Camping with your family is a beautiful way to bond with them. You can enjoy the fresh air, board games, and several other activities together. And while this is fun, it’s different when you have a baby on board. Newborns have many needs that can affect how you pack and prepare for your trip.
Camping with a baby requires more attention than regular camping. You need to ensure you’ve packed baby-friendly gear, food, games, and kits. You’ll also need to pay extra attention to maintaining their feeding and sleeping schedules, while also ensuring you have chosen the right camp destination.
It may seem herculean, but proper preparation and choosing the right gear can be key to having an excellent trip when camping with an infant. This guide will discuss everything you should know to have a successful camping trip with your baby, including tips on how to prepare well.
Table of contents
Preparing for Your Trip
When going camping with an infant, you need to prioritize them in every decision you make. Here are tips on how to prepare for your camping trip:
Choose the Right Time and Location
Choose a baby-friendly destination. A baby-friendly destination would have easy access to medical facilities, shaded areas, and clean bathrooms. Look for campsites that have amenities like this to make it easier for you and the baby.
Research your camping destination thoroughly before you get on the road to know if it’s suitable for infants and provides a sense of the environment. Don’t rely on online reviews alone; ask friends who have been there.
You should also plan your trip to a more suitable season for bringing an infant out. Consider going camping during spring and fall—the weather conditions during these periods are mild and comfortable for babies.
What To Pack: Essentials Checklist
What you pack can make or break your camping trip. We’ve segmented these essentials into groups. Here’s a list of must-have essentials when baby camping:
1. Clothing: Pack weather-suitable outfits, baby sleepwear, and extra socks. You should also get baby booties and waterproof jackets. Add hats and mittens because babies need to keep warm and comfortable.
2. Toiletries: Pack enough diapers and wipes. Add diaper rash cream, baby shampoos, lotions, and soap to the list. Take small washcloths and towels with you.
3. Feeding: Bring enough formula or a breast pump to last throughout your trip. Pack their bottles and bottle brushes to wash them easily. Include bibs, baby snacks, and sippy cups. While this isn’t very necessary, a high chair or portable booster seat will make camping easier—you can prop them on it and do the activities you need to do.
4. Miscellaneous: Get the things you may easily forget, like a baby backpack or diaper bag, reusable water bottle, and portable fan for warm weather. Pack extra pacifiers, too — you never know when they go missing.
Gear Essentials When Camping with a Baby
The right gear will keep your baby comfortable and safe throughout your camping trip. Here are the essential gears you need and the features to look out for when buying:
The Best Tents for Families
Choose a tent that’ll be most comfortable for your family size, and also consider the baby’s comfortability. These are features to look out for in a camping tent for your baby:
Ample space
Select a tent with enough room to accommodate your family and gear. A spacious tent, like VEVOR’s Camping Tent, capable of accommodating three people, is a good option. It has sufficient space for you to sleep and move around comfortably. You won’t have to worry about overcrowding, and you can better organize your belongings.
Ventilation
Get a tent with good ventilation to maintain a comfortable temperature inside and reduce condensation. Look for tents with multiple windows, vents, and mesh panels that let air in and keep insects out. VEVOR’s 8-person capacity Canvas Tent has rollable windows around the tent for ample ventilation. It ensures the inside of the tent isn’t stuffy, there’s fresh air circulation, and you can drop the windows whenever you like. It’s also an excellent option if you need a bigger space.
Weather Resistance
A tent with good weather resistance quality can protect your family from rain, wind, and other elements. The VEVOR Canvas Tent, for instance, is made to withstand all four seasons and has enhanced waterproof features, like reinforced seams, that keep raindrops out.
Sleeping Systems for Comfort
Babies need comfortable sleeping arrangements to rest well. Here are some of the tools you will need for a great experience:
Baby-Specific Sleeping Pads and Bags
Baby sleeping pads provide extra cushioning and warmth, while baby bags keep your baby warm and snug. Choose a baby bag with adjustable openings and soft material.
Portable Cribs
This is optional, but a portable crib will offer a secure and familiar sleeping environment for your baby, considering they sleep in cribs at home. Go for a crib that’s lightweight, foldable, and easily transportable.
Insect Nets or Screens
Use Insect nets or screens to protect your baby from bugs and insects, especially when your campsite isn’t close to a hospital or you’re in wooded or marshy areas.
Carrier
Get something that can carry all your loads at once. We recommend the VEVOR Collapsible Folding Wagon, which can hold 220 lbs of weight and is still easily foldable for this purpose. The wagon has wheels to move around and drink holders to hold your favorite soda.
