Camping with a toddler

[lewdogg21]

Hello fellow campers,

I have a soon to be two year old who I want to get out into the great outdoors like I did as a kid. I'm looking at a trailer camping trip with renting a trailer this summer. The idea is to have a "successful" trip where my wife has a great time and maybe eventually we get a travel trailer. I've taken her camping once, it was tent camping and she was sorta miserable. She is a city girl.

Any suggestions or hacks on camping with a toddler that you can share from experience?

EDIT: Am I better off waiting until she's 3 or 4? Right now she's hitting the terrible two's.

[Itwentbang]

http://amzn.to/24Ax0z2

OK, I'm kidding.

When ours were little we had the easiest time when we camped at beaches. Frankly, it was just cleaner and had fewer "things" to cause issues and that was a big help.

[racinjason233]

hahaha hilarious!!!

[j-shot]

At two be prepared for constant "I'm bored".

Bring everything you can that simulates home for the child (ipad with their shows or portable dvd player, their favorite toys, their "blankey", food, snacks, etc..)

This is all to fall back on when hiking gets long and "I'm bored"

When fishing is slow and "I'm bored".

When the sun goes down and "I'm bored".

Ad nauseam...

I took my nieces and nephew camping (age range 2-8) Trust me on this.

We have since been camping several times. As they get used to camping and find activities to replace other activities (namely TV) the supply of their junk we would drag out to camp got smaller and smaller. Now? They just want their fishing poles and rain boots (stomping puddles is fun apparently)

[dozer wright]

We used to go to a place called Cherry creek lots of sand on a very slow shallow creek .
The fishing wasn't great but playing in the water and sand was always fun . Used to make the kids wear life jackets around water they whine for a while but eventually forget. as always be careful with toddlers water , snakes , wondering away .

[Garv]

Don't try to do too much, esp. since the wife is not a camper.

Easily prepared or pre-prepared meals and you cook/clean.

Maybe a place to splash in a stream.

Do not travel too far from camp.

Get the wife a bottle of her favorite adult beverage or two.....

[JohnnyMtn]

I am sorry but I am very skeptical. I have a 3-year old and a 6-year old whom I would LOVE to get into the outdoors. But I cannot imagine it because both are tornados, especially the 3-year old. The kids would I'm sure be fine but my main concern would be annoying/disturbing other people.

I do hope though that it can be done because I need the encouragement to dive into this world.

[Red-Osier]

Don't try to do too much, esp. since the wife is not a camper.

Easily prepared or pre-prepared meals and you cook/clean.

Maybe a place to splash in a stream.

Do not travel too far from camp.

Get the wife a bottle of her favorite adult beverage or two.....

^^or 5

[Red-Osier]

I took my kids when they were 4 and 2 years old tent camping. Lots of fun. It does depend on the kids though. If they are tornados watch out.

[j-shot]

I am sorry but I am very skeptical. I have a 3-year old and a 6-year old whom I would LOVE to get into the outdoors. But I cannot imagine it because both are tornados, especially the 3-year old. The kids would I'm sure be fine but my main concern would be annoying/disturbing other people.

I do hope though that it can be done because I need the encouragement to dive into this world.

Know that it can be done. With kids and camping it's back to boy scout basics, "always prepared".

[Santeeshooter9733]

I'm actually planning a dry camping trip with my two boys (2 and 6) and my father in law in a few weeks and I have some of the same concerns with them lol. I know my youngest is a total outdoors/ play in the mud/ find and catch bugs/ I am gonna wander on my own type boy and my oldest is the opposite. I'm looking at places on Blm land though so I don't have cranky kids annoying other people and we are actually out in nature. Wish me luck

[Itwentbang]

Good luck!

[Rule .308]

bring the porta-crib, you will thank me.

[Cheep]

Find some way to secure the screen door or the little one will bail head first before you can get there.

[nedro]

I took my 2 year old girl camping last fall. She loved every minute of it. The tent was magical to her.
We were up near the top of hwy 4 in the middle of the Forrest by a lake, lots of trees and granite boulders to climb on.