Camping with a 1 year old

[sully151]

Has anyone ever camped with a 1 year old? My wife and I want to get away for a few days and I desperately need to get some "mountain time" so we are thinking of going to Sequoia/Kings Canyon.

We haven't taken the boy yet and was wondering how he would fare.

I am used to backpacking and light car camping, so the amount of gear he may require may be a bit overwhelming.

I am also concerned if he cries in the middle of the night, waking up other campers etc.

Has anyone done this or have any advice on gear etc?

[Jeepin Dad]

We have camped with our two boys twice now... and have another trip planned for Labor Day week.

The first camping trip was at a PA state park last fall, in one of their cabins, our youngest was about 10 months old. He was just crawling and not yet walking. Once my wife finally relaxed about the dirt we were having a great time. We had planned to hike, swim, fish, and do some logging roads in the jeep with the kids. We brought along his pack-n-play for him to sleep in. He got sick (cold/cough) the first night and my wife walked the floor with him most of the night. None of us got any sleep. We ended up packing up the Jeep and heading back home.:sad2:

The second camping trip was tent camping at a MD state park earlier this summer. He was about 17 months. He did really well hiking, though, I do recommend a jog stroller if you don't want to carry them on the trails. He loves swimming in the Chesapeake! Again he slept in his pack-n-play, and yet again, he cried a lot before he finally went to sleep. Did he disturb the other campers? - maybe, but so did the pack of pre-teens roaming about the camp ground. He fell asleep eventually and then woke up just as the woodpeckers were really starting to make a racket in the morning, so I didn't feel too bad about his noise levels and the other campers.

For the Labor Day week trip we are again getting a cabin at a PA state park. Swimming, hiking, boating, maybe a few rides in the Jeep if we can find a trail or two. We are bringing Grammy & Grampy along to help keep both boys happy. And we are planning to bring our portable DVD player so he can keep his routine of mellowing out before bed with a 1/2 video. Even if we have to sit him in the car to watch it right before bed, we'll try anything! We are crossing our fingers that the boy will go to sleep better this time.

BTW - Our 3 year old doesn't give us any trouble at all, and usually sleeps through all of the crying of his little brother:clap:

Gear - Pack-n-play, jog stroller, child sized camp chair, lots of snacks, lots of drinks.

I'll try to post pics of our camp site tomorrow.

[Jeepin Dad]

Here are a couple pics of our campsite with the boys earlier this summer. Our tent is 12'x15' so it has plenty of room to hold my wife & I, the 3 yr old, the 1 yr old in the pack-n-play and the dog.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/camping%206-08/June014.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/camping%206-08/June017.jpg

Here is the PA State Park cabin site with my little one chilling in his jog stroller.
http://my.project-jk.com/data/500/medium/September_095.jpg
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u266/paingham/Kids/Michaelcamping.jpg

[doojer]

Since you have a 2-door, I could see the gear being a little tight, since you'd need to keep the backseat in for the kiddo in the carseat and still have all your gear for the three of you. A roof rack, like the previous poster shows in his pic, would probably help you out a lot on that front. Otherwise, my style of parenting has always been the ol' "sink or swim" method-- the earlier you get 'em doing things like camping and hiking the more used to it and comfortable they will be with it when they are older. Just don't forget the sunscreen and lots of water.

Lastly, I think your concern about other campers is very considerate and valid. IMHO, campers with barking dogs, crying babies, or screaming children are a real buzzkill. If you think crying will be an issue, I would opt for a backcountry site where there are less people around (you'll need to bring a bit more gear), or at the very least, be sure to pick a campground where the sites are spread out well enough so the noise is not as much of a factor. Sequoia/Kings has a lot of options when it comes to less developed and more dispersed camping.

Good luck!

[sully151]

I have a 4 door that I wished looked like yours Doojer.

Back country would be the way to go if the wife wasn't coming along. She requires bathrooms, (I know I know:dontknow2:)


Nice pics JeepinDad. Your tent is huge. That is another concern since my tent is a 3 person backpacking tent. The boy would just sleep between us, which might end up being comforting for him. I might set the tent up in the yard and see how he likes it.

