50+ things to take camping with kids
If there's an open door, you can bet our Little is going to run through it at top speed! So we love taking a weekend away to get back to nature where there are no doors. We have learned camping with kids is exhausting, and downright filthy, but it's so worth the reward. We love taking her for hikes, taking her out on a friend's boat, going fishing, making up a nature scavenger hunt... there's just so much to do! But I've learned we've got to pack a lot of kid-crap to make the experience comfortable for everyone, so here are the 50+ (yes, 50!) things you need to take camping with a Little:
Perimeter gate.
Small children don't understand the dangers of a campground fire and one trip and fall while running around could be tragic. Look for an enclosure like this you can use as a perimeter around the fire whenever it's lit or hot, then you can take it down after the kids go to sleep at night. This also helps to contain a baby in a specific place on a tarp during the day and can also be used for corralling small dogs too, helpful in so many scenarios!
Beach Umbrella and/or canopy.
My toddler gets so sick of me constantly rubbing her down with sunscreen but it's just not worth a sunburn! We keep slathering her up but we also take our beach umbrella, the kind that screws down in to the sand or soil, so we can create a shaded place for her as needed throughout the day. A canopy like an EZ-UP is always needed on a camping trip but those sun angles can be tricky to fight, especially at the beginning and end of the day.
Pack-n-Play or cot.
As a baby we used the pack-n-play as her bed at night in the RV but it was also so great to use as a way to confine her outdoors while we were doing things where we couldn't have eyes on her at all times (like cooking). Be prepared for it to get dirty. You can wipe it down and vacuum it out when you get home, just accept that bugs and dirt will be in there with your Little. You can opt to lay a mosquito net over the top to help keep some of that off of little babies, but once they can stand the Little will pull it down and that could create a hazard. For toddlers and older kids we opted for a cot which was so much easier than maintaining another air mattress.
Highchair/booster.
You can see in the pic we have this little seat that our baby used as a high chair set on a camping chair, but it easily became a booster at the picnic table as she grew into a toddler. It's nice to have this as an option so I can be hands-free while cooking or just trying to sit down to feed myself!
Baby carrier.
My Little hates being swaddled and refuses to be carried in her Ergo, but if you are a baby-wearing mom then I salute you and applaud your koala baby for enjoying the ride. Being hands free and still getting cuddles is the best! Especially when exploring and hiking. Make sure to pack your baby carrier and know how to wash it when you get back.
Stroller and/or wagon.
We love having our full stroller with us all the time so we can still be on the go and our Little can watch the world go by or even kick back and sleep. It's also nice to know you have a seat with a sunshade all the time and sometimes it's too hot to hike with her in the baby backpack so a jogging stroller is best for everybody! If you're not doing much off-roading with your tike opt for an easier umbrella stroller to save on space and weight. Or maybe your kid is too big for a stroller but might enjoy riding in a wagon, which is handy to have for carting all your stuff back and forth to the beach or lake anyway if that's where you're camping!
Make a meal plan.
Have a plan for each meal and buy all the ingredients you'll need, down to the salt and pepper. Cook as much as you can in advance and just warm it up on the fire or camp stove once you get there. Don't forget to plan for lots and lots of snacks! The best part of camping is the eating after all. And make sure you have plenty of water, cold drinks, cocoa and coffee.
Cooler(s) with lots of ice.
Make sure you're able to keep your Little's milk and other perishable groceries very cold in your cooler and leave camp to go get more ice if needed. Improper food safety and getting sick in the woods as a result would be an absolute nightmare...
Wine & bottle opener.
Because YES.
Toddler-friendly snacks and/or baby food & spoons/bowls.
A bored Little is a very hungry Little. And what's one of the best parts of camping anyway? The eating! Whether you make your own or buy the convenient little pouches, always bring extra baby food and toddler snacks. I have found it's better to bring too much food than risk running out. Don't forget a baby bowl and plate (or two or three) for sit-down meals.
Plastic bibs.
Obviously you won't be able to do any laundry for all of your usual fabric bibs while camping, so I like taking plastic ones like this that I can scrub with the dishes and easily lay out to dry. They can be reused immediately if needed!
Extra bottles & sippy cups.
