What should you pack for toddler camping? We’ve got a camping with toddler checklist ready for you so you don’t forget anything when getting ready for your camping trip.
Getting ready for a family camping trip can easily get overwhelming. There are quite a lot of things to think about and pack. And it’s even worst when packing for toddlers. But we have created a camping with toddlers checklist to help you get ready for your camping trip.
With this checklist, you won’t forget anything when getting ready for your trip. Plus, you can download the camping with toddlers checklist and use it when you need to.
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🏕️ Download our family camping trip checklist 🏕️
Camping With Toddlers Checklist
We hope you’ll remember the big items, like the tent and sleeping bags. But there are some essentials for camping with toddlers that are easy to miss in all the flurry of packing. This checklist should help you stay organized and make sure you have everything you need for a wonderful trip.
Toddlers Camping Items
Camping with toddlers requires a little extra preparation and items to pack. Depending on your toddler’s age and his potty training, you’ll want to make sure you’re all equipped for a toilet emergency. Also, it’s important that your eating setup is optimal so you can all enjoy meals and evenings by the fire.
Here are some toddler camping items you don’t want to forget:
1. Toddler Camping Chair
Having a toddler size camping chair is ideal when camping. While it’s not 100% essential and your young child can easily use your camping chair, they are pretty helpful.
But most importantly, your toddler will love to have his own camping chair. There are many different options, some of which will have your kid’s favorite TV show characters on it.
MEC (in Canada) and REI (in the USA) have a good option for toddlers and young children for camping chairs at around $40.00 per chair.
2. Portable High Chair
Meal time at home with a toddler is a mess. Meal time camping with a toddler is a lot more messy.
So having a portable high chair is a life saver.
The portable high chairs that can be installed to the picnic table are ideals, but if storage space is not an issue any kind of high chair will do.
When traveling we’ve also used cloth travel chair, but it may be harder to secure on camping chairs.
The portable high chair will also come out handy with busy toddlers that can’t stop moving around, especially when trying to prepare meals or take care of another kid.
Amazon has many different options when it comes to portable high chair, but the Summer portable chair is a great pick.
3. Sleeping Pad or Small Air Mattress
If you are tent camping, it’s important to have a good sleeping pad. It will be more comfortable and also protect your toddle from the ground by staying warm and dry.
We now mostly use our campervan when adventuring, but when we were tent camping with our toddlers, we usually used a regular air mattress and did co-sleeping.
When it comes to sleeping pad, you want one that is:
- easy to clean
- self-inflating (so you don’t rely on electricity)
- relatively comfortable
Decathlon has some options for regular air mattress for camping.
4. Toddler Sleeping Bag
Even in the summertime evenings and nights can get really cold. You want to ensure your toddler will stay warm the entire night.
Base layers and/or warm pyjamas are important, but bring the right sleeping bag too.
Kids, especially younger toddlers, tend to move A LOT at night, so I would recommend bringing them their own sleeping bag.
A mommy shaped sleeping bag is ideal for keeping your child warm overnight.
If you don’t have a camping sleeping bag, you can also use your toddler’s regular sleeping bag. We did that a few times when our kids were little. They had a warm crib sleeping bag that we used in the wintertime so we’ve decided to bring it while camping. With warm base layers, it turned out perfect.
5. Portable Crib (or Pack N Play)
A portable bed (or a sort of Pack N Play) is definitely not an essential item to add to your toddler camping checklist, but it can be really useful especially with younger toddlers.
If your tent is big often or if you are in an RV, having a portable crib (or a pack N play) can help your toddler sleep better. But it can also be used for them to play safety during mealtime preparation or early in the morning.
6. Other Mealtime Items for Toddlers When Camping
Food is an important part of a family camping checklist. We have more detailed information on what to bring for cooking and food in our camping with kids guide, but remember to bring food and snacks your toddler will enjoy.
Also, make sure you plan some easy and fast meals when camping with toddlers.
For more ideas on snacks for kids and toddlers, check out our best road trips snacks for kids.
- sippy cup or bottle of water
- bibs
- reusable snack bags (We use a few different ones, but love the TruEarth wax bags)
- Snacks such as apple sauce, fruits, veggies, trail mix are always good to have on-hands when camping.
7. Potty or Kids’ Toilet Seat
It’s always a good idea to bring your toddler’s own little potty training chair or toilet seat. Even if you’re staying in a nice campground, you never know how far the toilets will be. Plus, it’s not fun to run across the campground in the middle of the night.
