Camping with LO

ILoveRunning

I love camping and started out before I could even walk.  As the weather slowly starts to warm, I am already making plans for the summer.  Is anyone else planning on camping with their LO?  

For moms of 2+, have you camped with previous LOs?  Any advice on what to bring?  Any big no-nos?  Am I crazy for thinking that I can camp with a LO?

JoannaJes

We've gone camping with DS. It went pretty well overall. The only thing we didn't really plan for was the extreme heat. We had one camping fan, that we directed towards DS, and DH and I suffered all night long in a hot tent. DS slept in just his diaper.

Our tent is big enough that it could accomodate both DH and I sleeping in there, along with the pack n play.

Um, also, DS didn't wind down for the evening until about midnight that night. I think it was SOOO different than what he was used to, as far as sleeping environment, that he had a hard time settling down. He wasn't upset, just...awake. And then very cranky the next day, of course.

LittleGus

We're going in late July when DD 8.5 months old.  I'm excited but nervous.  She will get filthy I'm sure. lol.

JDO

I'm thinking about it, but honestly my biggest fear is the campfire smoke. I think about how the wind can just shift at any moment and you have smoke burning your eyes and lungs and I just don't want W around that yet.

ILoveRunning

JDO:

I'm thinking about it, but honestly my biggest fear is the campfire smoke. I think about how the wind can just shift at any moment and you have smoke burning your eyes and lungs and I just don't want W around that yet.

Ah!  I forgot about that.  Somehow the campfire smoke always seems to find me, no matter where I sit. 

juliedooley

I definitely want to go, but our tent isn't big enough for a PNP and our air mattress. We can't decide if we'll bring a little air mattress and lay him long-ways on it (less chance of rolling off) or co-sleep or just put him on blankets on the ground.

Also, I'm arachnophobic, and I'm already freaking out about what to do if a spider crawls on him.

ILoveRunning

JoannaJes:

We've gone camping with DS. It went pretty well overall. The only thing we didn't really plan for was the extreme heat. We had one camping fan, that we directed towards DS, and DH and I suffered all night long in a hot tent. DS slept in just his diaper.

Our tent is big enough that it could accomodate both DH and I sleeping in there, along with the pack n play.

Um, also, DS didn't wind down for the evening until about midnight that night. I think it was SOOO different than what he was used to, as far as sleeping environment, that he had a hard time settling down. He wasn't upset, just...awake. And then very cranky the next day, of course.

Was your DS old enough to crawl when you went?  My DS will be about that age and I'm a bit nervous about him being on the ground.  I'm debating whether his pack n play or a tarp would be a better place for him to hang out.  

mbfirefly98

We will be going this summer too...Madaline will be 7-8 months by then. We don't have an older child but my hubby has 3 sisters with a total of 7 children and they have all been camping babies!! We are looking forward to it!

N.M.M

funny i came across this post and we just came back from camping with dd and it went great! dd loves the out doors, plants, and animals already so when it was really warm last week we went stayed close to home tho just in case. anyway

Things to make sure u bring:

1. play yard & extra clothes, Pack extra extra clothes for baby if u have to much thats ok but not enough is bad because u cant really wash them and it got really cold at night.

2. a family size tent, we were able to set dd's play yard up inside our tent for naps during the day but at night we had her sleep between us for warmth with 3 thick blankets under her so she would not be on the ground like us.

3. If u bottle feed i would get a camp site with an electrical hook up for a bottle warmer or bring an extra pot just for warming up babies bottles. overnight the water gets really cold.

an other than pretty much whatever you need for baby everyday just make sure u have everything lol we forgot some stuff i really wish i had lol

I dont think ur crazy at all i were the outdoors type too and its a lot of fun and definately possible!

 

N.M.M

JDO:

I'm thinking about it, but honestly my biggest fear is the campfire smoke. I think about how the wind can just shift at any moment and you have smoke burning your eyes and lungs and I just don't want W around that yet.

we sat in front of the fire with dd she loved it an we just sat on the side the wind was blowing from so the somke was not an issue and when the wind changed i just switched seats with someone or moved my chair and in the summer tho theres no wind so it just goes up where we camp not sure about where u are though

wife1014

We started camping with O when she was 8 or so months.  Unfortunatey our first trip led to her being woken at 2am by the campers setting up their tent directly behind us.  They pulled in late and were loud with bright lights shining in our tent.  It scared her and she proceeded to scream unconsolably.  Needless to say, we now ALWAYS request a site which is backed up against the woods. That is my number one suggestion.

I hate the campground showers and unless we are camping for longer than 3 days, I won't shower (I use dove body wipes (on myself) in the tent).  I bring an inflatable tub/baby pool to bathe Olivia in.  I will warm some water on the grill/fire.  This allows me to clean her. 

