How To Minimize Stress While Camping With Toddlers

Camping is a wonderful way to spend time bonding with your children. I started taking my son camping at around 2.5 years old. It was just him and me. It was amazing and fun, but also extremely stressful at times. Trying to make food, tend to a fire, and also make sure your kid isn’t running off randomly can be quite the challenge, not to mention the perils of potty training if you are still in that stage of life. Now that we have passed the toddler stage, and I have time to reflect on the past, I realize there are a few simple things I could have done differently to make our earlier camping experiences significantly more enjoyable.

Select The Right Campground

Choose a campground with less steep and rocky areas. Most state or provincial parks have fairly level terrain that is easier for a toddler to navigate, minimizing bumps and bruises from falling, as toddlers tend to do. It’s also a good idea to choose a site that isn’t too close to a fast-moving creek or large body of water.

A little off-topic here, but the right tent can make all the difference when setting up your site. There are several pop-up or fast-pitch tents available these days. Having a tent that doesn’t require a lot of set-up time is a huge win, particularly when you are solo-parenting!

If you are solo parenting, make sure you are sticking to your toddler like glue. It only takes a second for them to be out of sight, and that is a terrifying situation. See if you can find a campground with a playground or at least a nice beach where you can build castles in the sand together and play in the water.

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Prepare Food In Advance

Preparing food while keeping an eye on your rambunctious toddler is no easy feat. I have learned that prepping most of your food beforehand is one of the keys to reducing stress while camping, even if you don’t have a toddler! Cut up all veggies and fruit you plan on eating, pre-scramble your eggs, and keep them in a glass jar in your cooler. Make pasta salad, garden salad, and sandwiches for lunch the night before you plan to camp(don’t add the salad dressing until you’re ready to eat).

Try to keep the time you need for prepping and cooking at the campsite to a minimum. This will allow you to spend more time enjoying the day with your toddler. If you have older children, you can involve them in food preparation or table setting. If you have children who get along, you can enlist your older child to keep the little one occupied while you whip up a delicious meal.

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More Tips

Depending on your child’s age, you may want to consider bringing either a portable potty or a potty training toilet seat, especially if there are only outhouses and no flush toilets. It can be a bit frightening for a small child to sit on an outhouse toilet, and the potty training toilet seat makes that opening smaller and what’s down the toilet less visible(which is always good!). Packing lots of baby wipes is always a smart idea. Look for the biodegradable variety, but please do not throw them in any toilet or bury them. Have a separate bag to dispose of your wipes, pack in what you pack out, unless the campground has garbage receptacles.

Sometimes, especially if you are a solo parent with a toddler in tow, it can be overwhelming to start and tend a campfire, especially if your child is prone to running off randomly. A propane fire ring could be a simple option if it’s just the two of you. With a propane fire ring, you can turn it on or off quickly, and there’s no worry about sparks and hot embers hitting your child, or about extinguishing the fire properly at the end of the evening. I prefer a wood-burning fire myself, but trust me, it’s a lot easier not having to deal with all the things that come with one.

Consider the safety of your sleeping arrangements, especially if tenting. Be sure that your child understands it is not acceptable to leave the tent at night when you are both supposed to be sleeping. Luckily, most toddlers are exhausted from a day full of fun outdoor activities and will sleep “like a baby”. You might want to set your mattress up right by the tent door, which would make it more difficult to exit the tent without crawling over you and hopefully waking you up in the process. Depending on the age of your toddler, a play pen or portable crib could also be helpful to bring along.

Camping with a toddler can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Start slow and don’t expect everything to go perfectly. Plan to stay for one night at first, but pack enough for two nights in case things are going well. Pack many of your toddler’s favorite snacks, toys, and always remember to bring plenty of water. Of course, don’t forget to pack a decent first aid kit, sunscreen, and above all, remember to stay safe and have fun!

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