Sometimes one is dirty, sometimes one is lost. I like to travel with three for a long weekend away, but wouldn't leave home without at least two of each. Reusable straws are a great option for dropping into a bottle of water too!
Lots and lots of layers.
You need so many clothes for kids when camping, from layers to keep them warm at night to shorts and shirts for running around in the sun during the day. Heading to a lake? Take a swimsuit, water shoes and towels. Heading for the trees? Take closed toed shoes and long pants to prevent scraped knees. Bring both short sleeve shirts and long sleeve shirts, both pants and shorts, both sandals and sneakers. Of course never forget a sweatshirt and a warm coat too. Throw in some fleece jammies and mittens for good measure to keep your Little warm at night. Pack all this for the adults too.
Lots of socks.
The worst mistake I ever made camping was peeling off my hiking shoes and climbing into my sleeping bag for the night. The sweat from the day had my socks soaked but I didn't know it. As a result my feet were freezing all night and I was too tired (i.e. delirious from hiking at altitude and probably dehydrated too) to figure out if I took them off I would feel better. Make sure your Little is put to bed with clean, dry socks every night.
Sun hats for day and beanies for night.
Closed-toe shoes & sandals.
Sunscreen & hat.
Baby skin is so sensitive and even older kids should be wearing sunscreen to protect their skin. Remember to reapply often, especially if they're swimming! Don't forget the tops of their ears and feet and the part in their hair, even if they're wearing a hat most of the time.
Bug repellent & citronella candles.
This is a big one! Especially with so many dangerous diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, be sure you are using children's bug spray on your kids and keep citronella candles lit in your campsite. Any other bug repellent tricks you have, use them all.
Hand & face wipes.
At home we just use a washcloth, but as you know you won't have access to a washing machine out there in the wilderness. I like buying hand & face wipes to keep my Little clean while traveling, but you can also just bring extra baby wipes and use those to make it easy.
Spray hand sanitizer.
Kids get so dirty, as they should while camping! It's the great outdoors! But be ready to spray sanitize their hands on-the-go to keep them somewhat healthy, especially before eating.
Toothbrush & paste.
Brushes & hair ties.
Lotion & lip balm.
Dry shampoo and/or shampoo & conditioner.
Soap & face wash.
Shower shoes & bag to carry your toiletries to the camp showers.
Biodegradable toilet paper and toilet seat covers.
It's important to use camping specific products so it breaks down naturally and doesn't pollute the beautiful place we are all trying to enjoy.
First aid kit & prescription medications.
Perhaps it's just our Little, but she spikes a fever all the time. I never leave home without a thermometer, some Tylenol and Ibuprofen and a syringe for each. I even carry around a little first aid kit for her that has some baby hydrocortisone cream, saline nasal drops, and some band aids and Neosporin, which I bet you'll be reaching for on a camping trip! Having a standard First Aid kit for adults is always necessary on a camping trip too, and consider grabbing outdoor emergency products like poison oak treatments, bear spray and a snake bite kit (because I honestly would have no idea what to do if we encountered a snake or bear on a hike! Thank goodness my husband is an Eagle Scout who would take care of the situation, but even he would have a hard time getting me to calm down in those scenarios).
A thin blanket and a thick blanket.
The thick blanket is great for everything from wrapping up when cold to laying on the tarp for tummy time. But I have also found so many uses for a thin muslin blanket, like nap time on a warm afternoon, or making a temporary sun shade over Little's play area.
Pacifier leashes & wipes.
Got a binky baby? Well then you know how often they fall or get lost. Which is fine until you're hiking and you don't have a binky anymore to soothe your cranky baby. Or that pacifier has fallen in the dirt just one too many times today and you wish you didn't have to wash it AGAIN. That's why I like to have a couple backup pacifier wipes in my bag and a binky attached to a leash whenever in use.
Travel bottle drying rack & bottle brush.
I bought this little folding drying rack with a collapsible bottle brush for washing bottles and pump parts at work and it has worked out to be the best item for our travels too! Throw in a little bottle of environmentally friendly dish soap and you're set to keep bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers etc. nice and clean.
Extra diapers and wipes.
Take more than you'll need. Like double. Trust me on this. You're going to be in the middle of nowhere and can't just go buy more. Just take a big box. Better to overpack than run out! (Camping at a lake? Take swim diapers!)
