Camping with one year old twins.

Shari - posted on 06/17/2009

Thanks for all the tips, stories and encouragement. I'm really looking forward to this adventure! We have decided to do a precamp camp out with my folks in a couple of weeks. They have a camper and will act as support and back up for us. We are hoping this will help prepare us for our end of July camp out with friends that will be a bit longer and where we won't have any family help. I'm thinking maybe we need a cargo case to carry on the roof...seems like we will be taking a ton of stuff and we don't have a mini-van....just a Subaru Forrester.

Shaye - posted on 06/12/2009

Halo makes some nice sleep sacks that you can put on over pj's. They come in both a lighter cotton and fleece. Works as a blanket but they can't push them off or get tangled in them. Zip front so easy for diaper changes.

Debbie - posted on 06/11/2009

I just really wanted to say GOOD LUCK with the camping trip with your twins. We have never gone camping with our twins (so I do not have any sound advice) but did a driving trip from Toronto, Ontario to Hilton Head, South Carolina when they were 8-months. Have fun!

Marcy - posted on 06/11/2009

Hi Shari-
We have bene camping/hiking with our son since he was about 1. He loves it (he's almost 3). Here are a few things I would suggest: Make sure you have a day tent (like a canopy/pop up) we just tossed the air matrress in there during the day and we all kind of hung out under the tent when it got too hot. If its sunny and hot its not much fun. We also bring one of those clear plastic buckets and fill it up with water and toss toys in it. Hours of fun trust me. Plus it can also double as a bath if you let it sit out in the sun long enough.

Usually around dinner time I would change him and toss him in to his PJ's (the ones with feet are the best (no lost socks) but I would put another sweatshirt over it. We never brought a pack and play with us just let him sleep on the air mattress in the tent (you have two so its a little different).

Oh yeah, and I know I am supposed to be environmentally concious and bring plastic plates, cups etc that I can bring home and wash but when camping with young ones we use all paper (toss it in the fire) and when we cook everything goes in aluminum foil so that I don't have to wash dishes.

They will be so tired from being outside all day after the first night they will probably just pass out. Have fun!

Christy - posted on 06/03/2009

We went camping when our twins were 2. Don't expect to sleep much....at least we didn't. It was a good experience, but sleeping away from home and in a tent was very out of their routine. One of my ds got a stomach bug and we were changing diapers all night long in the dark.....so good lighting is really important. The next morning we counted 10 diapers that he had gone through. It wasn't great fun at the time, but the memories are priceless. We have pics of the whole event and it's part of our family story. Good luck and have fun!

Chrissy - posted on 06/03/2009

hi, My son is just about 1 and i've camped with him twice already, granted we have a popup camper so it's a bit easier than tents, but my advice for you is to definitely bring the pack n plays. You'll sleep alot more soundly in the tent if you know they're secure. Depending on where you're camping, you may not even need blankets for your daughter, maybe just bring a heavier pair of PJs so she's warm enough. If you do decide to bring blankets, don't waste your money on sleeping bags, they'll just get all twisted up. Bring some from home that they're already accustomed to using, so that the "home smell" will be familiar as they lay down to sleep. Another tip, OVERPACK! I went through a million onesies, because he's teething so he's drooling, we could hang them on the line to dry, but still better safe than sorry in regards to having enough outfits, socks, change of clothes, etc. My son slept great at night, being outdoors for an entire day knocks him out, so by bedtime, he slept like a champ. Good Luck!