to keep the kids entertained.
I’m not talking about holiday clubs and paid entertainers (unless that’s your thing of course). What you should look for is a campsite that has lots of places to explore, maybe somewhere with a playpark nearby or even somewhere with animals that you can go and feed.
There’s no point preparing for a good nights sleep if no one is going to enjoy the experience during the daytime as well.
Get a Good Nights Sleep Before You Go
This one might seem obvious, but getting a good nights sleep before you go camping is a must for both you and the young ones.
There’s nothing worse when trying to enjoy a new experience than doing so when you’re tired. Let’s keep the grumpy monster at bay and get a good nights sleep before we go ey?!
Be Ready to Leave as Early as You Can
The final point before you go camping with young children is to make sure you are ready to go as soon as you can.
Running around like the McCallister family before their holidays in Home Alone is not going to do anyone’s nerves any good. Make sure are prepared with everything you need at least the night before and have had a chance to purchase non-perishable goods before the day of your trip.
You don’t have to leave as early as possible of course, but being ready to will make you a lot more relaxed about the trip. Kids pick up on nervous energy from parents, you avoid it where you can.
Check the weather
Making sure the weather is going to be kind to you before you go camping with your young kids is a must, particularly for those who aren’t used to sleeping in a tent.
Sleeping through the wind and rain when tucked up in a warm, solid bedroom is a very different experience than doing so under a canvas and you might find that you don’t and they don’t get much sleep as a result.
In addition to the nighttime worries, there is also the restrictions that poor weather brings, such as not being able to play outside as much, which is pretty much the main benefit of camping (unless you’re willing to bring lot’s of changes of clothes of course).
Getting a Good Nights Sleep When Camping
A poor nights sleep can ruin a camping trip, so make sure you do all that you can to ensure you get a good nights sleep. The following are some factors/ideas to consider for you all to sleep soundly at night in your tent.
If you would like some more tips for helping you sleep well in your tent, see our guide to keeping warm when camping.
Layer Up
Making sure you have plenty of layers for sleeping is a good idea when camping with young children. Being able to remove and add layers depending on the temperature will really help you sleep well, particularly if the temperature is going to differ from one night to the next.
Choice of Bedding
A lot of people think that if you’re camping in a tent, you must be in a sleeping bag. This is simply not true.
Sleeping bags are more convenient for transportation but if you are reluctant to part with your duvet, you can always take that instead. The same goes for your kids here. If they have a duvet they use then you can take that. Are they in a sleeping sack for in their cot? Use that. You don’t have to use a sleeping bag just because you are camping.
How Water Bottle
If you are concerned about your kids getting cold when you are camping, you can always take a how water bottle with you to help them stay warm.
If they are using a sleeping bag, hot water bottles are great as they can be put inside the sleeping bag ahead of going to bed. This will warm the inside of the sleeping bag up before they get in and as a result, help them to stay warm at night and (hopefully) sleep through the night.
Travel Cots
For little ones still in a cot, you can take a travel cot with you for them to stay in.
Whilst my three kids were very little, we would always take a travel cot on any trip with us, whether camping or staying in a cottage. The bonus here of course is that you can help them get used to their surroundings by having some practice sessions at home where they normally sleep.
Familiarity will help a great deal, as will the knowledge that they are safe in a travel cot and can’t escape.
Try to Stick to Your Normal Routine
Speaking of familiarity, one way to help you and the little ones get a good nights sleep is to try and stick to a normal routine as much as possible.
Whilst your sleeping arrangements may be different to what you are used to, if you try and keep your bedtime routine as normal as possible it will help you all sleep better. This means trying to keep timings similar as well as any pre-bedtime routines, such as reading a story.
Don’t Expect a Lie In
Having young children, you’re unlikely to regularly get to stay in bed very long in the morning anyway. When camping with young children, you are even less likely.
Remember that a tent is essentially just a few pieces of material sew together and will let light in much more than your home. As the sun rises, this is going to make it generally lighter inside your tent and the young ones are likely to wake up earlier as a result.
Some tents are designed with a thicker material that lets less light in which, if you are desperate for a long sleep, you could purchase.
Favourite Teddies/Toys
Another way to try and get a good nights sleep is to make sure you bring any favourite teddies or toys with you.
My kids each have a favourite teddy that they can’t sleep without. If your kids are the same, take them along with you to help them sleep.
Food
When camping with young kids and camping in general, food preparation is different to being at home. You don’t have the same facilities as you do in your kitchen and therefore need to think a little differently about how and what you eat.
The following tips should help to reduce the stress of food when camping and increase the fun experience.
Plan Your Meals
Planning your meals ahead of time is a great way to make life simple for yourself when you’re camping.
If you write up a meal plan ahead of time, you will be able to ensure you bring the right food, cooking equipment and fuel, such as gas. You will also be able to identify any foods that you can prepare in advance and simply warm up on-site, such as bolognese.
With weening children, preparing for what they will eat means you can blend up some food where necessary, of finely chop food and put it in an air-tight container.
As the saying goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail!
Campfires
Now you know what you think you can cook, it is a matter of actually cooking it. One way you can do this is by cooking over a campfire.
Before you fully go for the idea of using a campfire to cook, it is worth checking that the campsite you are going to will allow you to have campfires. Some sites ban campfires for fear of them spreading, so be sure to check first.
Assuming all is ok in terms of having a campfire, you will find that you can cook quite a variety of foods on an open fire with the right equipment. Firstly, you can use it as a BBQ to cooks burgers, bacon, etc. You can also use an old frying pan directly on the flame to fry food as well.