Natrapel bug wipes/spray is the best stuff and safe for babies/kids.

As someone else said bring extra everything.

BTW, where in NE are you and where do you camp?

mintchip33

I'm very happy to read all of these posts...  We're planning to take LO camping in July down in Cape Cod and t's nice to know other people have had successful camping trips with babies!   DS will be 9 months by then.  One thing I'm planning to buy is a mosquito net for the top of the pack-n-play.

ILoveRunning

wife1014:

We started camping with O when she was 8 or so months.  Unfortunatey our first trip led to her being woken at 2am by the campers setting up their tent directly behind us.  They pulled in late and were loud with bright lights shining in our tent.  It scared her and she proceeded to scream unconsolably.  Needless to say, we now ALWAYS request a site which is backed up against the woods. That is my number one suggestion.

I hate the campground showers and unless we are camping for longer than 3 days, I won't shower (I use dove body wipes (on myself) in the tent).  I bring an inflatable tub/baby pool to bathe Olivia in.  I will warm some water on the grill/fire.  This allows me to clean her. 

Natrapel bug wipes/spray is the best stuff and safe for babies/kids.

As someone else said bring extra everything.

BTW, where in NE are you and where do you camp?

Hey!  When I saw that you responded I was going to asked where you camped since you live in CT.  I'm actually in Rhode Island, but we spend most of our time camping up in the White Mountains near the presidential range.  I'm thinking that for our first trip we want to stay somewhere close, so any suggestions on places to go in CT or MA would be great. 

JoannaJes

ILoveRunning:

JoannaJes:

We've gone camping with DS. It went pretty well overall. The only thing we didn't really plan for was the extreme heat. We had one camping fan, that we directed towards DS, and DH and I suffered all night long in a hot tent. DS slept in just his diaper.

Our tent is big enough that it could accomodate both DH and I sleeping in there, along with the pack n play.

Um, also, DS didn't wind down for the evening until about midnight that night. I think it was SOOO different than what he was used to, as far as sleeping environment, that he had a hard time settling down. He wasn't upset, just...awake. And then very cranky the next day, of course.

Was your DS old enough to crawl when you went?  My DS will be about that age and I'm a bit nervous about him being on the ground.  I'm debating whether his pack n play or a tarp would be a better place for him to hang out.  

He was walking by then. It was a little after his first birthday. Once babies start crawling, they are going to want to crawl over surfaces like grass. I'd say as long as you have your LO in pants, they will probably have tons of fun crawling everywhere. DS wore a lot of jeans when he was crawling, they hold up better than plain cotton pants.

wife1014

ILoveRunning:

wife1014:

We started camping with O when she was 8 or so months.  Unfortunatey our first trip led to her being woken at 2am by the campers setting up their tent directly behind us.  They pulled in late and were loud with bright lights shining in our tent.  It scared her and she proceeded to scream unconsolably.  Needless to say, we now ALWAYS request a site which is backed up against the woods. That is my number one suggestion.

I hate the campground showers and unless we are camping for longer than 3 days, I won't shower (I use dove body wipes (on myself) in the tent).  I bring an inflatable tub/baby pool to bathe Olivia in.  I will warm some water on the grill/fire.  This allows me to clean her. 

Natrapel bug wipes/spray is the best stuff and safe for babies/kids.

As someone else said bring extra everything.

BTW, where in NE are you and where do you camp?

Hey!  When I saw that you responded I was going to asked where you camped since you live in CT.  I'm actually in Rhode Island, but we spend most of our time camping up in the White Mountains near the presidential range.  I'm thinking that for our first trip we want to stay somewhere close, so any suggestions on places to go in CT or MA would be great. 

I am from RI, we just live over the line now...up by Foster/Glocester.  Did you grow up in RI?  You weren't on the RI board, were you?

We always camp on the Cape so I don't have any rural type recommedations.  We did camp several years ago at a real nice place in Woodstock, but I don't remember the name of it for the life of me.  We also used to camp down at Burlingame.  That actually would be a nice place with a baby because you can go to the umbrella factory to see the animals and then Charlestown on the carousel.  Of course there is also the beach.

srporter89

When ds was only a month old, we went to the river for thanksgiving, it went really well, and last month we went camping in the desert. He actually slept better there than he does at home. I think it was the whole outside thing, he LOVES to be outside, You never realize how small your vehicle is, untill you have to pack EVERYTHING for your LO. Luckily, we were with a group of people, and some had trailers so we could clean bottles, that would be the only problem I can think of. Sorry for any errors. On my phone