Guide: Camping Gear for Babies, Toddlers, and Very Young Children

Getting Outside
Written By Kelly Partner

For both beginning and seasoned campers, taking your baby, toddler, or young child camping for the very first time can feel overwhelming - especially when it comes to picking out specialized gear. This is a guide of products we have personally used and loved.

Below you will find our recommendations for:

Blackout Tent

When I first started camping with Cece I used a Eureka Copper Canyon 4XL. It is a cabin style tent with nearly vertical walls and amazing headspace. It was great for fitting a pack and play with a slumberpod on top (more on that below) which wouldn’t work as well in a dome-shaped tent. But we had some issues with rain leakage from the window wells due to the small rain fly and I went searching for a tent with a full rain fly as a next step. It was then that I discovered the world of blackout tents and realized what that could do for us in terms of sleep. I bought the tent listed below and haven’t looked back. I own both the 4p and the 6p versions which I bring for different trips depending on the number of people, length of the trip, anticipated weather/time in the tent, etc. Coleman and Core also make blackout tents but I have no personal experience with them.

Sleep Accessories: Blackout Options

Before investing in a blackout tent which made our entire tent interior dark, I used blackout accessories to help both block light and define the sleep space for my toddler. At first she was in a pack and play. In fact she stayed in a pack and play for camping long after she was out of a crib at home, at her request. I think it helped her feel safe and cozy. So we used a slumberpod over top of the pack and play (always with a fan inside, regardless of temperature, for air flow). Note: The slumberpod is expensive. I have tried knock-off versions and they don’t feel as safe (too saggy, less breathable fabric) or as light-blocking. So I really do recommend the real one. There are individuals who rent out slumberpods on a daily/weekly basis that you could rent from for a weekend trip to try. Or these can often be found on Facebook Marketplace/Buy Sell Trade groups for a reduced price used.

  • Slumberpod with mini fan

When she became simply too big for the pack and play she graduated to a camping mat but without the defined sleep space and separation from me had a very hard time settling down for sleep like she does just fine at home. So next we invested in a twin sized sleep tent made for dorm rooms. While we don’t use this anymore for camping, I would still use it if we didn’t have a blackout tent, and she still uses it for sleepovers at grandma’s house! I have tried one other version of a bed tent and it wasn’t nearly as stable and it was the biggest pain to re-fold. So this is the one I recommend for ease of set up and take down.

Sleep Surfaces

Sleep surfaces is probably the area with the biggest variety especially as you move from baby to toddler age. We will only officially recommend a safe-sleep scenario for young babies, which means a firm surface and separated sleep space from any other kids or adults to avoid blankets/sleeping bags/additional bodies getting into the sleep space.

  • Bassinet (for very young infants who still meet the criteria)

  • Pack and play (for any age baby) - there are full sized ones, mini ones, travel-weight ones

For older babies, there are a few additional products on the market. We have used the original PeaPod Travel Tent at around age 20 months (and would have felt comfortable using it around 12-14 months if we had had it). The key to keeping the PeaPod safe for sleep is following the manufacturer guidelines of no blankets or pillows in the pod, no added mattress inside (I recommend foam tiles underneath), and keeping several inches clear all around the pod as well. They have several different versions of the PeaPod Travel Tent (different sizes essentially) and a new PeaPod Camp that I have no experience with but looks like a mini version of the bed tent we use currently so can recommend that style in general.

Once babies and toddlers grow out of needing a very separated sleep surface the options open up even wider. There are both inflatable and foam travel beds for toddlers and young kids.

Many kids are perfectly fine on some interlocking foam tiles and a blanket thrown down! Or a nugget/play couch cushion from home is another awesome (though bulky in the car) option.

Just like with adult sleep surfaces you will want to be mindful of the overnight low temperature as it relates to the R-value (insulation) of your sleep surface. If you have an inflatable bed or air mattress just know that it will feel very cold in the night if the temperatures dip low and you may need to account for that with a layer of something between the air mat and your child.

I have an almost matching mat for myself and my preschooler that we use for two main reasons: 1) they are the same height so if she needs snuggles or more like co-sleeping in the night they are easy to push together into one mega-mat, and 2) I can loan her mat out to adult friends as needed or use it myself as needed without compromising quality or comfort for an adult. She has the REI Camp Dreamer and I have an Exped and I think they are exactly comparable in terms of comfort as an adult (with the REI one being much more affordable).

