Camping with 2 Year Old! Advice?

We've loved camping with our toddlers. They take the lead from mom. We created nests at night and brought along a favorite blanket, pillow and stuffed animal. We at times had a lot of stuffed animals (although I worried about getting them dirty, my husband assured me that they were meant to be used and this was a great opportunity). It's a wonderful experience for the family to have new adventures together. My children also loved books on tape that they could look at while listening. Now I suppose it's CD's, but something simple just to look at. We also had a deck of cards - 52 things to do on a plane ride. But I bet you'll get lots of entertainment ideas from mamasource.

The one thing that I'd focus on most is for you to have a good time and look forward to it. Your enthusiasm can be infectious and your child may not remember this particular trip, but will have an open mind to trying new things. Good luck! Blessings to you and your family.

Attitude is everything. Put on your happy face and tell yourself it will be fun (even the drive) and it will be! Take some new treats, toys, kids' music on tape and plan a couple of short stops at McDonald's or a park to stretch her legs. The drive can be half the fun. Keep your eyes open for need stops along the way (Cabela's, an old downtown park with vintage climbing structure or old tank, funny roadside art). When you get there be sure not to talk about any potential problems, especially within your child's hearing. Smile, act like everything is normal - just like home - and have fun. Be willing to let her crawl into your lap and fall asleep, eat a little more freely than you might at home, and make it your goal for everyone to have a good time. Home schedules are for home, vacation is meant as a break from home and all its attendant stresses and requirements. Relax, roll with your child (tired? take a nap; hungry? eat; full of energy? take a walk or swim) and she'll be exhausted and ready for bed by the time it gets dark. One thing about cabins and camping, when the sun goes down our internal clocks kick in. Keep the lights/lanterns low, and the conversation too, and she'll drop off in no time. Remember to have fun!

SAHM of seven, with a rustic cabin the little ones love! We travel cross country yearly and everyone does just fine. Yours will, too!

We started taking our son camping (tenting) when he was 9 mo old. In our experience, he's so worn out from running around that he collapses at night. We do put him to bed later & go to bed ourselves shortly after because he wakes up w/the sun. So, plan on shorter nights...

As for toys, we bring very little- books to read at night & 1 or 2 quiet toys he can play with outside. Mostly, he spends hours looking for shells, throwing rocks into the water, & exploring. Campfires are a lot of fun- mesmerizing for kids, especially with marshmallows.

Good luck & have fun.

The fresh air and fun with cousins will ensure that your daughter will sleep well - toddlers can sleep almost anywhere. You, on the other hand, may be the one who has trouble sleeping - which is why you are stressing about it.

Let it go ~ you'll catch up when you get home. Your daughter will be fine... and you will all have such great memories to boot :o)

Hi! We have a cabin we go to in the summer too. It is a three hour drive from here. We usually stop about 1/2 hour out to grab some fast food, throw in a DVD once the food is gone, and before it is even done we are there. I have three kids, 10, 4, and almost 3. We have been going up there my whole life as it was my families cabin. One thing I have had to do is plan a stop half way to change diapers, let them get out and run around, use bathroom, whatever. There is a stop halfway up that has a park the kids can play at if they are really crabby about being in the car. Map out the drive, find out where there are great places to stop ( because you know you can not drive straight through with a 2 year old, put a toy holder on the back of the seat in front of her so she can grab out different things to look at, and make sure you have a car seat with cup holders for her sippy cup and some kind of fun snack like fruit snacks or crackers. A travel DVD player is a must for long trips. We used to go without, and it was hard to drive and entertain them for the trip. I had to stop way more often without it. They are not too expensive either maybe $150? And you can get her favorite shows to rotate for her. I'd recommend Wonder Pets, Backyardagans, Dragon Tales, seaseme street musical celebration, or the best of elmo.
As far as sleeping goes, I would not worry at all. We bring along the pack and play still for my daughter, and she is always exhausted after running around in all that fresh air. Just do the same bedtime routine as at home and you'll be fine. The only time we have trouble with sleep at our cabin is when my sister's 5 year old throws a fit about having to go to bed and wont quiet down. (He's an only child and over indulged:) Have a fabulous weekend! I love the cabin more than any vacation my hubby could ever take me on!