Camping With Babies

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Jay Elliott

Chief Camping Officer

Camping With Babies

Tips for camping with babies

Camping with babies requires proper planning and practice to ensure a safe and comfortable stay outdoors. It’s never too early to bring your baby on your camping trips.

But unlike older kids, babies are more sensitive and delicate. You should observe helpful techniques and precautions before taking a baby out camping in the wild to have an easy and fun trip.

Camp closer to your house

At the start it is best to camp near home when going camping with a baby. This precaution ensure’s that you can effortlessly return to your house instantly in case any unwanted incidents occur.

The technique in looking for a nearby campsite near your home is through searching campsites online and personally examining the area to ensure that it is safe and not far away.

Trial camping

When planning to camp with a baby, one precaution you should take to ensure that your baby is ready for an outdoor adventure away from your home has a camping trial run. You may try having your trial run outside your house in your garden, parking driveway, or even terrace.

This will enable you to gather additional information about your baby’s behavior and reaction towards camping, giving you an idea of what necessary things to bring and what certain items you lack and need to purchase for a more convenient camping experience.

Choose a good space

Since babies can cry when they are disturbed, it has been an excellent practice to settle in a place away from other camping tents and facilities to ensure that the baby experiences a quiet and relaxing environment. The practice of camping away from other campers ensures both parties don’t get disturbed.

Use a mosquito net 

Nowadays, tents often come with built-in mosquito nets to help protect campers from mosquitos. However, it is still essential to pack an additional mosquito net when camping outdoors, especially with a baby. This precaution allows your family to rest comfortably without worrying about mosquito bites that may lead to malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Pakcing For A Baby

Whenever you go camping with a baby, it is highly convenient and hassle-free to have a separate bag containing all of the baby’s belongings. A personal bag for a baby’s clothes and other essentials will enable you to easily locate specific things your baby will be needing. To do so, it is vital to keep things organized and well-placed.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

Babies have a physiological habit of sleeping heavily. Infants sleep at an average of 14-17 hours per day. When their rest gets disturbed, they tend to be moody and difficult to handle, making it crucial to let them rest freely. It is important to remember that babies are less irritated when well-rested.

Weather checking

It is crucial to check the weather forecast ahead of time before scheduling and leaving your homes for your camping trip.

This practice will definitely ensure that your trip goes according to plan. Although you can never be certain about weather conditions, the weather forecast will give you an idea of what weather to expect during your trip, enabling you to pack completely ahead of time.

Clean the area

It is a vital practice to ensure that your area remains clean throughout your stay. Even with our without a baby, proper waste disposal is key to preserve the environment.

This action helps prevent you from contributing to pollution, contaminating natural resources, and acquiring diseases. It is highly advisable to apply the leave-no-trace policy anywhere, especially in nature, as this ensures that others enjoy the campsite as much as you did. 

What should you bring for camping with babies?

Camping with a baby is difficult and entails great responsibility, especially in an unfamiliar environment. The behaviour of babies may vary depending on how they feel.

However, there are certain things and equipment you can pack that can help you handle your babies easier while guaranteeing that they stay happy and comfortable throughout your camping trip.

Nappies and nappy bag

Nappies and nappy bags, when not yet used, are usually lightweight, making it essential to pack many of these items. Evenly pack the number of nappy bags corresponding to the number of nappies you have packed. This preparation will enable you to quickly dispose of used nappies properly. 

Changing mat

A changing mat can be considered optional when camping with babies. It only depends on personal preference whether to bring them on your trip or not.

However, changing mats provide comfort to the baby while you change your baby’s nappies from time to time. This accessory is primarily made to avoid making a mess when changing nappies.

Toys

It is highly advisable to pack along your baby’s favorite toy on your camping trip to provide them a sense of familiarity in a new environment. A baby’s favorite toy can also help settle them down and put them at ease during your journey in nature.

Plenty of wipes

It is crucial to pack plenty of wipes when camping with a baby. Wipes aren’t just used to change nappies, they are also very helpful in keeping babies clean and hygienic, especially during feeding time. 

