Years ago, me and my wife made the slightly mental decision to go camping with our 4 year old and our three-month-old newborn.
We were initially hesitant about taking our little one into the great outdoors at such a young age, but after thorough research and preparation, we had a fantastic experience.
A friend asked me about this the other week as he is considering doing the same. He was after any tips I had to make camping with a baby easier, so I thought I would tell you guys what I told him.
If taking your baby camping is something you are considering I know it can be a little nerve wracking, but I promise you, so long as you are well prepared it’s a breeze.
Choosing the Right Campsite
When camping with a baby, selecting an appropriate campsite is crucial.
Look for campsites that cater to families with young children. These often have amenities like clean toilets, hot showers, and sometimes even baby-changing facilities. We found a site with a small playground nearby, which was perfect for our older child.
For your first few trips, I’d recommend choosing a campsite within a couple of hours’ drive from home too. This gives you the peace of mind that you can easily return if things don’t go as planned. We selected a lovely spot just 90 minutes away, which worked brilliantly for us.
Try to book a pitch in a quieter area of the campsite if you can. This can help ensure your baby’s sleep isn’t disturbed by late-night revellers or early risers. We were fortunate to secure a spot near the edge of the campground, which provided a more peaceful environment.
Also, opt for a flat pitch if possible. This makes setting up your tent easier and ensures a more comfortable sleeping arrangement for the whole family. We learned this the hard way on our first night when we realised our pitch had a slight slope. My eldest kept falling off his air mattress…
Essential Gear for Camping with a Baby
Packing the right gear can make or break your camping experience with a baby. The golden rule is to take more than you think you will need.
A travel cot or portable bassinet is a must. We used a lightweight travel cot that was easy to set up and provided a safe, familiar sleeping space for our little one. Don’t forget to bring along your baby’s favourite blanket or sleep sack for comfort and warmth. In fact, bring a few!
Create a designated changing area in your tent. We brought a foldable changing mat and set up a small corner with nappies, wipes, and disposal bags within easy reach. This organisation was a lifesaver during those middle-of-the-night changes. Near the door is best. Oh, and bring hand sanitizer. Lots of hand sanitizer…
If you’re bottle-feeding, don’t forget to pack plenty of sterilised bottles, formula, and a way to heat water. We found a small camping stove invaluable for this. For breastfeeding mums, a comfortable camping chair with back support can make night feeds much more manageable.
I wouldn’t recommend camping with a baby in the colder months, but regardless of the forecast, be prepared for all weather conditions. We packed a pop-up sun shelter for daytime naps and play, as well as warm layers for cooler evenings. A rain cover for the pram also came in handy during an unexpected shower.
Maintaining Baby’s Routine
While camping naturally disrupts your usual routine, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy can help your baby adjust.
We stuck to our usual bedtime routine as much as possible, including a warm bath (using a collapsible tub), storytime, and a lullaby. This helped signal to our baby that it was time to wind down, even in the new environment.
Be prepared to be more flexible with nap times though. We found that our baby often dozed off during hikes or car rides, so we adapted our schedule accordingly. Having a comfortable baby carrier was brilliant for this.
We tried to keep feeding times relatively consistent, but also listened to our baby’s cues. Sometimes the excitement or change in routine meant more frequent feeds were necessary.
All in all, the routine was fairly easy to maintain.
Keeping Baby Comfortable
Ensuring your baby stays comfortable in the outdoor environment is obviously a priority. Although it’s no different to taking them to the park really.
Layering is crucial for managing your baby’s temperature, so have plenty of options. We dressed our little one in breathable, moisture-wicking base layers, adding or removing layers as needed. At night, we used a sleep sack appropriate for the temperature.
Protecting your baby from the sun is vital too. We brought a wide-brimmed sun hat, applied baby-safe sunscreen, and used the sun shelter frequently. We also planned our outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day.
This is all basic parenting stuff.
The only additional item I would recommend is bug repellent. To keep bugs at bay, we used a baby-safe insect repellent and dressed our little one in long sleeves and trousers in the evening. We also made sure to keep the tent zipped up to prevent unwanted visitors. You will get insects in there however hard you try to keep them out, but you can minimise the intrusion.
Meal Planning and Preparation
Feeding a young family while camping requires some forethought. This is something we could have done better.
We opted for easy-to-prepare meals that could be cooked on a camping stove or over a campfire. One-pot dishes like pasta and stews were our go-to options. For our baby, we brought pre-prepared purees and finger foods. I think our eldest found it a little boring though, so perhaps eating out once or twice in the nearest town would have been a good idea.
Having a variety of healthy snacks on hand was crucial for keeping everyone’s energy up. We also made sure to pack plenty of water and brought juice along too.
Washing up is annoying when camping, so I would recommend taking as little cutlery as possible. You could take paper plates and disposable cutlery, but it depends how eco-conscious you are.
Activities and Entertainment
Keeping your baby engaged and entertained during the camping trip is something else to keep in mind. It’s not hard though, as they will have so much to look at and grab.
Even at a young age, babies can enjoy nature. We took short walks, letting our little one touch leaves, grass, and (safe) flowers. The new textures and sights were fascinating for her.
We brought a few favourite toys from home but also improvised with natural items like pinecones or smooth stones (always supervised, of course). A waterproof picnic blanket provided a clean play area outside the tent. Babies don’t need much to be entertained, so we could pretty much use whatever we were doing with our eldest and involve her in it.
Camping offers a unique opportunity for uninterrupted family time. We enjoyed simple activities like singing songs, reading books, and just cuddling together under the stars without the distractions of home. Real back to nature stuff.
A Worthwhile Experience
Despite the challenges, camping with our baby was an incredibly rewarding experience in the end. Spending lots of time outdoors with her and my lad was a fantastic time for family bonding. Seeing our baby experience nature for the first time was truly special.
It gave us a lot of confidence as parents too. Camping with a newborn seemed like it could be a real test, but actually, apart from the odd hiccup it was fine. It certainly made us more adventurous going forward. We probably wouldn’t have done it with our first, since new parents tend to be more protective and anxious, but if we had I think it would have been good for us.
I hope that by sharing our experience, other parents will feel inspired to give camping with a baby a try. It may require more preparation, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
So if this is something you are thinking about for your family, I would say go for it. Pack up that tent, gather your supplies, and go have your own camping adventure with your baby. Just do loads of planning first!
