How Old Do Babies Have to Be to Go Camping
Before I became a parent, I idea taking a infant camping ground would exist no big deal. After all, where I live in Colorado, it'due south common to run across kids less than a year former bopping along the trail in a backpack, being towed in sleds behind their parents' cross-state skis, and even billowy down rivers in inflatable rafts. Plus, my husband and I are former wilderness guides with years of experience taking kids into the backcountry. So when a grouping of our friends began planning a weekend camping trip around the time our daughter was five-weeks-old, we gamely agreed to join them.
Fast forward to the morn of the trip. The car was packed. Our friends were en road. Theoretically, we were ready to go likewise, but I was paralyzed with fear. I sat on the couch holding our seven-pound daughter, combing the cyberspace for advice on how to keep her warm on a night that threatened to drib into the 30s, or whether her tiny lungs could handle the oxygen-thin air of Colorado's mountains.
A couple of hours later on, later on talking to our pediatrician, midwife, and friends who had taken their infants camping, we striking the road. I won't claim information technology was a totally stress-free weekend, but equally one friend put it: a sleepless night under the stars is meliorate than a sleepless night at home. Plus, getting that starting time trip under our belts set up usa upwards for more camping trips in the future — which meant more opportunities to bond every bit a family effectually the campfire, introduce our girl to the natural world, and cement friendships with other families.
Ready to take your baby camping? Here'southward what we learned:
Exist prepared
Camping oftentimes means beingness farther from medical intendance, so make sure your kid is healthy, hydrated, and eating normally before you go. Bringing a bones offset-aid kit with infant Tylenol is as well a good idea, as is knowing where the closest hospital is and having someone in your group who knows infant and child CPR. And if your baby is teething or going through a growth spurt, consider postponing your trip — that stuff is hard enough at dwelling.
Take a practice lap
Earlier you accept your trivial one on a wilderness backpacking trip or to a national park that's vi hours away, figure things out closer to home. A weekend of car camping ground within an hour or ii's drive is a perfect way to ease into your new camping routine.
Plan your nighttime strategy
One of the toughest parts virtually caring for an babe — in any environment — is making sure everyone gets some sleep. Chilly nights and a lack of electricity add another dimension to the challenge. So program your strategy in advance: Even if your baby sleeps in a bassinet or crib at abode, a pillow or pad made specifically for infants and placed next to your own sleeping pad is a bang-up choice for tent camping. Letting your baby slumber in a Pack 'due north Play works likewise if you own a big enough tent. And don't forget a battery-operated nightlight and headlamp to keep an eye on your little one and stone those dark changings.
Bring extra disposable diapers
Don't even effort to bargain with cloth diapers on your commencement camping ground trip. Load up on disposables instead, and make sure to pack extra trash bags. For short hikes abroad from camp, I brought a meaty diaper purse and pad to stuff into my backpack. For hanging around army camp, I packed a cheap fishing tackle box with tons of diapers and wipes, and brought a full-size irresolute pad, which can double as a capping surface in a pinch. (A friend who brought her five-month-onetime camping let her baby slumber on the changing pad and swears past it.)
Layer up
If nights are as cold every bit they are here in Colorado, keeping your baby warm and rubber is a priority. An actress big swaddle with a warm blanket underneath can keep a baby comfy; for kids who are past the swaddling stage, several layers of habiliment and a fleece bunting should keep her cozy, along with a chapeau and mittens. (For operation outdoor outfits that won't pause the bank, Patagonia'due south new Worn Wear site sells used baby and child clothing.)
If yous live in a warmer climate, bring enough of lightweight clothes to keep your baby's skin protected. Bug spray isn't recommended for infants younger than two-months-quondam, and sunscreen is a no-go until they're at to the lowest degree six months, so covering up with onesies, hats and socks is essential. A mosquito net that goes over a car seat is also a great idea, as is a tarp or other shelter for shade.
Splurge if you tin…
If your pre-babe camping style was minimalist — sleeping on the ground, cooking on a backpacking stove, and cramming into a tiny tent—information technology's fourth dimension to move on upward in the world. A family-sized car camping ground tent, a double-burner propane stove for heating upward bottles, or even a special high chair can make camping with a infant more than enjoyable for everyone. And don't skimp on a camp chair for mom — nursing a baby while sitting on the ground or at a picnic table is no fun.
…But don't let a lack of fancy gear keep you home
Every bit i friend told me, all you really need for a breastfed baby are boobs, diapers, and something to proceed them warm and safe at nighttime. Everything else is but extra.
Recollect that kids are resilient
Given how much time we spend indoors when we kickoff bring a baby home, taking them to a new environment — especially one as unpredictable as the cracking outdoors — can feel intimidating. But parents have been conveying their kids on trails and sleeping outside with them for thousands of years, and babies are tougher than we give them credit for. When we took our five-week-old camping ground for the commencement time, she was not only unfazed — she absolutely loved being wrapped upward in blankets and cuddled by the campfire. Now if she's fussy before bed, nosotros but bring her outside. Equally one friend likes to say, kids were made to be in nature. All nosotros accept to do is let them.
Source: https://www.fatherly.com/play/how-to-take-baby-camping-first-time/
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