6 Tips to Help Kids Sleep While Camping
Rookie Mistake!
When Madic was about 18 months old we decided to head to Willard Bay, Utah to celebrate Father’s Day. It was our first camping trip of the season and we were all excited to get outside. We had never camped at Willard Bay, but a neighbor had mentioned it was a nice campground so we decided to check it out.
The night started out well with Madic going down easily for bed. We even successfully snuck back into the tent with our dog. As I drifted off to sleep that night I thought smugly to myself “this isn’t so hard!” Rookie mistake!
One minor detail that our neighbor forgot to mention is that the campground is located near some train tracks. So imagine our surprise and delight when a train came rolling through at 1 am.
I remember groggily thinking “Man, that’s a really loud car” and then the screaming began.
In a panic, I quickly pulled Madic into bed with us, sure that his ear-piercing screams would wake the whole campground. Thankfully he calmed down quickly. Then began the fun task of trying to sleep with a toddler on a very small air mattress.
Dustin was a champ and took the brunt of it, letting Madic sleep on his arm until about 5 am. Once Dustin’s arm reached the state of needing to be amputated if it went one more minute without circulation, I took over. Madic and I cuddled until about 6 am when the second train came rolling through. Of course with the horn blaring…always with the horn. By that point, Madic was up for good so we did what any self-respecting parent would do. We left him to the task of destroying the tent while we tried to get a little more sleep. After a couple of minutes, it got quiet. When we investigated we found that the poor little guy had passed out on a pile of blankets. He slept there until 7:45 am when…the third train came rolling through.
Why our friendly neighbor left out this very important detail will forever be a mystery to us!
Tent Camping with Littles
As the above story demonstrates camping with little kids can have its challenges, but by no means should that deter you. Taking little kids camping is a lot of fun. You are guaranteed to make some lifelong memories and at a minimum, you will come away with some great stories!
For parents that have never taken their kids camping, there can be a lot of concerns. How do I keep my kids warm at night? What should I pack? And most common what if they don’t sleep?! Well, you are in luck because today I am going to share all my tips and tricks for getting toddlers and babies to sleep while camping.
For the purpose of this post, I will be focusing specifically on tent sleeping. That is what I am most experienced with and it is the form of camping that presents the most challenges when it comes to sleep.
Some Things to Keep in Mind
When it comes to camping and sleep it can be helpful to remember that you are disrupting your kids’ normal sleep routine. You are taking them to a new and exciting place and expecting them to sleep in a shared space. This in and of itself is going to affect how well your kids sleep. Having realistic expectations (cough..low expectations) can go a long way when it comes to your enjoyment of the trip.
The first night of the trip will be the hardest. It is likely your kids will have spent most of the day excitedly awaiting the start of the camping trip and they may have even endured a long car ride to get there. These two factors can make it difficult for your little ones to settle down when it comes time for sleep. So if the first night is a bit rough, don’t give up just yet. Give your kids a day of playing outside in the fresh air, sun, and dirt and you will find they sleep a lot better the second night.
With that being said it is totally doable to get decent sleep while camping with little kids (even on that fateful first night). For your best chance of success and to avoid some common camping sleep hurdles check out my tips below.
6 Tips to Help Kids Sleep While Camping
Tip #1: Adjust your kids’ bed time
One of the challenges of camping is that your lovely black-out curtains are left at home. Long summer days mean that it is still light out when it comes time for your kids’ regular bedtime.
There are tents on the market that block out the sun but assuming you don’t have one of those tents I would recommend trying the following:
Instead of putting your kids down at 7-8 pm, push back their bedtime by 30 min to an hour. The combination of your kids being a little more tired and it being a bit darker can work wonders in helping your kids fall asleep.
Tip #2: Follow your kids’ regular bedtime routine
When it comes time for bed do your best to stick to your kids’ regular bedtime routine. Brush teeth. Put on pjs. Sing a song or read a story. And most importantly make sure to bring all your kids’ sleep items from home: blankets, lovies, etc. These comforts and the familiarity of their bedtime routine will help your kids relax and be more prepared for sleep.
