Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers

Just because you have little ones shouldn't mean that you can't enjoy the great outdoors. Although surviving a camping trip with toddlers can be challenging, if you are adequately prepared, it can be even more fun than camping with adults.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Pack in Excess

Since many camping grounds are far away from civilization, you won't want to make a trip to the store midway through the camping experience. To avoid the calamity of an unforeseen emergency, pack more for your toddler than you think you will need. Extra diapers are a definite necessity, in addition to extra clothes for cool nights and an extra pack of baby wipes.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Sing-Along Tapes

The car trip may be the most difficult part of the camping experience, so bring plenty of sing-along tapes and picture books with which to entertain your toddler on the road. You might want to get a few kids' books with pictures of animals they might see in the wilderness, which will get them excited about the vacation ahead.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Allergies

A few weeks before you go on your camping trip, you might want to have your pediatrician check for allergies. There are plenty of tests that can be run on toddlers to identify allergies to insect bites, insect repellant, certain foods and different plants. That way, you'll know what you need to avoid while camping.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Sun Protection

Most camping trips take place during the spring and summer when the sun is at it's hottest. Since you don't want your toddler to be miserable with a sunburn, pack hats, sunglasses and plenty of kids' sunscreen to ward off damaging rays.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Toddler Tub

Toddlers love to play in the dirt, and if your camping trip will last for several days, you'll need a way to clean your child before bedtime each night. A large plastic tub - like the storage bins you can purchase at Wal-Mart for less than $15 - are perfect for rinsing the grime from your toddler's skin. It can also be a wonderful way for your toddler to cool off while camping; kids love playing in the water.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Strollers

If you plan to do some hiking while camping, you won't want to have to carry your toddler up and down hills. Instead, purchase a hiking stroller - such as the B.O.B. Sport Utility Stroller from bobtrailers.com. Your hiking stroller should have large polymer wheels and a suspension system for rocky surfaces.

Surviving a Camping Trip with Toddlers: Nature Hikes

When your toddler starts to get a little restless or homesick, try taking him or her on a nature hike. All different types of insects, animals and plants can be found near camping grounds, which can make for an educational and entertaining few hours. Don't think that just because your toddler is young doesn't mean that he or she won't be interested to learn the names of grasshoppers, deer, fir trees and jasmine vines.