9 Tips for Camping with a Baby

© lindrik | Dollar Photo Club

If you and your family love camping, then don’t let the fact that you have a baby keep you from doing something you love. With some preparation and smart packing, you can bring along your little one on a successful camping trip. Camping with a Baby can be easy with these tips and tricks!

Bring a Pan

While camping, you’ll need to feed your baby. If your baby is formula fed, then you will definitely need to bring a pan to heat water with. This will help boil any impurities out of the water, making it safer to use to feed your baby. You can also use a pan of water to heat up a bottle with breastmilk in it.  Regardless of how your child is fed, a pan will help make camping with your baby easier.

Don’t Forget Ziploc Baggies

Even if you’re only camping for one night, you can count on changing some dirty diapers. Obviously you don’t want to put these dirty diapers in with your clothes, but you can’t leave them lying around the campsite either. To solve this camping dilemma, don’t forget to bring Ziploc baggies. You can then seal any dirty diapers in these baggies and store them safely with your belongings until you make your way back to civilization. You can then dispose of them properly without leaving a stinky mess in your luggage.  If you are using cloth don’t forget to bring a large wet bag!

Pack the Carrier

If you’re camping with your baby, then be sure to pack your carrier or sling. You’ll be doing a lot of activities while camping, most of which you’ll need your hands free for! Your baby carrier or sling will give you the freedom you need to have fun camping, all while allowing you to still care for your baby.

Bring a Pack ‘N Play

While camping, you’ll need someplace safe to set your baby. With this in mind, be sure to bring a pack ‘n play with you on your camping trip! A pack ‘n play will be multi-purpose on your trip since it can be used as a play area during the day and a sleeping area at night! Add in the fact that pack ‘n plays are relatively light and compact and you’ll be more than happy to bring one along.  You can even opt for one of the tiny pack ‘n play if space is limited in your tent.  It’s important to give them their own contained space, especially if you do not normally co-sleep as sleeping bags, mattresses etc.. are all suffocation hazards.

Pack Extra Diapers

 Diapers don’t really take up much space, so do pack more than you would normally think to bring just in case – whether you are using disposables or cloth. 

Pack Clothes for Day and Night

Days can be quite hot when you are camping so do pack lighter clothes for the daytime but don’t forget that the woods tend to get pretty chilly even after a hot day.  Pack warm clothes to layer on at night and remember that babies are unable to properly maintain their own body temperature so they do get colder faster than you. Try a wool outfit right next to the skin as it will keep baby both dry and warm.  Hats and mittens are a good idea too.

Don’t Go Overboard

You are camping, you do not need to bring a truckload of toys or baby gear.  One or two toys is fine along with the other items mentioned above.

When you Arrive

You might want to take the time to visit any close neighbours with baby and explain it is baby’s first trip camping.  That way when the crying starts they will already know what is going on and probably feel a lot less annoyed about baby crying. 

Consider a Dry Run

If you are a little nervous or unsure of how you will handle camping with baby just pitch your tent in the backyard and camp overnight to get a feel for it.

Camping with a baby can still be a fun adventure for you and your family.  When you’ve tackled this, you’ll be ready to go camping with a toddler next year! What are your best tips for camping with a baby?

Elizabeth Lampman

Elizabeth Lampman is a coffee-fuelled Mom of 2 girls and lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She enjoys travelling, developing easy recipes, crafting, taking on diy projects, travelling and saving money!