Introduce a baby to camping early and the family will enjoy years of outdoor fun and togetherness. New parents need to recognize that the experience will change and be ready to roll with the punches – and remember that it will all make for great family stories in the years to come!
Stick Close to Home for First Campout
Many camping parents recommend starting with an overnight trip to a park that is relatively close to home, even if that home is a friend's or relative's. This way, if something critical gets left behind, it can be retrieved without canceling the entire trip, and if the baby is miserable or gets sick, bailing out isn’t such a big deal.
Parents should pick a time and place to camp that will avoid temperature extremes, and plan to arrive well before dark. That allows for setting up camp and having the evening to adjust and relax.
Combining that first outing with another family of like interests, with or without their own baby, can give parents a little extra support and spread the work around. A couple of parents can take care of the babies while the others cook or set up, for example. Grandparents can be a great resource as well, and camping offers wonderful grandparent and grandchild bonding opportunities.
Baby Gear for Camping
The right gear and supplies, essential for any outdoor activity, prove even more so with an infant along. Select a tent that one parent can set up easily, leaving the other parent free to hold the baby (or, later on, chase a toddler). A pop-up shelter for the picnic table is a good idea for campsites without covered tables, providing extra shade and shelter from rain.
Pack extra clothes for baby those first few trips to allow for unexpected mishaps. Light layers can be added or removed as temperatures fluctuate. Snap-crotch clothes make changing diapers possible without completely undressing the baby. Pack baby’s hats, for shelter from the sun or warmth depending on season, and warm socks. Long denim pants or overalls are a must if a little one will be crawling around the campsite.
Take along extras of diapers, wipes, formula, sunscreen, bug repellent, and anything else likely to be needed, at least the first few times. More experienced parents will figure out the right items and amounts to pack with experience. Extra wipes always prove useful, though, for many purposes.
A front carrier for younger infants or a backpack for older ones makes it easy to take the baby along on hikes or walks. Strollers will be useful only in campgrounds with paved roads or sidewalks, or wheel-friendly trails.
A travel crib or bassinet provides a secure, contained place for baby to sleep on the campout. Parents might want to let their baby get used to sleeping in the travel crib or bassinet while still at home before using it on a campout. Travel cribs are also useful for keeping baby safe and clean while parents cook or clean up at the campsite, and one can be put in a shady spot for afternoon naps. Often, gear such as tents, travel cribs and baby backpacks can be borrowed or even rented, which allows parents to try out both the gear and the camping experience before making purchases.
Breast Feeding Versus Bottles on Campouts
Breast feeding likely will be easier than bottle feeding on a camp out – no worries about availability of water or washing bottles. But mom will need a comfortable camp chair that fits in the tent for support while nursing. Moms also need to be sure to drink plenty of water to stay adequately hydrated for nursing in the great outdoors.
For bottle feeding, pre-mixed formula may be easier for camping than the powdered kind. Those who prefer to use powdered formula might want to bring a jug of water from home, rather than use an unknown and unfamiliar water supply. Once Baby sits up, high chairs that hook to the side of a picnic table take up less space in the car than the stand-alone kind.
When the kids are older, take along a copy of Tent and Car Campers Handbook: Advice for Families and First-Timers, by Buck Tilton. The book offers tips for making camping easy and fun for the entire family. Some state park departments, including the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, offer learn-to-camp workshops for families with little or no experience.
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