First time family campers. Sleep struggles. Any suggestions?

I gave up on the "roughing it" kind of camping and have never looked back. Those sleep pads and/or air mattresses just don't offer a good night's sleep. When I switched up to a cot, it all changed. The cot gets you up off of the ground so it feels more like your bed at home. I use a 4" memory foam mattress on top of the cot, also making it feel like my bed at home. And rather than any kind of sleeping bag/camping pillows, I switched up to a regular set of sheets, blankets and my own pillow from my own bed at home.

As for "having so much stuff just for sleep" - haul it anyway. You can have all the fun in the world in the forest, but if you can't sleep at night, you are going to enjoy it much less.

The human mind won’t fully rest the first night in a new location. For most people this results in a night of poor sleep. The subconscious is not convinced it is a safe place to sleep. Unless you camp a few times a month, it will seem like a new location to your  subconscious. 

Some people combat this by trying to replicate home conditions. Eye masks and white noise do this. Other ideas include sleeping with sheets and blankets with a quality pillow, do you really need a sleeping bag?

Other people use medications such as melatonin or booze

Some just make sure they are extra tired, and physically exhausted.  backpackers got this one made. 

Some just camp so often the mind accepts the tent as a second home. 

Others just adapt quickly and are lucky. 

Try camping for a week, you will eventually sleep soundly. Most people probably sleep better the 2nd or 3rd night as your mind gets used to the new location. If not, try some of the changes listed above, until you learn what is important to your subconscious. 

I can’t sleep without a fan either. Here’s a good one with a hook 🪝 and it has light and doubles as a charging station.

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Been camping my whole life and I can never sleep in a mummy bag. No matter how many nights in a row ive tried I just hate the feeling of being in one

There's a lot of good advice here. I just wanted to add that I often don't sleep well my first night camping. For me it's not actually the camping- I also don't sleep well the first night anywhere. Something about the excitement or anxiety of being in a new place keeps me up. For this reason I usually try to schedule trips that are at least two nights.

White noise machines aren’t a bad idea, but if you’re super new to it you just might need to give yourself time to adjust to the whole situation.

I don’t like mummy bags. I go camping down to 20 Fahrenheit and I’m just now considering them and only for that. I prefer the rectangular ones and if you’re warm you can always unzip and use it like a blanket. As for pillows, so long as you don’t mind them potentially getting dirty and are camping in your car then you can use regular pillows.

In addition to a lot of great suggestions already about just bringing real pillows and using a non restrictive blanket (an unzipped sleeping bag works in a pinch!), consider earplugs as well.

There’s lots of noises outdoors and when you sleep in an unfamiliar place your body can be more alert to all these sounds, making it hard to stay asleep. A lot of people find earplugs help a lot with this.

Agree on what everyone has said re: bringing real bedding/ditching the mummy bags, staying for more nights, etc.

If you're camping in a campground, please don't bring a white noise machine without headphones. You may sleep well with it, but people in nearby sites probably don't want to hear it all night long. I use earplugs.

Also regarding your sleeping pad, many of them are more comfortable if they're not 100% inflated. Too inflated makes them hard. If it's new, though, it might stretch out a bit on the first couple of nights you use it and therefore need more air.

I'm glad your kiddo slept well and I hope the rest of your summer trips are more restful!

I don’t sleep well the first night and I’ve been camping 52 years. The thoughts of what you forgot, the change in comfort level etc all play tricks.

I am a fan sleeper as well and bought a rechargeable fan off eBay to use. It keeps the air moving in the tent and is a bit of white noise.

The rest - give it time, don’t change too much at once, just make little tweaks here or there as you find tune things.

If you and your husband are used to sleeping together, you may want to consider a two-person sleeping mat (Big Agnes makes one!) and sleeping bags that can zip together into one large bag.

Of course, buying new bags isn’t ideal — so I definitely second the “use it as a blanket” option.

We transformed our tent camping when we got some cots with memory foam pads. I’ve never slept well on the ground even with decent padding.

