Camping with Babies, Part 1
For me, there’s nothing that beats spending time outside with my littles. No toys needed; they are immersed in a world of smells, textures and sounds that are new to them. Their joy and wonder is contagious.
In some ways, camping with babies is the easiest thing - it’s just an extension of what we do with them at home. And, in other ways, it’s soooooo hard because of the extra effort it can take for the little things like access to water or finding a headlamp.
There’s always more to learn, but I’m ready to share some of the tips I’ve learned from my camping experiences with my own littles over the last 2.5 years, as well as advice I’ve gleaned from other parents. This is the article I wish I read before camping with my babies.
So much fun watching babies immerse themselves in the sensory experience of the natural world.
This article focuses on babies, because our children’s needs keep changing as they get older. I’ll share more on toddlers and teens in the future. Also, part 2 will be about sleep - people’s biggest worry.
Here are my tips…
Keep it Simple - Try to keep things as similar to life at home as possible. Babies are still very much attached to their parent and satisfied by that closeness. They like consistency and routine and the more that you can honour that, the smoother it will go. Don’t bring many (or any) toys unless they have a favourite book or stuffie for a sense of consistency.
Layers - Bring many. Babies get wet lots whether it is from pee, puke or just exploring on the ground. Wet layers are cold for them and, depending on the weather, may not dry quickly. Also, focus on material - wool and synthetic fabrics dry faster and keep body temperature warm. We used these layers: MEC Newt Suit, Smartwool Socks,fleece onesies and have loved all our Wee Woolies layers.
Bugs - Be ready for bugs. It’s hard to know how your littles will react to them so be sure to have some anti-itch cream and band-aids ready to go. Many strollers come with bug nets that you can use for your backpack. You may even consider getting a bug tent. I, personally, try to avoid bug spray and opt for wearing clothing that covers skin and nets. Therefore, I’m no expert on bug spray and you’ll need to look that up independently.
Goals/Logistics - With babies, it’s important to dial-down your goals and objectives. Babies do sleep a lot and you can possibly do some longer hikes but you also need to stop to feed them, adjust their comfort, etc. I have found with babies and toddlers that trips where I base camp work best - so we just set up and take down camp once. Camp tasks take a lot longer to get done with littles.
Food - Depending on the age of your baby, food is pretty straightforward. I breastfed my babies and found that very easy when camping (bring a chair for comfort). I didn’t need to bring much extra food for them. For those that are bottle-fed, you’ll need to research that separately to ensure that you are practicing proper hygiene. Once they are eating solids, we generally just feed our babies part of what we’re eating and have a healthy supply of fruit pouches. Be sure to put any clothing with lots of food on it in the bear cache.
Diapers and Hygiene - Bringing diapers when camping is not fun - they are the one thing that gets heavier the longer you are out! I suggest bringing a few more than you usually bring and have a system for diaper garbage. If you’re car camping, it’s no big deal. But if you are doing a multi-day backcountry trip, you don’t want to open the diaper garbage every time you use the regular garbage (stinky!). I have friends who used reusable diapers when camping and that has its pros (lighter overall) and cons (you need to wash and dry them). Depending on the weather, you can also do some naked time to use less diapers.
Carriers - A good carrier is key. Our babies slept lots in carriers and they are a good way to make sure a nap happens if you’re hiking or the baby is having trouble sleeping. With babies, we used a soft carrier and then graduated to a backpack once they were bigger.
First Aid - Pack your regular first aid kit with the necessary supplies for illness and trauma (bleeding). But, also be sure to bring Baby Tylenol, Baby Benadryl and a snot sucker.
Babies get tired and dirty but having the time together is so amazing.
The most important thing is to just give it a try. Start in the backyard and add distance, length and challenge from there. Don’t forget, babies are adaptable and the more they do something, the better they get at it! The most important things is to share your joy with them.
What tips do you have for camping with babies? Stay tuned for Part 2, focused on sleep!
