Overnight Adventures: Sleeping Gear

A key to enjoying your camping experience is making sure that everyone can get a good night's sleep.  Kids don't experience the back pains and body aches that make Mrs. H wish for a Temperpedic mattress in her tent, but they still deserve to be comfortable and WARM.  Here's our current setup, which kept Lil' H warm all night on a recent January camping trip.  Even the dog was jealous!

Step 1:  Sleeping Surface

You could use any kind of padding to help your little one be more comfortable.  The floor or our trailer is metal, so we chose a Regalo My Cot.  Conveniently, it fits just right between Mr. H's and Mrs. H's beds in the trailer!  You could also use an inflatable sleeping pad like the Thermarest Trail Scout.  The Small size is just right for a child (up to 48") and it doesn't need a pump or electricity to inflate - just your own personal supply of hot air.  When Lil' H was an infant, she shared an inflatable mattress with us.  We like the Eddie Bauer Insta-Bed because the built-in pump doesn't rely on electricity.

Step 2: Mylar Emergency Blanket

Adding a Mylar Emergency Blanket between the cot and a sheet can help reflect body heat back to the child, instead of dissipating into the air between the tent/trainer floor and the cot.  They are inexpensive and fold to a very small size.  I highly recommend adding one to any First Aid kit.

Step 3: Fitted Crib Sheet

The crib sheet serves several purposes.  It holds the mylar blanket in place on the cot and quiets the rustling from the blanket.  It also provides an easy-washable layer of friction between the cot/pad/blanket and a sleeping bag.  It may be thin, but it probably adds a marginal amount of warmth as well.  How convenient that a fitted crib sheet fits JUST right on the cot - we use this setup for overnight trips at hotels and friend's houses too in addition to camping trips.

Step 4: Warmth

We knew we could be camping a lot with Lil' H so we invested in a good quality sleeping bag right from the start.  The REI Kindercone bag is rated down to 30 degrees F, and you can cinch down the foot area for shorter kids.

Step 5: Pajamas

Make sure your kids are dressed warmly before you tuck them in for the night.  Footy pajamas are great when they are infants and toddlers.  For older kids, add long underwear and socks under the thickest pajamas you have.  I even put Lil' H to bed with a wool hat on, just to make sure.  

One important thing to remember is that the higher you are in altitude, the cooler the night time temperatures will be.   Also, desert areas have the coldest night temps because there is no humidity to hold heat in.  Plan accordingly!