Taking a baby camping may seem like a recipe for disaster, but with a little planning and the right equipment, it can be really fun. We took our oldest Adventure Boy on an overnight backpacking trip when he was six months old, and we all survived despite the pouring rain, patchy snow, and one leaky tent. With each additional child, our family camping style has morphed from backpacking in the rain to car camping with a tent to a tent trailer with a heater.
While our camping style has migrated to a more luxurious experience, it is still my opinion that there are only two things truly required to take a baby camping: a baby carrier and a place for baby to sleep. For our family this looks pretty basic, a Moby or Ergo carrier and a double sleeping bag for me and baby, since we usually co-sleep anyway. That being said, I recommend having baby sleep the same way camping as he is used to sleeping at home. Since we co-sleep at home, I feel comfortable co-sleeping while camping. However, if baby is used to sleeping in a crib, by all means, bring a pack-n-play! A safe sleep environment should be the top priority.
Now that we have three little ones we take camping with us (and a tent trailer to haul all our stuff in), we have added to our arsenal of camp-friendly baby gear.
1. Baby carrier
- Moby Wrap: With each new baby, I have enjoyed the Moby wrap more and used it longer. It's my favorite for little babies because it is so cozy and makes it super easy to support their wobbly heads.
- Ergo: Nothing beats the Ergo for comfort and ease of use. It's not trouble to buckle it on and pop baby in, or change sizes for different people to carry baby. Plus, the option of having baby on front or back makes it extra versatile.
- Hiking backpack: Sometimes we want a little more breathing room between us and our babies. True, baby has to be a bit older to be able to safely sit in a hiking backpack, but really, our two year old Adventure Boy still likes to ride in the backpack on longer hikes, so you'll get plenty of use out of it. And it's nice because you can set the backpack up on the ground and still keep a small child contained without having to hold them. Ours has doubled as a camp high chair in this way many times!
- Sleeping bag: Should be washable; you don't want to have a leaky diaper or get spit up on your nice down (read: dry clean only) sleeping bag...
- Rock-n-Play Sleeper: While I don't have my baby sleep over night in this, I know plenty of people who swear by it, and since it is so portable, it's hard to leave at home.
- Pack-n-Play: Portable crib-like option, takes up a bit of room, but worth it for older babies who are crawling or need their own space to sleep.
- Bumbo: This is really the best option for babies who can't quite sit up on their own yet, but still want to be a part of the action.
- Rock-n-Play Sleeper: I love how portable the rock-n-play is! It is so easy to pop it out and let baby lounge while making dinner, or taking a shower, or just hanging out by the camp fire.
- Booster Seat: When baby is able to sit up on his own, but still needs some containment, we bring along a travel booster seat and set it up for baby to hang out in.
5. Sleeping mat or pad
- Regardless of where baby sleeps, adventure moms and dads alike need to be comfortable enough to get some sleep. This is particularly important if you are tent camping; a good sleeping mat can literally be the difference between the cold, hard, cold, ground and a decent night's sleep. And a decent night's sleep is the difference between a fun camping trip and a dreadful one. Seriously, my Therm-a-Rest sleeping mat changed my view of tent camping forever. I wouldn't think of sleeping in a tent without it. Get a good sleeping mat. Trust me. You need it.
I know, I know, you're probably thinking "This stuff isn't camping gear!" And you'd be right. Babies grow so fast, and honestly, baby might only go on a few camping trips before he's not, well, a baby anymore. So why waste money buying special baby camping gear? Besides, baby will be much more comfortable with what he's already used to. And a comfortable baby is a happy baby!
Happy Camping!
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