I survived the birth of two children, sleepless nights, spit up and the much-dreaded diaper-escaping poop explosion. Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation talking, but life is too easy. It’s time to take things up a notch and go camping.
Some say that camping with kids is as stressful as running a marathon while spectators shoot paint balls at you. Did I mention you are also blindfolded and carrying a litter of puppies?
Camping with a two-year-old and her nine-month-old brother is also a lot like labour. It’s completely terrifying, but generally the pain is worth it in the end.
First of all, try to forget all those memories of camping before kids. Erase the memories of long, romantic walks by the lake, sitting by the campfire in peace and using the bathroom by yourself. This is a whole different ball game.
Packing is an endurance event. The car is stuffed to the max with enough gear to simulate a suburban living room, kitchen and sleep areas. We drive around the campground like stress-bombs trying to find the perfect kid-proof camping spot. Mental note: next time I need to make a freaking reservation.
Larry Falcon, manager of Escape Route and Arcteryx Whistler said a key component of camping with kids is making them comfortable.
“One of the key components of being comfortable is sleeping pads because they give you everything from protection against sharp rocks to warmth from the cold ground,” Falcon said. “This leads to needing an appropriate sleeping bag as well. The new compact down bags are very warm and take up little space.”
New stoves on the market also allow for home-cooked meals rather a steady diet of hot dogs and marshmallows. Falcon said fuelling little bodies with nutritious options is important after a day hiking or running around the campsite.
When camping, kids have to use the bathroom 100 times more than at home. I spend 75 per cent of my time taking someone to the bathroom and changing diapers in tree roots.
The frequency of bathroom breaks can be attributed to my focus on hydration. No one is getting dehydrated on my watch. Falcon also recommends using a hydration-pack system for water. It’s a novelty for the kids and ensures they drink like fish.
“If your kids are old enough, having water easily accessible allows them to hydrate at their own pace,” Falcon said.
Our nine-month-old recently began to enjoy the military crawl, which involves dragging his belly through the dirt. If you have a crawler like us, you may be asking yourself, “Can we make a cage for him or will it traumatize him for life?”
According to Babycentre.ca, for crawlers and early walkers, a Pack ‘n Play is a necessity. It functions as a familiar bed for sleeping and as a playpen while the adults work or hang out around camp. A clamp-on booster seat is also recommended, another double-duty item useful for eating as well as a safe spot to plop kids down.
By the second day, we turn into a well oiled machine; the Sea to Sky version of Swiss Family Robinson. This is when the magic happens.
The cell phone batteries die and we have nothing on the agenda. Magic. We spend time together and do nothing other than put our full attention on our kids. Magic. Whether it’s watching caterpillars inch across rocks or watching our toddler smear marshmallow across her chest, there is magic in the moments.
It turns out camping is more rewarding than a marathon blindfolded after all.