Camping should leave the whole family sleeping like logs so why do so many parents find themselves awake at 5am? A sleep expert shares the simple changes that could make your next night under canvas much more restful.
There are few things more satisfying than crawling into a sleeping bag after a full day of walking, swimming, cycling and exploring. After hours in the fresh air, you might expect the entire family to be out cold within minutes.
However, anyone who’s been camping with children will know that this isn’t always how it works!
Instead, bedtime can involve excited children who suddenly don’t want to sleep, adults shivering despite wearing every layer they’ve packed, and the inevitable 5am wake-up when sunlight floods through the tent.
More families are heading outdoors this summer but if your last camping trip left you feeling like you needed a holiday to recover from it, there are a few things you might want to change before your next one.
Sam Sadighi, sleep therapist at Get Laid Beds and founder of Easy Sleep Solutions, explains why getting a good night’s sleep under canvas isn’t simply about finding the comfiest sleeping bag.
Tired doesn’t always mean ready for bed
One of the biggest assumptions parents make is that a full day of outdoor activities will guarantee an early night.
While physical activity can certainly help, camping brings plenty of stimulation of its own. For children, sleeping somewhere unfamiliar can be exciting rather than relaxing, particularly when there’s a new collection of sounds, smells and sights to take in.
Sam explains: “A busy day outdoors can certainly help children feel sleepy, but excitement, unfamiliar surroundings, different noises and a change to their normal bedtime routine can make it harder for them to settle. For younger children especially, the novelty of sleeping somewhere new can actually keep their brains more alert.”
Rather than abandoning your usual bedtime routine because you’re away from home, try to take some of it with you. A favourite teddy, familiar pyjamas, a bedtime story or song can all provide reassuring cues that it’s time to wind down.
Your pitch could make or break your night
When you’ve arrived at the campsite and have a car full of bags, the priority is usually getting the tent up. But before you hammer in the first peg, it’s worth thinking about what’s happening around your pitch.
Sam explains: “Your surroundings can have a surprisingly big impact on sleep. Pitching near toilets, communal areas, footpaths or other busy camping spots can expose you to people walking past throughout the night. Equally, pitching in a dip can leave you more vulnerable to cold air and, in wet weather, water pooling underneath your tent.”
A relatively flat, dry spot away from the busiest areas is likely to give you a more peaceful night. And don’t forget to look upwards and consider where the morning sun will hit. A tent that’s lovely and warm in the morning can become unbearably bright and stuffy surprisingly quickly, especially when you’re hoping to sleep beyond sunrise.
Don’t assume a rock-hard air bed is more comfortable
An air mattress can feel like the ultimate camping luxury, particularly when you’re used to sleeping directly on a mat. But there’s a temptation to pump it up as firmly as possible in the hope of creating a more supportive sleeping surface. That could actually have the opposite effect.
Sam explains: “An air mattress that’s too firm can create pressure points around the hips and shoulders and make it harder to find a comfortable sleeping position. It can also provide less effective insulation from the cold ground than you might expect.”
Allowing the mattress a little give can make it more comfortable, particularly for children. But the bigger consideration is what sits underneath it.
The bit of your sleeping set-up you’re probably forgetting
When preparing for a cold night, most of us think about what’s going over us: sleeping bags, blankets and extra layers. But what’s underneath you matters just as much.
Sam explains: “The ground can draw heat away from your body surprisingly quickly. This is why insulation underneath you is just as important as having a warm sleeping bag over you.”
An insulated sleeping mat underneath your air mattress can help create a barrier between you and the cold ground, while a mattress topper or camping blanket underneath your sleeping area can add another layer.
Before you reach for the thickest jumper in your bag, consider what you’re actually wearing to bed.
Top tip: don’t go to bed wearing lots of bulky layers. Several thinner, breathable layers can be more effective than one huge jumper, as excessive clothing can restrict movement and make it harder to regulate body temperature. Also, if you can, have a shower and change into clean clothes before bed – residual sweat from during the day can make you feel colder at night.
The 5am wake-up might not be your child’s fault
There’s a very good reason camping can turn even a reasonable sleeper into an early riser: tents aren’t exactly renowned for their blackout capabilities.
At home, curtains and blinds keep the morning light at bay. Under canvas, sunrise can arrive directly in your child’s sleeping bag.
