Camping with kids is one of our favourite things to do in the summer months. If you are taking a young family camping for the first time you might be wondering what do I need for camping with a toddler? Well I’ve got you covered with a checklist of all the camping essentials for toddlers.
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Camping essentials for toddlers
Once you’ve picked your tent (find out all about our main tent in the Coleman Pinto mountain 5 plus XL review) then it’s time to start thinking about all the other camping gear for toddlers. You’ll need all the standard * camping kit but taking young children means you’ll need a few extra bits to make life easier.
Toddler camping beds
A good night’s sleep is high up on my priorities when we go camping. There are several different options for a toddler camping bed. For us, our girls have always slept on standard airbeds or self-inflating mats next to our airbed. This has worked for us as it means they are within reach when they wake in the night meaning I could settle them back to sleep easily.
For younger toddlers, you might want to take a travel cot. Either a standard one * like this or these travel cot tents below are a great idea. They’re lightweight, don’t weigh very much or take up much room in the car. In addition, some can be used as UV tents on the beach.
Another option if you are worried about your toddler rolling off a standard airbed is these airbeds with raised sides.
Toddler sleeping bags
For babies and young toddlers in the summer months, we simply use the sleeping bags we use at home with a blanket over the top when the temperature drops. The first sleeping bag we bought our kids when they were 3 was a * kid’s sleeping Pod. I love the shape allows for movement, it’s not too long so little ones won’t get lost inside and it keeps them cosy all night long. My petit 5 year old still sleeps in hers.
Mealtimes
Make mealtimes a breeze with a * portable high chair or a * toddler size camping chair. Make sure you pack plenty of snacks and meals that your toddler enjoys. Trust me they eat more than you think when they are outside all day. Don’t forget to pack their drinks bottles, cups, plates or bowls and toddler cutlery. Lunch boxes are useful for picnics too.
This is my favourite cooler for keeping milk and other essentials cool. Coleman 28QT Xtreme cooler review. If you’re likely to need warm water in the night for any reason, fill a flask with boiling water before bed.
Keeping clean
My biggest tip for making bath time easy is to take a * flexi-tub. They’re great for storage and transporting things. At bathtime though they are a real bonus. In my experience toddlers don’t like showers. So taking a flexi-tub to the bathrooms and filling it under the shower means toddlers can have a bath instead.
A recent find for us that I wish had been around when my girls were toddlers, is a portable shower. We bought this * Colapz portable shower (find it * here on Amazon) when facilities were shut. You could use it with a flexi tub or even an inflatable paddling pool and give your kids a quick clean without leaving your pitch!
It’s also great for rinsing the sand off little toes after a day on the beach. Rechargeable, compact and efficient
Don’t forget to pack all their usual toiletries and nappies (more than you think you will need). The same goes for clothes. Pack more than you think you will need as they will probably get mucky or wet more than usual. Pack clothes for all weathers including warm clothes even in summer as the mornings and evenings can be colder than you think. Don’t forget the wellies. To keep all your clothes easy to find, we love packing cubes. They allow clothes for each person to be stored together and miraculously you can fit more stuff in one bag.
Toys and books
You’re going to need to pack some toys and books for your toddler. Don’t forget that favourite soft toy that they won’t sleep without. Books to read at bedtime are essential in my opinion to help settle them for the night. We love camping-themed books like * Peppa pig and the camping trip or * Maisie goes camping.
Think about toys that don’t take up a lot of space but that your toddler loves. Find out what I consider the best camping toys for kids in this post. You’ll need some for in the car and if they’re anything like my early risers, some toys that they will play with in the tent reasonably quietly first thing. Colouring books are also useful and don’t forget outdoor toys like buckets and spades. We love our SEEKERS magnetic scavenger hunt, there is even a * camping add on pack.
More tips for camping with toddlers
- Now that you’ve thought about the essentials that you might need for camping, head over here to read my top tips for camping with toddlers.
- Family walks are always going to happen on camping trips. Find my favourite things to do on a walk with kids here.
- If you prefer caravan trips then you need to read this post on Caravanning with kids from Tin Box Traveller.
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