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Any suggestions? Ideas? NO no's?
Tips for Camping with a 3 year old??
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Be sure to bring plenty of extra socks and clothes. Depending on where you're camping, bring outerwear appropriate for any kind of weather that might happen.<br><br>
Bring cars and trucks to play with. Buckets for collecting things, too. Books in case it's rainy and you need to spend time in the tent. His or her own flashlight helps to make bedtime trips to the toilet fun and not scarry. Wipies have always been very useful for us when camping.<br><br>
That's all I can think of now. The key is keeping them occupied while you set up, make food, etc. And keeping them comfortable (ie. with the right clothing).<br><br>
Have fun!<br>
lilgreen
Bring cars and trucks to play with. Buckets for collecting things, too. Books in case it's rainy and you need to spend time in the tent. His or her own flashlight helps to make bedtime trips to the toilet fun and not scarry. Wipies have always been very useful for us when camping.<br><br>
That's all I can think of now. The key is keeping them occupied while you set up, make food, etc. And keeping them comfortable (ie. with the right clothing).<br><br>
Have fun!<br>
lilgreen
Our have had a blast, nothing special needed. Except of course extra clothes.<br>
Oh and lots of soap and water each night to scrub them clean before bed <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">
Oh and lots of soap and water each night to scrub them clean before bed <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">
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We camp a lot with our kids who will be 2 and 4 this summer. We bring clothes, pick places that are kid friendly ( maybe have a pool or playground, etc ) We bring lots of books too and things like a magnifying glass, a digital camera, art supplies, etc. The boys love camping. Oh, we also have special food that we don't eat at home like marshmallows, hot dogs over the fire.<br>
We definitely do car camping at state campgrounds and our car is nearby. If we want to change things up, we can hop in the car to go see something and come back. Honestly, though , the kids do not seem to get bored with everything there is to see in nature. Once we had a family of ducks hang out with us. We take little hikes, go swimming, ride bikes, etc.
We definitely do car camping at state campgrounds and our car is nearby. If we want to change things up, we can hop in the car to go see something and come back. Honestly, though , the kids do not seem to get bored with everything there is to see in nature. Once we had a family of ducks hang out with us. We take little hikes, go swimming, ride bikes, etc.
If it's going to be chilly at night, bring a knit hat or something to cover their head so they stay warmer.<br><br>
Bring food that's easy to prepare. There's nothing worse than everybody being starving and having some sort of complicated dinner to make while the kids are going nuts.<br><br>
Keep an extra set of clothes in the car. That way if there's a surprise rainstorm / massive potty accident / whatever, you have some clean clothes on reserve.<br><br>
Pack some pre-prepared snacks in the cooler (cubed cheese, carrot sticks, apple slices, whatever), and lay out a snack as you set up camp. Keep some on reserve for when you're breaking down camp.<br><br>
If at all possible, set up the tent and have the beds ready first when you get there. That way at night everything's ready to go if somebody decides to crash early.<br><br>
Umm... that's all that I can think of right now. I start my kids camping at 6 months old. Right now I'm chafing at the bit - I haven't been able to camp yet this summer, and will probably only be able to get out once or twice before the season is over after baby is born.<br><br>
Kristin<br>
mom to dd (5 1/2), ds (almost 3!) and #3 due in June
Bring food that's easy to prepare. There's nothing worse than everybody being starving and having some sort of complicated dinner to make while the kids are going nuts.<br><br>
Keep an extra set of clothes in the car. That way if there's a surprise rainstorm / massive potty accident / whatever, you have some clean clothes on reserve.<br><br>
Pack some pre-prepared snacks in the cooler (cubed cheese, carrot sticks, apple slices, whatever), and lay out a snack as you set up camp. Keep some on reserve for when you're breaking down camp.<br><br>
If at all possible, set up the tent and have the beds ready first when you get there. That way at night everything's ready to go if somebody decides to crash early.<br><br>
Umm... that's all that I can think of right now. I start my kids camping at 6 months old. Right now I'm chafing at the bit - I haven't been able to camp yet this summer, and will probably only be able to get out once or twice before the season is over after baby is born.<br><br>
Kristin<br>
mom to dd (5 1/2), ds (almost 3!) and #3 due in June
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THank you so much for your input ladies!! So I shouldn't have to be TOO worried then huh? Im hoping to get a bit of fishing in at some point too, nothing is neater than catching and eating your dinner! (we will bring backup dinner should the catching part not happen! LOL!)<br>
Keep the ideas coming! Im so nervous about this seriously! We are doing this nearby so that should it bomb, then we can head back to the house!
Keep the ideas coming! Im so nervous about this seriously! We are doing this nearby so that should it bomb, then we can head back to the house!