Portable Feeding Solutions
Feeding on the go is a bit tricky but doable with the right tools. Consider these feeding supplies:
- Portable bottle warmers to heat your baby’s formula or milk quickly.
- Collapsible dish sets are lightweight, save space, and are easy to clean up after meals.
- Nursing covers will provide privacy when you’re breastfeeding in public.
- For baby food storage, we recommend insulated containers. These containers will maintain the temperature of your baby’s food, keeping it fresh and safe. Get enough storage for both prepared meals and snacks.
Keeping Baby Comfortable and Safe
Keeping your baby is the priority when you’re in an unpredictable environment. Here are some tips to keep your baby safe and comfortable:
Clothing and Protection
Dress your baby in layers to adapt to changing weather. You can take some layers off when it’s too hot and on when it’s chilly outside. Here’s how to layer them:
- Start with a base layer. Choose materials like cotton or merino wool that are gentle on the skin.
- Add an insulating layer to retain body heat. This can be a fleece or down vest and jacket. They provide heat without being too bulky.
- Finish with a waterproof and windproof outer layer. A good quality raincoat will do the trick. Ensure it’s breathable to prevent overheating.
- Don’t forget hats, mittens, and socks. Babies lose body heat through their heads, so they need a hat on. Socks and mittens will keep their hands and feet warm.
You can take some of these off when it’s hot outside.
Health and Safety Tips
If you already have a first aid kit, add items like baby-safe insect repellent, a baby monitor, and age-appropriate sunscreen. If you are about to design one, ensure you carry a first aid kit with antiseptic wipes, a digital thermometer, band-aids, and any necessary baby medication.
Activities and Engagement While Camping
Camping should be fun and engaging. That’s the essence of going on an outdoor trip in the first place. Don’t make the mistake of leaving the baby out of the fun while doing this. Instead, incorporate activities that will make the trip enjoyable for everyone.
Simple and Engaging Campsite Activities
Here are some tips that can help ensure fun and engagement in the camp.
Pack Favorite Toys and Books
Bring some of your baby’s favorite toys and books. Choose lightweight toys that are easy to pack and colorful books that can capture their attention.
Let them Engage with Nature
Engage your baby with nature. Let them touch leaves, and watch the birds and stars with you. You can use this opportunity to introduce them to different textures, colors, and sounds in nature. Be careful, though, and watch them closely so they don’t put anything into their mouth.
If you have toddlers, we recommend getting VEVOR’S Hanging Tree Tent for them to play in. It can carry 330 pounds of weight, and you only need to set it up, hang it on a tree, and let the kids have fun in there.
Try Water Play
If the campsite has a safe, shallow water source, you can let them play in it. Pack a small inflatable pool or use a basic to let your baby splash around.
Enjoy Picnic Time With Them
Set up a picnic area with a blanket and let your baby sit and play with their toys. Serve snacks they can eat, like sliced fruit or teething biscuits. This way, you can enjoy your surroundings while keeping an eye on the baby.
Exploring Together Safely
Sightseeing and hiking with a baby can be delightful with the proper precautions. Use a sturdy, supportive baby carrier designed for outdoor activities. Make sure your carrier fits your baby well. Stick to well-marked, safe trails and avoid overly challenging paths — you have to be extra careful with a baby.
Take frequent breaks to allow your baby to stretch, hydrate, and remain comfortable. Protect them from the sun with a hat, sunscreen, and lightweight, long-sleeved clothing.
Managing Sleep and Feeding Schedules
For the best experience, you want the baby to be familiar with the new environment, adapt, and make the most out of the trip. Getting familiar will help the infants sleep well, feed well, and even influence how much fun they can have. These useful tips will help in managing sleep and feeding schedules.
- Bring familiar items like blankets or stuffed animals. Reduce light exposure so they can sleep when they should.
- You should also plan camping activities around their feeding schedule—go for picnics when they need fruit snacks.
- Besides food, you should ensure they stay hydrated throughout the camping trip.
- You don’t have to be rigid about their feeding schedule. Be flexible and adaptable to minor adjustments, like when they have dinner or if they can have one more snack.
- Monitor them regularly for discomfort, hunger, or tiredness.
Conclusion
While engaging in such a trip can be challenging and require more attention, camping with a baby can be so much fun. However, to achieve your camping goals, plan your trip carefully and get the right gear to ease the stress on you and the baby.In the gear area, we advise that you get all your essentials from a trusted brand like VEVOR as they are highly rated by many campers. VEVOR has several camping gear items that can make your trip a success. Visit the VEVOR website to explore their top-notch camping gear and invest in essentials that will take your outdoor experience with your baby to a new height!