  • REI Camp Dreamer

Sleeping Bags

It can be daunting to dress an infant for sleep outdoors especially when it comes to safe sleep practices. For warmer weather this is easier: simply use what you would use at home and add or subtract a layer or two as needed. There are fleece long sleeve sleep sacks made by all of the mainstream baby clothes manufactuers that are great for just slightly cooler temperatures. There are some slightly thicker quilted ones as well. We have used two different versions of the Woolino sleep sacks with a variety of different layers underneath including wool base layers, fleece footed jammies, sweatshirt and sweatpants, etc.

For babies starting at approximately 6 months old for colder temperatures we have loved the Morrison Outdoor sleep bag products. We have used the synthetic bag for roughly 45-55* temperatures as well as the down bag for roughly 30-45* temperatures with a variety of layers underneath. They now make the bags in sizes for babies 6-18months, 2-4 years, and big kids sizes! They are pricey but absolutely worth the cost if you will be camping in temperatures below 50ish* more than once. They also pack down incredibly small and light (especially the down one).

Once we were ready to use a regular sleeping bag we transitioned to the following two bags depending on temperature. For the down bag, which is a generous mummy shape, we use a hair tie to synch off the bottom of the footbox to a more appropriate height. We use the down bag for overnights below 47* or so. We use a variety of pajama layers depending on the overnight temperature, typically with more layers on the top in case her arms or upper chest comes out of the bag in the night.

  • REI Down Time 25 Kids Sleeping Bag

The coleman bag is a rectangle shape and I don’t do anything to shorten the length since that is for milder temperatures and I’m not concerned about heat loss. We use that bag zipped on the side into its true shape for temperatures between 48-60*. If the overnight temperature will be between 60-65* we use it unzipped and just lay it on like a quilt (nothing underneath, just the mat). (And if the temperature will be above 66* all night we don’t use any sleeping bag at all, just a little fleece blanket from home and fleece footed pajamas.

Sleep Accessories

For young children who prefer a pillow, we like these very thin, very washable pillows.

This is our favorite kid night light for both home and camping. We have a large/regular size at home and the junior/smaller size for travel. It is rechargable with a USB-C cord (the same that my android phone uses, convenient) and lasts all night and usually part of a second night without recharging. It is worth noting that it is pretty bright! That is a pro for us but may be a con for others. The big appeal is that it’s an LED hockey puck light inside a soft silicone animal. So it sits right on her camping mat and sometimes gets rolled over, squished, cuddled, thrown around, all without problems.

At first we used an old stroller white noise machine that took four AAAA batteries. But then I went hunting for a rechargable option and found this. It is tiny (fits in the palm of my head with room to spare) but packs a punch with volume. It has several white/brown/pink noises, music, and the other usual sounds. It usually lasts us well over two nights use on one charge.

Chairs

There are a variety of chairs on the market for a wide range of ages. For babies who can support themselves in a seated position we love the Baby Delight chair which has a harness and a narrow tray, but also can function as a “stand and play” activity center of sorts and can be used as a regular camping chair without the tray or harness.

  • Baby Delight Go with Me Venture Portable Chair

The next step chair for us once we no longer needed the functionality of a tray was just a kid-sized camping chair. We like kid-specific ones because they typically feature a locking mechanism on the back preventing kids from accidentally collapsing their chair or pinching their fingers when moving it. They are also less likely to tip over when being climbed into than an adult sized camping chair that kids have to hoist themselves up into. This stability is important for fire safety. The height of this REI chair is perfect to use next to a picnic table because the picnic table bench is just the right height to use as a table surface if needed.

These are two adult chairs that we own and use in different scenarios. The first is a double camping chair which is perfect for one adult + one or two kids or two adults + 1 small kid. This chair is great for kids who like to cuddle, sit on a parent lap, or sit right next to a parent without sacrificing comfort for the adult.

Second in a reclining chair which also can rock back and forth a bit if the adult’s feet are on the ground. As a note, this chair is easy to tip over for a toddler climbing into it solo. But I recommend it for early evening snuggles, rocking, and stargazing as a very comfortable and soothing chair for adult and child together.

Join Our ‘Tots in Tents’ Facebook Group

Join our Tots in Tents Facebook Group specifically for parents wanting to camp with their children under age 6. We post resources, help answer questions, and facilitate peer to peer discussion about all things camping. While the group is North Carolina based it is not exclusive to those living in North Carolina. You can find the group here.

Join Us on a Camping Trip

Village Growth Network hosts multiple group camping trips each year specifically designed for families with children age 0-6. Great for beginners or seasoned campers alike. To see our upcoming trips visit our event page. 

Kelly Partner
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Guide: North Carolina’s Early Intervention System