Tips & tricks are greatly appreciated. We didn’t start taking DS1 until last year when he was 5 so this is unfamiliar territory.
We are going at the beginning of July for one night to test things out. I’m hoping it goes well and we can do more trips this summer.
What worked best for you if you camped with your baby?
persimmon / 1064 posts
Following. We spent the entire time literally chasing after our 16 month old while we were camping last weekend.
For a 10 month old I’d maybe get some sort of playpen type thing to corral him in? (Not a pack and play, but like a play yard?) That way he has free reign, but is still kept in one spot 
we also have a portable high chair by Ciao Baby that is great for traveling with! And I always bring a carrier of some sort in case we hike. We have an Osprey one that my husband wears! Plus we can pack diapers and waters and snacks or whatever in it too!
pomelo / 5621 posts
@bees_knees: a play yard is a good idea. I was kind of wondering what we’d do with him besides holding. I’ve seen those high chairs, if we are going to do more camping I will probably get one.
persimmon / 1023 posts
We went with DS1 when he was about 9/10 months. We had a big beach blanket thing and he wasn’t as active as DS2 so barely left that...he didn’t like the feel of dirt/grass ha. We had the pack and play in our tent with our air mattress beside (we have a massive 8 person tent) and we brought white noise and a fan. Strongly suggest an electrical site or bring batteries. The biggest PITA was that other campsites are partying it up right when he needed to be in bed, it takes forever to get dark, and the birds are chirping soooo early. The friends we went with brought a pop up trailer and I was very jealous of that Tbh.
If you’ll be in the water, get one of those baby floaties they can sit in. You can get them at Costco with a sun shade built in. We also have a pop up sun shade too. I would pre cook some of your food before you go and bring easy stuff like pouches for him.
pear / 1930 posts
Echoing what @muffinsmuffins said, do easy food. Not stuff you have to cook if at all possible. Cooking food on the fire is fun until the wind changes and the smoke blows on your baby and they start freaking out because it hurts their eyes. I speak from experience....
pomelo / 5621 posts
@Ms. RV: oh no, that does not sound good.
@muffinsmuffins: we’ve been spending time in the yard and keeping him on the blanket is a chore, he wants to eat the grass! Since it’s only one night I think I’ll have all his food ready to eat. I think the light late/early is my biggest worry but I can’t really do anything about that.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
I think we tried this one time when my oldest was that age, and then we never went again once he stopped sleeping and started walking 
I am pretty sure I wrote a blog post about it way back then. I will see if I can find it
ETA - Found it! He was younger than I remembered (6 months) https://www.hellobee.com/2013/09/17/adventures-with-baby-camping/
pomelo / 5621 posts
@Mrs. Lion: That is a good post, thanks! DS doesn't sleep through the night yet and I'm sure he won't by the beginning of July, so that could be interesting. Layers and blanket for sleep is a great idea.
I already told DH that this one night trip is a trial, if it isn't good I'm not taking the baby again this summer and him and DS1 can go on their own for a couple overnight/weekend trips.
nectarine / 2115 posts
Just jumping in to suggest you plan very well for nights and have lots of extra-warm layers for baby. You don’t want to end up in an unplanned cosleeping arrangement, which is especially dangerous if you plan to use an air mattress. Good luck! I always want to camp but haven’t been brave enough yet, even though mine are 3 and 5...!
pomelo / 5621 posts
@mrsrain: We weren’t brave enough to take DS1 until last year when he was 5! And now we don’t want to not take him this year because of the baby.
I mean I know people camp all the time with babies/young children but it still kind of scared me and seems like a lot of work. I’m liking all the tips/advice.
clementine / 920 posts
We just went camping with our 8 month old and almost 4 year old.
Bring a pack n play! It was perfect for DS to sleep in and we brought it out of the tent so he could play while we cooked meals or just sat around the camp site and let big brother explore. We also went on a hike so a baby carrier was essential so DH could wear him.
pomelo / 5621 posts
@Bluemasonjar: definitely bringing the pack n play.
I was just thinking I should put him n it in our yard so he can get used to being in it to play. We’ve only used it for sleep when traveling.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
We went when DD was probably 18 months and we didn't end up being able to sleep there. She woke up in the night and we couldn't get her back to sleep. Dh decided on the spot to drive us home to sleep the rest of the night. We were 20 mins from home. We went back in the morning but when it was time for nap she couldn't nap so I had to put her in the car for a car nap. Other than the sleeping though it was fun. There were 6 adults do we'd just set up our chairs in a circle to keep DD contained.
pomelo / 5621 posts
@Ajsmommy: That is crummy that she wouldn’t sleep, at least you were close to home. Have you gone camping again?
pomegranate / 3438 posts
@ALV91711: Sleep is definitely the hardest part, especially when tent camping. I keep my expectations low for night sleep and just try to get an extra nap in during the day as needed. When my kids were babies we co-slept in the tent on thick foam pads. Neither of my kids would sleep in the pack n play. I would just go put them down, then go back out to everyone else.
When they were still babies I would just nurse if they woke up. I pretty much would do whatever it took to get them back to sleep, even if it is what I wouldn't do at home.
For naps, I would bring the jogging stroller and we would just walk laps around the campground until they were asleep. Sometimes it took awhile but I got some great exercise in!
Now that they are older (7 years old and 2 years old) it is so much easier! They wear themselves out playing all day and sleep all night.
pomegranate / 3355 posts
@ALV91711: yes we have gone camping many times since that first experience. The next time we went was when dd was almost 3 and it went much more smoothly.
pomelo / 5621 posts
@KT326: I will definitely nurse at night if needed. I’m thinking of bringing my wrap for napping if needed. Last summer DS1 slept so great when we were camping.
@Ajsmommy: That is good. I loved camping as a kid but we didn’t start until I was older. I remember one of the first times and my sister was probably 2. She screamed most of the night and we left first thing in the morning.
pineapple / 12053 posts
i'll send you an article i wrote years ago about camping with babies/toddlers. now we're 3 kids deep into camping and all the tips still apply!
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