Camping with a toddler...

[Jenblossom]

Does anyone have tips for trailer camping with a toddler? I'm wondering about sleeping arrangements...did you fashion some sort of rail to the bed? Use a pack and play?

We are taking our new-to-us 1977 Scamp on our first real camping trip in a month!


The Pullens

[Jon in AZ]

Our approach was even simpler. The toddler slept with Mom in the dinette bed, and Dad slept on the cab-over bed (at the time we had a Toyota motorhome). Kiddo sleeps next to the wall, so Mom blocks the only exit. My wife thinks the dinette in our Scamp is too small for two adults, so our "toddler," now 9, still shares the dinette with her, and I share the front bunks with her sister.

If you prefer not to co-sleep, I wouldn't bother with the pack-and-play (unless you want it for outside use during the day). The less baby stuff to pack, the better, in my book. Just set up the front bunks and attach a restraint between the uprights. Perfect little cave, and the upper bunk can be used for baby stuff and clothes (or even a diaper changing platform).

As an alternative to building your own restraint, you can purchase inexpensive removable bed rails that slip under the mattress. This one is $20 from Walmart.com.

[Byron Kinnaman]

We took out kids camping from babies to grown up.
Early ages they slept in folding play pens. We were tent camping so the play pen was very close to us. At around age 4 they graduated to their own sleeping bags and tents. And that's the way it's been ever since. We just went camping with two of our girls (our kids were all girls). These two are 4o and 36.

[David Tilston]

I like this solution:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ium-63390.html

Should work with your trailer as well.

[Kenny in Ohio]

Look at this modification in this thread entered today in Scamp 13 for sale

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ale-71156.html

Perfect for a toddler

[Zennifer]

Chalk us up to cosleeping campers, too! We sleep great...they get so worn out from living that they just crash. We actually don't even use a bed rail before we go to bed, either, just put the pillows on the floor in case (never needed, but you know!)

My advice is to not bring too much. Your toddler will stand and eat at a picnic table or the dinette, doesn't need a bath until you get home (promise), will play with rocks and sticks rather than any toy from home, will follow the sun. Bring sunscreen, but spray, a hat, and a way to carry them on your back easily.

Diapers...stink. We leave them outside in bear free areas or in the provider bear box or in the car in bear areas.

Have fun!

[Jon in AZ]

Hear you about not bringing too much... We made the usual beginner's mistake with our first daughter of falling for every gadget that came along. Our first road trip (not camping) we completely filled a minivan... for just three of us! Most of it got used maybe once (just to say we did) and eventually sold at a yard sale for a fraction of the purchase price.

They never told me the most important test of a car seat: how fast can you remove all the cloth pieces, wash the plastic frame, and reassemble. LOL... our second daughter was a projectile vomiter.

[Zennifer]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Hear you about not bringing too much... We made the usual beginner's mistake with our first daughter of falling for every gadget that came along. Our first road trip (not camping) we completely filled a minivan... for just three of us! Most of it got used maybe once (just to say we did) and eventually sold at a yard sale for a fraction of the purchase price.

They never told me the most important test of a car seat: how fast can you remove all the cloth pieces, wash the plastic frame, and reassemble. LOL... our second daughter was a projectile vomiter.

Us, too! I speak from experience.... You should have seen us in the first trip we took!

[Gilda]

It's been a long time since I camped with my, now 28 year old, toddler. It's important to keep an eye on them so, make sure everyone knows who is in charge of watching the youngster. In addition, a screenroom might make camping a bid easier with its enclosed sides. Amazon.com : E-Z Up Screen Room for a 10'x10' Dome or Sierra Instant Shelter : Outdoor Canopies : Sports & Outdoors

[Jenblossom]

Thank you for all of the tips! This is so great!

[NedMac]

We just got back from a trip with our 18mo old & we all survived! We installed the exact rail that Jon mentioned above to our bottom bunk. We cut off the strap that wraps under that mattress (it was not secure enough) & bolted down the arms to the fiberglass of the bunk. It worked great, he did not escape once! We brought a few of his favorite toys (people are right tho, he preferred sticks & stones) in a tub, which then functioned as a bathtub if needed. We also brought a collapsible/portable chair that attaches to the table. Not necessary, but helpful!

[RogerDat]

you can get them clean with a wash rag and a plastic pail, same one they use at the beach (in dads opinion anyway) or small plastic dishpan.

Squirt guns, balls, bubbles, and a few beach toys have managed to keep kids (and grandkids) amused for extended periods. At the really young age find the mud and/or pretty rocks.

As a youngster I once rolled through the snaps securing the end of the pop-up canvas to the bed and dropped in my sleeping bag on the ground. What happened? I woke up, just enough go back inside, think mom & dad were more freaked than I was.

Been a lot of toddler bed rail mods to that front bunk posted, but I'm guessing just have something soft down there to land on would be enough unless we are talking young enough that crib is still the norm - even then we humans have a strong natural tendency to NOT roll off of platforms in our sleep.

[Timber Wolf]

Originally Posted by Zennifer

Your toddler...........................doesn't need a bath until you get home (promise),...............Bring............but spray........Have fun!

Could be that "but(t) spray" is why they don't need a bath. Sorry, it made me smile and I could not help myself.

I fell out of the upper bunk of our bunk beds when I was 4 or 5. Woke up on the floor the next morning none the worse for wear. My older brother admitted to watching the whole sorry affair from the comfort of the lower bunk. He said I kind of eased out over the side slowly over a period of time and then finally crashed to the floor all at once. It was tough being the youngest brother, but payback is best served up cold. He is 61 and our oldest brother is 71 and their time is coming.....

[Meghan]

I started camping with mine when the oldest was 7 mo old. They are 12 and 9 now. We co slept, did the bed rail and now are transitioning them to their own 2 person tent. (Which mostly acts as a mobile play room! )
They always had a mobile playroom now that I think about it. We had an inflatable duck tub. And rechargeable travel nanny cams so they could nap while we were outside the camper. We always have had a toy bag and sometimes traveled with a pac n play so they could play/nap outside when they were tiny


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[EllPea in CA]

I tumbled off of a double bed when I was a baby. Not rolling over yet, but parents discovered when they played C&W music I could KICK hard enough to scoot off the bed onto my head!

[Jenblossom]

Thanks for the tips, everybody!
I'll co-sleep with the baby. Then, we'll use some sort of bumper for nap times.


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