Camping with toddlers: how to plan a first trip

Camping with toddlers works when the trip is short, close and flexible. You are not going camping. You are going to a different place to do the same things: sleep, eat and play.

Plan for sleep first. The rest follows.

Start with a short trip close to home

One or two nights, under an hour from home. If the first night goes badly, you can leave. That one option makes everyone calmer.

Pick a site with toilets, water and a flat pitch. Large open sites with a car park beside the pitch are easier than remote ones. Check the site page for rules about children, pets and fires.

What goes wrong first. The long drive. A toddler who is already tired and bored arrives at camp upset. Fix: leave around nap time so they sleep in the car.

Sleep: aim for warm, dark and familiar

A toddler sleeps best with the same routine as home. Bring the same book, the same toy, the same pyjamas.

• A pad under the sleeper. The ground takes heat from small bodies fast.
• A bag or layers that suit the cold end of the night. See the kids sleeping bag vs adult sleeping bag page for the size question.
• Sleep hats and dry socks. Small heads and feet lose heat first.
• A way to see in the night. A small lamp you control, not a bright one.

If you have a hard time getting a child down, see how to get kids to sleep in a tent.

Safety: set a boundary on arrival

Toddlers move fast and have no sense of danger. Walk the edge of the camp area with your child on arrival and point out the line. Keep them well away from the stove, the fire, the car and any water.

1. Give an adult the job of watching the toddler at all times.
2. Keep sharp tools and fuel out of reach, in a closed bin.
3. Put a bright hat or top on your child, so you can spot them.
4. Pack a first aid kit with items for cuts, stings and sunburn, and open it at home.

Know where the nearest help is, and how to call for it. Check the site's emergency details when you arrive.

Food and water

Snacks are the key. A toddler who is hungry cannot be reasoned with. Keep a bag of snacks within reach and offer water often, not only when asked. Bring the same cups, and foods they already eat. A trip is a bad time to try new food.

Water and fuel maths. Example only. Add up the people, including the toddler, times the days, times the water each person drinks, then add cooking, washing and hand rinsing, then a reserve. Toddlers need water for faces and hands as well as drinks, so plan extra.

Clothes: more than you think

Pack two spare outfits for each day, plus a rain layer and a warm hat. Toddlers get wet and dirty quickly. Quick-dry fabric is better than cotton. A pair of wellies or a spare pair of shoes is useful. Sun hats, sunscreen and shade matter in summer.

What goes wrong first. Wet clothes. Fix: pack a bag for dirty ones and a bag for clean ones, so they do not mix.

Keep expectations low

Plan one activity a day, such as a short walk or a stream, and leave gaps. Let the trip be slow. If it is not working, go home early and try again another day. For a longer packing system that scales to a family, see the family camping packing guide.