Camping with kids

[Roosterstraw]

My wife and I want to start camping with our kids this year. What are some good ideas to keep them entertained and to make sure they have fun and enjoy it? They are 1.5 and 3 years old. We really don’t have much camping gear, so best places to buy camping gear? We have settled on a kodiak 10x14 as I will use it for hunting as well. Besides the tent that’s really the only thing we have decided on. Thinking about pack and plays for the kids to sleep in as they both still sleep in cribs.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Man that will be an undertaking work wise for you but I would think by the end of it, it will be a fun experience. I support the pack and play idea. When my daughter was that age, she would sleep in her pack and play anywhere. Since you are truck camping I’d definitely look at some cots for you and the missus.

I would pack some games/toys (that don’t make a ton of noise lol) that the kids enjoy. The 3 year old might enjoy going for a walk and looking at the different animals/birds etc y’all find.

As far as gear, best will be subjective depending on who you talk to. The usual suspects like bass pro/cabelas, scheels, rei, etc would be where I’d start depending on what part of the country you are in.

Enjoy the trip and experience. Me and my kiddo are headed to deer camp this weekend and I couldn’t be more pumped.

 

[ColeyG]

Pack 225 additional pieces of every type of clothing they wear. Being warm and dry is tantamount to having fun for the kids. Water and mud are fun and seem to attract them like magnets. We had good luck with these suits https://oaki.com/collections/one-piece-suits for rain/wet gear.

 

[Roosterstraw]

Man that will be an undertaking work wise for you but I would think by the end of it, it will be a fun experience. I support the pack and play idea. When my daughter was that age, she would sleep in her pack and play anywhere. Since you are truck camping I’d definitely look at some cots for you and the missus.

I would pack some games/toys (that don’t make a ton of noise lol) that the kids enjoy. The 3 year old might enjoy going for a walk and looking at the different animals/birds etc y’all find.

As far as gear, best will be subjective depending on who you talk to. The usual suspects like bass pro/cabelas, scheels, rei, etc would be where I’d start depending on what part of the country you are in.

Enjoy the trip and experience. Me and my kiddo are headed to deer camp this weekend and I couldn’t be more pumped.

What brand of cots to you recommend? We were thinking an air mattress but cots may be better for us.

 

[hikenhunt]

Our kids slept in pack and plays when camping until they were about 3 years old so that should work fine. I would do a "camping" night at home with them in a different room than their bedroom so they try them out first and associate them with a fun experience.

You've already got good advice: warm and dry, lots of extra clothes. I would have some activities planned but be flexible. Kids will find their own things to do too whether its throwing rocks at a floating stick in the lake or racing leaves in a creek. We usually try to keep a running list of the animals we see on our trip starting when we leave the house. Our kids have loved simple things like that.

 

[Gobbler36]

We did those for a while when our boys were really young, air mattresses is what we went with. Looking back cots may have been better for the wife and I but kids loved the air mattress and a pack and play when my youngest was 2-3 yrs old. Just make it fun with smores my kids like my goofy made up campfire stories and sticks pretty simple, go on some fun short hikes and don’t stress about getting dirt in the tent or everywhere for that matter and enjoy the time together.

 

[Aaron-in-CO]

Not related to the kids: If you’ve got the budget for it, an Exped Megamat Duo sleeping pad is extremely comfortable (and well insulated) and will help the two of you sleep soundly. It’s definitely not necessary for getting out there, but it is well worth it if you have the wiggle room in your budget.

 

[ODB]

Good advice so far. I would not bring too much at all to entertain. Let nature entertain them. You want camping to NOT be just an extension of home, but an entirely different thing.

Also, don't fall into the belief that if you take them when they are young, if you miss a bunch of years when things get busy, they will like it just as much as pre-teens or teens - they wont. Try to make it an unbroken habit.

 

[The_Jim]

I’ve got 4 and we’ve camped with all of them.

I’d honestly just get a baby sitter for the 1.5 year old . We finally got smart with the youngest and left him with grandma during camping trips until he was 3. It’s a lot of work with young kids.

 

[Braaap]

You shouldn’t need many toys or games. We took our kids camping as young as 3 months old which is difficult but doable. My kids just find rocks to climb, sticks and stones to throw, etc. If you get air mattresses make sure they’re insulated ones or you and the kids will freeze even in warm temps. Someone mentioned the Exped duo at and that is money well spent. Also solid tent choice. We’ve had the tent for 3 years now and it’s great.

 

[Adam Gibbs]

Air mattress takes up less room than 2 cots. Room in the truck will be at a premium with everything youll want to bring for yourself and the kids plus a big tent. Would probably stick with pack and play for kids if that's what they're used to. Get a cooling mattress topper for the air mattress. Well worth it. Cuts down on noise when moving on the air mattress too.

Stick with single night trips closer to home to start, just in case it doesn't go well and you have to make alternate plans.

