ngl I'm nervous about this. We're planning a 2-night trip in May with our 3yo (first time camping) and our 7yo. I'm worried about sleep schedules getting wrecked, diaper changes in a tent, and the general chaos. Anyone done this before? Do we need a fancy camping setup or is a regular tent fine? How do you keep a toddler entertained at a campsite without screens?
We did our first camping trip with our 2yo last year and honestly it was way easier than I thought. The kid literally exhausted himself running around and slept like 11 hours straight. Might be your secret weapon right there.
Bring a good headlamp and patience. Our 3yo woke up at 4am thinking it was morning because it was still kind of bright. Blackout tent liner changed the game for us.
Definitely bring more snacks than you think you need. Our kid got cranky as heck when he was hungry and we were in the middle of nowhere. Now I pack like we're prepping for an apocalypse.
Don't go too fancy for the first trip. We rented a cabin tent thing that was basically a hotel with a roof. Takes the pressure off and if it's a disaster you didn't break the bank or waste your nice gear.
May is perfect timing for a 3yo actually. Not too hot, not too cold. We've had way more success with spring and fall camping than summer when the kids just wilt.
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Start with just one night if you're worried. Get your feet wet without committing to a full weekend. Gives you a chance to figure out what works for your kiddo.