Just remember to be careful with little ones around that they are kept away from the fire. If you want them to enjoy the experience, toast some marshmallows with them over the fire for dessert. Yum!
Gas Stoves
Most people when camping as a family will opt for a gas stove to cook their meals.
Gas stoves operate similar to a gas hob at home, meaning you can cook pretty much any meal you would cook on your stove at home.
The main factor to consider when using a gas stove is ensuring you have enough gas for your cooking needs. See our guide on “How Much Camping Gas do I Need?” to work out how much fuel you need for your meal plan.
Cooking Equipment
Knowing what you are cooking on is part of the equation, the next part is what you are going to use to cook.
As you can’t take your full kitchen with you, take a select few pots/pans for cooking the meals you have planned. One-pot cooking is the ideal situation here as it reduced washing up, but don’t limit yourself just because of that.
Safety
As mentioned previously around campfires, safety is important when camp cooking with little ones around.
The first element here is making sure you are cooking in an area with good ventilation. Never use your stove inside your tent and especially not with the doors closed. As we mention in our guide “Are Camping Stoves Safe?”, there is a real risk of carbon monoxide poisoning if you use your stove in an enclosed area.
The second thing to consider is making sure the kids can’t go too near a hot stove. Make sure you set up a nice area away from where the kids will be playing and let them know the rules about being too close to the stove. You could use a windbreak as a divider to help them know where is safe and not safe.
Staple Foods
There are, of course, some go-to foods that you simply need to take with you to ensure the little ones are kept well fed.
Bananas are the hero of camping trips as they can provide energy and are versatile. Eat them as they come or wrap them in foil with some chocolate and put them on the campfire for a delicious dessert.
Another great food is peanut butter. Peanut butter is packed full of energy and good fats. Spread this on some bread for a tasty sandwich to keep the children happy.
Don’t Pretend You’re Heston Blumenthal
We all like the idea of showing off our cooking skills and whilst you might be Heston in the kitchen, this is a lot more difficult when using camping equipment.
Keep your meal ambitions simple, especially on your first camping trip. There is nothing worse than having hungry, tired kids and you panicking as things aren’t going as well as you hoped. Stick to more simple meals so that you can enjoy time as a family.
Buying in isn’t Cheating
The final point here is that there is no shame in buying a meal instead of cooking. There are enough stresses in life surrounding children without having to worry about how you are going to feed them.
If you are near a local pub, cafe or takeaway, spoil yourself for an evening to relieve some stress.
The main thing is to have a nice time and if going out for dinner will enhance your enjoyment, do it!
Camping Must Haves
As well as all the gear and food that goes into camping ensuring you get a good nights sleep and eat well, there are some other items that are incredibly useful for you to ensure you are fully prepared for your camping trip.
Head Torch
As you will be out in the great outdoors, having some kind of torch with you will make your life much easier than hoping the site you stay at has adequate illumination.
Carrying a hand torch is better than no torch, but using a head torch will make everything much easier, whether you are changing nappies or making a midnight dash to a toilet block. Being able to use both hands when you have young children with you will make your life much easier.
First Aid Kit
Having a first aid kit is definitely essential for camping, both with and without children.
Your first aid kit should include items like plasters, paracetamol (Calpol for kids of course), ibuprofen as well as bandages. Antiseptic cream is also a good idea as well as cleansing wipes and a set of tweezers for removing ticks (if you are unfortunate enough to be bitten).
You can buy a simple set from Amazon or any outdoor shop. Alternatively, you could make your own using a sealable bag and gathering the appropriate items yourself.
Toilet Roll
There is nothing worse than needing to use the facilities, getting there and realising there is no toilet roll. To avoid this, make sure you take your own.
The rule goes for camping with and without kids of course, but either way, it is better not to be caught out, so take some with you.
Potty
For the family members who are out of nappies but not quite using the toilet yet (you can assume I mean toddlers here, but no judgement if this is still you), you should pack some kind of portable potty with you.
If you want to ensure some familiarity for your toilet training toddler, feel free to take their usual potty if it helps.
The main reason for taking this is to make sure you don’t have to do late-night toilet block runs and can instead just use the potty in your tent. You can then clean it out whilst your little one drops back off to sleep. A much better option than them waking fully up traipsing to the toilet block and then not getting back to sleep.
Groundsheet
Putting a groundsheet under your tent is generally a good idea as it will help protect the sewn-in groundsheet of your tent from being damaged. There is an added benefit that it will also help to reduce the cold or the ground transferring up into your tent.
For camping with little ones, there is the added benefit here that you will reduce any potential sharper surfaces underfoot. This means that little ones are less likely to hurt their feet when walking inside the tent and if you have a baby, the surface will feel a little less hard and cold if they lie on the floor of the tent.
Folding Crates
Folding crates have a couple of uses when camping with young children.
The first use is for storing your things when travelling to your site. As they can fold up, when unpacked they can pack away much easier.
A further use for them is as a storage area for shoes. You can set up a folding crate near the entrance of the tent and then use it for putting dirty shoes in so that you avoid the inside of the tent getting dirty too.
Washing Up Bowl
Most campsites will provide somewhere for you to get hot water, so take a washing-up bowl to help with cleaning pots, pans and bottles.
Antibacterial Wipes
Antibacterial wipes are a must-have when camping with young children.
Being in the great outdoors is a wonderful experience for the whole family, but can be a little dirty. Having antibacterial wipes for cleaning hands, surfaces and the occasions muddy knee can help keep you all safe and happy when enjoying a camping trip together.
Summary
I hope you now feel confident that you have everything covered to go camping with your young children. If you already have the above covered, great!
If you need some ideas on how to keep the kids entertained when camping, check out our guide here.
Happy camping!