Camping with kids: From tents to sleeping bags and carriers, expert camper Justin Jones shares his must haves
If you’re keen to try camping with the kids, take some advice from a man who trekked 1800km with his 1-year-old daughter.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
With overseas holidays still firmly out of the question, more families are considering camping as a way to experience Australia’s stunning backyard.
However, if you have no idea where to start, we can’t think of a better person to ask than adventurer, documentary producer and motivational speaker Justin Jones. In 2017, Justin and his wife, Lauren Jones took their 15-month-old daughter Dylan on an 1800km trek across the Outback. Spending 102 days on-foot, the family of three travelled from Dockers River in the Northern Territory to Port Augusta in South Australia.
RELATED: Best hiking shoes for keen explorers
Despite their epic trips – which are documented on their Instagram accounts @justinrjonesy and @followthejonesys – don’t be lulled into thinking their adventures are all campfires and sunsets. The couple made plenty of mistakes along the way says Justin, speaking to news.com.au.
“Our first proper camping session was a bit of disaster,” he jokes.
“We packed too much in, tried to walk too far, brought too much kit and had the wrong sleep systems and seating systems. It was a nightmare.”
But rest assured, the father-of-two confirms the positives hugely outweigh the minor hiccups.
“Things like seeing the outdoors through their eyes, watching their delight when a butterfly lands in their hair or when a wallaby ambles up to the tent, staring into the skies of countless stars, exploring a maze of ferns and spider webs glistening with morning dew. The conversations that spring from these interactions with the outdoors are phenomenal.”
If you’re also itching to get your family into the great outdoors, we asked Justin to share his family camping must-haves and his tried and tested tips on going into the wild.
Here’s what he had to say.
ESSENTIAL CAMPING GEAR
1. A CHILD CARRIER
Justin’s recommendation:Osprey, Poco Plus Child Carrier, $493.48
This is a great buy for parents of babies and young toddlers.
“It’s so handy to get the kids around safe and sound and give them a place to sleep while you are on the move,” he says.
Other options:
Ergobaby, All Position Omni 360 Baby Carrier Midnight Blue, $329
Little Life, Child Carrier Rain Cover, $45
LilleBaby, Complete Original in Black, $119
Check out these Baby Bunting coupons to help you save on your next order.
2. PORTABLE BOOSTER
Justin’s recommendation:Summer Infant, Pop N Sit Booster Seat, $39.08
“Meal time in the bush can be chaos. After trekking all day you want to be able to sit down and enjoy meal times and this bit of kit gives you the best chance to do that,” he adds.
“This way you can lock them into a safe secure place for them to have their meal (and give you a break from all the crawling around!”
Other options:
4Baby, Portable Booster Black, $19
3 in 1 Cozy Travel Booster Seat, $44.99
3. A TARP
Justin says a tarp is a saviour for meal times if your kids or toddlers are messy eaters, as it means you’ll be able to save any spilt food.
“After all, the corner shop is a touch too far to get to in the Aussie bush and chances are you’re probably carrying limited supplies with you.”
Triwonder, Camping Tent Tarp, from $15.99
Instahut, 3x4.5m Canvas Tarp Camping Tarps Poly Tarpaulin Heavy Duty Cover, $31.95
4. A LIGHTWEIGHT TENT
Justin’s recommendation:The North Face, Eco Trail 3P, $600
“It’s a bonus that it’s made from eco materials and has enough room for two adults and up to two,” says Justin.
Just know that “all kids are space thieves and you probably won’t get the best sleep of your lives,” he adds.
The brand’s two-personTriarch 2 Tent ($700) is another lightweight model, weighing in at just 1.7kg.
Other options:
MSR, Elixir 3 Backpacking Tent, $480
Naturehike Upgraded Cloud Ultralight Backpacking Tent, $245
5. RAINCOAT AND BOOTS
This speaks for itself. To prevent any tantrums, make sure your kids have worn in their rain gear (the shoes especially), so they’re used to the material and fit.
