As parents, camping with the whole family is an exciting adventure. And if you have a tot who’s just beginning to explore the surrounding, it’s even exhilarating. However, toddlers may find it a bit hard to sleep under the din of the crickets competing with the birds. That is why you may need to soundproof the sleeping tents for toddlers.
This article may contain affiliate links. Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Safe and sound sleep is a prerequisite for your kid, whether you are on a family camping adventure or at home. Children need quiet and serenity anytime they are taking a nap.
You will also need to carry tent sleeping gear with you. Well, bringing your children along for the camping trip means you cannot afford to be as spartan as you would be if you were camping with your spouse.
So make a good plan, a good list of all the gear that you will need. Do not skimp on the important things such as inflatable sleeping pads, cooking stove, coffee mugs and many more items. Comfort is paramount when you are camping with children.
But this post is not about the things you would need when camping with kids. It is about how to enable a toddler to sleep. If you intend to do some extra activities at the camping ground, bring a toddler backpack carrier. You will need it.
Above all things, the choice of the tent is very important. Whether you go for a glamping tent or a regular tent, remember, it should offer protection and some sense of security and safety.
Table of Contents
Here are the 10 Tips to Soundproof Sleeping Tents for Toddlers
How do you ensure that even in the camping site your child is protected from the disturbing noises of the wild?
Well, I am going to tell you the key tips that would help you soundproof tents for toddlers. And, right away.
You can always buy sound insulated tents
Sound insulated tents are already soundproof and will reduce a significant amount of noise. However, these are a bit hard to find. You may as well buy high quality family tents on Amazon.com and then soundproof them.
For the traditional tents, you need to do a DIY soundproofing project. Thankfully, this is easy, and does not take much time.
Use Acoustic Barriers
The mass loaded vinyl or acoustic panels are the most common materials used to block out excessive noises. Places like studios and construction sites are soundproofed by using these panels.
These panels can work in tents too. Once these materials are in place, you could begin fitting them from the inside of the tent on the walls.
Ensure they are cut in the right sizes to fit seamlessly on the wall surfaces. Be sure that they are going to stop a lot of noises from hitting the interior, especially the bass sounds and squeaky tiny, high-frequency noises of the birds.
If it matters, cover the outside of the tent also with these panels. Remember any element of noises won’t give your toddler enough peace of mind for a smooth sleep.
These materials can do a great job; they are arguably the best soundproofing method for the tent. The only downside to them is that they are pricey – but if you have money, that’s not an issue. Besides, they are designed to last a long time.
Carpet the Tent Floor
Another strategy that is not going to cost you much is carpeting the floor of the sleeping tent. This can be done simply through the use of several layers of carpets which are arranged on the floor.
These carpets help cut off bass frequencies going through the ground. Any noise from people or music outside would be dampened effectively.
The key thing you want to ensure is to get thick carpets. They provide better noise-dampening features as they can easily absorb and dissipate the noise.
Use Soundproof Curtains
Soundproof curtains are a great way of preventing noise penetration into a tent outdoors. These are most needed on windows if other sections of the tent have been covered with appropriate materials.
They prevent noise by absorbing the sounds or dampening them right before the waves travel through the walls.
You will need to buy the heavy, soundproof curtains and hang them on the windows. This is especially important if you have a big family tent.
The curtains need to be thicker (velvet curtains are better choices) as they can do two things: they can effectively block the outside sounds and even lock in extra heat to keep the child warm through their naptime.
Curtains are less expensive and, therefore, they are a cost-effective option to soundproof sleeping tents for toddlers. A good option could be this affordable Nicetown Full Shade Heavy Drapes that you can buy on Amazon.com.
Use of Moving Blankets
These are also called soundproofing blankets. They are designed with the sound-deadening materials which are great at reducing noises.
The blankets can be hung on tent walls from inside. They are good alternatives to use in your DIY tent soundproofing project.
Sure-Max Moving & Packing Blankets that you can buy on Amazon.com is an example of the moving blankets. It is affordable and will do just fine. As you buy your children some cute hiking outfits for camping, you may want to buy a couple of soundproofing items.
One thing though – these blankets do not give you 100% noise reduction guarantee. But hey! They are better than no soundproofing at all.
Use Destructive Interference
For the lovers of music and sounds, this method can work to some extent. Although it is not going to do the job effectively.
Basically, the sound waves path is disrupted by putting the sound speakers towards each other in a semi-circle. The waves emitted keep on disrupting their own paths to create a phenomenon called destructive interference.
This may not be an effective method but will definitely cut off some level of noise. Not a typical one in projects like this. More so, in those tents for toddlers.
You may want to skip this method since you are looking for something that you can use for camping. All you want is to soundproof the tent for your kids to sleep comfortably and peacefully.
Get a More Permanent Structure
A more permanent structure will be better in reducing noise in the tent. For those who want to camp outdoors for a number of days, this is the best solution for you.
It involves creating wooden frames on the wall of the tent. These supports will be used to hold the soundproofing insulation materials.
When putting these frames in place, you will definitely have to spend more time. But it is worth it because the semi-permanent structure can block or absorb more sound compared to other methods.
Place Around the Tent a Separate Acoustic Barrier Outside
To supplement the other methods of sound-deadening, you could use separate acoustic barriers outside the tent to further block residual noise. These barriers are similar to the ones used in the construction sites.
They are designed as large walls that are normally raised above the tent. They are composed of layers of acoustic insulation foam.
In most cases, you will not have a hard time erecting these structures.
This method of soundproofing is ideal with sleeping tents for toddlers. Where, most of the time, people are constantly coming in and out of the tent.
Raise Speakers Off the Floor
Do you want to listen to music inside the tent while your child is sleeping? Well, you will need to keep the speakers as high as possible. A stand will work fine to hold these speakers
Instead of noise running down into the ground, it’s diverted in another direction. Insulation pads or dense foams can be used to create a barrier between the speakers and the ground.
Wear the Ear Muffs and Try Using White Noise Machine
Fit the child with ear muffs to avoid wasting a lot of time and energy laying down soundproofing materials in tents. White noise machines are common with baby nurseries.
But if you played those little white noises, other sources outside are generally canceled to give the baby a soothing sleep.
Ear muffs and eye masks are bought together most of the time. The eye masks help in blocking the light and helping you sleep better. Combined with the ear muffs, it is as if you will be creating your own nirvana.
Buy Soundproof Sleeping Tents for Toddlers
Finally, you could decide to buy a sound-deadening or dampening tent. You don’t need to start doing any DIY to make noise from outside a thing of the past – the tent itself has been carefully constructed to block, absorb or deaden sounds coming through it.
Such tents, unlike the traditional tents you know, are mostly built to help in insulating against unwanted sounds and also regulate temperatures during camping.
They have very unique features. For example, they are mildew resistant and flame retardant which could prove to be important in some areas. The good thing with these tents is that you may need just minimal effort, perhaps just additions, to achieve a more soundproofed environment for your child to sleep in.
Conclusion
As you have no doubt seen here, soundproofing sleeping tents for toddlers is not impossible. In fact, it is a good project that you can undertake at the camping site, if you find that there is too much noise for your toddler to sleep peacefully. Since you know that a good nap for a toddler is important, the methods indicated in this guide should help you set up a conducive environment for him/her. Remember, a toddler who has slept well is a happy toddler, with energy to expend on activities such as hiking or playing camping games.