Camping Packing List With Kids by Age
Start from the standard camping list, then add what children need on top: an extra set of warm layers and socks for each child, a sleeping bag and pad sized and rated for them, a comfort item, a headlamp each, and a first-aid kit with child-appropriate supplies. Adjust those extras by age, because toddlers need the most parent gear and teens can manage their own sleep gear. Children lose body heat faster than adults and can get cold more easily at night, so extra layers and a properly rated sleeping bag help. Every list we publish starts from the trip.
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What Kids Add to a Camping Packing List
Children lose body heat faster than adults, and they get cold and wet more easily. Comfort items help children settle at bedtime, and a headlamp keeps their hands free after dark. For the adult items that get left off a list, see things everyone forgets to pack.
- An extra set of warm layers and socks for each child
- A sleeping bag and pad sized and rated for each child
- A comfort item for bedtime, such as a favorite stuffed animal
- A headlamp for each child
- A small first-aid kit with child-appropriate supplies
Sleep and Warmth
A sleeping bag carries a temperature rating, and the usual advice is to choose one rated at or below the lowest night temperature you expect. Kid-sized bags exist so a child is not swimming in an adult bag. Children lose body heat faster than adults, so a properly rated sleeping bag and a sleeping pad help them stay warm.
- A sleeping bag rated at or below the lowest night temperature you expect
- A sleeping pad for each child, because the ground pulls heat away from the body
- A hat, since a lot of heat is lost through the head
- Dry socks reserved for sleeping
Clothing and Footwear
Children get cold and wet more easily than adults, so a spare outfit per child per day is a sensible starting point that you adjust to the weather on your trip. Cotton dries slowly, so synthetic or merino wool layers are the usual advice for cold or wet conditions. If the extra outfits crowd the bag, see how to pack light.
- A spare outfit for each child per day as a starting point
- Extra socks for each child
- A hat for each child
- Synthetic or merino wool layers for cold or wet weather, in place of cotton
Food, Water and the Camp Kitchen
Food, trash and scented items attract wildlife, so food goes in a locked vehicle or the food locker the campground provides. Teach children not to take snacks into the tent, and give them a simple job like packing out trash. Many campgrounds publish rules on fires, food storage and quiet hours, and these vary and must be checked with the campground.
- Snacks for each child, stored in the locked vehicle or food locker
- A water bottle for each child
- Kid-friendly easy meals
- Wipes and hand sanitizer
- A roll of toilet paper for backcountry or primitive sites
- A job for each child: packing out trash
- Leave No Trace has seven principles, and kids can learn them through simple jobs like packing out trash
Safety and Health
A whistle on a lanyard is a common safety tool for kids at camp, and each child should know to stay put and blow it if they get lost. The common advice is to stay in place and hug a tree, because staying put makes searching for a child easier. Show children the campsite boundaries before play, and agree on a meeting point before anyone wanders.
- A first-aid kit with child-appropriate supplies
- Sunscreen and bug spray suited to children; read the age range on each label
- A whistle on a lanyard for each child
- A headlamp for each child, which leaves hands free; let children practice with it before dark
- A simple meeting-point rule taught before play
Entertainment and Downtime
Pack a few small activities for downtime rather than a full bag of toys. A deck of cards, a nature bingo or scavenger hunt, and a bug jar or magnifying glass give children something to do outside. Books and a favorite stuffed animal help at bedtime.
- A deck of cards
- A nature bingo or scavenger hunt
- A bug jar or magnifying glass
- Books for bedtime
- A favorite stuffed animal
By Age: Toddlers, School-Age and Teens
Toddlers need the most parent gear and supervision, and teens can manage their own sleeping bag and pad. School-age children can carry a small daypack with a water bottle and a jacket. The table sets out what each age group adds, and a group with no toddlers can skip the toddler row. For a sheet each child can pack from, print a picture packing checklist for each kid.
What each age group adds and what the child can carry or do
| Age group | What to add | What the child can carry or do |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers | A travel crib or playpen to contain them, with weight and fit that suit the child | Relies on a parent for gear and supervision |
| School-age | A small daypack with a water bottle and a jacket | Carries their own daypack, water bottle and jacket |
| Teens | Their own sleeping bag and pad, plus a larger share of the gear | Carries a larger share of the gear and manages their own sleeping bag and pad |
Bottom line: Toddlers need the most parent gear. Start with each child's row in this table, then build the full list with the camping packing list tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I pack for camping with kids?
Start with the standard camping list and add an extra set of warm layers and socks for each child, a sleeping bag and pad sized and rated for them, a comfort item, a headlamp for each child, and a first-aid kit with child-appropriate supplies. Adjust the extras by age, because toddlers need the most parent gear and teens can manage their own sleep gear.
What should I pack for a toddler when camping?
A toddler needs the most parent gear and supervision of any age group, so plan a travel crib or playpen to contain them, with weight and fit that suit the child. Add warm layers, a sleeping bag and pad sized for them, a headlamp, and a comfort item. For a starting list, use the toddler packing list.
How do I keep kids warm at night in a tent?
Children lose body heat faster than adults, so give each child a sleeping bag rated at or below the lowest night temperature you expect. Add a sleeping pad, because the ground pulls heat away from the body, and a hat, because a lot of heat is lost through the head. Keep a pair of dry socks reserved for sleeping, too.
What should I pack for camping with a baby?
Ask a pediatrician for infant sleep and temperature guidance. Gear for a baby still starts with the warm layers, headlamp and first-aid kit this guide lists for children, and for baby-specific items see the baby packing list. Read the age range on the label of any sunscreen or bug spray before using it, and ask a pediatrician about products for babies.
How many changes of clothes should I bring?
Bring more clothes for each child than you would for an adult, because children get cold and wet more easily than adults. A spare outfit per child per day is a sensible starting point, and you adjust that amount to the weather on your trip. Cotton dries slowly, so synthetic or merino wool layers are the usual advice for cold or wet weather.
What snacks are good for camping?
Pack snacks for each child. Store the snacks in the locked vehicle or the campground's food locker, since food and scented items attract wildlife. Teach children not to take snacks into the tent.
Do kids need their own sleeping pad?
Yes, a sleeping pad for each child is part of this list, because the ground pulls heat away from the body and children lose body heat faster than adults. Choose a kid-sized sleeping bag, so the child is not swimming in an adult bag. Teens can manage their own sleeping bag and pad, while toddlers rely on a parent for most of their gear.
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