One of the hardest lessons to learn while camping with small children is the forgetting of essential items that you did not even know existed or you realize you need right as you are going to sleep! Making an itemized list and creating a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu will help to ensure that nothing is overlooked and everyone is fed!

However, before we get to the packing portion of this topic we must first discuss when to start scheduling for the actual trip!

Step #1: Plan and book your trips in December, January or February!

Campgrounds tend to open their booking calendar in December, January or February and the more popular destinations tend to fill up pretty quickly. Campgrounds have what is called a “booking window” and each campground is different. Sometimes trying to choose where to take your camping trip is like finding a needle in a haystack so I recommend a popular and easily navigable reservation site: www.reserveamerica.com. This site helps you plan and reserve your trip at campgrounds throughout the United States. It also allows you to review maps of campgrounds and gives general descriptors of camp sites themselves. The earlier you book the better the campsite you will get and when taking small children this is key as shady sites are often booked first.

Step #2 Know Your Gear

If you were a camping enthusiast prior to having children then most likely you have some gear on hand. If you have one child this gear may still suit you fine, however, if your numbers have grown to 2+ children then you will have to invest in some new items such as an extra air mattress or headlamp.

Start by taking an inventory of what you already own. Or if you are new to camping altogether begin researching what you need to buy. Here is a comprehensive list of essential camping needs (give or take a few items such as the dutch oven…). Once you have organized these items you then need to begin thinking of the additional items you will need for the small children. This really will vary from child to child. For example, my oldest son as a baby was not that fun to sleep next to on a blow up air mattress so we invested in a KidCo Peapod that fits inside our tent. It was a cozy place for him to get some sleep and we are able to sleep as well! Another essential item is the child carrier backpack. In my previous post I recommended The Ergo Carrier and The Kelty 3.0 both of which would work well on hikes, however, The Ergo Carrier or a similar type of carrier may be the better bet for both hiking and carrying the baby around the campground.

After you have thought about extras that you may need make a list of all items that you will be packing. Some of these extras may include:

Large Blanket -for baby to lay or toddler to play on

Screen Room - for toys and an area to play in if it is raining (I recommend something like this for longer trips as it is not as necessary for 2-3 nighters)

Toys, Bikes and Other Camp Friendly Entertainment Items - There will be times when toys etc. will be a good reprieve from the dirt and streams of camping

The itemized list of packed belongings will better ensure that you have all that you need. Sad is the camper that forgets the pillow! (Trust me on this one!) But even more sad is the parent who forgets the child’s pillow! As you pack each item check it off the list. It sounds a little over the top, I know, but it is insurance that no essential item is left off the list. I will comment here that on most occasions you can “make do” without a forgotten item but with children “making do” makes the camping a bit more stressful especially if it has to do with bedding or food.

#3 Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Menu

The final step in the organizational process is the making of the food menu. A comprehensive breakfast, lunch and dinner menu will ensure that you have not only enough food but you will not be wondering “what’s for dinner” at any point on the trip. This will also save you time. Meals while camping are a pleasurable albeit time consuming process as is, so the more organized you are the better luck you will have successfully feeding the family. 

Cooking with a toddler or two running about in the woods is an experience to say the least! I highly recommend having the kids help out with food preparation (even if that means sitting on the picnic table watching) whenever possible as it creates a fun and entertaining activity. If your child is too young to help out this is a good time to have them in a carrier as you cook.

Menus are a very personal thing, some people may want easy breakfasts and more complicated dinners others may want complicated breakfasts and easier meals later. Whatever your preference, be sure to switch up the menu so that it remains interesting as this will help get the kids to take a break from exploring the outdoors to eat. Rule of Thumb: kid food is usually the best camping food! Some examples: mac and cheese, pancakes, hamburgers, scrambled eggs, grilled cheese and tomato soup just to name a few. Though I did once make Beef Stroganoff for dinner and it was a hit!

Look out for the next installment of Family Camping Basics:

A Warm (and Dry!) Camper is A Happy Camper - Gear and Clothing to Make Your Experience a Delightful One