Camping - Bolingbrook, IL

I have a 14, 11, 5, 2 and one on the way. They all have been camping since they where born. Sleep time is sometimes tricky but they are usually so worn out from all the fresh air and running they pass out pretty quick. When they where little we just brought an extra sleeping bag. Mine never really slept in a crib much preferred to sleep by us but a friend who has a pop up always used her pack and play until he got old enough to sleep on the other side.

L.,
You are not CRAZY!!! I took my son when he was 2 weeks old for the first time and he's 10 now and still loves to camp. Our first camper was a popup and the only issue we had was potty time. We had a screen room and kept a portable potty in there for last minute "got to go's" and for night time. Other wise he did great. Not sure how your camper is set up but we put him on the table that folds down (not to far to fall if that happens) and also put cushions on the floor. Some times my husband would sleep with him in one of the big beds or myself would depending if the beds were taken by my other kids or guests.

Find a camp site that is close to a park. Also it's amazing how 2 year olds will find stuff to ocupy thier time, ie stick and dirt. Bring small toys you don't care if they get dity or ones that can easily wash.

Not sure where you are located (I'm new to Mamasource so I have no idea what "community" means) but there is a great state park in Northern Illinois, Chain of Lakes State Park, between Fox Lake and Spring Grove. Weather permtting the rangers patrol on horse back and come right up to the campsight. My kids loved this.

Also you may want to try Happy Acres in Bristol Wi. Just up Rte 45 past Rt 50. About an hour from Lake County. Great family campground! They enforce quiet time like no other campgound I've been too. Helps when you have a little one your trying to get to sleep. Plus LOTS of activities!

Good Luck!

No Way!! You are not Crazy!! My family and I love camping. We actually even use tents (a pop up would be better but we don't have one). My kids roast marshmallows and we go on adventures through trails to find "treasure" and we basically just have a blast doing whatever we can find!! Canoeing is fun and swimming in some really cool water holes is amazing!! If you want to start out slow at first though check this place out its very fun and extremely family friendly. http://www.minimountaincampground.com good luck and just HAVE FUN!!!

L.
We took our daughter camping for the first time when she was about 18 months old. She LOVED it! We tent camp and she just had a blast. The first time we went camping in a state park in Minnesota. Last summer we went to a state park here in Illinois and had a great time. All that fresh air and room to run was wonderful for my daughter. I remember going to Yogi Bear Park in the Wisconsin Dells when I was a kid and loved it (in fact that's one of the place we're looking into for our camping trip this summer). It has mini golf, a pool, campground parties, Yogi and friends wander around and can visit your campsite. The KOA campgrounds are supposed to be tons of fun too. They have pools and lots of stuff for kids to do.
Good luck and have fun!

We've been camping with our girls since the older one was about 2-1/2 and I was expecting the little one. We have a slide in truck camper which is probably no bigger than your pop up. We are co-sleepers anyway and we tend to play "musical beds" alot. Most of the time the littler one sleeps in bed with me and either dad or her sister and the odd man out sleeps in the smaller bed. Sometimes my husband and I sleep in one space and the girls in the other. When they were littler we had one of those nets that you put at the side of a toddler bed. That way we could put the girls in bed with that and stay up a little later and have "grown up" time. The Yogi Bear chain has really great kids activities but are a little more expensive than some other campgrounds. We also really like all the Indiana State campgrounds. My sister has 4 girls under 10 and we all go to the state parks and have a great time. Have fun!!!

Hi L.,
What fun. We had a pop up and camped with our 3 kids for a long time. The best places to camp are the state parks with electric sites(near the showers and toilets). You might want to bring a tuck under the mattress guardrail for sleeping at night to help keep her tucked in and not fall onto the table area etc.. if she gets disoriented. Also, bring a tape recorder with lullaby music if she listens to that at night and a favorite blanky etc.. and a night light so it's not too dark, more like home. Sometimes the outdoor sounds are spooky to them and need the familiar to fall asleep. Spend lots of time running around so she'll be tired and fall asleep at night easily. We drove to disneyworld and camped at the wildnerness campground a long time ago, but it was fantastic, and not expensive! Came back from the theme park in the afternoon for a nap and play time and enjoyed the programs they offered campfires with chip and dale etc... Lots of fun. Bus transportation was great etc.. That was a long time ago, but still great memories. The weather is always the big issue, because even with a pop up, it's confining if it's raining a lot. We went to a lot of state parks in Michigan. Sometimes spending just several days at a few to see what they were like. Have a great time!
J. B.

We took our son camping for the first time last summer when he was about 15 months. He did great!! We, because of his age and since it was the first time, only took him for one night and that worked well for us. We bought a larger tent and actually set up his pack and play in it. Some how, I don't remember, we even set up his sound machine just like at home. He learned what hot was and to not touch it because of the fire and we used a "carrier" to go on a short hike as well. It was all successful but do know they stay filthy the whole time, at least our son did. I was constantly wiping him off. We brought our travel high chair and attached it to the picnic table and (blush, blush) even brought the portable dvd player to entertain him at certain points. He had fun playing in sticks, digging in the dirt, and collecting rocks. You will never know how it will go until you try so good luck!!! I think with a 2 year old it will be great!!

You rock! Camping rocks!

Our daughter has been camping since she was 6 mos. old. It is great fun,fresh air and open spaces, they have so much fun and so busy that they are exhausted by dark. We used our portable crib it was compact, we would set it up in our tent, next to our air mattress, put in several blankets for padding and warmth and she would be out like a light. I felt very safe and secure knowing she was close by and I could hear the slightest peep. My daughter is 14 now and can't wait for the camping season to begin.

As far as where to stay, we always have a great time at Yogy Bear Campground, it is a little expensive for camping but they offer many activities all day long and are great for young children.

Hope you have as much fun as we have throughout the years.