Camping with little ones.

There is something special about slowing down in the summer months and being out in the great outdoors with the fresh air and bright sun beaming on you after a day at the beach, followed by a cool evening breeze and campfire with your family. 

If you have a little ones, the task of preparing to go camping can seem daunting. Plan and prepare and this will be less of a hair pulling experiencing for everyone.
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​If this is your FIRST venture away from home with a baby/toddler consider not venturing too far away from home those first few experiences. Here is a list of camp sites around Edmonton which might be a good start. 

Photo credit: Lorraine Marie Fotography, to see more of her fabulous work check her out at www.lorraine-marie.com, Instagram@thislorrainemarie

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Preparing for your camp experience
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Packing: Try to consolidate all kids items without taking a ton of space. We found mesh zipper bags for luggage a quick and easy solution, one per kid and then another just for sunscreen, bug spray and handy items. Also if you have a large wet bag, this is a great way to pack away dirty laundry from the trip to allocate to the laundry room when your trip is over. 

Weather:  Plan basically for hot to cold weather by making sure you have layers that can be built upon for the littles. Don't forget those sun hats and an umbrella for a reprieve from the hot sun. You should consider the possibility of rain at some point, although a pain having a muddy suit and boots can be helpful. 

Activities: Depending on the ages of your little ones, will depend on best games and activities. It is handy to have some sand toys and shovels for digging. Rainy day items, travel board games. With nature all around you, exploring with a magnifying glass can be a simple, but engaging activity. Leave electronics at home ( that goes to parents too) just unplug and be present in the moment. 

Sleep and Eating Arrangements: Every child is different when it comes to sleep needs. Take opportunities for napping and resting. Once baby is about 4-6 months old it is harder to settle them down in a tent, as the stimulations around them may be noisier than home. Be flexible and creative as needed. 
When it comes to sleep, keep it simple and sensible. Meal planning may make this task less daunting and prepping items that can be done, may help get the food on the table faster for those hunger campers. Plan a few fun things like s'mores one night. 

Potty: You can buy collapsible potty seats which many have found helpful for those middle of the night need to pee moments. If you don't have a toilet nearby, the wish time banana foldable potty is a great option to have. 

​Safety: As parents, safety is an important factor to consider, camping has a lot of hazards. Especially fire safety, small items babies can put in their mouths and water safety. Be sure to pack first aid kits and have supplies need as well as a watchful eye on those fast moving kiddos. You could always put bells on the tent zipper if you have wanderers and decorate the entrance with dollar store LED solar garden lights to set the parameter and entrance. 
Look for plants and mushrooms that are in the area, it can be helpful to snap photos just in case your child eats them. This group is highly recommended by poison control centres for the emergency identification of plants and fungus. This group is run by a number of volunteer professional mycologists and other plant experts and can provide real time emergency identification of ingested plants, fungus or berries. They routinely do this work for poison control centres. 

Here is a simple list: 
Pack sunburn after care
Bug bite stick
Fever medications
Bandaids
Wound care items
Tweezers for splinters
Bug stinger remover

A few links we found helpful for camping with littles
Tips for camping with kids 
Camping gear for babies  
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Mindset: The goal is to have a relaxing time together, away from the hustle and bustle of work grind and enjoy the scenery around you. The key to that is letting go and living in the moment. Planning ahead and making sure you have all you need will hopefully lend to a peaceful few days or weeks away. Enjoy! 


 Here are Pinterest ideas and activities for camping with a toddler. 

Photo credit from one of our readers: Heidi Taphorn

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Although camping can be a cheap way to make lasting memories with your family and is good for the soul to get out and connect with nature.
​We have discovered a few items for little ones that will make it easier.  

Portable High Chair

Screen tent for sleeping

Baby carrier 

Large umbrella

​Outdoor toys, must have sand pail and shovel and other items that will make playing at the beach fun.

Photo: Sonya's stepfather with three month old  Elise