5 Tips For Camping With Children
Camping is a childhood adventure like no other. Sleeping under canvas, toasting marshmallows, telling stories by torchlight and waking up surrounded by nature – what’s not to love? For little ones, it’s the stuff of dreams. For parents, however, the thought of spending a night in a tent can sometimes feel a little less dreamy!
Will they sleep? Will they be too cold? Too hot? Will someone need the toilet at 2am? And, most importantly, will anyone actually wake up feeling refreshed in the morning?
Fear not, sleepy parents! The team behind Up All Hours, a new parenting platform created for sleep-deprived parents, have put together their top tips for getting a better night’s sleep in the great outdoors. From getting everyone settled into the right bedtime routine to making sure little campers are warm, comfortable and ready for bed, these clever tips will help take some of the guesswork out of camping with children.
So, grab your sleeping bags, pull on your cosiest PJs and get ready for a night of outdoor adventure. Here are our top tips for helping the whole family sleep soundly under canvas – and wake up ready for more camping fun!
1) Home comforts
When it comes to camping with little ones, a few familiar comforts from home can make a world of difference. Keeping their usual bedtime set-up as familiar as possible can help them feel safe, settled and ready for sleep. Think about what they normally have at home when it’s time for bed. A favourite teddy, comforter or blanket can provide a reassuring reminder of home when everything else feels new. If there’s room in the car, you could even bring their usual duvet or pillow – there’s nothing quite like climbing into something familiar after a busy day of outdoor adventures.
You could also recreate a few familiar bedtime cues from home. Bring along their favourite bedtime story, sing the usual lullaby or stick to your normal bath-and-bed routine where possible. These little rituals can help signal that it’s time to wind down, even when there’s a whole world of exciting things happening just outside the tent.
2) When the dawn breaks
Ah, the great camping alarm clock – the sun! While we might be hoping for a lie-in after a busy day of adventures, little campers don’t always get the memo. Once that morning light starts peeking through the tent, chances are you’ll soon hear those familiar words “when is breakfast?!” It’s worth remembering that camping can make bedtime feel a little different from normal. With so much excitement going on, your little explorers may need a little extra time to wind down after a busy day. Adjust bedtime where you can so everyone has the best chance of getting enough sleep before the early-morning wake-up call.
Of course, there’s something rather magical about waking up in the great outdoors. Listen carefully and you might hear the birds beginning their morning chorus, leaves rustling in the breeze and the world slowly coming to life around you. So, embrace the early starts, pack plenty of breakfast treats and remember that a little extra sleep means more energy for the day’s adventures. After all, there are puddles to jump in, trails to explore and marshmallows to toast!
3) Run them ragged
One of the very best things about camping is that the great outdoors does a pretty good job of tiring little explorers out! Fresh air, big adventures and plenty of running around are a winning combination when it comes to bedtime. So, make the most of your surroundings and let the children run, jump, climb, splash and explore to their heart’s content. Head off on a woodland adventure, go for a family bike ride, hunt for bugs, paddle in streams or simply let them loose in a big open space. The more opportunities they have to burn off that seemingly endless supply of energy, the better!
As bedtime approaches, start to slow things down. After a full day of outdoor adventures, rosy cheeks and tired legs, they should hopefully be more than ready to snuggle into their sleeping bags and drift off. And don’t forget that grown-ups need a chance to recharge too. A day spent exploring together followed by a peaceful evening around the campfire sounds like a pretty perfect camping day to us.
4) A full tummy is a happy tummy
We all know that little ones can be wonderfully unpredictable when it comes to food. One day they’ll happily devour something they turned their nose up at yesterday, and the next they’ll refuse to eat anything that isn’t beige! So, when packing your camping kit, make sure you bring a couple of tried-and-tested meals and snacks that you know they’ll happily eat. Familiar favourites can be a real comfort when everything else feels new, and a full tummy is much more likely to lead to a happy, settled bedtime.
There’s no need to make camping meals complicated, either. The golden rule is to make things as easy as possible for yourself. Camping with children is an adventure, not a test of your outdoor survival skills! Pack the foods that work for your family, keep those little tummies happy and you’ll be one step closer to a peaceful night under canvas. And remember to pack a few extra snacks – because somehow, “I’m hungry!” always seems to arrive just as you’ve finally sat down!
5) Layering is key
Working out what little campers should wear to bed can be one of the trickier parts of camping with children. The evening might start warm and balmy, but once the sun disappears, temperatures can drop surprisingly quickly. And of course, nobody wants to be rummaging around in a chilly tent at midnight trying to find an extra blanket!
The secret is to layer up rather than relying on one thick layer. Take your cues from the temperature and what your child normally sleeps comfortably in. You might start with their usual PJs and a sheet, then have a duvet or cosy blankets ready to add as the evening gets cooler.