The North Face, Youth Girls’ Zipline Rain Jacket, $55
Sprayway, Kids Herbie Jacket I.A, $85
Jack Wolfskin, Mountain Attack 3 Texapore Low, $85 (currently $60)
6. THE SLEEPING BAG
Justin recommends a few options for parents struggling to solve the sleeping bag conundrum.
When he was unable to find a sleeping bag for his toddler daughter, Justin made a DIY version by stitching “a sack” out of a down onesie.
Parents can also stitch together a child’s sleeping bag which has been folded in half. This also means you can undo the stitches as your child grows, giving you more bang for your buck.
When it comes to the material of the sleeping bag itself, there are a few considerations to take into.
“If there’s a chance of you getting wet, you’ll want to use something with a synthetic filler like PrimaLoft. Otherwise a bag filled with down will give you greater warmth,” advises Justin.
Outwell, Campiond Juniour Synthetic Sleeping Bag, $41
Kathmandu, Pipsqueak Kids’ Sleeping Bag, $83.99
7. OTHER EXTRAS
“Take precautions – like first aid kits. Consider proper CPR training for infants and kids and possibly bringing an EpiPen. Some kids have allergies that are unknown before exposure and it would be terrible to find out they have an allergy to honey bees mid-trek.”
Kathmandu, Survival Kit Case v2, $49.98 (currently $34.99)
Tango, Travel Size First Aid Kit 92-Piece Set, $14
EXPERT CAMPING TIPS FOR A MEMORABLE TRIP
”Start small, be well planned and make it FUN!” says Justin.
Obviously easier said than done, but following these tips will make your foray into the outdoors so much easier.
1. Start small
Even if it’s starting off with a backyard or living room camping trip, this will teach kids how to set up a tent and get them accustomed to sleeping in new conditions.
“You’ll have all the conveniences of home and can focus on the one element of sleeping in the tent and getting those systems sorted,” advises Justin.
The same goes for your first outdoor hike.
“You can car camp or even plan a very short walk. Don’t expect you as an adult to be 100 per cent satisfied with the distance,” he says.
“Allow them time to explore at their own pace. The pay off will come in the years after when you have instilled a love of nature, the outdoors and camping as they drag you on trips.”
2. Preparation is key
“Expect all the regular kid things in the outdoors. Inconvenient toilet stops, poo explosions, meal tantrums, no room in the tent because they’re sleeping sideways,” he laughs.
“As with anything in the outdoors you always want to have a plan B up your sleeve in case of misadventure, injury or bad weather.”
3. Make it fun
Take time to do the fun things like swimming holes, bird and animal watching and roasting marshmallows in the fire. As Justin says: “If it’s not a joyful fun experience then they will likely never want to do it again.”
Also while it’s great to be prepared with waterproof gear, avoid wet weather where possible.
“That is a fast way to get kids to dislike the camping experience as they invariably get wet,” he says.
4. Remember that your kids are more adaptable than you think
When kids are confronted with something they’ve never experienced, they’ll mirror your response in their reaction says the seasoned camper.
“Our daughter Morgan learnt to walk in the outback with massive, gnarly thorns and sharp burrs she was constantly falling on and getting through her shoes. After a few weeks of cries and screams – it became the norm for her to lift up her foot with a thorn in it, say ‘prick’ and after you’d flick it – she’d continue playing,” he says.
“Don’t put adult societal expectations on infants and small children.”
Top eskies for summer including one 7.8k shoppers rate
From picnics to hikes and camping trips, one affordable cooler bag is making shoppers “really happy”.
‘Game changer’: Best sand-free beach towels
Sick of carrying the beach home with you? These towels will solve one of the few downsides of a day at the beach.
Genius inflatable tent solves camping hassle
I tried an inflatable camping tent, and I’ll never go back to the way I used to camp.
Top picnic blanket with secret compartment
Picnics are a perfect, casual way to catch up with family and friends, so it might be time to grab a few key essentials for your next outing.