I'll be the first to say that camping isn't my preferred vacation, but my husband and son absolutely love it, so we've gone as a family a few times because, honestly, it's only fair. I also don't want to rob my kids of the experience just because I'm not the most outdoorsy type. Actually, it's kind of worked out, because we've had to modify the way we camp so that I'm comfortable, but those same modifications have made it a lot easier to to go camping with our kids.
More from MamásLatinas: Why camping is a great idea if you have kids
The great thing is that there are lots of people out there who absolutely love camping and are happy to share their best tips and tricks with anyone who wants to know. There really are some ingenious ideas out there that can help make a camping trip with kids as painless as possible. I mean, if you do it right you can actually have a lot of fun!
So whether you've always loved camping and you're trying to figure out how to do it now that you have children, or you're exploring camping as an affordable family vacation option, we have some great ideas for you. Click through our gallery to see 40 of the best hacks for making camping with kids an awesome experience.
Practice at home.
If your kids have never been camping or slept in a tent, you can set your tent up in your own backyard or in your living room and let them practice sleeping in it overnight before your actual camping trip.
Read books about camping.
Always try to prepare your kids as much as possible for new situations. Before camping with my toddler, I checked out a few camping-themed children's books from the library for us to read together before our trip to help him understand what to expect.
Consider national parks.
Consider camping within a national park. National parks usually have information/welcome centers with resources specifically for children, free guided nature walks and even museums that can help your children get more out of the camping experience.
Dress in layers.
Every single time I've been camping, I've gotten cold in the middle of the night. Like, really cold. Even when it's sweltering in the daytime, it gets really chilly sleeping outdoors in the middle of the night, so it's best to always pack layers when you go camping so that you can bundle up or strip off as necessary.
Spring for a large tent.
The first time I went camping was in a tiny two-person tent that we borrowed. For two average size adults and an infant, it was a tight squeeze and we weren't comfortable at all. I barely slept all night. Purchasing a large, decent quality tent made a huge difference.
Use an air mattress.
After that first uncomfortable experience, I also insisted on buying an air mattress to use whenever we went camping. Sleep should be a priority for children so that they are in the best moods possible, especially when you're traveling. Creating a comfortable sleep space is totally worth the investment. Queen Size Air Mattress, $55
At least create some padding.
If you can't or don't want to use an air mattress, you can try padding the tent floor with a few yoga mats to create a more comfortable sleeping surface.
An infant travel bed is a good idea too.
If you have a baby or young toddler and your tent is big enough, you might also consider bringing along a pack and play or other infant travel bed. It will give baby a comfortable and familiar sleeping space, and help you keep him safely contained for playtime.
Stroller bunting works too.
You've probably never seen an infant sleeping bag, I haven't. But we took my son camping at seven weeks old and I realized that his stroller bunting was just like a sleeping bag and we used it as such. It worked like a charm! He was warm and comfy all night. Just be sure to only use this tip if your baby isn't yet rolling and squirming yet in his sleep, or for young toddlers who can safely sleep with a blanket. JJ Cole Bundle Me, $59.99
Expect an early wake up.
Even if your kids are late sleepers at home, when you're camping they'll probably wake early. Park your tent under a shady tree, but know that once the sun rises your kids probably will too.
And bedtime will probably be late...just go with it.
Likewise, bedtime will probably be later than usual. Kids will we excited from all of the outdoor play and of course, if it's summer it won't get dark out until late. Light a campfire and enjoy the extra bonding time.
Bring toys from home.
New toys are great, but if you bring along some old favorites that your kids are comfortable playing with independently you'll have some time to sit back and relax yourself.
But plan some activities too.
Camping is supposed to be a laidback vacation, but kids will get bored at some point, so be sure to have at least an activity or two a day planned. A family hike, swimming in a lake, a scavenger hunt, storytime, etc. are all good options. Just be intentional about it.
Babywearing can be a lifesaver.
If you have a baby or toddler, babywearing is so helpful when you're camping especially if you plan on taking long hikes. Little legs get tired fast! It's also a great way to get a sleepy, cranky little one to fall asleep in an unfamiliar place. Just make sure you have a carrier that's comfortable for you.
Don't forget bug repellent.
Getting eaten up by mosquitoes and other creepy crawlies can put a serious damper on any camping trip. You can bring an outdoor repellent like this coil, but you should also bring bug spray, wipes or bracelets.
Utilize those baby wipes.
