Camping/toddler Tips

Good tips. We put DD in a pack n play and put a bell on the door of the tent so we knew if it was being messed with. Bring N+1 of everything - outfits, wipes, diapers. Bring quick and easy finger food for the toddler. Sippy cups. Etc. I do agree that they will not be able to just let the kid roam, but it's very do-able to camp with a little kid. DD has camped since she was 8 mo. old. I usually tell DD to pack one grocery bag of toys, understanding that she will have other kids to play with, too.

When my kids were toddlers we brought the Pack-n-play for them to sleep in and set it up in the tent. I have a friend that uses a play yard fence in the campsite for her little one. I always just pulled the van across the driveway to keep the kids from wandering out of the campsite onto the road. I kept my guys busy by making them search for kindling for the fire and having them collect rocks.

Take the pack and play to the campground for moments when no one can be 100% hands-on with the toddler (and expect it to get filthy - it's outdoors at a campground).

I also wore one of the hiking child backpacks with my child in it at that age for hikes and just around the campsite sometimes. He loved being up high where he could see everything. (you can google Kelty Kids to see what I mean, they are expensive from Kelty, but I've seen them in 2nd hand stores and on Craigslist).

Otherwise, they need to plan on spending a lot of one-on-one time with the toddler. They should NOT plan on a lot of time hanging out and chatting with the adults. It is not going to happen.

For you in general, one of the funny things about camping is that every time I go, I am surprised at how dirty everyone and everything is and how quickly that happens. And then I remember that this is part of the fun, and I have to let images of cleans hands and faces go, and only worry about washing up just before we eat. Relax and have fun!

The way you describe it (busy campground, few feet from the road, campfire burning, toddler prone to running off) gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I would just include their older child in your group as much as you can, so your friends can keep a closer eye on the toddler. My 2 year old won't sit and be entertained by much of anything for very long. Usually my DH or I get up and run him around or go explore just while waiting for food at a restaurant, KWIM?

When we went camping at Lake Thunderbird with a toddler I slept across the tent door so she couldn't accidentally wander out at night. That was a big worry for me. The water wasn't too far away but if she got that far we wouldn't know it or hear her.

Another thing is that his parent basically doesn't get to do anything except entertain him. I think it's hard to do this with a little one. They don't have anything to do that everyone else will enjoy. I'm not much of a camper myself so maybe it carried over into my camping experience.

We camp a lot and our kids have been camping every summer since they were both babies! I have never had a problem, and when our kids were that age they were fascinated with just being outdoors the whole evening. Collecting sticks always keeps them busy a long time. Collecting rocks. I remember when my daughter was 2 she would collect rocks and was lining them all up the entire evening once. When we camp near a fishing pond or stream we take a tiny fishing rod. Both kids at age 2 liked to spend a long time just practicing casting the tiny fishing rod at the campground (no hook...a little fake plastic fish or bobber was on the end of the line). Once we camped by a tiny little stream (as in 2 inches deep at the deepest part) and both kids were happy to just wander by the stream, collecting rocks, throwing in sticks, dipping in toes. Just playing in the tent lasts a long time too...they think it's their little fort. I have never had to bring any toys. I do bring a bunch of books for bedtime though bc it's so hard for kids to fall asleep their first night bc they are excited! I'd say one of the 2 year old's parents just need to walk with him as he toddles around. And they can take turns. We've done this tons...no need to worry! Just be relaxed about it.

One trick with the tent- pull both zippers up to the top of the door and tie the tabs together loosely with a shoestring or a hair tie. We do this in AZ to keep the snakes and scorpions out, but it works to keep toddlers in while you sleep, too!
On our last trip we bought a packet that you drop in the fire and it burns different colors. Probably all kinds of dangerous toxins...but it looked really cool and the kids loved it!
Oh, and if you have the toddler out at night, strap a headlamp or small bike light to his clothes so you can spot him easily in the dark.

my kids have camped since they were infants in arms. it's very do-able, it's just not relaxing<G>.
a playpen is your best friend. it helps to have one that you have designated the 'outdoor' one, ie one you can clean but that you are okay with getting pretty dirty. camping is dirty. and it's good to able to corral your feral toddler when you have to be occupied with something else. the leash would also work, but i preferred a playpen.
but toddlers don't like to be corralled when there's something as wildly excited as camping going on. i wouldn't pack a ton of toys. they'll get dirty, and lost, and start fights. other kids are a kid's best toy. do give them plenty of ideas, though- count how many butterflies they see, collect pretty rocks, try to find an eagle, organize the marshmallows into piles and so forth.
we've always loved camping, even the somewhat stressful trips with littles. have a blast!
:) khairete
S.

I always tell everyone we are camping with the method for who is watching the toddler. There is always a verbal hand-off- "Karen you've got little Tommy right now ok? You are in charge" and then notify me (the mom). Mom needs to be the point person who knows. "S., Karen is now watching little Tommy". This way no one is ever confused over who is in charge of the tiny one. And be clear, otherwise cousin Susie is playing with little Tommy and Aunt Karen assumes he's all good, meanwhile cousin Susie gets distracted and wanders off because she thought aunt Karen was in charge anyway.

It sounds "duh" but you'd be surprised. And you won't be able to watch every single second, even moms need to eat, go to the bathroom etc.

Couple other things- glow stick necklaces at night. New toys and trinkets they have never seen before. And honestly you want them to run around all day so they will conk out at night as soon as it get's dark and they are harder to watch.

-a pack n' play (keeps him safely enclosed)
-sand toys to play in the dirt
-a jog stroller so they can take him for walks to entertain him & possibly
get him to sleep/nap
-they can get fences/gates they make for dogs. When hooked together
they make a hexagon & you put it on a big outdoor rug/blanket for him to
sit & play w/his toys while he is nearby but safely contained.
-they will have to take him for lots of walks in the jog stroller!!
Hopefully he still naps?
It will be challenging for the parents but can still be fun. They will work hard but it will be a great memory for all. Help them if you can or want to.
It will be a welcomed hand (like when mom needs to shower or just sit
down for a minute to rest! ;)