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Going camping is a wonderful way to connect with nature and your family but it also means nixing routines and new parenting challenges.

Sleeping

The number one difference (for most of us) between being home and camping is sleeping arrangements. Tighter quarters, new sounds and disrupted routines.

Try to keep your routine as close to normal as possible to settle your baby to sleep. I like to keep a few “special” books in our camper to read at bedtime but bringing along the current favorites is also a good idea.

But first, where is your baby going to sleep? Lugging along the crib is probably out of the question and many pack-n-plays are fairly large.

The Baby Joy Gymax is one of the smallest pack-n-plays on the market plus it’s bottom side opening makes it very easy to access your baby. Whether you are camping in a tent or in a camper it’s a great choice.

If you have a pop-up or hybrid camper floor space is pretty limited. Taking the mattress off of one of your ends gives you more floor space and a great spot for the baby to sleep. If you have an older child you can set up a cot in that space as well.

Other options include a pop-up style travel bed, which is great for non-mobile infants. However, one they’ve started to roll or sit be careful! They can easily roll the bed (and themselves) right off the end of camper bed. If you are sleeping in a tent then it will last a while longer. But always follow manufacturers directions on age of use and safety precautions.

If you are interested in co-sleeping with your baby while also looking for a little extra security, consider a small bassinet. Follow all product safety instructions and safe sleeping habits.

The next thing to consider is a white-noise machine. While yes the sounds of nature are a form of white noise all of its own, those new noises may be distracting for your child. Along with the possibility of noisy campsite neighbors. A portable sound machine like the Hatch Rest Go or the Friday Baby 2-in-1 (which doubles as a nightlight) are great options. I personally prefer the Frida Baby since it also has a built in nightlight which is perfect for changing diapers or checking on baby in the middle of the night. But if you already own a Hatch and your child is particularly attached to one of those noises then the Rest Go is a great choice.

After putting your baby to bed you may want to enjoy the fire or night sky. Grab your baby monitor and relax. But wait, there are no outlets in the tent! I love the TimeFlys Audio Monitor, it can be battery or outlet operated plus it shows the temperature. Knowing the temperature of where my child is sleeping always helps ease my anxiety.

As for what to dress your child in to sleep while camping that will depend on many factors. If you are in a temperature controlled camper/RV then however you would normally dress them at home at a similar temperature is fine. If you are in a camper or tent without any temperature control then obviously weather is a huge factor. The general rule of thumb for infants under one is to dress them in whatever you are wearing plus a layer. Sleep sacks are a wonderful options for kids of many ages (even preschoolers!). Luckily you can also find them in a variety of weights to suit many seasons. Personally I love Woolino sleep sacks, especially in the spring and fall. If you are camping when it is going to be very cold then I would suggest a sleep sack with a higher TOG rating.

Eating

There are a variety of options for where to put your baby while you are eating.

If you want your child to sit with you at the picnic table then a clip-on high chair is the way to go. Several of them include a removable tray which is very helpful while camping since you don’t always have a super clean spot to put food down. (Or if you have a child who likes to throw their plate).

A portable high chair is also a great option, especially if it is already a tight squeeze around your table. It’s also a great place for baby to sit safely around the campfire or while you are making meals.

Both options are fairly easy to hose off after your trip, just make sure that you let it dry completely before putting it away to avoid mold/mildew. Also be sure to use these in accordance to the manufacturers directions and safety precautions.

We don’t use any special utensils or plates when we are camping, I just keep a set of Pillowfort Dinnerware in our camper. A good double-insulated stainless steel water bottle is good to have handy since both you and your child will likely need extra hydration.

Before you eat be sure to wash your hands! I love my Suds2Go, fill it up with warm water from the bathhouse and you’ve got a wash station wherever you go! I take mine with us on all our adventures. I also like to keep a pack of soap sheets on top of our water cooler (and in my purse, car, kids backpacks).

Baby Containment

Camping with small children can be lots of fun but there is an added layer of safety needed sometimes, especially when you have older children and an infant. The great outdoors are full of wide open spaces, which is awesome except it allows your child lots of freedom.

For infants a baby bouncer gives you the ability to be hands-free while allowing your child to absorb nature. Both of my kids loved looking up into the leaves or watching others while we travel. The Fisher Price Play Dome is also a favorite spot to lay down baby. It is highly portable, easy to set-up and provides UV protection. Set-up at your campsite, in your backyard or on the beach. When my kids were little I would keep it in my trunk so I had a safe place to put the baby down whenever I needed.

As your baby becomes more mobile a safe place for them to play is essential. You will inevitably need to set them down so you can cook or set-up/tear-down camp. The Evenflo Play-Away Playard is a personal favorite because it has UV cover on top plus roll-down sides so your baby can always be in the shade. It is fairly easy to set-up and tear-down and is large enough for two kids. It also keeps your kids free of dirt or sand.

If you are planning on doing any hiking or exploring I would recommend taking a baby carrier with you. Even the best strollers and wagons have a hard time on most hiking paths. My favorite carrier for babies under 6 months is a ring sling and for babies over 6 months then a soft structured carrier. However, these are best for shorter hikes, if you are planning on a long hike then I would go with a hiking carrier, it will be much kinder on your body!

We also like to bring along a wagon for hauling kids around the campground. You can also bring along your stroller. We’ve laid a kid down in the wagon for an impromptu campfire nap and you can do the same with a stroller (especially if you can lay the seat almost flat).

Bathing

Many campers are equipped with a shower and all campgrounds have shower houses (unless you are primitive camping). However, not all babies like showers so a portable tub can come in very handy! I like the Frida Baby tub because it is suitable for a large age range. The Stokke Flexitub also suits a large age range and folds down very small which is great when you don’t have much space!

Clothing

As with any day it is important to dress yourself and your baby for the weather. A good rule of thumb for dressing an infant under one is “whatever you are wearing plus a layer.” You don’t need to dress your infant or toddler in special clothes when you are camping, but you should pick clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and always bring more than you think you need.

There are two items of clothing I will recommend: overalls and a rainsuit. Canvas overalls are great for kids of all ages but particularly toddlers and preschoolers. Put them on over other clothes (if it is cool enough) and they can deflect some of the dirt and wet from saturating every outfit. Wear them over and over again during the trip. They also prevent the majority of dirt/wet from going into your child’s diaper. A rainsuit can come in handy even when it’s not supposed to rain, it is another layer to add when it is cold or you need the last pair of pjs to stay clean. Throw it on over your child’s clothes to keep them dry and relatively clean.