Adventures in Parenthood: Camping With a Baby or a Newborn

So you’ve decided to be brave and try one of the ultimate adventures you can have with a baby – camping. Camping with a baby can be a lot of fun, but let’s be honest, it might not be easy. The best thing you can do is ensure you are adequately prepared for the situation, so you are prepared for whatever comes up. The last thing you want to do is be in the middle of the woods while unprepared to cater to your baby’s needs.

In this article, we will give you some tips and tricks to prepare for this situation, both in how you pack, where you camp, and how to mentally prepare yourself. There is a way to have a baby and not give up your outdoor lifestyle, but it will require some adjustment. Let’s get started:

Tips for Camping with a Baby or Newborn.

Compromise

This is our number one tip for camping with a baby or a newborn, and it’s both simple but might be a lot to stomach for those particularly outdoorsy folks – you need to compromise.

 Things simply won’t be the same as when you could go on a five-kilometer portage deep in a National Park. At least not for a while. You will need to compromise on where you camp and what you bring to make sure that, above all, you have the things necessary to care for your baby.

Pick a Location

Picking a location is crucial. When camping with a baby, you will want to have easy access to things such as a bathroom, good shelter in the case of bad weather, and road access just in case you do need to leave urgently. Ideally, it should be close to home as well so the drive isn’t too long.

It is also important that the area has lots of shade. Your baby has sensitive skin, so be sure to keep them out of the hot sun as much as you can.

There are many options that provide these requirements. Whether it be a campground that allows RVs or trailers, a campground with public washrooms or showers, or even a cabin or cottage that you can rent out. It is about providing a comfortable environment for your baby, which in turn will help you to have a more enjoyable experience as well!  

Prepare

Packing for your adventure is crucial in this situation. What you bring will be your tools in helping you adapt to any situation. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

A Large Tent

If you are using a tent for this camping expedition, make sure it’s a big one. Your baby is small, but as you know, they need a lot of space. There should be room for you and your baby to rest and sleep comfortably.

Sleeping Supplies

We all have our own night-time routines with our babies. You will have a smoother experience if you make your night-time routine similar to what you do at home. Granted, it’s impossible to fully replicate it, but try to get a portable version of whatever type of crib or bassinet your baby sleeps in at home. Additionally, you could bring some of your baby’s favorite toys so the situation feels more familiar to them.

Sleeping with a baby inside a tent is not easy a lot of the time, so you might want to opt for camping in an RV or even a rented cabin.

Food

Once again, the menu for your baby’s first camping trip should be as similar as possible to what your baby eats at home. If you are breastfeeding, then it makes it quite a bit easier. But if your baby has a more extensive diet, then you just need to make sure you bring enough.

Just be sure that you keep the food clean, and bring a cooler if anything needs to be kept cold as well. And don’t forget some utensils.

Other Supplies

Luckily, you aren’t the first one to run into this situation. As a result, there are many products out there built specifically for helping you to travel with your baby. Many of these products are lightweight, portable, and ideal for packing away and bringing camping.

Check out this portable booster chair, the perfect tool for feeding your baby on the go. This booster was made to be used outdoors and folds up in a snap for easy transport. It also includes a safety harness for your own peace of mind.

If your baby uses a bassinet at home, you can pick up one of these travel bassinets. This easy-folding bassinet will help your baby sleep just like at home. The great thing is that it folds flat and only weighs a bit over 2lbs.

No matter how your baby sleeps, eats, or plays, there is probably a portable version of it somewhere. There are many parents just like you who don’t want to sacrifice their sense of adventure, so whatever you can think of, there might just be an option for you.

Conclusion

Camping with a baby is certainly a daunting task, even for experienced campers. There will always be worries about what to pack, where to go, and a whole list of “what-ifs” that will probably run through your head.

Luckily, there are many things you can do to be prepared for whatever the situation throws at you. Be sure to pack appropriately, pick your location wisely, and try to replicate your baby’s experience at home as much as is reasonably possible. Your best weapon against all those “what-ifs” is your own preparedness!

Lastly, remember our number one piece of advice, you gotta compromise. Sure, if you’re a rugged outdoors person, things aren’t going to be the same as they once were. But this is a whole new adventure, and you can make the best of this one too! So be prepared, plan ahead, and have fun out there.