Travel Changing Pad.
I feel like I say it every post, but a travel changing pad
is honestly my #1 must-have item for every mom. I have never come
across a public changing table that wasn't filthy. And it seems more
often than not there is NO changing table and I'm diapering our Little
on the ground or in our trunk. Our diaper bag came with a changing mat
which we use a lot. But when we're traveling I love to just grab this
kit and walk with the baby into the
restroom where I lay her on the clean pad and the mesh cubbies fell
over the side. I have easy access to a couple diapers, travel-size bag
of
wipes, diaper cream, hand sanitizer and a spare onesie. Now that she's a
year old I don't even bother lugging my diaper bag all over the place, it just stays in the car while
we just go into the store with this travel kit thrown at the bottom of
the grocery basket in case she needs a change.
Travel Potty.
Obviously this is vital if your Little is in the middle of potty training, but it's also convenient to pack your portable potty because we all know how toddlers tend to announce they have to go immediately and sometimes you're just too far away from the campground facilities (and who wants to try and keep a Little's butt clean while sitting on one of those things anyway, yuck).
Diaper disposal bags & Ziplocs.
You don't want a dirty diaper smelling up camp, so make sure you have bags to dispose of them in the trash bins and keep Ziplocs with you on hikes and adventures to help lock the smell away.
Extra water & a tub.
Because yay for bathtime in the woods! Take several gallons of water... way more than you think you'll need. You're going to need fresh drinking water for each person, including your Little, plus extra for baths. We like to pack everything in a big Rubbermaid tub, then empty it out at the campsite and fill that thing with some water where it can sit in the sun all day and warm up. By the end of the day you have a bath tub for baby! Don't forget baby shampoo, a washcloth and maybe a toy too.
Tent with poles and & tarp with stakes.
Don't forget a little handheld broom and dustpan to help scoop up all the outdoors dust and debris that finds its way inside all the dang time.
Lantern and flashlight (and spare batteries).
Camping chairs.
Sleeping bags, pillows, warm blankets.
Air mattresses, cots, etc.
Camp stove & propane.
Kettle, pots, pans, cooking tools & serving utensils.
Environmentally-friendly disposable plates & utensils.
Cups & a marker.
We like to write our names on those infamous red SOLO cups because you can never remember whose drink is whose and it helps limit the waste a little bit if you can keep using the same cup all day.
Aluminum foil for cooking & Ziplocs for leftovers.
Rolls and rolls of paper towels.
I used these as a burp rag when our Little was really little and then I could just throw them away (as opposed to having fabric laying around that smelled like old milk all weekend. But honestly you'll be reaching for the paper towels constantly, so take extras.
Recycling bag/bin.
Kids + camping = a lot of trash. Be a courteous guest of nature and recycle as much of your trash as possible and remember to also dispose soapy water and RV fluids responsibly please.
Clothesline & pins.
I never understood why people always put this on camping lists... until I had kids. It's so great to be able to hang dry all the wet things we accumulate like washcloths from a tub bath, wet swim suits, beach towels, damp clothes, etc.
RV string lights.
I love this glamping upgrade if you have an RV or trailer with an awning and can create a little ambiance at your campsite!
Fishing and/or hunting gear if that's your thing.
Hiking backpack & reusable water bottle.
I don't want to carry around my whole diaper bag on a hike, but we all know you can't leave your campsite without water, snacks and some diapers and wipes so have a comfy backpack you can tote along on adventures.
New (cheap) toys.
I like to stop by the dollar store and pick up toys that the kids can play with and get dirty and not care if they get lost or damage. Plus new toys always make a trip feel more special!
Games.
Bring lots of games! Kids have fun running and playing, so make up scavenger hunts and look up the rules for games like "kick the can" and "king of the mountain". I also love taking a simple deck of cards and a little book that has the rules for numerous card games for the adults to play. As your kids get older they'll find more joy in games like Candyland so take those along too.
Books.
I love to sit and read while camping, which is nearly impossible as a parent, but my Little will sit down with her books for 30 minutes at a time so I always have lots of options for her and one for myself in the hope that someday I'll get to sit down with it.
External battery charger.
