For the uninitiated, camping with small children may seem like a dramatic dinner party story waiting to happen.
There are so many unknowns.
Will a wad of burnt marshmallow get stuck in your kids hair?
Will he faceplant in the dirt on the middle-of-the-night trudge to the bathroom?
Will she beg to go home for the first two hours after arrival because she wants to watchPAW Patrol?
And you should absolutely do it anyway.
Not sure where to begin?
Pool noodles.These things are incredibly versatile on camping trips.
Foam floor tiles.Like the ones you probably have in your kids play room.
Place them in your tent for some extra paddingno one wants their bottom stuck a pebbly surface.
Bright clothing.So you might spot them in the wilderness.
An audio baby monitor.Itll give you the freedom to roam around the campground after your kids go to bed.
More baby wipes than you think you need.Everyonewill use themtrust us.
Group member Alicia tells us she wraps them around her kids ankles.
Makes runners easy to spot when they escape, she writes.
Starbursts.For roasting at the campfire.Really.
(Just see to it to let them cool before popping em into your kids mouths.)
A play tent.Its nice to give kids their own space during the daytime.
It can be their sleeping space as well.
(Alternately, some parents opt for nighttime Pull-Ups for every child.
Not a bad idea.)
Headlamps for the whole family.Kids love themthey make camping feel like even more of an adventure.
ID bracelets.If you know your campsite number ahead of time, its a good idea to include it.
When group member Rhiannon goes camping, she gets cat ID charms from Petco for each of her kids.
A first-aid kit.Do not forget the first-aid kit.
Your child will be calmer and less likely to have an exhaustion-induced meltdown the next day.
To help them feel even more important,give them an official camp title.
If this happens, dont feel bad about it.
