Taking a Curious Toddler Tent Camping

My daughter slept in a tent a handful of times before she could walk…but I was still hesitant about taking a mobile, curious toddler tent camping. We started out small with an overnight in a nearby campground to test the waters. It went exceptionally well and she spent five nights in a tent last month! Here is how we do it…

…a few tips and mindset tweaks to help making camping fun, for everyone…

Get lax about rules...

…within reason we leave strict rules at home. If she wants to eat on the table and taste dirt we let it happen. Ditching some of the rigid parts of life is all part of the joy of camping.

Embrace the nap...

….don’t force it, but if it happens embrace it with enthusiasm! On this trip she fell asleep while I was setting up camp…early, but I’ll take it!

Don't force creativity with food...

…just accept lots of snacking & campfire meals [but also remember the &$#!@ ice packs]! And yes, yogurt pouches or heaps of watermelon count as a meal at camp.

Bring your routines with you...

…especially at bedtime! We do the same order of bedtime snack, clean up, toothbrushing, PJs, etc. It’s tweaked for the environment but the sentiment and rhythm is there.

Invite friends...

…even if you never leave the campsite, because everything is more fun with friends. And let that tent double as a toy — you can zip the balls inside so you can sit while they play!

Bring toys [or maybe don't?]...

…we pack simple toys but more often than not nature’s toys [rocks, sticks, etc] are her preference. We also spend time exploring the campground itself, people watching is a great toddler distraction.

Encourage that curiosity...

…on this trek around the campground we checked every pothole for water. There was none, but we checked every. single. pothole! Filled up that last hour till bedtime with minimal effort on my part!

Bring twinkle lights...

…need I say more? We got a larger tent to fit the toddler and it is very dark inside. Lights were essential and twinkle lights were perfect! Just $6 and two AA batteries got us 11 hours of solid sleep [for her…].

Don't forget about yourself...

…if you’re extra super lucky you might get some downtime outside the tent in the evening. Don’t forget to bring yourself something to putz around with like a book or ball of yarn or friend to chat with.

…we don’t have all the details figured out but with each night in the tent we get a tiny bit better. We have found that we gravitate toward campgrounds for my peace of mind and for the added distraction of having people around to keep the toddler entertained. So far the other campers’ shenanigans have not been an issue and I truly appreciate having potable water readily available [I tend to forget both ice and water…].