Even with our campervan now and older kids, we always bring a portable toilet. It’s great for long road trip and middle-of-the-night emergencies.
If your toddler are not yet potty trained (or is at the start of the process), don’t forget to bring lots of diapers and wet wipes.
Wet wipes are also really useful for young children (not only toddlers) when camping since children tend to get pretty dirty in the woods.
We’ve used regular diaper wet wipes for many years, but then when both our boys were potty trained we switched to Venture Wipes. They can be found online directly though Venture Wipes or on Amazon.
8. Baby Carrier
Having a baby carrier on hands is great if you like hiking and doing some adventuring while you are camping. We are huge fans of Tula’s baby carrier (and especially the toddler size carrier). It takes up way less room than a hiking backpack carrier and is really comfortable to carrying babies and toddlers.
If you are planning on staying put at the campground, then having a stroller can be super useful to walk around the campground and to help your toddler with their afternoon naps.
We did use the stroller often when the kids were toddlers. We would let them fall asleep in the stroller. It make camping evening way more enjoyable than fighting a toddler that refuse to fall asleep in the tent or RV.
9. Sleep Aids for Your Toddler
Don’t forget your toddler’s sleep aids, such as:
- comforters,
- blankets,
- pacifiers,
- white noise machines,
- or any other sleep aids you use at home
🏕️ Download our family camping trip checklist 🏕️
Toddler Camping Gear
When camping, layers are your best friends. You’ll want to plan for warm and cold days. Plus nights can get cold even if it’s super warm during the day. It’s even more true when camping at high altitudes.
Here are the essential toddler camping gear you should pack:
10. Base Layers (or Warm Pyjamas)
Base layers are an essential outdoor items for all. It’s not only useful when getting ready to play outside in the winter, but it ‘s also really useful when camping.
Evenings and nights can be really cold when camping (even in the peak of summer… at least in the Canadian Rockies), so having good base layers (ideal in merino wool) will keep your toddler warm.
Iksplor has great options for toddler’s base layer. Otherwise, you’ll find good options at MEC (Canada) and REI (USA). Decathlon also has good affordable options for base layer but it won’t be in merino wool.
If your toddler doesn’t have any base layer, warm pyjamas will also work.
11. Rainsuits (and rain boots)
Weather is sadly unpredictable even in the summer, so you want to be ready for all kind of weather (including full rainy days).
Having a rain suit for your toddler will ensure they stay dry in case it’s raining, but also if it’s still muddy on the ground.
A one-piece suit is ideal for toddlers.
12. Comfortable Shoes
When camping, we try to bring sandals (or watershoes). The Vivobarefoot watershoes are perfect for toddlers wanting to explore and play in the water.
Then, we also bring walking/hiking shoes. KEENS footwear has good options for little ones.
When sure to bring an extra pair of shoes in case they get wet or too dirty.
13. Other toddler camping gear to pack:
- Warm Socks
- Fleece and sweater
- Long pants
- Lots and lots of changes
You can also check this resource for a complete list of what to pack for your kids when camping.
🏕️ Download our family camping trip checklist 🏕️
Camping Activities & Games
Make sure to pack a few toys and games for the kids. Our favorites are:
- Books
- Animals figurine
- Easy board games
- Soccer and basket balls
- Paddleboards
- Bikes and scooters
For more ideas on some fun activities to do when camping and road tripping, check out our 39 best road trip games for kids.
Other Camping With Toddler Items to Pack
- Glow Sticks (just because kids love them)
- First Aid Kit (we like the Adventure Medical Kit)
- Flashlight and/or headlamp (we use Decathlon headlamps and torches)
- Bug repellent (we like natural ones)
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Sunscreen
- Hammock
- Bear Spray
- Microfiber towels (we use the Decathlon microfiber towels)
F.A.Q Camping with Toddlers Checklist
How do I entertain my 2 year old camping?
It’s is the beauty of camping and being in nature. You really don’t have to entertain much your toddlers. You want to encourage them to entertain themselves with their surroundings. Let them play in the dirt, find bugs, run around the campsite. You can also go with them on little hikes, go swimming or fishing.
🏕️ Download our family camping trip checklist 🏕️
Final Thoughts: Camping with Toddlers Checklist
We really hope this checklist will help you prepare for your family camping trip. Don’t forget to download our printable camping with toddlers checklist, so you can use it when prepping for your next adventure.
And if we forgot some items, please let us know in the comments and we’ll update the list.
Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.