Sleep Tips For Camping Season
The sun is shining and the weather is getting warmer, which means…. camping season!!
Now let’s be honest.. camping pre-kids was relatively easy. Now that you have kids it’s going to be a bit more work, but it will also be filled with many more adventures and different things that you never knew you would enjoy so much!
To help ease your child’s sleep transition from home to the RV, here are a couple things to keep in mind before venturing off to your next location…
Stick to a schedule. I get it. Time slips by and all of a sudden it’s 9pm and the kids are still running around! Although it can seem harmless at the time, this can wreak havoc on their sleep schedule and greatly affect their mood. By keeping the same schedule as at home, your child will be in a better mood overall and will transition back to their life at home much easier. Do your best to keep their regular bedtime, and savour those morning wake times to do things such bike rides or strolling through the quiet campground in your jammies with a hot coffee in hand (these are some of my favourite camping memories as a kid!).
Don’t skip naps. Keep naps in mind when scheduling your daily adventures. Instead of going to the beach during nap time, utilize that quiet time to read a book that you’ve been holding onto for a while. Or if you have older kiddos make it a special time to play some games with mom and dad!
Sleep environment. Remember the basics from home: darkness, white noise, cool environment, and a safe bed. Tents and RV’s can get extremely warm in the summer months so it is important to utilize the A/C (where possible) or open windows/vents to ensure your child is not sleeping in an unsafe environment. Don’t overdress them for sleep - pay attention to how many layers they are wearing and what type of bedding you are using. If using a sleep sack, pay attention to the TOG rating.
In an upcoming blog post I will have product recommendations to help with their sleep environment.
Utilize the outdoors. Fresh air can do wonders for your little one’s sleep so get out and enjoy nature! Go for walks, bike rides, or play at the beach… being outdoors in the sun helps to align our circadian rhythm, and wearing off energy will ensure that your little one is nice and sleepy when it’s time for bed.
And most importantly, have fun! Camping should be about making memories and enjoying the outdoors together, so do your best to follow the tips above and enjoy the time spent with your children!
Keep an eye on the blog for a list of camping must haves!
