April 2020 Update: I have added a section at the end about using a sleep training book to prepare your child for better sleep when camping, traveling and changing bed in general. See link below for the customizable book that I have used.
I want to share with you my tips for sleeping teaching your baby and toddler to sleep well in a tent when family camping. At 4 months (and even sooner, if you're baby O) babies become increasingly aware of their surroundings. This will do doubt affect their sleep while camping. But don't let this stop you from venturing outside overnight. The key: create familiarity and comfort!
Let me make it clear: sleep training is a bitch no matter where you do it. But it’s absolutely do-able and 100 % worth it, even while camping and overlanding!
Plan ahead for sleep training and commit to it
When E turned 2 we decided that we were done hauling the heavy and bulky pack'n'play around, and we replaced it with a pad - that we picked and tested out at the store together, the first step towards familiarity and acceptance.
It was the beginning of the camping season and we had a 5 day overlanding trip planned. That would give us enough nights to train her. (I would say you at least need two nights, just like sleep training at home. Let me know the secret if your kids only needed one day, Please!)
E already naps well on a mat on the floor at daycare (twice a week), but never at home or while traveling. She sleeps very well in the pack'n'play in the tent - it's safe and familiar. But she always needs to familiarize herself with the tent at the beginning of each season. So we kept things normal for her on our one-night test run near home. This was also the first night for baby O at just 6 weeks, so now wasn't the time for sleep training.
E did fine on our one-night trip, so we ditched the pack'n'play and set off for the Gila Forest with a bright blue new REI pad and our fingers crossed.
E in her beloved pack'n'play which we have decided to ditch for lighter packing and faster setup when family camping
Day 1 of sleep training while overlanding
We made sure to keep out anything hazardous from inside of the tent such as the space heater. And we made sure she had her books and water within reach. Yelling and being left alone to fall asleep makes a little one thirsty and bored (avoid too much stimulation, though, such as music and toys).
We also made sure to set up camp a bit away from the main group, just to not be disturbed too much by group chatter.
E helps inflate her (almost) self-inflating pad which makes it more exciting to sleep on later.
E was excited about the pad, but not quite enough to actually stay put. After following her normal bedtime routine (7/7.30 pm bedtime, PJs, toothbrushing, books, 'dyne and Vov-vov' aka comforter and teddy and "night night, love you") she kept getting up, pushing the zipper on the door and asking to get out. The asking became whining quite quickly.
What did we do? It's called persistence.
The first night, M was in there about a gazillion times, calm voice, placing her on her pad, saying goodnight. He then ended up staying in there FOR A WHILE just lying in bed, pretending to sleep or reminded her to lay down. This is not the advised sleep training, but what worked to make her stay on her pad. She obviously needed the comfort of his presence because it helped her stay put.
After 1-2 hours day 1 she was asleep! On her pad. By herself. Victory!!
Our current setup in the Springbar tent with E’s new pad. We moved the pad in between the other to pads, just to keep her warm, safe and fairly immobile.
Day 2+3 of sleep training while overlanding /camping
Our goal was to be able to put her to bed awake WITHOUT any of us needing to be in the tent with her, so we both stayed outside the following night. Her escape attempts continued on the second and third night, but gradually got shorter and shorter. We kept reminding her from outside the tent to lay down and sleep. "Now it's night night". We did have to listen to a bit of yelling "outside" for a while, but after a few reminders, all we could do was walk away and hope for the best. We reminded ourselves that this will work and the yelling will end.
M joined our friends and kept an ear out for E while I joined a different group on a short walk to make O sleep in the carrier. I remember hoping all the way that E would be asleep by the time I returned....and she was!!! A big high five and beer for mama and dada. Now if only baby O was that easy to train.
We’ve done 6 additional trips this year with E on her pad, so it worked! It also helped prepare her for transitioning out of her crib at home which happened a few months later.
To sum up sleep training while camping:
Do a practice run in your back yard or somewhere close to home to get familiar with the tent
Create familiarity and comfort - stick to your normal bedtimes and bedtime routines, especially when they are little. A hyped up overtired toddler is no walk in the park at bedtime. And bring the lovey!
Make the tent safe and set up camp away from loud noises.
Use your own sleep training book to help prepare your child for sleep in new surrounding (see below)
A view from our tent: Keep surrounding noises to a minimum when sleep training while camping by setting up camp away from the rest of the group.
Use a customizable sleep training book to prepare your child for sleep in new surroundings
I've created two sleep training book templates in Canva - free for you to customize and download. One for camping and one for traveling (mix and match as you please). A sleep training book is useful for any situation where your little one will be sleeping somewhere new, including camping.
Read this book 1-2 weeks prior to changing your child’s sleep situation to prepare them well and establish the excitement and familiarity.
Why use a sleep training book?:
Your toddler will be more calm, more confident and more prepared for the changes to come.
It works for any new sleep situation (own room, new bed, visiting grandparents, camping, etc.)
A personal story help prepare your toddler for the change and your expectations
Reading about every step of the journey and seeing pictures of themselves remove fear
Visualizing sleep in new surroundings makes it easier for a child to 'recognize' the unknown
Creating excitement about the journey takes focus away from what they miss or fear
How do I know this works?
I am not a certified sleep trainer. But I've gone through my share of sleepless nights with my youngest to know how desperate a parent can be for ANYTHING that might help.
We spend a lot of money on a sleep trainer to help us teach our son to sleep. What worked for our daughter simply didn't work for our son. He needed a 'gentler' method. One of the most useful tools we got from that sleep trainer was the idea of creating a sleep training book. It helped our son a ton.
I then went on to create one for both our kids when they had to learn how to sleep in the same room. And another one for when we went to South Africa to visit grandparents. It calmed them down and got them excited about the airplane and seeing their grandparents. Our oldest was especially interested in seeing her 'new' bedroom. She seemed happy and less afraid once we were there.
it's not a miracle maker, but it increases your chances of a good night's sleep. And who wouldn't want that?
Customize your sleep training book in Canva now. Choose between two templates.