With international travel still a bit uncertain, many families are opting for staycations this summer – including us! While I wouldn’t call myself an avid camper (definitely a ‘sunshine only’ type!), my husband is a true lover of the outdoors. So, I finally agreed to a 4-day camping trip with friends – and all our children in tow.
I had a couple of non-negotiables: I needed a real tent – none of that two-man, crawl-in situation we used pre-children. It had to have proper bedrooms and room to stand. Oh, and I needed access to hot showers! Thankfully, my husband agreed… and off we went.
Here are a few first-hand tips I picked up from camping with a toddler who sleeps in a cot (ours is 19 months old). His older sister came too, but with a group of girls aged 4 – 8, she was more than entertained!
The right tent for sleeping well!
We borrowed a roomy 6-person tent with two sleeping compartments and a central living space. My husband, used to minimalist wild camping, thought it was overkill – but it turned out to be ideal. Each child got their own little “room,” complete with home comforts like familiar bedding, soft toys, and pillows. My husband and I slept in the main space, which worked surprisingly well.
A travel cot is a game changer!
Friends had warned me about toddlers refusing to sleep on airbeds or in unfamiliar beds. I knew ours would be the same. So, we brought his travel cot – and thank goodness we did! It gave him a sense of security and routine, and he slept just as he would at home. Even my sceptical husband admitted it was well worth the effort.
Should you bring the white noise machine camping?
Bring the white noise! Even at a quiet, family-friendly campsite, evenings can be noisy – laughter, zipping tents, children running around. To make things easier, we brought along our usual white noise machine. Not only did it drown out distractions, but it helped settle him into his bedtime routine. Bonus: it also muffled the noise of us sneaking into bed after dark with all those noisy zips and rustling!
How to bath your toddler whilst camping!
Our little one isn’t keen on showers, and after a day at the beach, I knew it wouldn’t go down well. Instead, we brought a large flexible tub (those builder’s buckets from IKEA work great). We filled it with warm water and let him splash to his heart’s content. It was simple, fun, and so much easier than wrestling him into a shower.
How to manage naps whilst camping:
Naptime matters! Yes, I got some eye-rolls when I insisted we pack the (bulky) mountain buggy – but I was right. He napped for two hours on the beach, shaded under a parasol, snug in the buggy. It was also incredibly useful for transporting gear to and from the beach. If you’re planning a trip, something like a Snoozeshade is a fantastic addition – use code LITTLEDREAMS at checkout for 20% off!
How to keep bedtime on track:
While we relaxed the routine slightly, we still kept nap and bedtime rhythms consistent for our toddler. Without our phones, we were blissfully off-grid, but I did sneak a glance at the car clock each evening to avoid him getting overtired. Interestingly, he naturally signalled when he was ready for bed, and stuck close to his usual bedtime. Our daughter stayed up a little later with friends but still settled well with her usual comforts in the tent.
All in all, we had a brilliant time – and I’m a lot more open to camping in the future! Yes, we packed the car to bursting (my husband would call it a masterclass in Tetris), but the effort paid off. Our sleep setup meant everyone was well-rested and ready to enjoy the adventure.
If you’re finding your little one’s sleep challenging – whether at home or away – feel free to get in touch. We’d love to help you get some restful nights!