So It sounds like the issue are bags. Its the summer, what lows are you realistically expecting? Can you unzip the bag and use as a blanket, or even just bring some blankets with you? Are you wearing any base layers/thermals? At >50 degrees I dont feel like I need a heavy bag. Just layer up a bit and throw an open sleeping bag on top. Done.

Pillows - there are some good compact ones (I like my thermarest) but in the end they all still suck, are small and lumpy. They work but not the best. Bring regular pillows if thats an issue.

You can buy little rechargeable fan/light combos for <$20 that hang in your tent. Put it on low and your set. A done light from the top is always helpful.

Youre right, one day is a LOT of setup and tear down. Realisitically you have maybe 18 hours after all setup/teardown is complete. And maybe 8 hours as actual fun time. Not worth it to me. If you can do at least 2 nights you might be more relaxed. Nothing like waking up that saturday with a full day ahead of you and no stress.

Did you do anything active during the day? I'm usually hiking/canoeing when camping and sleep like a rock.

I gave up on air mattresses and foam pads and all that a few years ago. I’m all hammock all the time now. My set up wasn’t expensive the hammock itself had an integrated mosquito net and it’s very cozy with an under quilt even if there’s a steady wind at night. I understand that with kids it might not seem like a viable option but I assure you it can be done. Either way you choose to go my best advice is to test you sleep system at home. Nothing wrong backyard camping to get you kit dialed in before heading out.

Allergy meds and non-mummy sleeping bags will go a long way. Get a white noise app for your phone (and a way to charge your phone like an extra power bank to keep it plugged into). Also yes making sure your sleeping pad is inflated.

1. melatonin, don't forget it

2. cannabis gummies

3. 15-20 mile hike earlier in the day

I bring a cot and all the blankets and pillows from home when I car camp. The coleman ones can be had like like 80$ each, though I wouldn't trust the one with the zippers. And the type I have take a bit of finess to figure out how to set up.

Besides that, ear plugs are great and don't take up space or require electricity.

I don't really usually use CG, just disperse camp on BLM/NF lands. So if there are any noises I WANT to hear them, but I imagine in a CG someone walking by isn't that strange.

I've never liked sleeping bags, we always just used blankets. Bags were too restricted.

You could try a cot for something more sturdy off the ground. Also earplugs, hearing unknown sounds can make your brain mess with you and keep you up even if you are comfortable.

When I had an accident at work and messed up my back, we bought a trailer for camping, nothing fancy. It's about 100 years old, but what a difference sleeping on an actual bed is at night.

If that's an option, you could look into it. (Having a trailer doesn't mean you have to only go to RV parks, I can't stand rv parks and do 90% of my camping on Crown land and 10% being in a designated campsite)

Shoot for “glamping” style bed and tent setup initially until you’re super used to camping. A cot with sleep pad and regular bedding with a light blanket and a heavy blanket with multiple pillows, fan running, take melatonin, watch a movie in bed, etc. I also like sleeping in, so I put a canopy over the tent with an aluminum tarp over to prevent sun from hitting it. I never sleep well on air mattresses, especially if my husband is on it with me since then every time he moves, I wake.

Foam ear plugs. Can't sleep without them, especially in my tent.

Regular sheets, blankets, and bed pillows are a must for me so my bed in the tent feels like my bed in my bedroom! Small battery operated fan w/ light helps move air and the sound of it soothes, as well.

Not getting sleep can be so brutal.

We have an air mattress frame. Keeps it from sagging. We take old sheets and a comforter. If you keep your tent closed, pillows are totally functional. Get a cheap threshold rug for the front of the tent, which helps with dirt. Get a bin and have the kiddo pack their own toys, which helps them buy into the trip. A pop-up for your "kitchen " is key. We also have a rug we got for free from a yard sale, which we use in the "kitchen " keeps the dust down & out of your food. So many more that I can think of, feel free to DM me, I've been camping with kids for 22+ years. Most of all, have fun!

I have a small USB powered fan and small power bank. Works great for air flow and noise

I use the Coleman Airbed cot, bring my sheets and a pillow. Fan for sure, a Bluetooth speaker with offline sleep music (just in case).

