How to Get Your Toddler to Fall Asleep in a Tent

It's hard enough to get toddlers to go to sleep at home, but it can be even more challenging in a tent. Here are some hints for a peaceful, low-stress bedtime routine while camping.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby Monitors
• Spill-proof Cups
• Battery Radios
• Sleeping Bags

1. Try to simulate your toddler's home sleeping environment as much as possible - bring familiar bedding or a favorite toy.

2. Bring an extra blanket to muffle the rustling noise of the bag, if your child will be using a sleeping bag.

3. Keep his or her sleeping area close to yours - it can be scary to wake up alone in a strange place.

4. Dress your toddler warmly, including his or her hands and feet.

5. Keep a spill-proof cup of water nearby, in case he or she needs a drink in the night.

6. Stick to a fairly normal bedtime routine - bath (if possible), snack, story, brushing teeth and then bed (or whatever you do at home).

7. Add some white noise to the sleeping area, if the campground is noisy. Use a battery-operated fan or radio static at low volume.

8. Add some glow-in-the-dark strips or stickers to the inside of your tent - these will act as a comforting night-light if your child wakes up.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a battery-operated baby monitor so that you can stay up later than your toddler.
• Lots of fresh air and activity will help little ones get to sleep - it may not be as difficult as you expect.
• If your child tends to wander, be sure to put a bell or other noisemaker at the entrance to your tent.
• Don't forget the potty. If your child is potty-trained and may need to go in the night, keep the portable potty nearby. Avoid long, scary trips to bathrooms or outhouses.

Who Can Help:

• Better than Botox®? Free Kit

on 11/22/2005 Come prepared with a plan for confining your rolling infant or toddler. The cavernous space of a tent can be unsettling, but if he feels cozy then it works just great. Our son never slept better than the times we've camped (first time at four months, most recent at 15 months). Lots of physical activity during the day helps sleeping solidly, too. Bring along a few small toys that they enjoy. Our son played with a couple of toy cars on top of the cooler for hours during out trip. We also used the wireless baby monitors which allowed us to socialize late in the evening with our friends by the fire. As long as you properly stake your tent, then you shouldn't have a worry about the tent staying put. Especially since if the winds are high enough to topple your tent, you are unlikely to be dawdling outside of it.
Get out and camp! It's a joy for the kids and you, too!

on 11/22/2005 Don't ever leave a young child alone in a tent. Windy conditions can blow the tent off the ground, even if the tent is staked.