Sam explains: “Light is one of the strongest signals for our body clock. As soon as bright morning light enters the tent, it can tell the brain that it’s time to wake up, which is particularly noticeable with children who are already early risers.”
An eye mask can help older children and adults, while blackout layers are worth using if your tent has them. You can also position sleeping bags and pillows away from the entrance, where the first light is likely to creep in.
For younger children, setting expectations before bed could also help prevent the inevitable “I’m awake!” at sunrise.
Top tip: For younger children, a familiar ‘morning’ cue can also help. A simple rule such as ‘we stay in our sleeping bags until the clock says 7am’ can stop everyone being dragged out of bed at the first sign of daylight. (As long as you have a clock they can see).
You don’t need to recreate silence
At home, you might have spent years creating the perfect sleeping environment for your child. Then you arrive at a campsite and suddenly there’s someone chatting outside, a tent zip opening, and birds making themselves heard at the crack of dawn. Trying to eliminate every sound isn’t necessarily the answer.
Sam explains: “A completely unfamiliar environment can make children more alert because they’re listening out for new sounds. Rather than trying to make the tent completely silent, familiar background noise can actually help some children settle.”
If your child already uses white noise at home, consider taking a small machine or downloading a white-noise track before your trip. Familiar background noise can make the strange sounds of a campsite feel less noticeable.
Just make sure any device is safely stored and has enough battery for the night.
Don’t let the campfire turn into a midnight feast
Food is part of the fun of camping, and nobody is suggesting you ban marshmallows or midnight snacks. But there’s a difference between a small camping treat and a huge sugary feast immediately before bedtime.
Sam explains: “Eating a very large or sugary meal immediately before bedtime might leave you feeling uncomfortable and overly energetic when you’re trying to get settled. Equally, you don’t want them going to bed hungry after an active day.”
A filling evening meal a couple of hours before bed, followed by a light snack if anyone genuinely gets hungry, can be a better approach.
It’s also worth sticking to familiar foods where possible. Camping is probably not the ideal time to discover that your child has decided they hate the dinner you’ve spent half an hour cooking over a tiny camping stove.
The little preparations you’ll be glad you made
You don’t need to fill your car with expensive sleep gadgets to make camping more comfortable. Often, it’s the small practical details that make the biggest difference.
Keep tomorrow’s clothes somewhere within easy reach so nobody has to rummage through cold bags in the morning. Make one final toilet trip before bed. Pack earplugs for adults who are likely to be disturbed by campsite chatter or snoring neighbours.
And don’t forget ventilation. A stuffy tent can make it harder to sleep, while good airflow can also help reduce condensation.
A comfortable pillow, familiar pyjamas and a favourite sleeping bag might ultimately do more for your family’s sleep than another expensive camping gadget.
How to get back into a good sleep routine after camping
Even if you get everything right, it’s perfectly normal for the family to feel more tired than usual after a camping trip.
Different bedtimes, early mornings, and days spent being more active can all temporarily disrupt your normal routine.
Sam says: “It’s completely normal for children and adults to feel a little more tired after a camping trip. Sleeping in an unfamiliar environment, waking earlier because of daylight and being more active during the day can all affect sleep.
“Most families should find that their normal routine returns within a few days. The best thing you can do is get straight back into your usual bedtime and wake-up times rather than trying to compensate with very late mornings or long daytime naps.
“Camping doesn’t have to mean sacrificing a good night’s sleep. With a little preparation and by making the sleeping environment as comfortable and familiar as possible, families can enjoy the adventure without spending the entire trip feeling exhausted.”
So, before you blame the air bed, the kids or the campsite for a sleepless night, look at the basics. Where you’ve pitched, what’s underneath you, how much light is getting in and how closely you’re sticking to your normal bedtime routine could all make a difference.
Camping might not always deliver the perfect night’s sleep, but with a little preparation, it doesn’t have to leave the whole family exhausted either.
About Get Laid Beds
Get Laid Beds is a British manufacturer of premium handmade wooden beds, crafted to order in Leicestershire. Specialising in 100% solid wood bed frames using traditional carpentry techniques, the company offers an array of designs, finishes and sizes – all built for durability, comfort and timeless style. By selling directly from maker to customer, Get Laid Beds delivers high-quality products with exceptional value.
Featured image: Goodshoot from Photo Images