Toss the mummy bags

I haven't yet adopted the cot but it's on the future list as my runner's knees start to give me more issues.

I just swapped out the mummy bag for the Zenbivy sleep quilt system. I just used it for the first time, last weekend. I didn't sleep great either, but it was no longer due to rolling over and waking up just enough to make sure I don't twist myself up or roll off my cot.

I know my pad was too inflated. It was too firm and I was lazy and didn't get up to let some air out.

Environmental noise does keep me up, but I don't feel safe with ear plugs. I think it gets easier as the season goes on though.

Earplugs are great on windy nights

I’m no spring chicken. So comfort is huge. I use rain sounds on my phone from YouTube. I have an 8” memory foam mattress. I use my down comforter and pillow from home. I would never be able to sleep in a fully enclosed sleeping bag. I to would feel confined. I also have a battery operated Ryobi fan to run at night. I also have a tent that fits on the back of my SUV so I can sleep inside the SUV. My dad dogs camp with me and they sometimes sleep in the tent portion and sometimes with me. I agree about the first night not always being the best sleep. I hope you don’t give up. You can make it better.

I’m a trooper unless I didn’t get sleep. Our bed is ridiculous for camping. We have a Queen blow up that we fill off the vehicle so it’s really full, pillow top from Costco on that then a blanket. Regular bedding and my standard 3 pillow set up.

I’m also trained to white noise at home so we bring the little white noise machine with (it charges or can run off battery). Ironically, my favorite sound is campfire.

I take antihistamines every day so missing some at night would definitely make things awful. You should have some Benadryl in your emergency kit anyway so I’d add a bunch now.

I have folding foam full sized mattress and a fluffy topper for big camp outs. I also bring my actual comforter from home and pillows too. I only do this for large, party type camping trips with groups of friends. I'm already hauling infrastructure like for example communal popup tents and a portable grill so why not a whole ass mattress?
It may sound like overkill but I'm always soooo cozy

(For solo jaunts I layer a bunch of blankets with a blow up pad and an egg crate pad, along with a down mummy bag that I also sometimes feel claustrophobic in)

I didn’t think anyone slept well their first night away from home anywhere??? Just me? Anyway I second real pillow and bedding if you’re car camping I assume. Also that’s a lot of work for one night.

It doesn't sound like you guys are hiking campers, more for a weekend gateway with your kids. I despise the mummy sleeping bag. I can't have my feet/legs together like that. Personally when we did camp, we bought 2 regular sleeping bags and would zip them together so that one sleeping bag was on the bottom and one on top. We would snuggle in together and then when we had a kid, she would sleeping in the middle (as a toddler not baby). If you think this is something you truly want to get into, get the stuff to make it comfortable. Especially the sleeping situation.

1st night sleeping anywhere new is always difficult regardless of experience camping.

Use blankets, pillow, and cots for a better sleep. Mummy bags are uncomfortable and inflatable pads can deflate overnight. Use earplugs if noise is a problem.

Large sleeping bag on the mattress. It will keep the cold air from getting to you. Make it like you would make a bed, flat sheet and comforter with extra blankets as needed. My (ex) husband hated camping but always said he had really good sleeps because of the way I made the bed for us. I put a large sleeping bag on the mattress for us to lay on, but did everything I usually did at home. I’m going to assume you’re car camping and can drive into the site. Don’t feel bad bringing comforts from home. Pillows, blankets, comfy pyjamas, whatever. Do what you do at home. If you tend to go to bed around 10pm, do that camping. Let the fire start to die an hour before you head to bed, it will help you get sleepy seeing it lose its force (remember to put it out before you head to bed). If you are the kind to read before bed, headlamps are fantastic for this. Get all snuggly and read for a little while. It will let the bed warm up a bit and let you adjust to the difference from home.

In addition to the ideas presented thus far, I'd say one big factor is doing it more: whenever I take a long hiatus, I really don't expect to sleep well because all the sounds and noises keep "ringing my alarm bells". Going out more often, people can get used to surprisingly many different types of noise, admittedly to a point.

In some situations the orange, cone-shaped 3M single use earplugs have been a good choice.

