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 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!
kathy downey
Wednesday 25th of November 2015
Thanks for the tips and i also think a carrier would be one of the most important things to have on a camping trip with a toddler
kathy downey
Saturday 21st of November 2015
Lots of great tips thanks for sharing
KD
Tuesday 16th of June 2015
A carrier would be an absolute must-have when camping with a baby! Lots of great tips -- thanks!
Jennifer Beckett
Tuesday 16th of June 2015
Brave parents! I've been camping with a big group of extended family and the babies all had a great time! :-)
Elizabeth
Wednesday 17th of June 2015
It's a lot of fun, the only issues we've ever experienced is the screaming at bedtime because of being somewhere new.