Baby wipes have a ton of uses beyond diapering. When you're out camping they can be used to clean up any number of messes or even for a quick body wipedown if your campsite doesn't have bathrooms or running water.
Make meals easy.
Camping can be a lot of work, what with setting everything, building a fire a couple times a day, preparing and cleaning up after meals, etc. So try to simplify things by planning and preparing simple meals so you have less prep work and clean up to worry about.
Plan for lots of snacking.
The days can be really long when you're camping, and when kids don't know what else to do, they want to snack. Have lots of healthy snacks (and some treats) on hand to avoid meltdowns.
But keep food interesting.
Just because food is simple, it doesn't have to be boring. Add popcorn kernels to tinfoil packets and pop them over the campfire, whip up a s'mores inspired trailmix, make ice cream in a ziptop bag.
Prepare freezer meals ahead.
Before heading out on your trip, prepare or assemble complete meals and freeze in ziptop bags. You can them dump the entire thing into a pot over the campfire and have little to know prep work come dinner time, and you can prepare things you know your kids love.
Be prepared for meal mishaps.
When you're cooking outdoors mishaps are prone to happen. Be prepared with some canned backup meals like soup and spaghetti in case something goes awry and your hangry kids can't wait for you to start over.
Remember your child's lovey.
Don't forget to bring along your child's favorite lovey or blankie. Sleeping outside can be disorienting and a little bit scary with all the shadows and sounds. A comfort item can help little ones settle down for the night.
Draw a fire line.
Practice fire safety by drawing a line around the campfire that your children are not allowed to cross. If they break the rule, the fire goes out.
Save time with a potty seat.
If you have a toddler who still can't hold his or her bladder for very long, definitely bring a potty seat with you. Some young kids will absolutely refuse to go in the woods and even if the campground has bathrooms it may be too far to get to in time. Having a potty seat nearby can save you from lots of accidents.
Assign jobs.
Even toddlers can be assigned small tasks to help set up camp and get them involved. Little jobs like rolling out sleeping bags, unpacking the car, blowing up an air mattress and cleaning up refuse after meals, can get kids involved and stave off boredom.
Bring extra flashlights.
Flashlights can provide children with endless hours of imaginative play. From flashlight tag to shadow figures in the tent, flashlights are great to have for practical purposes as well as play.
Who doesn't love bubbles?
Camping is perfect for unrestricted bubble play. Bring lots!
You can even make your own bubble blower.
You can even use your empty disposable water bottles to make each child his or her own personal bubble blower in just a couple of minutes. It's even easier and less messy than a bubble wand. Find a tutorial here.
Pack poop bags.
You might not use poop bags on a daily basis, but they can be helpful when you're camping. Wrap dirty diapers in them or empty the potty into one to keep odors out of your campsite until you make it to a dumpster.
A tarp makes a good play surface.
If you have a baby or toddler, a large tarp can make a great play surface on your campsite and help keep baby from getting too muddy or dirty.
Make some DIY fire starters.
If you can't get a fire going the old-fashioned way, you need a backup plan so you'll be able to feed your family. You can make a few DIY fire starters out of toilet paper rolls and dryer lint. Get the full tutorial here.
Don't forget duct tape.
Duct tape can be an invaluable tool when you're out in the woods roughing it. You can use it to patch a hole in your tent, as a bandage, to hold together a shoe damaged during hiking and more.
Create a camp cooking organizer.
You can use a hanging plastic shoe organizer to keep all of your kitchen tools and cooking ingredients organized and away from little hands.
Keep toilet paper dry.
Use an empty coffee can to store your toilet paper in so it stays dry during your camping trip.
Play some tunes.
Have each kid create a playlist and take turns playing them around the campfire for everyone to listen to together. Or even for a sing-a-long.
Give each kid a whistle.
Give each kid a whistle necklace to wear so if they get hurt, lost or separated they can easily signal for help.
Provide shade.
A lot of campsites don't offer much shade. Bring along a beach umbrella or outdoor canopy to set up for some reprieve from the sun.
Switch to car camping.
If you're used to leaving your car behind and hiking to camp out deep in the woods, consider a switch to car camping so you can drive right up to your campsite and have the comfort of your vehicle right by your side. You never know when you might need to drive around to put a baby to sleep or give an overheating child an AC break.
Set up a hand and foot washing station.
Set up a basin or baby tub as a hand and foot washing station to avoid tracking dirt, mud and food into your tent.
Make easy and FUN lanterns.
Make easy and fun lanterns for nighttime that your kids will love by dropping glow sticks into empty water bottles and capping them.
