Do you love the idea of taking your kids camping, but get a bit anxious about how to make it work: Are they old enough? Will they sleep….will I sleep? We put these questions to our communications team’s very own Tina Lippstreu, who has been camping with her two young sons they were six months old. Here, Tina shares some of her tips to take the stress out of camping with young kids and enjoy the experience to its fullest.
I often hear friends say “I can’t wait to take my kids camping…once they’re a little older.” My hot take: Why wait? Don’t get me wrong, I completely relate to parents feeling daunted. Even if you’re an experienced camper, that first trip with your little ones can seem like a monumental undertaking. But I genuinely believe that many parents will happily discover that it’s much less stressful—and even more rewarding. What could be more fun for a toddler than spending time in nature? Crawling through sand, picking up rocks, brushing those tiny fingers through grass and leaves—it’s the world’s biggest and best sensory playroom.
And I love that camping gives my children an opportunity to see animals and insects in their natural habitats and helps them form respect for those creatures.
So, from someone who goes on at least five camping trips a year with their kids in the South African countryside, here is my advice from one parent to another for stress-free adventuring.
Embrace the comfort of campsites
Confession: Before motherhood, I didn’t believe camping was “the real deal” unless I had my trusty tent pitched out in the wilderness, miles from anyone else. As a parent, I have embraced the safety and comfort provided by official campsites: clean running water, child-friendly bathrooms, opportunities to meet other families with young kids, and (here in South Africa) a much smaller chance of wild lions and elephants stumbling across my tent!
Choose your tent wisely
Before I had children, my tent was about 50 years old and had accumulated a number of holes that I happily patched over the years. But when you have children with you, you don’t want to be in an old, unreliable tent that leaks.
Investing in (or borrowing) a large, strong, high-quality tent has made a tremendous difference. It has blackout material, which means my kids aren’t woken up at sunrise.
The tent also has built-in lighting and is extremely waterproof. Believe it or not, I’m now excited to camp in the rain because we can all stay cozy while listening to droplets hitting the roof.
Get bougie with bedding
A good camp mattress is non-negotiable: Tired parents need to sleep comfortably. Being sleep-deprived on a camping trip when you’re responsible only for yourself is one thing. Being sleep-deprived because of a bad mattress when you need to wake up and feed a six-month-old at five in the morning is another matter entirely. Trust me, I’ve learned!
Have a fallback option ready
For first-time campers (and exhausted parents) especially, I think it’s important to be honest with yourself about what you need to feel comfortable—and don’t feel guilty about it.
When I first camped with my six-month-old, immunocompromised baby, I asked myself what I could do to make the experience manageable for me—so I booked a very inexpensive cabin beside our campsite. It wasn’t luxurious, but it meant I had a refrigerator for milk and formula and clean water for washing dishes. It’s ok to make the experience easier for yourself.
Resist the urge to overpack
Of course you need the essentials—food, shelter, first-aid kit, and the favorite teddy—but less really is more when it comes to packing toys and tablets. I’ve found that the less I bring with us, the more room there is for imagination, adventure, and everything the outdoors has to offer.
Same routine…just under the stars
With your tiniest ones, it’s helpful to replicate certain aspects from home, especially those rituals that help children feel safe and secure. For example, we follow the exact same bedtime routine while camping that we follow at home, and in the mornings, we eat the same breakfast.
One of the best reasons I take my children camping is that I am the fullest, richest, most joy-filled version of myself when I’m outdoors, and I want my kids to experience that side of me.
Tina Lippstreu, certification communications manager
Camp chores for kids
One of things I love about camping is that it’s a low-stress environment for teaching toddlers how to help with chores or practice day-to-day skills, like eating with cutlery. Grass is much more forgiving than carpets, so if they drop their cup or make a mess at mealtime, it’s usually fine—and the clean-up can be made into a game. Children love to be involved and know that they play an important role in the family. Ask them to grab a lantern, help connect the tent poles, or assist with another part of setting up camp.
And camping has helped me learn too; it pushes me to slow down and become more present—even while doing the dishes. For example, I’ve learned to shrug it off when one of my kids picks up a freshly washed plate and throws it back into the dirt!
Bring a bucket
Ok, this one is quite specific, but trust me: Bring an extra-large, collapsible rubber bucket. It is incredibly useful in so many situations, from fetching water and doing the dishes to holding your children’s dirty clothes or even bathing them. Thank me later.
Enjoy yourself
One of the best reasons I take my children camping is that I am the fullest, richest, most joy-filled version of myself when I’m outdoors, and I want my kids to experience that side of me. My three-year-old often tells me, “Mom, camping is my favorite.” I think he feels that way because he has had these experiences since he was six months old. He associates being in nature and sleeping together in a tent with seeing his mom happy and energized.
So, my biggest piece of advice is really quite simple: Go and do it, start making those memories. Believe me, they’re special.
