How Do I Make Sure My Kids Aren't Too Hot or Too Cold While Camping?

by: Jessica Nugent and LiLing Pang



When you are camping, you're exposed to the elements.  That makes for fun experience, but if your kids gets too cold, they could be waking up all night long.  If they get too hot during the day, you could be dealing with dehydration or heat stroke....or simply very grumpy whinny kids.  Stopping short of packing up and heading home, here are some useful tips to make sure that your kids stay happy and healthy in the elements.

 

What tips do you have to keeping warm at night?


Managing temperature especially for kids is very important.  If they are too cold, they are likely to be miserable and fall sick.  If they are too hot, they could be lethargic and even become dehydrated or get heat stroke.  While you are packing for your trip, always check the weather forecast for that area.  Look for highs and lows, but also for wind speed and rain.  You want to be prepared with the right type of clothing.


Bring lots of layers for everyone so that you are prepared for temperatures that may be high during the day and drop very low at night.  Make sure that you keep yourself warm and dry in chilly weather and consume enough calories.  Your body will need them to keep your body warm.  This also means that you don’t want to be giving your kids a shower if the weather is cold, plan ahead to shower when you still have a few hours of daylight.


Are you or your youngster feeling cold even though bundled up? 

Here are some tricks to help your body eat up. 

  • Eat something high in fat or calories – a candy bar is a calorie bomb just waiting to warm you up.
  • Hydrate – make a warm drink. 
  • Go to the bathroom: don’t hold it in no matter the time – get up and go – trust me here. 


Okay, so you ate something and went to the bathroom, but you’re still feeling cold even though you have many, many layers on.  What now?  Try removing a layer.  It is possible to be too bundled up. 



How do I deal with super hot weather?

If you’re camping in an area with a heat wave, be sure keep everyone well hydrated.  Keep a clean bag of ice in the cooler than you can pull out and have kids suck on.

You might want to bring along squirt toys if you aren’t already camping near a lake, river or beach.  In the hot afternoon sun, cool off with a fun water fight.  Saving all heavy physical activity for early in the morning and later in the evening when the sun isn’t so high in the sky.  During the heat of the afternoon, you might take a nap on a hammock or play a game under a camping canopy or shady tree.

If you have a baby with you, the heat may cause a loss of appetite, so feed more often and in smaller quantities.  If you’re breastfeeding, make sure that mom is staying doubly hydrated so that your milk supply doesn’t go down.  One easy trick for cooling baby’s body is to place a wet towel or hat on his head.

If your cooler is struggling to keep the food cold, you might consider getting a block of dry ice and bury it in the middle of the regular ice.  Having meat stored at too low temperatures can be rather dangerous.  Make sure you are constantly monitoring the temperature of the food.

 

Do you have a question about camping with kids that our savvy parents can help answer? 

Ask us your questions

 

Related:

 

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Jessica Nugent (aka fani*fam) is the mom of a a one year old boy and loves outdoor adventures.  They are known for braving the outdoors any season of the year.  LiLing Pang (TravelPangs) is co-founder and contributing author on Trekaroo - - a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

updated: February 02 2011 by LiLing Pang

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