This is for the parents to charge their phones so you can take lots and lots of pictures, and of course have access to a powered phone in case you need to make an emergency call. I bought my mom a solar phone charger once for her RV, such genius idea (yes, that was a shameless pat on the back). I need one now!
Bluetooth speaker.
It's nice to have a little speaker to amplify music for everyone in your campsite to enjoy... but please keep the volume respectable so it's not blasting the whole campground.
What would you add to this list? Find me on Facebook and let me know!
www.Facebook.com/ListsForLittles
First, you have to think of safety:
Perimeter gate.
Small children don't understand the dangers of a campground fire and one trip and fall while running around could be tragic. Look for an enclosure like this you can use as a perimeter around the fire whenever it's lit or hot, then you can take it down after the kids go to sleep at night. This also helps to contain a baby in a specific place on a tarp during the day and can also be used for corralling small dogs too, helpful in so many scenarios!
Beach Umbrella and/or canopy.
My toddler gets so sick of me constantly rubbing her down with sunscreen but it's just not worth a sunburn! We keep slathering her up but we also take our beach umbrella, the kind that screws down in to the sand or soil, so we can create a shaded place for her as needed throughout the day. A canopy like an EZ-UP is always needed on a camping trip but those sun angles can be tricky to fight, especially at the beginning and end of the day.
Now think of all the big things you use daily that need to come:
Pack-n-Play or cot.
Highchair/booster.
You can see in the pic we have this little seat that our baby used as a high chair set on a camping chair, but it easily became a booster at the picnic table as she grew into a toddler. It's nice to have this as an option so I can be hands-free while cooking or just trying to sit down to feed myself!
Baby carrier.
My Little hates being swaddled and refuses to be carried in her Ergo, but if you are a baby-wearing mom then I salute you and applaud your koala baby for enjoying the ride. Being hands free and still getting cuddles is the best! Especially when exploring and hiking. Make sure to pack your baby carrier and know how to wash it when you get back.
Stroller and/or wagon.
We love having our full stroller with us all the time so we can still be on the go and our Little can watch the world go by or even kick back and sleep. It's also nice to know you have a seat with a sunshade all the time and sometimes it's too hot to hike with her in the baby backpack so a jogging stroller is best for everybody! If you're not doing much off-roading with your tike opt for an easier umbrella stroller to save on space and weight. Or maybe your kid is too big for a stroller but might enjoy riding in a wagon, which is handy to have for carting all your stuff back and forth to the beach or lake anyway if that's where you're camping!
And what about meal time?
Make a meal plan.
Have a plan for each meal and buy all the ingredients you'll need, down to the salt and pepper. Cook as much as you can in advance and just warm it up on the fire or camp stove once you get there. Don't forget to plan for lots and lots of snacks! The best part of camping is the eating after all. And make sure you have plenty of water, cold drinks, cocoa and coffee.
Cooler(s) with lots of ice.
Make sure you're able to keep your Little's milk and other perishable groceries very cold in your cooler and leave camp to go get more ice if needed. Improper food safety and getting sick in the woods as a result would be an absolute nightmare...
Wine & bottle opener.
Because YES.
Toddler-friendly snacks and/or baby food & spoons/bowls.
A bored Little is a very hungry Little. And what's one of the best parts of camping anyway? The eating! Whether you make your own or buy the convenient little pouches, always bring extra baby food and toddler snacks. I have found it's better to bring too much food than risk running out. Don't forget a baby bowl and plate (or two or three) for sit-down meals.
Plastic bibs.
Obviously you won't be able to do any laundry for all of your usual fabric bibs while camping, so I like taking plastic ones like this that I can scrub with the dishes and easily lay out to dry. They can be reused immediately if needed!
Extra bottles & sippy cups.
Sometimes one is dirty, sometimes one is lost. I like to travel with three for a long weekend away, but wouldn't leave home without at least two of each. Reusable straws are a great option for dropping into a bottle of water too!
And how about all the clothes they'll need?
Lots and lots of layers.
You need so many clothes for kids when camping, from layers to keep them warm at night to shorts and shirts for running around in the sun during the day. Heading to a lake? Take a swimsuit, water shoes and towels. Heading for the trees? Take closed toed shoes and long pants to prevent scraped knees. Bring both short sleeve shirts and long sleeve shirts, both pants and shorts, both sandals and sneakers. Of course never forget a sweatshirt and a warm coat too. Throw in some fleece jammies and mittens for good measure to keep your Little warm at night. Pack all this for the adults too.