Tip #3: Bring a sound machine
Whether your kids sleep with a sound machine at home or not, bringing one camping can be a huge help for your kids’ sleep. This not only helps your tent feel more like home, but will help block out sounds from neighboring campgrounds, people entering or exiting the tent or other children who don’t know how to be quiet when people are sleeping.
We use the Hushh Portable Sound Machine {aff. link} when we are camping. On a full charge, it will last the whole night without being plugged in. The other nice feature is that it charges off a USB cord so you can easily charge it in your car the next day. If you plan on using it for nap times as well I would recommend getting a portable charger to go with it. We use and love the Anker Powercore Portable Charger {aff. link}. We used it recently on a four-day camping trip and had no issues. Our sound machine never lost its charge, even though we used it throughout the day and for 12 hour stretches at night.
Tip #4: Melatonin can be your friend
Melatonin is a hormone that our brain naturally produces that helps us feel drowsy and can aid in sleep. I’ll be honest, I have never had to resort to this route, but I have had it recommended to me by parents that have done camping trips in Alsaka (i.e. daylight 24/7).
If you have a kiddo that struggles with sleep at home or is an extra light sleeper Melatonin may be something you want to consider. To determine the appropriate dose talk with your pediatrician. You will also want to be sure to administer it about 30 min before bedtime to give it some time to work its way into your kid’s system.
Tip #5: Lay down with your kids
If you don’t want to go to bed at 9 pm that is fine, but your kids will have a much easier time settling if you lay down with them. This can be especially helpful for babies that suffer from separation anxiety. For toddlers that just want to play, I recommend being firm and showing by example that it is time to sleep. It may feel like forever but usually within 10-15 min they get the message and will fall asleep.
Tip #6: Do naps on the go or outside
The other challenge with tent camping is that tents are often too hot for your little one’s afternoon nap. Plan your activities in such a way that your baby or toddler can nap in the car or in your child carrier.
Another option is to set up a shade structure or a hammock so they can take a nap outside. Studies have shown that kids sleep better outside so don’t feel intimidated by that idea. Once again laying down with them can go a long way. Here are some products we use and love to help our kids sleep on the go or outside while camping.
Favorite Child Carrier for 0-6 Months {aff. link}
Favorite Child Carrier for 6+ Months {aff. link}
Best Baby Travel Pillow {aff. link}
Best Toddler Travel Pillow {aff. link}
Hammock {aff. link}
Small Shade Structure for Naps {aff. link}
Tips on How to Get Started
Now that you know all the tips for helping your kids sleep while camping let’s talk about how to get started.
If you are not an experienced camper or are nervous about the idea of taking little kids camping here are some tips to help you ease into this new experience:
- Try camping in your backyard first. For little kids, this is a huge treat and for parents, it is a great trial run. This gives you the chance to make sure you have all the gear you need (e.g. no missing tent poles) and if things go sideways you are only a couple of feet away from your nice warm beds. Tip: Make sure to turn the sprinklers off.
- Once you have camped successfully in your backyard, plan a one-night camping trip near home. This gives you the chance to experience packing up all the gear, thinking through what items you need for cooking, and you get to check out a local campground. The other perk is you are still close enough that you can easily drive home in the middle of the night if needs be. Tip: Use The Dyrt website or app to check campground reviews.
- Once the above two have gone well you can attempt a longer camping trip or explore a campground that is located further away. I have every expectation that this will go well, but remember there is no shame in cutting your trip short if things don’t go as planned (e.g. cold front moves in, a child gets sick, etc.).
Just remember it gets easier with practice!
Good Luck!
Are you ready to plan your first camping trip?! What other tips and tricks would you add?
If you found this article helpful you can use the buttons below to share this post with family and friends. Also, be sure to check out my post How to Keep Kids Warm While Camping for some practical tips on how to help kids sleep when cold weather camping (50 degrees Fahrenheit or colder).
If you need more help planning your summer camping trip be sure to check out our Family Camping Toolbox. It comes with a complete set of tools to help you confidently pack and cook for a weekend camping trip with kids. Plus bonus material: cooler tips, 50+ kid friendly camping activities, and a feeding baby tip sheet. You can learn more by clicking the image below!
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