| Have fun camping with toddlers? Is it possible? If | | | | normal (after dark) and refused to take a nap, but |
| you're looking to get away and have a relaxed, | | | | there was no crying and they had a lot of fun. Two |
| stress-free vacation, then you probably don't want to | | | | days is all they can handle with that little sleep, but they |
| take your toddlers with you. If, on the other hand, you | | | | did great. We have gone on two two-day trips this |
| want to get away and spend some quality time with | | | | summer and they slept very well (although I can't say |
| your family, then these tips may help you keep your | | | | we did). |
| active toddlers safe and entertained. | | | | If you are tent camping, you might try a portable crib |
| You probably already know if your toddler is a good | | | | play pen. I wish we had tried this last summer, I think it |
| little traveller. We have twin 2-1/2-year-old boys. One | | | | may have helped. |
| likes to ride in the car and will nod off when he's tired. | | | | Once you get the sleeping thing down, there are some |
| The other one has disliked riding in the car since he | | | | other things to consider when you take your toddler |
| was a baby. He will under no circumstances sleep in | | | | camping. |
| the car (maybe for five minutes by accident). When | | | | Make sure there aren't too many hazards where you |
| he decides he's done riding in the car (every fifteen | | | | will be camping. You might not want to camp right next |
| minutes or so) he cries and whines incessantly until | | | | to a lake, river, etc., anywhere that would be too |
| daddy threatens to pull the car over. | | | | tempting for your toddler when you're not looking. |
| If you have a toddler that doesn't like to travel, don't | | | | When you are camping you can't take your eyes off |
| torture yourselves with a long car ride. It just isn't worth | | | | of them for even one second or something could |
| it. Three hours is about our limit. If we stop when we're | | | | happen to them. It happens that fast! On our first |
| about half way there and let the boys run around and | | | | camping trip this year one of our boys tripped and |
| play for a few minutes they do a lot better. Make sure | | | | bonked his head on the camper steps, and then the |
| to bring plenty of snacks in the car. Daddy's | | | | same day stepped off the edge of a swimming pool |
| no-food-in-the-car rule was dismissed quickly when we | | | | into the deep end! And I was standing right there both |
| started taking two toddlers on road trips. If you need a | | | | times. |
| quick lunch Lunchables are great. One Lunchable is | | | | On the other hand, you do want to go somewhere |
| enough food for two hungry toddlers. | | | | where there are fun things for your toddler to see and |
| Something else you need to think about when you | | | | experience. Rivers and lakes are great places to visit |
| camp is where your toddlers are going to sleep. If | | | | with your toddler. They love to throw rocks in the |
| they're used to sleeping places other than their beds | | | | water! We drove up to a scenic mountain area where |
| you'll probably be fine. Our boys have always slept in | | | | there was still snow and the boys had a great time |
| their cribs and don't know anything else. Our first | | | | throwing snowballs at us. There were also many |
| camping trip was a disaster. | | | | waterfalls to look at. The campground where we |
| The boys were 18 months old and we tried to get | | | | stayed had a lot of easy walking trails that were great |
| them to lay down with us on an air mattress in a tent. | | | | for exploring with the boys. We wish we had brought |
| It took hours to get them settled down at night with a | | | | a wagon with us. They would have loved being pulled |
| lot of crying involved. They didn't nap at all for two | | | | around in it. |
| days and then we endured six hours home in the car. I | | | | Another thing that we found a necessity when taking |
| have heard others tell of similar experiences with this | | | | two toddlers camping was to bring other family |
| aged child. If you're not sure how your child will do you | | | | members with us. The boys got to enjoy camping with |
| might want to wait until he or she is a little older. | | | | two grandmas, two grandpas, and an aunt and uncle. It |
| Our camping trips this year have gone much better. | | | | is a great opportunity to spend time with your |
| The boys are still sleeping in their cribs at home, but | | | | extended family, and they love spending time with their |
| we recently bought an RV. My husband slept with one | | | | grandchildren, niece, nephew, etc. This is big help for |
| boy in one bed, and I slept with the other boy in a | | | | mom and dad and takes some of the pressure off. |
| different bed. They still went to bed much later than | | | | |