[Dizzyliz]

Camping with my little one was a blast! She was pretty easy really :yup:
...She is 20years old now :crazyeyes:
Wow the gear has changed- I dig that stroller Jeepin Dad:)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/lizzdizze/misc/camping10001.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q60/lizzdizze/misc/camping10002.jpg

[doojer]

I have a 4 door that I wished looked like yours Doojer.

Back country would be the way to go if the wife wasn't coming along. She requires bathrooms, (I know I know:dontknow2:)


Nice pics JeepinDad. Your tent is huge. That is another concern since my tent is a 3 person backpacking tent. The boy would just sleep between us, which might end up being comforting for him. I might set the tent up in the yard and see how he likes it.
Sorry-- I just realized I was looking at Jeepin' Dad's gallery. :oops:

Well, in that case, you should have plenty of room for what you need. It will still be tight (it always is), but manageable. On the backcountry camping thing, even though I'm not much of a fan, many of the ladies that we camp with enjoy the comfort of one of these (see the camping list thread (http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=44396) for much debate on the subject :D):

http://hires.basspro.com/is/servlet/izoom/BassPro/81186?layer=comp&wid=500&hei=500&fmt=jpeg&qlt=100,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=norm&op_usm=1.0,1.0,0.0,0
http://hires.basspro.com/is/servlet/izoom/BassPro/610-000-38?layer=comp&wid=500&hei=500&fmt=jpeg&qlt=100,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=trilin&op_usm=0.35,1.0,0.0,0&iccEmbed=0

Couple it with one of these for running water, and you've got yourself a full on bathroom in the middle of nowhere.

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/safetycentral_2013_77992149

If primitive camping is absolutely out, I think there are still some forest camps with toilets in Sequoia NF that are reached by flat dirt road and aren't quite as crowded as the ones just off the pavement.

[Dizzyliz]

On the backcountry camping thing, even though I'm not much of a fan, many of the ladies that we camp with enjoy the comfort of one of these (see the camping list thread (http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=44396) for much debate on the subject :D):

Couple it with one of these for running water, and you've got yourself a full on bathroom in the middle of nowhere.

If primitive camping is absolutely out, I think there are still some forest camps with toilets in Sequoia NF that are reached by flat dirt road and aren't quite as crowded as the ones just off the pavement.

I'll take primitive any day over one of those if the choice is there :crazyeyes:

[doojer]

I'll take primitive any day over one of those if the choice is there :crazyeyes:x2!

I'm just trying to give the guy some options... :D

[sully151]

X 3. Part of me just wants to leave them both at home and take the dog.

[SCJK08]

where u get ur jeep tent?

[Jeepin Dad]

You noticed that??? Yep, my wife got us the Jeep tent on eBay.

[Zylfrax791]

2-3 seems to be the age where camping with boys at least is kind of a hassle. They keep getting into everything and constantly just running full bore everywhere so you have to spend the whole time keeping them out of trouble.

[RocksHurt]

You noticed that??? Yep, my wife got us the Jeep tent on eBay.

That's not a tent, that's a duplex. :rotflmao1:

[Jeepin Dad]

That's not a tent, that's a duplex. :rotflmao1:

LOL, :yup: She needs her two mattress pads, the little ones pack n play, and various other sundry items for comfort.

Plus, the dog needs his space too inside. And believe me you do not want him breathing in your face while you are trying to sleep:naw:

[Big D2]

So how do you like the Eureka tent? Easy setup?

I was actually looking at one thats 21x17. I will attemp to camp with a toddler and an 8 yr old. So it's pretty much like a house.

[Jeepin Dad]

So how do you like the Eureka tent? Easy setup?

I was actually looking at one thats 21x17. I will attemp to camp with a toddler and an 8 yr old. So it's pretty much like a house.

Our tent is very easy to set up/take down - no problems:clap: I can do it by myself, but an extra hand from my wife is helpful, especially for the rainfly. It takes about a 1/2 hour at the most to get it all set up.

[sqareyz]

took my 5 MONTH old and 2 1/2 year old out campin in July

[Jeepin Dad]

took my 5 MONTH old and 2 1/2 year old out campin in July

Great photos! Beautiful family and it looked like a great spot you were in...

I remember those days with the rear facing car seat in the JK:wink: