Planning Our First Camping Adventure
A family of three sits outside of their orange tent, on a wooden platform, in the woods
It’s no small task planning and prepping for your first camping trip with a toddler. I outlined my packing list must-haves already, but beyond packing, a lot went into the decisions I made along the way. Luckily, with the help of Hipcamp I was able to source out the perfect campsite that checked all of our boxes:
Not too far of a drive (with traffic it was 3.5 hours)
Quiet campsite - we didn’t want a lot of loud campers nearby who might keep T up late
Remote enough, but within a quick drive of hotel/motel options in case of inclement weather
Something with positive reviews
Then I used AllTrails to find nearby hiking trails that would be do-able with a toddler who does NOT want to be carried, but also can’t walk too far or manage too difficult of terrain. Up in New Hampshire, where we were, there are a ton of trails and options. I chose the Big Pines Natural Area and a 2.4 mile loop that had some hills, a river with an awesome bridge, some small streams and plenty of gorgeous scenery. The hike was great for T, and at the end we all took a dip in the refreshing mountain stream.
Once I had our itinerary, and our campsite details all ironed out, I needed to ensure we had all of the necessary equipment and everything a toddler might need. So I visited REI because I’m in love with REI, and their staff was able to help me consider things that I might be missing.
All that planning made for a really positive first experience for us all. We ripped off the bandaid, which I was both excited and incredibly nervous about, and enjoyed it fully. T thought the tent was so fun, especially when he woke up in the morning and saw us both sleeping next to him. What a thrill! I hope to get in one more overnight trip before it gets too cold up here. Admittedly, the only part of our trip that was a little annoying was that it was 95 degrees. The tent was so hot, and we spent the whole trip sticky and gross. So a fall trip, when we need to bundle a bit, sounds perfect!
Until then, please enjoy pics from our trip!
What to Pack: Camping with a Toddler
A riverside campsite complete with a fire pit, folding chairs, and a tent
We just wrapped up our first family camping trip with my 18 month old in tow. The trip exceeded every expectation I had, in large part because my little guy is just very happy adventuring. But it also involved a lot of planning and preparation, ahead of time, to anticipate the many possible scenarios. I’ll get into the trip, overall, in another post, but first I wanted to focus on how we packed for our successful trip! To say that I am not as minimalist for camping as I am for the beach is an understatement.
If you’ve got the main gear, camping is a really inexpensive way to have a very rich vacation experience. That being said, even if you have to make some larger purchases upfront, the investment is worth it for your future trips. Our trip was just an overnight, and we were car camping, so had the luxury of packing more than we could carry. At some point, we’ll be brave enough for a backpacking trip with T, but for now, here are the items that proved to be key for our trip (bulleted list at the bottom of the article as well). Please keep in mind, I am not sponsored and do not receive anything at all from the companies I’ve linked. I’m just trying to make life easier for those of you reading the list.
The Staples: We opted for tent camping, so we obviously needed a tent, and sleeping bags. We also brought a folding chair for each of us. T used his Summer Infant folding chair, and Alex and I had a pair from REI. Anytime I go anywhere without power, I always bring an external battery which can be used to charge my phone or other products. I have one, that was given to me years ago, that is incredible. Can charge multiple devices all day long for at least 2 full days. It’s worth the investment.
Supplies for our Site: Our site, which we found on HipCamp, is primarily intended for RVs, so it was bare bones. It had a wooden platform for the tent, and a small fire pit. Not restrooms, no potable water, and no table. So we brought our own firewood, and a 7 gallon water drum with water from home, which we used for washing hands and dishes, cooking, and drinking. This water drum was awesome, it has a spout that can be turned around for easy use, which prevents too much waste. If we had been very conservative with the water, we could easily have used this for 2 nights (this does not include bathing).
Cooking and the Food: We felt that cooking over a fire could be a little risky with a curious toddler. It would be hard to keep him from trying to reach in and grab things. So we opted to buy this Eureka butane stove, which was amazing! Worked better than my stove at home, sadly. If I could do it again, I MIGHT buy the double-burner one instead, but this worked fine. We prepared marinated steak tips with grilled peppers, and corn on the cob for dinner. I also prepared berries, veggie sticks, and watermelon ahead of time. And snacks galore! Because snacks are how I entice my toddler to chill in once place, and keep his energy up on busy days! In the morning, we used the stove to boil water for our instant coffee, and our Backpacker’s Pantry freeze dried oatmeal breakfast. Overall, the food was great!
Toddler Necessities: I was trying to set up T’s sleeping arrangement to mimic his room at home, as much as possible, which is very dark and his sound machine is VERY loud. So I purchased the cordless, travel, version of his machine. The sound machine was nice and loud, but unfortunately the battery did not last all night. Which resulted in a 2 am wakeup! Luckily I had that external battery to charge it the rest of the night. I couldn’t do much about blacking out the tent, so it just took a little longer for him to fall asleep. In another season, when it gets dark earlier, this may not be an issue. I also packed our BabyBjorn travel crib, which fit nicely into our tent. In addition to these items, and the chair we brought for him, I also packed a play yard gate. I know that seems both excessive, and cruel, since the point of camping is to be free, but it was something I threw in last-minute because our site was on a river, and I didn’t want him running down to the river while we were preoccupied setting up the tent and cooking. We only used the play yard once, briefly. But it did the trick. He had a shovel, and a toy truck, and busied himself just fine. Lastly, because of the river, I brought a life jacket (we didn’t end up needing it) and some water shoes for T. I own Keens, and although you may find them goofy looking, they’re great. But I didn’t want to spend that much on toddler shoes, so I found these incredible knockoffs instead! T didn’t care that they were goofy, he loved them, and had the best time wading in the water without hurting his feet. And it goes without saying that I brought enough clothes for a week (because toddlers will be toddlers), diapers, wipes (which came in super handy for multiple purposes), and swim diapers.