Lots of socks.
The worst mistake I ever made camping was peeling off my hiking shoes and climbing into my sleeping bag for the night. The sweat from the day had my socks soaked but I didn't know it. As a result my feet were freezing all night and I was too tired (i.e. delirious from hiking at altitude and probably dehydrated too) to figure out if I took them off I would feel better. Make sure your Little is put to bed with clean, dry socks every night.
Sun hats for day and beanies for night.
Closed-toe shoes & sandals.
And of course all the toiletries...
Sunscreen & hat.
Baby skin is so sensitive and even older kids should be wearing sunscreen to protect their skin. Remember to reapply often, especially if they're swimming! Don't forget the tops of their ears and feet and the part in their hair, even if they're wearing a hat most of the time.
Bug repellent & citronella candles.
This is a big one! Especially with so many dangerous diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, be sure you are using children's bug spray on your kids and keep citronella candles lit in your campsite. Any other bug repellent tricks you have, use them all.
Hand & face wipes.
At home we just use a washcloth, but as you know you won't have access to a washing machine out there in the wilderness. I like buying hand & face wipes to keep my Little clean while traveling, but you can also just bring extra baby wipes and use those to make it easy.
Spray hand sanitizer.
Kids get so dirty, as they should while camping! It's the great outdoors! But be ready to spray sanitize their hands on-the-go to keep them somewhat healthy, especially before eating.
Toothbrush & paste.
Brushes & hair ties.
Lotion & lip balm.
Dry shampoo and/or shampoo & conditioner.
Soap & face wash.
Shower shoes & bag to carry your toiletries to the camp showers.
Biodegradable toilet paper and toilet seat covers.
It's important to use camping specific products so it breaks down naturally and doesn't pollute the beautiful place we are all trying to enjoy.
First aid kit & prescription medications.
Perhaps it's just our Little, but she spikes a fever all the time. I never leave home without a thermometer, some Tylenol and Ibuprofen and a syringe for each. I even carry around a little first aid kit for her that has some baby hydrocortisone cream, saline nasal drops, and some band aids and Neosporin, which I bet you'll be reaching for on a camping trip! Having a standard First Aid kit for adults is always necessary on a camping trip too, and consider grabbing outdoor emergency products like poison oak treatments, bear spray and a snake bite kit (because I honestly would have no idea what to do if we encountered a snake or bear on a hike! Thank goodness my husband is an Eagle Scout who would take care of the situation, but even he would have a hard time getting me to calm down in those scenarios).
And the usual baby/toddler stuff you use every day:
A thin blanket and a thick blanket.
The thick blanket is great for everything from wrapping up when cold to laying on the tarp for tummy time. But I have also found so many uses for a thin muslin blanket, like nap time on a warm afternoon, or making a temporary sun shade over Little's play area.
Pacifier leashes & wipes.
Got a binky baby? Well then you know how often they fall or get lost. Which is fine until you're hiking and you don't have a binky anymore to soothe your cranky baby. Or that pacifier has fallen in the dirt just one too many times today and you wish you didn't have to wash it AGAIN. That's why I like to have a couple backup pacifier wipes in my bag and a binky attached to a leash whenever in use.
Travel bottle drying rack & bottle brush.
I bought this little folding drying rack with a collapsible bottle brush for washing bottles and pump parts at work and it has worked out to be the best item for our travels too! Throw in a little bottle of environmentally friendly dish soap and you're set to keep bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers etc. nice and clean.
Extra diapers and wipes.
Take more than you'll need. Like double. Trust me on this. You're going to be in the middle of nowhere and can't just go buy more. Just take a big box. Better to overpack than run out! (Camping at a lake? Take swim diapers!)
Travel Changing Pad.
I feel like I say it every post, but a travel changing pad
is honestly my #1 must-have item for every mom. I have never come
across a public changing table that wasn't filthy. And it seems more
often than not there is NO changing table and I'm diapering our Little
on the ground or in our trunk. Our diaper bag came with a changing mat
which we use a lot. But when we're traveling I love to just grab this
kit and walk with the baby into the
restroom where I lay her on the clean pad and the mesh cubbies fell
over the side. I have easy access to a couple diapers, travel-size bag
of
wipes, diaper cream, hand sanitizer and a spare onesie. Now that she's a
year old I don't even bother lugging my diaper bag all over the place, it just stays in the car while
we just go into the store with this travel kit thrown at the bottom of
the grocery basket in case she needs a change.Travel Potty.