I hear ya on the mummy sleeping bags. I bought a second set of the same quilt I use at home and made a huge difference. If it's cold I'll open up a sleeping bag and put it on top of the quilt.

I bring my pillows from home and wash them when we get home.

We bought an air mattress that allows my husband and I to roll over and the other person doesn't get sea sick lol.

Topping off the bed is super important as the mattresses lose air at elevation. I bring a chargeable portable fan and it really helps if there is anything heat issues.

Good luck!

Include a 10 mile hike and then try to sleep after much easier.

I think you’re on the right track with your lessons learned. To add, I don’t like mummy bags and prefer blankets. We put sheets on our Hest pads and use camp blankets over a top sheet. We’ve also used 2 rectangular bags zipped together. Our oldest has a rectangular sleeping bag and our youngest, who isn’t old enough for that yet, gets a sleep sack and dresses warmer and sleeps either on a pad with pool noodles under the sheet as bumpers, or on a toddler bed. 

To increase airflow while your rainfly is on, depending on your tent model you may also be able to run guy lines from the base of the fly outward to pull the fly further away from the tent, allowing more air in. 

We use white noise, my wife uses melatonin, and we use regular pillows from home. 

I can't sleep in a mummy bag. It's SO uncomfortable for me, I feel like I'm claustrophobic in one. So other than that and (as you've already resolved) a portable fan, I think your sleep will be much improved. Also of note: camping is for rest but not REST. Lol You'll never sleep like you do at home while you're camping. The different sounds, the temperature, the closeness, all of it prevents you from getting that super restful sleep, but in conjunction with that, that's why I love camping! I get to take all the naps during the day, cozied up in my hammock, or laying out in the sun. I can read a book and drift off and just sleepily go through the day. Night two is better cuz you're so tired you definitely sleep harder.

Cannabis gummies, melatonin, ear plugs and eye mask that’s what helps me sleep good on camping trips otherwise I would be up all night.

I used to be super proud of minimalist camping when I was younger, now I glamp.

I bring a usb rechargeable fan for a breeze and white noise. Also we always have the fly on, pop up storms can happen, plus morning dew will make everything quite wet if you're not lucky.

Me and the fiancée have a thin inflatable full size hiking mattress, you blow it up and top it off so it's fairly rigid. It does a better job than being a half inflated air mattress doing its best to impersonate a water bed.

I went with a Teton wide sleeping bag. I'm a big dude and hated feeling claustrophobic. It has an adjustable mummy top but more conventional rectangle bottom. The only time I use a mummy is when I'm backpacking in cold weather. You could also get dual bags that zip together to form one wide big bag.

As kid make sure you are changing into fresh clothes before getting into a sleeping bag and definitely get a routine going. Also the more you camp the more comfortable you'll feel.

Don't forget the alcohol

***Congratulations! First nights sleeping in a new place are unusual experiences, give yourself time to get accustomed to camping.! Read stories or ask people about sleeping outside.

Move and walk thru the area find birds be safe take water. Get tired

The most important thing: Your child slept well And you remembered to bring and set up tent.

Adaptive camping is making it comfy for you - a small lantern for hanging in tent - a songbook for after dinner - storybook for kiddo - a fly a lightweight water resistant fabric and ropes : make a shady or dry area outside tent. Or rig tarp during rain and set up tent under it.

Sleep is a rare commodity as a parent

Don’t sweat missing it while camping

You get used to it and move on

Weed.

I can never sleep my first night, ever. I’ve tried it all with one exception-this year I’m going to bring my fan noise machine with me and plug it into my portable car battery recharger thing. I’m also someone who sleeps with a lot of noise and a fan every night. I have a feeling it will really help but also wouldn’t be shocked if I’m doomed to first night camping insomnia for life 😂

My family uses cots ($55 at Academy) and takes sleeping bags to sleep on.   In the summer the bag is strictly for padding and we use old bed sheets as covers (the flats,  not the fitted).   Take your old pillow and a real pillowcase.

