Sleeping in a Tent: What to Arrange in Advance
Light, temperature, and sound behave differently in a tent than they do indoors.
A tent is the hardest place to get a child to sleep: it gets light earlier, it cools down faster, and you can hear everything. With a few adjustments, though, it’s not so bad.
Light determines when we wake up
In a tent, it’s already light at five o’clock. Set up your sleeping area in the darkest part of the tent, away from the rising sun, and use an inner tent or a blackout sheet. See “Blackout” under “Vacation.”
Temperature fluctuates widely
It's warm during the day, quite cold at night, and coldest in the early morning. Dress in layers so you can adjust, and place something insulating under your sleeping area: the cold comes from below.
You can't mute the sound, so fill it in
It's never quiet at a campground. A steady background noise makes individual sounds less noticeable; see white noise and sound.
A private, enclosed sleeping area
Sleeping directly on the ground rarely works. A pop-up bed provides a sense of space, keeps insects out, and lifts your child off the cold ground. Make sure the mesh is fine; even a mesh with openings less than one millimeter wide will keep gnats out.
Plan Your Morning
Waking up early in a tent is almost inevitable. Set something out the night before to keep your child occupied for a while, and everyone will gain half an hour.
For the rest of the preparations: camping with a baby.