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We had luck with sidewalk chalk, fun to decorate rocks or fences. Comes off with rain or water from a bottle/watering can.<br>
playdough is also great fun.<br><br>
extra clothes are a must.<br><br>
I bring a quilt/comforter to make cosleeping easier.<br><br>
Goes without saying, fire saftey.<br><br>
We LOVE camping and have had no trouble.<br><br>
Kathryn
playdough is also great fun.<br><br>
extra clothes are a must.<br><br>
I bring a quilt/comforter to make cosleeping easier.<br><br>
Goes without saying, fire saftey.<br><br>
We LOVE camping and have had no trouble.<br><br>
Kathryn
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We camped for a whole week with our DS last summer; he was 2yo at the time. We bring everything but the kitchen sink, so we aren't roughing it so much, but we have a lot of fun.<br><br>
My favorite gear:<br><br>
We use an air mattress (queen size) and zip two sleeping bags together so we can all snuggle in together. If you plan on doing much camping, I recommend getting a couple of camp pillows, so you don't have to bring your regular pillows and subject them to damp and dirt. We got ours from LLBean.<br><br>
DS loved wearing one of our headlamps on his head (they make compact ones with LED lights now) in the evening.<br><br>
We use those collapsable camp chairs (the kind that fold up into a bag), and DS enjoyed having his own kid-size chair with a puppy on it. We found it at CVS last year.<br><br>
And lastly, if you will have any dishes to wash from cooking and dining, I recommend a big collapsable bucket. Literally, it is like bringing the kitchen sink with you!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> You can carry water in it to your site for boiling or washing, wash right in it, and then carry the water away for proper disposal. Even if you camp at a site with a washing station, they are always so busy after mealtimes and you can get it done without waiting or adding to the congestion.<br><br>
Have fun!
My favorite gear:<br><br>
We use an air mattress (queen size) and zip two sleeping bags together so we can all snuggle in together. If you plan on doing much camping, I recommend getting a couple of camp pillows, so you don't have to bring your regular pillows and subject them to damp and dirt. We got ours from LLBean.<br><br>
DS loved wearing one of our headlamps on his head (they make compact ones with LED lights now) in the evening.<br><br>
We use those collapsable camp chairs (the kind that fold up into a bag), and DS enjoyed having his own kid-size chair with a puppy on it. We found it at CVS last year.<br><br>
And lastly, if you will have any dishes to wash from cooking and dining, I recommend a big collapsable bucket. Literally, it is like bringing the kitchen sink with you!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> You can carry water in it to your site for boiling or washing, wash right in it, and then carry the water away for proper disposal. Even if you camp at a site with a washing station, they are always so busy after mealtimes and you can get it done without waiting or adding to the congestion.<br><br>
Have fun!
Jeans or other tough long pants - lots of them, as they will get dirty - very dirty.<br><br>
Something very warm for bed-time. If they are cold at night nobody will get any sleep. I usually dress my toddler in long sleeve/pant 2 pc pj's and then throw a fleece 1pc footed on top. The hat is a good idea, but I don't think either of my kids would have kept it on for more than a few seconds.<br><br>
Tons of blankets. I like to just pile them in on top of the sleeping bags, so if I need one at night when it's pitch dark, I can easily find one. Plus, both my boys are 'blankie hogs', and I tend to get cold too.<br><br>
Tonka trucks & push toys or ride-on toys are great for the campground area.
Something very warm for bed-time. If they are cold at night nobody will get any sleep. I usually dress my toddler in long sleeve/pant 2 pc pj's and then throw a fleece 1pc footed on top. The hat is a good idea, but I don't think either of my kids would have kept it on for more than a few seconds.<br><br>
Tons of blankets. I like to just pile them in on top of the sleeping bags, so if I need one at night when it's pitch dark, I can easily find one. Plus, both my boys are 'blankie hogs', and I tend to get cold too.<br><br>
Tonka trucks & push toys or ride-on toys are great for the campground area.
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I camped with the boys for 5 weeks in mexico this winter and I can't think of a single "thing" that was really an issue. We used an airmatress and old duvet in a tent. DS loves haveing his own flashlight. Otherwise the same favorite toys you're bring anywear. I actually find it easier in some ways as theya re so excited and then later so tired that they just crash. I did get DS an emergency whistle in case he got out of sigh and didn't know where we were, or was really freaked by something.<br><br>
Have fun<br>
HEather
Have fun<br>
HEather
We do a lot of middle of the woods in a tent camping and I don't think we ever really bring "toys" other then the curent favorite stuffed animal. When you have to carry everything in you don't want extra stuff. I have never had a bored toddler in the middle of the woods. Just something comfortable to sleep on is my main concern since co-sleeping on your side on a root is NOT fun.
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backpack for carrying stuff around during outings.<br><br>
flashlight for himself and batteries.<br><br>
WARM CLOTHES! I have camped every summer of my 32 years and I am still surprised at how cold it can get at night in July!<br><br>
first aid kit (hydrocortisone cream, etc)<br><br>
spray bottles ( from the dollar store) for carrying ice water to mist him with on hot days<br><br>
blankets blankets blankets<br><br>
outdoor explorer toys: magnifying glass, buckets, scoops, binoculars, bubbles, bug houses, nets.<br><br>
water safety (water wings or lifevest). I instilled this RULE early on in my boys' lives to avoid fights abotu it later.
flashlight for himself and batteries.<br><br>
WARM CLOTHES! I have camped every summer of my 32 years and I am still surprised at how cold it can get at night in July!<br><br>
first aid kit (hydrocortisone cream, etc)<br><br>
spray bottles ( from the dollar store) for carrying ice water to mist him with on hot days<br><br>
blankets blankets blankets<br><br>
outdoor explorer toys: magnifying glass, buckets, scoops, binoculars, bubbles, bug houses, nets.<br><br>
water safety (water wings or lifevest). I instilled this RULE early on in my boys' lives to avoid fights abotu it later.
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