Bugs Galore: We knew that we’d have a lot of bugs to deal with because it’s New England in the summer. Mostly, I was concerned with mosquitos and ticks. The flies, spiders, ants, and other crawly critters don’t bother me so much. So I did my research and ultimately landed on deet-free Picaridin spray (although there isn’t anything wrong with deet!), and a Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repeller. We went through 3 of the repellent mats, and one of the fuel cartridges. I also had some BuzzPatch mosquito stickers that I put on T’s back, and let him play with a bit. I came home with one mosquito bite, which I think I got on our hike the next day. So these items were insanely effective!
A bulleted list, to summarize:
Tent
Sleeping bags (and pillows because I’m not that tough)
Camping chairs, even a folding chair for T
External battery to charge phones and/or electronics like the sound machine
Logs, kindling, matches for the fire
A water drum with clean water for drinking, hand washing, dishwashing, and cooking
Eureka butane stove and extra fuel as needed
Food and snacks - we made steak tips with peppers and corn on the cob, which was super easy
Backpacker’s Pantry freeze dried foods are also very easy and yummy
Play yard gate this wasn’t a necessity and it took up a good amount of space, but came in handy when we couldn’t have our eyes and hands on our curious toddler
Life jacket, if you’re near water
Lots of extra clothes for the toddler
Hiking with Toddlers
Three keys to hiking with toddlers (and having fun while you do it)
Hiking has always been a hobby of mine. From my college days in Boulder, CO to hot and humid summer mornings in Virginia, connecting with nature remains a passion of mind. So lately, I’ve been working on introducing T to the trails. As with anything you do with a toddler, it takes time to get it down. Honestly, it takes time before it actually becomes enjoyable, but here are the three things I keep in mind, which have helped lead us to success.
Patience: Incredible patience is required because it’s unlikely that your hike will go smoothly, and certainly will not be as quick as you may be used to. Toddlers are innately curious, and there is so much to explore out there! I try to keep in mind just how beautiful his curiosity is. Even though my adult brain wants to power through, allowing him the space and time to do things like watch a beetle for 10 minutes is going to make the experience more enjoyable for us all. If you flip your perspective, you may find it just as awe-inspiring.
Realistic Expectations: Start with short, relatively easy hikes, and build on that based on your own kiddo’s interest and ability. Our first hike was about 5 minutes, and covered almost no ground at all. It ended in frustration as T broke down and I struggled to manage my disappointment in our failed activity. But we’ve slowly worked our way up to 1.5 hour hikes, and he will walk the majority of that! We’ve also started doing more hilly trails that require a little more physical effort, even some small rock scramble areas. I still choose trails that I know I’d be comfortable carrying him on, just in case he has a day in which he isn’t as into it.
Be Prepared: All moms know that being prepared is the key to pretty much any activity with kids, especially toddlers. I do not like hiking with a lot of baggage, but I always have these items:
Snacks (things that are easy to eat on the go and will give him a lot of energy - usually a peanut butter sandwich or granola bar)
Plenty of water
A hat
Sunscreen and bug spray
A change of clothes that I keep in the car for afterward
If you want to start bringing your young kids out, but feel overwhelmed by it or expect the effort to be greater than the experience itself, I’m here to tell you that it’s possible. Each hike will get better and better. Just keep perspective, and be realistic.
3 Simple Ways We’re Getting Outside This Summer
3 simple ways to get outside, even on a busy summer day!
We are lucky enough to live in a place where summer is one huge celebration. We survived the winter, and we earned a couple months of sunshine and warmth. That being said, I personally feel a little bit of pressure to really soak up every last drop, and make them count. So here are 3 simple outdoor activities that you can do, even when time is limited and energy is low.
Back to where it all started: I wasn’t born in the 1950’s but I was raised on backyard battles of kick the can, and epic games of HORSE. T isn’t old enough for lawn games with the neighbors, but our backyard and driveway have quickly become a safe place where he has a lot of freedom to play how he wants with what he wants. It’s low stress, and always accessible, even in the rain (puddles are a toddler’s best friend)!
Beat the heat: It doesn’t get too hot in New England most days, but with family in Charleston, SC and many years spent in the DC area, I know that humidity and sky-high temps can make playing outside pretty miserable (not to mention dangerous to your health). The key is to get outside early, and seek out shady areas. When I visit my parents house, T and I like to get out of the house by 7, and if it’s too hot to walk or play, we like to get breakfast outside in the shade.
Pack a picnic: When we have a hectic day, but I am aching for some fresh air, I’ll bring a packed lunch with us on our errands. That way we can stop somewhere, like a park or playground, and eat on the go. It’s fun and a little different for T. I also find that he has a great appetite when we’re on the go, and gets excited about eating out of his lunch box.
Not rocket science, but hope it helps inspire you to prioritize being outdoors, even on busy days!