Obviously this is vital if your Little is in the middle of potty training, but it's also convenient to pack your portable potty because we all know how toddlers tend to announce they have to go immediately and sometimes you're just too far away from the campground facilities (and who wants to try and keep a Little's butt clean while sitting on one of those things anyway, yuck).
Diaper disposal bags & Ziplocs.
You don't want a dirty diaper smelling up camp, so make sure you have bags to dispose of them in the trash bins and keep Ziplocs with you on hikes and adventures to help lock the smell away.
Extra water & a tub.
Because yay for bathtime in the woods! Take several gallons of water... way more than you think you'll need. You're going to need fresh drinking water for each person, including your Little, plus extra for baths. We like to pack everything in a big Rubbermaid tub, then empty it out at the campsite and fill that thing with some water where it can sit in the sun all day and warm up. By the end of the day you have a bath tub for baby! Don't forget baby shampoo, a washcloth and maybe a toy too.
And the typical camping list:
Tent with poles and & tarp with stakes.
Don't forget a little handheld broom and dustpan to help scoop up all the outdoors dust and debris that finds its way inside all the dang time.
Lantern and flashlight (and spare batteries).
Camping chairs.
Sleeping bags, pillows, warm blankets.
Air mattresses, cots, etc.
Camp stove & propane.
Kettle, pots, pans, cooking tools & serving utensils.
Environmentally-friendly disposable plates & utensils.
Cups & a marker.
We like to write our names on those infamous red SOLO cups because you can never remember whose drink is whose and it helps limit the waste a little bit if you can keep using the same cup all day.
Aluminum foil for cooking & Ziplocs for leftovers.
Rolls and rolls of paper towels.
I used these as a burp rag when our Little was really little and then I could just throw them away (as opposed to having fabric laying around that smelled like old milk all weekend. But honestly you'll be reaching for the paper towels constantly, so take extras.
Recycling bag/bin.
Kids + camping = a lot of trash. Be a courteous guest of nature and recycle as much of your trash as possible and remember to also dispose soapy water and RV fluids responsibly please.
Clothesline & pins.
I never understood why people always put this on camping lists... until I had kids. It's so great to be able to hang dry all the wet things we accumulate like washcloths from a tub bath, wet swim suits, beach towels, damp clothes, etc.
RV string lights.
I love this glamping upgrade if you have an RV or trailer with an awning and can create a little ambiance at your campsite!
Fishing and/or hunting gear if that's your thing.
And now for the fun stuff!
Hiking backpack & reusable water bottle.
I don't want to carry around my whole diaper bag on a hike, but we all know you can't leave your campsite without water, snacks and some diapers and wipes so have a comfy backpack you can tote along on adventures.
New (cheap) toys.
I like to stop by the dollar store and pick up toys that the kids can play with and get dirty and not care if they get lost or damage. Plus new toys always make a trip feel more special!
Games.
Bring lots of games! Kids have fun running and playing, so make up scavenger hunts and look up the rules for games like "kick the can" and "king of the mountain". I also love taking a simple deck of cards and a little book that has the rules for numerous card games for the adults to play. As your kids get older they'll find more joy in games like Candyland so take those along too.
Books.
I love to sit and read while camping, which is nearly impossible as a parent, but my Little will sit down with her books for 30 minutes at a time so I always have lots of options for her and one for myself in the hope that someday I'll get to sit down with it.
External battery charger.
This is for the parents to charge their phones so you can take lots and lots of pictures, and of course have access to a powered phone in case you need to make an emergency call. I bought my mom a solar phone charger once for her RV, such genius idea (yes, that was a shameless pat on the back). I need one now!
Bluetooth speaker.
It's nice to have a little speaker to amplify music for everyone in your campsite to enjoy... but please keep the volume respectable so it's not blasting the whole campground.
What would you add to this list? Find me on Facebook and let me know!
www.Facebook.com/ListsForLittles
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