Thinking about bringing your toddler camping or hiking for the first time? Great idea, getting kids outdoors at an early age gives them an appreciation for nature and animals. Taking a toddler is not as hard as you think it just requires some attention to detail and a bit of planning. All of the comfort items you have in your home and the safety measures you have put in place are not available outside. Here are a few tips to make this an enjoyable experience not only for your children but for you as well.
Snacks......
Lots and lots of snacks. Make sure you have plenty for them to eat. Try to stay away from all of the individually wrapped snacks, they just create a lot of trash. Bring bags of craisins or trail mix. Bags of nuts and fresh fruit are great as well as provide the energy boost that you will need from all the running around. Make sure you have daytime snacks and late night snacks and early morning snacks and middle of the day snacks, you get the point. Its not as quick and easy to whip something up over a campfire or grill as it is in the kitchen.
Comfort......
If you don't think you will need it, you already need it. Starting off camping with a toddler will most likely be car camping. Why not just throw it in the car on the off chance you think it might be useful. Use an air mattress, picture this its 3 am your little buddy hasn't fallen asleep yet and you are about to pass out. At that moment I'm sure I could be convinced to mortgage an air mattress for 20 years at 17% APR. The key here is to get them used to ENJOYING the outdoors. Later in life they can learn how to camping and hike out, right now lets just get them comfortable sleeping outside.
Location Location Location......
Location is everything, from the distance to the campground, to the campsite relative to the bathroom. It all matters. Also, a key feature for us when we choose a campground is water. Whether it is a lake, a river or just a little creek we always include a water feature in our choice. Skipping stones can provide a hour of fun for you and the kids.
Be Prepared......For Everything......
We went camping one night in the spring. The weather was beautiful and I didn't even think to check the weather report. The temperature dropped down to 55 degrees in the middle of the night and we weren't properly prepared. By 4:30 am we were all piled in the car cold and miserable. The next time we went out I made sure to bring a small space heater just in case. Good thing I did because we ended up using it and it worked out perfectly. Moral of the story is, forgetting just 1 item can turn a great trip into a nightmare if it is the one item you absolutely needed.