Our baby is one year old and we have taken her tent camping, went to a minimalistic cabin and taken her camping in a couple of trailers already. Some of these tips will pertain to all forms of camping and glamping (glamour camping) but some are more pertinent to tent camping.
Skip the stroller bring a wagon and baby carrier
When you’re camping, especially tent camping, and with a baby/toddler, you won’t have a lot of room; so, forget the stroller for the weekend. Bring a wagon and baby carrier. The wagon folds up smaller than most strollers and you can use it to bring stuff to the beach, store stuff in it at the camp site and if you want to hike some trails use the baby carrier. We purchased our wagon from Costco and our LilleBaby Seat Me All Seasons Carrier from Toys R Us
Forget bedtime routines
Whether you’re in a tent, an SUV tent or a trailer, it will likely be harder to get the baby to sleep, especially with all the simulation. Let your baby stay up and have fun with your child. And don’t even think of bringing a playpen to sleep in; there’s no room so let him/her sleep with you. We liked to get comfy by the campfire with a bottle of milk and let her sleep in our arms.
Consider simple BBQ food your baby will like
Again, your vehicle will be loaded to the brim; so don’t try to bring too much food that requires elaborate preparation. We did it and it was a nightmare trying to pack everything. It will also be difficult to try and prepare everything with a baby or toddler you need to watch and keep occupied. Bring food that’s easy to barbecue and that your baby will enjoy. Bring lots of snacks like Baby Mum’s too.
Portable baby booster chair
The portable baby booster seat is a must. You can hook it up to the picnic table so you’re kid can eat at the table with you. You can also hook it to the wagon if you decide to roam the campground or walk to the beach. We purchased the Regalo My Chair 2-in-1 Portable Travel Booster which was cheaper than some of the other booster seats, but it works like a charm and has been durable.
Bring distilled water and kettle to sterilize bottles
If your child still drinks milk, whether on a regular basis or to fall asleep, there’s no point trying to sterilize water out there, just bring a jug of distilled water to mix with the formula. And if you don’t have enough bottles or want to wash them before going home, bring a kettle and sterilize the bottles in the kettle. A good trick is to fill the kettle with water, bring the water to a boil and drop as many bottles and caps in there for a few minutes. Make sure you have tongs to pull them out though.
Shower together in coin operated handicap/family room
You can skip a bath if you want, but you’re outside in the wilderness and you child might get pretty dirty. And, if you’re out there for 2 or 3 nights its probably a good idea for at least one bath/shower. Instead of bringing the tub or a large pale, just shower as a family in the campgrounds coin operated showers and if possible, use the handicap/family shower.
Consider an SUV Tent
I’d consider an SUV tent for two reasons; the first being bears. We’ve seen bears camping before and one even rummaged through our kitchen tent. I’d rather be sleeping in my SUV, especially with my baby than on the ground in a tent. The second reason is these tents are super quick and easy to set up. Most regular tents require two people to set up, take time and cause you to drop a few f sharps. If it’s just you and your partner, the SUV tent takes less than 5 minutes to set up and only requires one person. We ordered the JOYTUTUS SUV Tailgate Tent from Amazon and ordered a blow-up mattress. It was cheaper than a regular tent, a lot easier to set up and was comfortable. And again hey, I might just be paranoid, but if a bear comes onto my campsite, I’d rather my girl be in our vehicle.
Go with another couple/family/friends
If you’re with another couple, some friends or some family you have more helping hands. It’s a lot easier to set up a tent, the kitchen tent, your site and to cook. You’ll need one person with the baby and if there are two or three others to help with the other stuff it’ll be a lot smoother.
Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes are a pain in the ass, but I can handle them; but I’d rather my girl not get eaten alive by those pesky insects. Make sure you have insect repellent for babies (we use OFF Baby), lots of coils and Thermacells to reduce the amount of mosquitoes and bites you and your child get.
Make a list of important items
Hence everything I mentioned above, there is a lot of stuff to pack and even more so with a baby. You can afford to forget something for yourself but not your baby. Make sure you list all the essentials like baby insect repellent, distilled water, milk and bottles, baby snacks, baby sun screen (Aveeno Baby SPF 50), floaties (The SwimWays Baby Spring Float is excellent) , sun hat, extra diapers and clothes etc.
Plan to start packing early
It’s going to take a lot longer than you expected to pack, so start early or plan to be late. You may also be ready to go and your baby needs a diaper change. Pack early and be prepared. It’ll also take a lot longer to pack up your site so start packing early and keep your stuff organized so you’re out of your campsite/cabin on time for checkout.
Have fun!
It is a lot of work, but nothing good comes easy. Make memories with your family and step outside of your comfort zone and get out there. I’m not the hugest camper but it’s something to do in between vacations. With proper preparation you’ll have fun and so will your child!
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