Camping with Toddlers

My daughter is three. She was born in June. First summer we talked about camping but we didn't do any. Mostly did short day hikes. The summer she turned one we did one car camping trip and lots of long day hikes. She was light enough to carry all day in my Deuter child Cartier but her mom could not carry her or all our stuff so backpacking was out. Summer she turned two I could still carry her but backpacking still out. We did two car camping trips. Lots of long day hikes. Road trips to Redwoods and Shenandoah NP. My wife and I really missed backpacking but… Year three.. This summer we have done lots of car camping. Daughter now loves it. Loves to go to the tent store (REI) and look at gear. Loves to sleep out and make campfires. We did our first family backpacking trip, a 3 mile out and back in W.VA. Going ultralight allowed me to carry her on my shoulders the last half mile each way. We have the car camping duffel always packed and ready to go. Comfy pads, small tent so it doesn't feel too different than the real thing… We cook on the fire or a backpacking stove. We've done probably half a dozen car trips this summer. Planning on a Dolly Sods in late sept. Problem now is daughter is too heavy to be carried for too long so we are really limited by her lack of stamina to flattish trails. But it's still fun. Hoping that next summer we can get her to walk her age in miles. Maybe we'll pack into the Sierra somewhere to do some dayhikes out of a well stocked base camp. The main point has been to get her out there and share great experiences and to make it a normal part of our life so that as she gets older it will seem abnormal to not spend time outdoors.

Both my kids started camping at 6 months. And we went camping every year during our 2 week summer vacation, plus many weekend trips. To the kids, camping wasn't a special event, it was just something we did. As parents we instilled discipline at home, so there were zero problems camping. As toddlers they just slept in their own little sleeping bags in a tent with their mom. I always slept outdoors if it wasn't raining. When the youngest, my son, was around 3 he started sleeping outside with me.

Both went on their first backpacking trip at around age 5. My daughter didn't care for backpacking much so I didn't force her. I did most trips with just my son. Don't underestimate kids. If they enjoy something they are fine. When Joe was around 6 or 7, his favorite backpacking was in the San Jacintos, where he loved to rush to the top of the peak trying to pass as many Boy Scouts as possible. One day we passed an entire troop — of course we had light gear.

When the kids were 5 & 7 we bought a small tent trailer. That made things much easier as all our gear was stored in it, and it was much easier to keep things organized.

The kids, even at an early age had camp chores. I still smile at them struggling to drag a 5 gallon Aquatainer full of water back to the campsite. They also were responsible for gathering firewood. As toddlers, we were never concerned about either falling into the fire. They were so tired with all the day's activities, we struggled to keep them awake long enough to make smores. We didn't bring a bunch of toys. There is plenty to keep kids busy if you help develop their imagination.

Today, as the kids near 30, they both camp a lot. Joe and I still go camping or backpacking about once a year.

The first time we took my oldest he was probably 9 months old to a year, first wouldn't go to sleep then woke up at 2am and wouldn't go back to sleep. My wife and I stressed over everything. It wasn't fun.

Now, At 3 years old he has a great time. Like the earlier commenters, you should take some toys, but also play with with what's available. Fish until his attention wanders but then let him play trucks in the sand. We build forts out of rocks and sticks. We camp in a pine forest with gullies that he can explore by himself but stay in earshot. He gets to eat marshmallows. We canoe to pirate islands. We break sandstone rocks open to see if dinosaur bones are inside, and we look for dinosaur tracks in the mud along creeks. Take his favorite light weight books and a special new one. Take a kiddo shovel or a garden trowel for digging. Take scissors, a kid with scissors will spend a good hour just cutting grass and flowers. We slow down to his pace and just try to have a good time. I use an insulated jacket and beanie for sleeping, inevitably he will kick off the sleeping bag. Give him his own flashlight. Let him carry his own backpack.