How to get kids to sleep in a tent on a camping trip

Kids sleep in a tent when they feel safe, warm and tired. The place matters less than the routine.

What works

1. Do the same bedtime steps as at home. Teeth, toilet, a story, then lights out. Bring the same book and the same toy.
2. Make the tent warm. A pad, a bag that suits the night and a warm hat. A cold child does not sleep.
3. Make it dark. Dim the light early. A small lamp near the door is fine for the first night.
4. Tire them out. A walk, a game or a trip to the stream in the afternoon helps. Cut sugar and screens before bed.
5. Stay close. Sleep next to them for the first night, and move away on the second if they are happy.

What goes wrong first. The toilet. A child who needs to go in the night wakes the whole camp. Fix: go right before bed, and keep a potty or a headlamp and a plan for the walk.

The exception

If your child is scared, cold or ill, stop trying and fix that. Warm them, hold them, and if it is not working, a night in the car is better than a miserable one. There is no prize for staying in the tent.

Plan for noise

Camps are noisy at dusk and at dawn. Earplugs for adults, a white noise habit for kids and a pitch away from the road and the toilets all help. Read camping with toddlers for more on timing and boundaries, and the kids sleeping bag vs adult sleeping bag page for the warmth side.