Camping With Kids and Babies
Ah, camping. The crisp cool morning air, the smell of the campfire, the leisurely hikes. But alas, you’ve welcomed a new member or two to your family since you’ve last spent the night in a camping tent. Can you really camp with kids? Can you camp with a baby? Of course! You’ll be glad you did.
We just returned from our first camping trip with a 7 year old, 5 year old, and 8 month old baby. We enjoyed our time at a state park, complete with a lake and nearby waterfalls. Now that I know what to expect, I’m happy to share some things I learned, starting with the one thing I forgot – a fly swatter. Seriously, don’t forget your fly swatter.
What to Bring When Camping With Kids (Fly Swatter Included)
– Free packing List for Camping with Kids
– Packing List – Kids Version
Tips for Camping with Kids
1. Camp with friends who also have kids.
This is a tried and true method. If you have another family who has kids around the same age as your kids, they will easily start playing together. Camping with friends also gives you more stamina as the grown ups of the bunch. No matter how hard things gets, it never seems quite so hard when you have friends to share the experience with. I was actually sick the last time we went camping. In all honesty, I was happier to be sick in a tent on the beach than at home.
2. Don’t camp for more than 2 nights in a tent.
We went for it – 3 nights. And, nope, it didn’t work out. But we did feel like we unlocked a little known secret. That secret is the take-all-the-time you need method. Instead of rushing for the 11am scidadle time, we took our sweet time packing up on day 2, and we left for home after dark on night 3. The kids slept in the car through our red-eye drive home, and my husband and I enjoyed an uninterrupted chat.
3. Keep meals simple
Simple doesn’t necessarily mean “boring”, but it means if you want something fancier than a hot dog cooked over the campfire, you’ll need to prep ahead. You’ve likely been playing hard and exploring all day, and your kids are quickly going to become hangry as soon as you arrive back at the campsite. Cook the chicken or taco meat ahead of time and you’ll be thanking yourself when you only have 5 minutes of reheating to do.
4. Keep beds cozy
We are so devoted to having a cozy sleeping situation that we purchased a cargo carrier to store all the squishy bedding that we bring along. ring that favorite stuffy.
-Stay at a campground with lots of amenities, including a camp store.
-Call ahead to ask about wildlife activity in the area.
-Make each bed very cozy.
-Pack in an organized fashion. This will really come in handy when the sun is going down and you are scrambling to sort out things that can go in your tent vs things that would attract wildlife to your tent.
-Download any maps you might need for driving from place to place.
Tips for Camping with Babies
-Keep them warm at night. Check out the chart to determine how many layers your baby should be in for the temperature. When we had a below 50 degree night, we used the 3.5 level for my 8 month old, along with a onesie, a bodysuit, booties, and mittens. I had a beanie hat available for her, but she seemed warm enough to be comfortable. Her ears were slightly cool, and her face seemed to be her normal temperature. The beanie still came in handy when I took her outside in the brisk morning air. There was no need for a coat either because she could move around just fine in her sleep sack. Also good to note is that the sleep sack opens from the bottom, making those nighttime diaper changes a little less chilly.
-Always have a banana on hand – if your baby has started solids, a banana is the absolute best camping food. I had other premade baby foods for my little one, but the issue came when that baby spoon I was feeling her with would drop to the ground. Sure, we had soap and water, but it just never felt very clean. Enter: The Banana. It comes with its own wrapper, you can mash it up a little if need be before opening it, and it serves as an extra little snack for mom or dad when baby only wants half an ounce.
-Have a plan for setting your baby down outside. Life can get busy at the campsite when children are running around, and being able to use two hands is sometimes of the essence. Our baby was on the verge of crawling, but not yet there when we went camping, so a large picnic blanket with a couple pillows and toys on it was great. If your baby is crawling, you might want to consider setting them down in a portable play yard or pack n’play. If you are setting up or tearing down camp, a baby carrier or stroller are good options. Note: Don’t bet on being able to set them down in the tent, as tents can get very warm.
Seriously Easy Meal Ideas
-Breakfast
Eggs, sausage, toast, oatmeal, fruit
-Lunch
PB&J, hot dogs
-Dinner
-Snacks
Ideas for Fun Camping Memories
Campground amenities and events – Oftentimes, campgrounds will come with some fun perks. As a kid, I stayed at a campground that came with a waterpark and wild west show. The State Park we stayed at this past weekend had junior ranger programs and yoga on the lake.
Toys for setting up camp – By all means, get your kiddos to help set up camp. My
-Backyard Games
-Water Fun
-scavenger hunt
-treasure hunt
-play an instrument
-nature journaling / travel journal
– pick up a souvenir
-shadow puppets at night (don’t laugh too loud!)
-roast marshmallows and tell stories around the campfire
– for many more outdoor summertime ideas, check out this free summer bucket list!
