First time camping with kids (6yo and 3yo) and we're starting small - just in the backyard this weekend. Got the tent, sleeping bags, flashlights. Planning to make s'mores. What's the one thing everyone forgets that makes the night miserable? Also my 3yo is still in diapers at night - do I just accept that the sleeping bag is gonna be a problem or what?
The one thing: EXTRA DIAPERS. Way more than you think you'll need. Your 3yo will pee through everything at night when they're excited/nervous about sleeping outside.
For the night diaper thing - just pack like twice what you'd normally use and bring a waterproof changing pad. Don't overthink it. Also bring baby wipes because bathrooms are far away.
Second the bug spray. Also: a headlamp or clip light for YOU so you're not fumbling with a flashlight while dealing with blowouts or diaper changes in the dark. Game changer.
Wet wipes and ziplock bags. Trust me. And a small battery-powered fan if it gets hot in the tent - kids sleep like garbage when they're sweaty.
We did backyard camping with a 3yo in diapers. Just bring pull-ups, not a big deal. More important: bring activities for INSIDE the tent because kids get bored. We brought a tablet loaded with episodes for the dead hours between "sunset" and "kids passing out."
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Bug spray! We forgot it for backyard camping and the mosquitoes were absolutely brutal. Made the whole thing miserable. Also glow sticks for the kids - makes everything more fun and easier to find them in the dark.
Honestly the diapers thing - just let him wear one. He'll probably regress a tiny bit for one night and then be fine. Don't make it a big deal and def don't make him feel bad about it. My 4yo needed a pullup for backyard camping last year and couldn't care less once we normalized it.