Next time, make sure the pad is full, bring a few extra blankets from home. You can open your mummy bag fully and lay it over the top of you like a blanket. Feet get cold? keep them in the bottom of the bag. Overheat? Pull them out. Additional blankets can go under you, around you as needed. Pull your pillows off your bed at home and bring them.
Additionally - get a pack of foam ear plugs from the pharmacy. I take them camping every time - just in case you end up with an RV/Generator situation nearby.

If you need the noise, look into a noise machine. My friend works for the company that makes this, it's USB rechargeable and light weight, search for it on Amazon: "Yogasleep Rohm Portable White Noise Sound Machine." Works like a champ, I have one.

Can you use headphones ?

Mummy bags suck, just get an old school rectangle sleeping bag, bring your pillow from home, and get a fan for the tent. You get air and white noise. Ear plugs and eye cover for the morning light.

Ear plugs, thick sleeping pad, your favorite pillow, duvet/blanket.

Try sleeping on the pad at home with your normal pillow and a blanket. You might want a different pad or even cot, or a different bag / style of bag or pillows. Also its just a lot to adjust to and will probably take some time to get used to it.

I hate sleeping bags, I always bring blankets for camping. I find the mattress is cold and sweaty somehow, so I always put a quilt down between the mattress and the fitted sheet, then a quilt or two to sleep under. And I still bring decent pillows. Sleep is important so I don’t cheap out on the sleep set up.

Ditch the mummy bags.

Get regular bags, look for XL or XXL to get the wider ones.

Also, if it's not cold out unzip the bag, lay it on the sleeping pad, and bring an extra blanket to cover up with, similar to your bed at home. Also bring your pillows from your bed at home.

I don't love using a sleeping bag, so I use a flannel sheet folded as a pad, plus fleece blankets and a down comforter. Wool blanket as backup. regular pillow. More often, I sleep in my car, with screens on windows. It's a Prius; I can leave a fan on if I want. They make battery operated fans. You'll get more accustomed to it and sleep better as you do it more and adjust sleeping setup.

Bring a tent fan! I use one that runs off my tool batteries. If it's not crazy cold, try bringing sheets and blankets instead. I like rectangular bags to have room to move around, and throw a blanket on top if it's cold.

I learned to take a blow-up mattress and normal sheets/blanket/pillows. Always slept well except in Bigfoot country.😄

Switching from inflatable pads to cots help me out a lot. For one they can't deflate, and when it's warm out it allows for more air circulation. And... well you don't get as much risk of creepy crawly's.. lol

I know buying several adds up in cost, but keep it in mind down the road.

I have to bring a regular pillow. My neck can’t handle anything else. It took me awhile to get used to the mummy type sleeping bag. I had to learn how to move the bag with me, not just try to turn on my side in the bag. If it’s not going to be super cold sometimes we just bring blankets and sheets for our mattress.

Also, hammock naps are the best. When the kids were little my partner and I would take turns napping if we needed it. My older son once took a 3 hour nap in the hammock!

Adding to the dislike of mummy bags. My partner and I have a double sleeping bag that we usually lay on top of our air mattress and then use a blanket and sheet instead of actually using the sleeping bag, unless it gets really cold. It's far more comfortable and less restrictive.

We also have a tent ceiling fan that runs on batteries. It's made by Coleman and magnets to the top of the tent. It's not particularly loud, but I find I don't sleep well without it because it circulates the air in the tent, especially when it's raining or humid.

I always book an electric site when we go to state parks because I can NOT sleep without circulating air/fan noise. They do make battery-powered fans that work well, too, if an electric site isn't available. Even those little neck fans will do in a pinch: tuck the bit that goes around your neck under your pillow and bend the fans back towards your face. They won't last the full 8 hours, but they're enough to get you to sleep.

Mummy bags are fantastic for sub-freezing campouts, but a suffocating trap in any other situation. I highly recommend using your mummy bags for padding and sleeping on top of them with just a blanket/sheet/weighted blanket similar to what you use at home.

I love a nighttime cocktail of melatonin, magnesium (glycinate, not the one that makes you poo), and Benadryl.

ear plugs

🍷helps!

2 benadryl and 4 ibuprofen

Drugs and alcohol