Sleep Ponderings from Me: My Weekend Camping Trip

This weekend our family went camping. Overall it was a pretty good trip and of course our kids had a blast- there is something about being outside 24-7 and dirt that just make them happy- a s'more or two and hanging out with friends help too.

So, how did sleep go on this trip? Great!

We got to our camp site late on Friday night- way past our kids bedtime- thankfully they slept in the car on the two hour trip before we stopped for dinner. We set up our tent trailer, got everyone's sleeping bags out, turned on the sound spa, and we all went to bed. My baby sleeps in a Kidco tent which is great, and my other two in 40 degree sleeping bags. I sometimes double up on pjs if it is really cold. And for my baby, I almost always double pjs and use a baby sleep bag.

Since, we had such a late night on Friday and a fun morning playing at the lake... all three kids took afternoon naps on Saturday (usually only my baby does). My oldest gets warm very easily, so she didn't want to sleep in the tent trailer... I reclined a camp chair and she slept for an hour or so on that.

And they all slept well on Saturday night- it was a bit cooler, so we turned on a borrowed tent heater and put it closer to the baby. Temperature can be tricky when camping- it is hard to sleep if it is cold. Try to make sure your kids are warm, and you will all sleep much better.

Necessities: Sound spa, sleeping bags and/or some sort of baby sleeping device, warm pjs (multiple layers).. see tips from my last post on camping.

Sunday Sleep Dilemma

Q: How do you camp with kids, so they get the sleep they need?

A: I have friends that love to camp, my husband loves to camp... so when I was finally coerced to go camping with family in tow, I was a bit nervous and skeptical about how sleeping would go.

My only camping experience with kids had been when my oldest daughter was 1 1/2 years old- we camped in a tent, under a tree (where a branch tapped on the tent all night), near a train, and next to some noisy neighbors. We slept horribly, and I vowed to never camp again with kids.

Well, as things go, I decided to try it again. This time I was much better prepared and thought out the whole sleeping arrangement much more carefully (amazing what a few years of parenting under your belt will do for you). I brought an infant travel bed for my baby (who was only two months old at the time), and my other two children were old enough to sleep in sleeping bags. I also brought a sound spa (with extra batteries). It went pretty well. They took a bit longer to calm down at bedtime due to the excitement of vacation... but slept well.

Since, I have camped many times... naps, bedtime have all gone fine. I highly recommend giving it a try if you too are being coerced by an avid camper in your life.

Camping tips:
-Use a sound spa (bring lots of extra batteries).
-Bring an appropriate bed for your child: pack n play, Phil & Teds Traveller, Kidco Tent, infant travel bed, sleeping bag (choose an appropriate warmth for your location...).
-You can get tents with room dividers- they can be helpful. Tent trailers and trailers/motor homes are also a nice indulgence.
-Dress your kids for the temperature- feel free to double up on pajamas, try a baby sleep bag.
-Keep to your sleep schedule as much as possible- bank on tired kids- got to love a day outside.
-Have your kids practice how you want them to go to sleep.

Sunday Sleep Dilemma

Q: What is the best way to keep your kids sleep on schedule when traveling?

A: When you travel it is best to plan ahead if you want your kids to get the sleep they need (which will also mean avoiding cranky kids).

Some things to consider as you plan for your summer vacation:

-The all out indulgence is to bring a babysitter. Kids can get the naps and early bedtimes they need, and you and your husband can do all the things you want to do on the vacation. Still spend plenty of time with the kids- use the babysitters as extra hands or let them have some free time.

-Keep the same schedule you follow at home: make dinner reservations early, so you can get back and get the kids ready and into bed.

-Get a suite or adjoining hotel room. This way you can stay up and watch a movie while your kids sleep.

-Don't skip naps. If you have a baby with an early nap and you have plans try to create an adequate sleep environment in a pack n play at the location (pool, beach, someone else's house) or try using a stroller with a bassinet. In either situation, make sure the baby has a lovie if they usually have one, a paci if they usually have one, are swaddled if that is the usual, have a fairly dark environment, have adequate airflow, have a sound spa (don't forget the batteries!). Try to be back at the hotel for afternoon naps- maybe you and your husband can switch days staying with the kids while the other gets to do soemthing fun.

-Don't forget about your bedtime sleep routine. Some nights will just be later and busyer, but if you can try to still do bath, book, pjs, bed, or whatever your normal sleep routine happens to be.

-If you are changing time zones, immediately change to the new time. Your kids will be tired from travel, so just run your normal schedule off of the new cities time. And do the same when you get home.

And remember it is vacation- there are exceptions, indulgences, and missed sleep. But, if you try to limit those you and your children will all have a much more enjoyable vacation.