Camping chair

A camping chair is always handy during feeding sessions with your baby. This equipment will provide you comfort while spoon-feeding your babies as well as ensuring that they securely remain in their seats.

Comfortable clothes

It is crucial to pack comfortable clothing for your babies. Clothes are considered one of the three basic needs of humans and serve as protection from harsh weather conditions. Babies are happiest when they are comfortable in soft clothes.

Baby carrier

It is essential to pack along with you a baby carrier when camping with a baby outdoors. This equipment will help provide you with a sense of convenience when camping, especially since one of the best highlights of camping is a walk in nature. It is important to invest in a strong and durable baby carrier to ensure your baby’s safety during your activities.

Blanket

A comfortable and soft blanket is an essential item to pack during your camping trips. Blankets provide babies comfort especially during a chilly night.

First aid kit and vitamins

It is vital to always pack first aid kits with vitamins whenever going camping. The first aid kit will enable you to properly cleanse and treat minor wounds and injuries. On the other hand, vitamins should be taken, especially when camping, to boost and strengthen your and your baby’s immune system from any diseases. 

Rash cream

Rash cream is a skin product that helps treat and prevent rashes. This product is crucial to bring along on your camping trips with babies, especially since babies are prone to diaper rashes from wearing nappies all day.

Clean water

Clean water for drinking and hygiene purposes is crucial to bring when camping with babies. A baby’s body continues to develop and still has weak immune systems, making it essential that they only drink clean water. In addition, the baby’s skin is very sensitive and must be cleaned using only clean water.

Feeding bottles

It is important to always pack feeding bottles everywhere you go with your baby.

Can a baby go camping?

Babies can definitely go on camping trips. However, this requires planning and observation. It is essential to plan your camping trips ahead of time to ensure that you stay safe and prepared for any situation that may occur.

In addition, there are certain things and equipment you must pack to make your baby feel comfortable. Babies are easier to put to ease whenever they are comfortable, which in turn would make your camping experience enjoyable and hassle-free. 

What should a baby sleep in when camping?

Babies should sleep in warm, soft, and breathable layers of blankets. It is crucial to have a soft underlay wherein the baby can sleep on its back comfortably. 

Pillows

Babies often don’t need to sleep with pillows. A soft flat foam is enough to support their body during their sleeping time. Pillows may be used as a fence around the baby’s body to ensure that they don’t rollover. 

Sleeping pad

Babies should often sleep in sleeping pads, which do an excellent job supporting the baby’s head and providing babies with nest-like foam that enables them to maintain a comfortable sleeping position. 

Baby bed

Baby beds, also known as cribs, are perfect for babies who are fond of moving around. Cribs provide a tall fence, ensuring that babies don’t fall off their beds.

Skin-friendly blankets

Skin-friendly blankets are essential to use on babies, mainly since they have sensitive skin prone to rashes. In addition, these blankets provide enough warmth to ensure that babies have a comfortable, good night’s sleep.

Baby sleeping bags

Similar to blankets, baby sleeping bags offer a layer of fabric to keep babies warm during cold nights.

How do you keep your baby warm at night when camping?

If you’re camping outdoors, most nights tend to be cold and freezing, making it an important responsibility for parents to keep their babies warm when they sleep. One effective way to keep them warm is through layering them with the following things:

Blankets

The primary purpose of a blanket is to keep your body warm. It is vital to bring a layer of blankets to keep your little ones warm during the cold evening.

Layer or clothes

If you lack blankets and the temperature is freezing, you may layer some clothing on your baby. However, choosing moisture-wicking fabrics such as propylene as a base layer is preferable to avoid any moisture build-up that may make your babies feel colder. 

Warm socks

In order to be able to keep the baby’s feet warm, you may put socks on them that are made from wool, preferably.

Cute little warm hats

Your baby’s head may also feel cold during the night, and one way of keeping it warm is by putting on warm hats. The best material for warm little hats is polyester, fleece, and wool. 

Mittens

Mittens provide excellent thermal insulation for your hands and are ideal for cold weather conditions. Placing a pair of mittens on a baby’s hand will surely keep them warm and cozy.