Make it fun. My oldest is obsessed with fishing so as long as I have water nearby for him to cast into, he's entertained. Also stuff to cook over a fire. Kids tend to think that's just the coolest thing.

 

[jjentringer3921]

A few things we do:
-kodiak tent
-mr buddy heater -always bring the mr buddy heater just in case it's cold/rainy in morning/evening
-rei camp dreamer sleeping pad and a cheap Cabela's soft clothed sleeping bag. First time we tried my backpacking pad and the big agnes kids sleeping bag and my kid did not sleep well. Didn't seen to like the plastic feel of the bag or pad.
-little tikes story book machine- face it toward the ceiling when time for bed
-lots of snacks
-fishing or biking stuff
-one of those stand up toilet things with bags
-microwave- sometimes it's just easier to warm up leftovers the kid likes.
- picked up a nemo shower, haven't used it yet- but keep in mind kids get messy or have accidents

 

[Axlrod]

Until your kids learn to swim well, I would avoid camping near any water.

 

[jimh406]

I would go with a freestanding tent with a fly. It's much easier to setup/takedown and takes up a lot less space. It's also more breathable for warm weather. Popups also dry out a lot faster when you get home. Canvas is not the easiest to dry out.

Start out with very short trip close to home with a short drive. Find out what they want to do. Do they use tricycles, or push toys? Do plan to keep an eye on them. Many different animals can grab them and go and there are lots of kids who just wander off. I would start them in swim class asap. There is water almost everywhere you might camp.

Ideally, you'd practice camping at home as you figure out all that you need to be comfortable. You can also start with a commercial campground or state park that allows tents.

 

[kylem]

What brand of cots to you recommend? We were thinking an air mattress but cots may be better for us.

We tried cots with our kids and went back to small blow up sleeping pads. They seemed to migrate of their cots and end up on the ground anyway.

 

[Idagnome]

My kids are the same age and there's some good advice here so far. A few things to add:

-It doesn't have to be epic, just get out there. When my son was born we got a truck camper (so he'd be comfortable) and tried to go on huge 2-4 hour away driving camp to locations, because that's what I was used to before kids. It was TOO MUCH work to get everyone packed, there, unpack to have a good time. The next summer we sold the camper, bought a tent and went twice as much, just 10 minutes down the road. Kids love playing outside and a local state park, campground, woods, is just as wild to them as a vast wilderness.
- Don't bring all the home toys and games, we limit it to 1 truck and 3 books for bedtime.
- ALWAYS make s'mores. We're not big sugar/candy people, but I let them have one as a special treat, only when we camp.
- Pre made dinners/breakfasts are totally acceptable. We would even do a few times when we would eat at the house, roll up to the campsite for s'mores, sleeping, and breakfast the next day and call it a successful camping.
- If you can find another family that has a similar aged kid to your older, it will be so much more fun for all. They'll play together and it will actually feel like the adults can just hang out.
-The Kodiak will certainly be comfortable once set up but a lot of work to set up and break down. We've been happy with a 4 person tipi tent for ease of set-up tear down. My wife's not a big camper but has been happy with it.

 

[jimh406]

We never used cots with our kids. Blow up mattresses were more comfortable, but truthfully, the kids didn't seem to care. Cots take up a lot more space in the vehicle though.

 

[MTPipeliner]

my kids are teens now, but we camped quite a bit in the back yard when they were little- as has been mentioned, you don’t have to go far or make it a huge trip for them to have a good time.

I have the Kodiak 10x14 as well- we have the disco bed cots, the larger size for wife and me and the regular size for the kids, but when they were little a pad or just some blankets on the floor was plenty for them. The disco beds are heavy and a little bit of a hassle to set up but pretty comfortable.

A couple toy trucks to drive around in the dirt were popular with my boys, but they were good with making their own fun with dirt, rocks, sticks, etc. As they get bigger a sling shot is good fun while camping.

 

[sierracharlie338]

What brand of cots to you recommend? We were thinking an air mattress but cots may be better for us.

It’s been years since I’ve looked at new ones to buy. I have some Coleman ones that I’m less than impressed with. My nephew found one that is pretty comfortable that looks very similar to this (not positive it’s this exact one)

https://www.rei.com/product/892837/rei-co-op-kingdom-cot-3?cm_mmc=aff_AL-_-5889-_-7185-_-NA&avad=7185_d3e93d475

Otherwise I’m still using the old “military style” cots and have no real complaints for car camping.

 

[The Harbor Master]

Kids are so different so it's hard to say what they'll like to do.. my best advice would be unrelated to what activities to do. A couple things... 1. It gets easier and more fun the older they get. And 2. Be patient and enjoy it. I've ruined many a trip trying to be a stern dad and teach life lessons when I should be letting kids enjoy the outdoors.

Spending time with my kids outside is the epitome of joy.